Where New Yorkers Should Look for Unclaimed Money
New York is an expensive place to live, and a lot of that money passes through accounts people forget about: a security deposit from three apartments ago, a final paycheck from a job you left in a hurry, a utility refund mailed to an old address. Then there are the class action settlements tied to things New Yorkers do every day, like paying a fee at the bodega ATM.
None of it comes back on its own, but searching and claiming are free.
Two kinds of unclaimed money
It helps to separate them, because they work differently.
The first is money the state is holding for you. When a business can't reach you about money it owes, such as a dormant bank account, an uncashed check, a deposit or an insurance payment, it eventually turns the funds over to the state. In New York, the Office of the State Comptroller holds that money until the owner claims it.
The second is settlement money you haven't claimed yet. That money sits in a settlement fund, and you usually have to file a claim before a deadline. Miss it, and your share goes to other claimants or elsewhere. A search of active class action settlements covers this second category, which state databases don't include.
How to search New York's unclaimed funds
The state's Office of Unclaimed Funds runs a free search. The Comptroller's office says it returns more than $2 million a day to rightful owners, and claiming costs nothing, with no time limit.
A few tips:
Search every name you've used, including maiden names and the versions on old accounts.
Search for relatives too. Heirs can often claim money left by someone who has died.
Include any business you've run. Companies have unclaimed funds as well.
If you've lived in other states, check them too. MissingMoney.com searches many participating states at once.
You don't need a paid finder service. Searching and claiming directly is free.
Filing a claim with the state
Once you find a match, the claim itself is usually simple. Many New York claims can be started online in a few minutes. Depending on the amount and the type of property, the state may ask you to verify your identity and show a link to the address on file, such as an old lease, a utility bill or a bank statement from that time. Claims for someone who has died take more paperwork, typically a death certificate and proof that you're an heir or the estate's representative.
Keep copies of everything you submit and write down your claim number. Processing times vary, and that number is the fastest way to check status or answer a follow-up request. If the state asks for more documents, respond quickly. An incomplete claim just sits.
Settlements New Yorkers should check this fall
These were accepting claims in early October 2026:
ATM fees. If you paid a fee at an independent ATM, the kind found in delis, bodegas and bars, between 2007 and 2026, you may qualify for a share of the $167.5 million Visa and Mastercard settlement. Claims are due February 10, 2027.
Apple Siri AI. iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 buyers from June 10, 2024 to March 29, 2025 may claim up to $95 without proof by December 21, 2026.
Equifax credit score error. If you received a notice about Equifax's 2022 coding error, you only need the claim number and PIN printed on it. Payments could reach $280. File by December 28, 2026.
Renters: don't forget your deposit
Security deposits are among the most common things New Yorkers leave behind. Under the state's 2019 rent law changes, a landlord must return your deposit within 14 days after you move out, along with an itemized statement of any deductions. If yours never came back, start with the landlord. If the money can't be returned to you, it may eventually end up with the state.
A quick routine
Once or twice a year:
Search the state's unclaimed funds database for every name and address you've used.
Check MissingMoney.com for other states you've lived in.
Look through open class action settlements for the banks, apps and brands you use.
Search your email for "settlement" and "claim" to catch notices that went to spam.
Watch for impostors
Unclaimed funds attract scams for the same reason settlements do: the money is real. The state doesn't charge a fee to release your funds, and a genuine claim never requires a gift card or wire transfer. If someone contacts you out of the blue about money the state is holding, close the message and search the official database yourself.
Start with one search
If you've never checked, start with your own name on the state's unclaimed funds site, then try your parents' names. It takes a couple of minutes and costs nothing.