Arkansas PBS > Engage > Pressroom > AETN announces Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt
Posted 30 Sep 2009
Host John Lee and Auditor of State Jim Wood will tell viewers how to claim items online.
The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt is a citizen awareness program that notifies the public of assets that have been turned over to the state under the Unclaimed Property Act. These assets are turned over to the state auditor then transferred to the state general fund, but they can always be claimed.
Unclaimed assets can include stock, balances in bank or brokerage accounts, uncashed checks, insurance proceeds, contents of safe deposit boxes and other cash assets. Cash and stock can become lost when someone moves and lists no forwarding address; has a name change and doesnt notify financial institutions or other businesses; or when someone dies, leaving only poorly-kept records.
Names and addresses of more than 56,000 new owners of unclaimed assets were received during the 2009 fiscal year. More than 4,550 of these claims are valued at $450 or more.
Viewers can search the total list of more than 350,000 names by following a link on the AETN Web site at www.aetn.org. They can also call 1-800-CLAIM-IT (1-800-252-4648).
The Arkansas Educational Television Network (www.aetn.org) provides lifelong learning opportunities, improves and enhances Arkansans lives and celebrates the unique culture of Arkansas through its programming and services. AETNs transmitters and numerous cable system connections give it statewide reach.