5 On Your Side
Apex Woman Lays Claim to Money in Iowa
Like North Carolina, other states have unclaimed money that sits in funds until the rightful owners come along. Nationwide, about $24 billion remains unclaimed.
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APEX, N.C. — Many people moving from one state to another leave money behind.
Like North Carolina, other states have unclaimed money that sits in funds until the rightful owners come along. Nationwide, about $24 billion remains unclaimed.
Diane Beardon of Apex recently found out some of that money being held in another state belonged to her and her family members.
After not finding anything in North Carolina's unclaimed property site, Beardon checked Iowa, where she grew up.
"There was a link that said, you know, go to other states. I clicked on Iowa, put in my maiden name and there it was," she said. "It was fabulous. I couldn't believe it."
Along with her money, Beardon found $1,463 for a brother and two amounts totaling more than $3,300 in her mother's name.
All of the unclaimed amounts are from MetLife. Beardon said she believes the money comes from a stock sale.
The addresses listed for her and her relatives are wrong, she said, which is probably how the family lost track of the money.
Beardon plans to use the money for Christmas presents for children and grandchildren. She's also setting some aside for a plane ticket for a special event she otherwise wouldn't be able to attend.
Last year, a little more than $1 billion in unclaimed property was returned to people nationwide.
"If a small-town Iowa girl can find it on her own, thanks to 5 On Your Side, anyone can do it," Beardon said.
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