State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (ZWY-ful) today reminds Missourians that they can redeem the value of old and expired gift cards or certificates through Unclaimed Property. Gift cards or certificates that go unused or get lost never lose their value. Instead they are turned over to Treasurer Zweifel’s office as Unclaimed Property until the original owner or an heir claims it.

“The holiday season is just around the corner which means Missourians are beginning to do their holiday shopping,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “Gift cards have become common presents, and I want to remind Missourians that those cards may still have value long after their purchase. If you miss the expiration date, you may be able to redeem the value of the card from my Unclaimed Property team at ShowMeMoney.com.”

Of the $822 million in Unclaimed Property currently held by Treasurer Zweifel, more than $8 million comes from gift cards and certificates. If someone believes an expired gift card may have become Unclaimed Property, they should first check with the business that the unused card was originally from to see if it is redeemable. If the business will not redeem it, owners should then check www.ShowMeMoney.com to see if their name is listed. Not all credit from gift cards and certificates is turned over with account owner contact information, so having the physical card or certificate may help an individual claim their property.

Treasurer Zweifel is also promoting his Unclaimed Property charitable donation program in time for the holidays. Last year, he introduced a new program that allows Unclaimed Property owners to donate their property directly to one or more of the 20 eligible charitable organizations.

“While the average Unclaimed Property claim is approximately $300, some claims are very small – a few dollars or less,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “Last year I created a program that allows you to donate all or part of your claim to charity, often entirely online. I am proud of this effort and I encourage Missourians to visit my website to see how they can participate.”

The list of charities eligible to accept Unclaimed Property donations include: After-School Retreat Reading and Assessment Grant Program Fund, American Cancer Society Heartland Division, Inc., American Diabetes Association Gateway Area, American Heart Association, American Lung Association of Missouri, American Red Cross, ALS Association, Arthritis Foundation, Childhood Lead Testing Fund, Children’s Trust Fund, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, Foster Care and Adoptive Parents Recruitment and Retention Fund, March of Dimes, Missouri Military Family Relief Fund, Missouri National Guard Trust, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Organ Donor Program Fund, Veterans Trust Fund, and Workers’ Memorial Fund.

Since January 2009, Treasurer Zweifel has returned more than $212 million to more than 730,000 account owners. Missourians may search for Unclaimed Property 24 hours a day at www.ShowMeMoney.com, and even begin and track the progress of a claim online. Individuals may also sign up to receive an email notification when new Unclaimed Property arrives and matches their information.

 

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