Ohio vs. Michigan: The Unclaimed Money Challenge Heats Up This November

Mary Singleton
Published Sep 19, 2026

Ohio vs. Michigan: The Unclaimed Money Challenge Heats Up This November

Ohio is taking on its northern rival, Michigan, in a friendly competition with big potential rewards.

The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Unclaimed Funds has launched a month-long “Unclaimed Funds Challenge” to see which state’s residents can complete the most searches for unclaimed money.

Each year, millions of dollars go unclaimed simply because people don’t realize they have money waiting. This initiative aims to change that — and bring some healthy rivalry into play.

Worth reading: The State By State Guide to Unclaimed Assets

 

What’s the Challenge About?

The goal is simple: get more Ohioans searching for and claiming their unclaimed money than Michiganders.

Residents can join the challenge by visiting unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov or unclaimedfunds.org, where they can search for their name, relatives, or businesses.

If they find a match, they can file a claim online through the department’s secure system.

 

The Timeline

Throughout November, both states will track the number of completed searches. The results, and the bragging rights, will be announced during the week of December 1.

Ohio’s goal: beat Michigan in search volume and help thousands of residents recover forgotten money from sources like:

  • Closed bank accounts

  • Uncashed checks

  • Insurance payouts

  • Utility refunds

  • Safe deposit contents

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