(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia Office of Finance and Treasury (OFT) today released its updated list of unclaimed property collected during the past six months, which shows more than $14.5 million in cash and stock that needs to be returned to its rightful owners. The list will be advertised in The Washington Times on Feb. 17 and in The Washington Post on Feb. 24.

“These items belong to 19,000 individuals and businesses, and we are committed to reuniting them with their lost or forgotten assets,” said District Treasurer N. Anthony Calhoun.

Unclaimed property consists of money and other personal assets that are considered lost or abandoned when an owner cannot be located after a specified time frame, usually three years. Abandoned property includes unpaid wages, certificates of deposit, jewelry, paid life insurance policies, utility deposits, gift certificates, Christmas club accounts, and stocks. OFT’s Unclaimed Property Unit receives unclaimed property from banks, insurance companies, utility companies, hospitals, universities, and other entities.

Many companies charge a “finder’s fee” to search for unclaimed property; however, in the District this service is provided at no cost to residents. To learn more about this free government service, visit Unclaimed Property or call (202) 442-8181.