There Is No Single Federal Database
If you’ve already searched your state and the IRS, you might think you’re done. But according to USA.gov, there’s no one place to look for all unclaimed money. Several federal agencies keep their own separate records, and each one has its own search tool.
Most of these databases cover specific situations, like a bank that closed or a mortgage you paid off. If any of them apply to you, the search takes only a few minutes.
Many of these tools let you search with just your name. Below, you’ll see which databases apply to you, what each one asks for, and how to run a name search that actually finds matches.
Quick Guide: Which Databases Apply to You?
| If you ever… | Check this | Search by |
|---|---|---|
| Worked at a company with a pension plan | PBGC pension search | Last name + last 4 digits of your SSN |
| Had an account at a bank that closed | FDIC unclaimed funds | Your name |
| Had an account at a credit union that closed | NCUA unclaimed deposits | Your name |
| Were owed money by someone who went bankrupt | U.S. Courts Unclaimed Funds Locator | Your name (as creditor) or the debtor’s name |
| Had an FHA-insured mortgage | HUD FHA refund search | Your name or FHA case number |
| Are a veteran or a veteran’s beneficiary | VA unclaimed insurance funds | The insured veteran’s name |
| Lost money in an investment fraud case | SEC information for harmed investors | The company or case name |
1. Unclaimed Pensions (PBGC)
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation takes over pension plans when companies end them or go under. If you earned a pension at a former employer and lost track of it, search the PBGC database with your last name and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
2. Failed Banks (FDIC)
When an FDIC-insured bank fails, insured deposits are paid to customers. If the FDIC couldn’t reach you, those funds may be listed in its unclaimed funds search.
3. Closed Credit Unions (NCUA)
The National Credit Union Administration publishes unclaimed deposits from credit unions that were liquidated. Search it if you belonged to a credit union that shut down.
4. Bankruptcy Court Funds (U.S. Courts)
If a person or business that owed you money filed for bankruptcy, you may have been entitled to a payment as a creditor. Funds that couldn’t be delivered are listed in the U.S. Courts Unclaimed Funds Locator, which you can search by creditor name (yours) or by the name of the person or company that went bankrupt.
5. FHA Mortgage Insurance Refunds (HUD)
If you had a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration, you may be eligible for a refund of part of your upfront mortgage insurance premium. Search by your name or FHA case number on HUD’s site.
6. Veterans’ Life Insurance (VA)
The Department of Veterans Affairs holds unclaimed insurance funds for some policyholders and beneficiaries of older VA life insurance programs. Note that the search doesn’t cover SGLI or VGLI policies from 1965 onward.
7. Investor Settlements (SEC)
When the Securities and Exchange Commission wins an enforcement case, harmed investors can sometimes receive money from a fund. The SEC lists active cases and claims information.
8. Individual Indian Money Accounts (Interior)
The Department of the Interior manages Individual Indian Money accounts for Native American and Alaska Native beneficiaries and has a “Whereabouts Unknown” search for account holders it can’t locate.
All of the federal tools are listed on the official USA.gov unclaimed money page. Every search is free.
How to Search for Unclaimed Money by Name
Most unclaimed money searches start with one thing: your name. State unclaimed property offices hold the largest share of lost money, and they are all searchable by name for free, so that’s the best place to begin before moving on to the federal tools above.
Step 1: Search Your Name in Every State You’ve Lived In
Money is reported to the state of your last known address with the company that owed it, not the state where you live today. Make a quick list of every state where you lived, worked or had a bank account, then search each one.
- MissingMoney.com: a free multi-state search endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). Enter your last and first name to check all participating states at once.
- Your state’s official site: not every state takes part in MissingMoney, so also search each state on your list directly. NAUPA’s directory at unclaimed.org links to every official state office.
Tip: leave the city field blank on your first search. A city filter can hide records tied to an old address.
Step 2: Run the Federal Name Searches That Apply to You
Use the table above to pick the federal databases that match your history. A few of them need more than a name, so have this ready:
- PBGC pensions: your last name and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- U.S. Courts: your name as a creditor, or the name of the person or business that filed for bankruptcy.
- Treasury Hunt (savings bonds): this one does not search by name. It uses a Social Security number.
- IRS refunds: there is no name search. The IRS refund tool asks for your SSN, filing status and exact refund amount.
- Back wages (Department of Labor): search by the name of your former employer, not your own name.
Step 3: Use Name Variations
Records are only as accurate as the company that reported them. If your first search comes up empty, try again with:
- Maiden and married names
- Nicknames and full names (Bill and William, Liz and Elizabeth)
- With and without your middle name or middle initial
- Common misspellings and swapped first and last names
- Only your last name, then scan the results for your first name or an old city
- The name of a business you own or used to own
Step 4: Search for Family Members Too
Heirs can often claim money left by parents, grandparents or a spouse who has passed away. Search their names in every state where they lived, and in the federal databases that fit their history, such as PBGC for a former employer’s pension or the VA for older veterans’ life insurance.
Step 5: Confirm the Match Before You Claim
A name match isn’t always your money. Check the city, address or company listed in the result and compare it with places you’ve lived and companies you’ve dealt with. If it fits, start the claim on the official site. You’ll be asked to prove your identity, and often your link to the address on file.
One rule never changes: searching by name on official state and federal websites is always free. If a site or caller asks for a fee just to tell you what you’re owed, walk away.
Next Step: File your claim the right way
Found a match? The next step walks you through the claim itself: which documents to prepare, how to claim for a relative who passed away, and how long payment usually takes.
Your Unclaimed Money Checklist
This guide is part of a 7-step series. Work through each step to make sure you haven’t missed any money in your name:
- Step 1: Search every state you have lived in
- Step 2: Check for unclaimed IRS tax refunds
- Step 3: Find old savings bonds with Treasury Hunt
- Step 4: Look for back wages from old jobs
- Step 5: Check the federal databases (you are here)
- Step 6: File your claim the right way
- Step 7: Avoid unclaimed money scams
