#larrypack

Unclaimed Property Division Returned $40.2 Million During Fiscal Year 2026 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – State Treasurer Larry Pack announced today his Office’s Unclaimed Property Division has returned nearly $40.2 million worth of unclaimed property funds to individuals, businesses and organizations over the last fiscal year. “Our team remains committed to ensure West Virginians are reconnected with their lost unclaimed property funds, and this fiscal year was no different,” Treasurer Pack said. “While more than $40 million was returned, there is still much more in our system that needs to go back into the pockets of our citizens. We’re proud to present checks to individuals, businesses, municipalities, and law enforcement agencies who can then use the money to benefit their communities. We encourage more people to check our online database because you never know if you’ll find unclaimed property money in your name.” During Fiscal Year 2026, which started July 1, 2025 and ended June 30, 2026, the Unclaimed Property Division returned a total of $40,168,816.26, nearing the previous record of $40.6 million set during the prior fiscal year. Claims Paid in the Last Five Years: FY 2026: $40.2 million FY 2025: $40.6 million FY 2024: $28 million FY 2023: $26.8 million FY 2022: $18.6 million The nearly $40.2 million during Fiscal Year 2026 was paid out across 25,407 claims representing 95,760 properties including individuals, businesses and other organizations. Since it began in 1967, the Unclaimed Property program has returned more than $388 million to rightful owners. The State Treasurer’s Office now has more than $529 million worth of listings in its database. For more information about the unclaimed property program or to find out if the Office is holding any money for you or your family, visit www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov. What is Unclaimed Property?  Unclaimed property can include financial accounts or items of value in which the owner has not initiated any activity for one year or longer. Common examples include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards. (While the title includes the word “property,” it does not however include real estate.) West Virginia’s unclaimed property laws protect the public by ensuring money and property owed to them is returned to them, rather than remaining permanently with financial institutions, business associations, governments and other entities. The Treasurer seeks to reunite the unclaimed property, including uncashed paychecks, stocks, or safe deposit box contents, with its owner. Nationwide, nearly 33 million people in the United States – one in every 10 – are estimated to have unclaimed property available for them to claim. How Can YOU Find Unclaimed Property in YOUR Name?  West Virginians searching for lost financial assets can go to www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov. In addition to finding property, the website will also help you track a claim. A demonstration of how to use the Unclaimed Property search site is available on the Treasury’s YouTube page, at: https://youtu.be/K09yQ7YNKlE. To search for lost financial assets outside West Virginia, visit www.MissingMoney.com. Read the full article

CHARLESTON W.Va. – State Treasurer Larry Pack today announced that families can now open a SMART529 College Savings account more easily than ever before following recent enhancements to the program’s online enrollment process. “Making it easier for families to start saving for their child’s future is always a priority,” Treasurer Pack said. “These updates simplify and modernize the process of opening a SMART529 account, making it faster for families to begin saving for future education expenses.” For the first time, families can also open a SMART529 College Savings account directly through the READYSAVE 529 mobile app. Previously, the app was only available for existing account management.  The enhanced enrollment process provides a seamless experience whether families choose to open an account on a desktop computer, mobile device, or through the READYSAVE 529 mobile app. Recent data from 529 plans that have adopted the updated enrollment experience shows an 8 percent increase in initial contribution amounts, a 14 percent increase in recurring contribution amounts and a 16 percent increase in the number of savers making both an initial contribution and ongoing recurring contributions. By simplifying the enrollment process and expanding access through the READYSAVE 529 mobile app, SMART529 continues to make it easier for West Virginia families to start saving for the future. SMART529 is a qualified tuition program issued by the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College and Jumpstart Savings Programs and administered by Hartford Funds. Complete information about SMART529 plans and investment options is available at www.SMART529.com. Read the full article

CHARLESTON W.Va. – State Treasurer Larry Pack has launched the Pledge WV Online Collateral System, a new online portal designed to help protect public funds deposited in financial institutions throughout the state. “Protecting taxpayer dollars is one of our most important responsibilities,” Treasurer Pack said. “The Pledge WV Online Collateral System provides a secure way to ensure public deposits are properly collateralized while making the process easier for our financial institution partners and increasing transparency for public entities across West Virginia.”  The system was created following passage of the West Virginia Security for Public Deposits Act during the 2022 legislative session. The law made the Treasurer’s Office responsible for ensuring public funds deposited in financial institutions are properly collateralized and protected. Under state law, public deposits made by the state and its political subdivisions must be held at approved Designated State Depositories and backed by pledged collateral. The Treasurer’s Office oversees that process to help safeguard taxpayer dollars. The Pledge WV Online Collateral System gives financial institutions one centralized location to report monthly public fund account balances. The Treasurer’s Office will compare those balances with pledged collateral held by its Safekeeping Agent to verify that public funds remain properly collateralized in accordance with state law.  The system also gives public depositors the ability to monitor the collateralization of their deposits and complete the annual attestations required by state code.  Financial institutions should designate one representative to visit the Pledge WV website, click “Financial Institution Enroll,” and complete the Enrollment Form. As financial institutions transition collateral to the benefit of the State Treasurer, public entities may be contacted to assist with the process. Their cooperation will help ensure a smooth process. Public entities should also designate one representative to visit the Pledge WV website, click ‘Public Depositor Enroll,” and complete the Enrollment Form. The website also allows users to confirm whether their financial institution is an approved Designated State Depository and learn more about the Pledge WV program.  For additional information, contact the West Virginia State Treasurer's Office Collateral Division at [email protected] or call the Collateral Hotline at (304) 340-5020. Read the full article

100% Funding Cost of the Program is $155 Million CHARLESTON, W.Va. – State Treasurer Larry Pack, who serves as Chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, today announced 26,617students have applied for full funding for the Hope Scholarship Program for the 2026-2027 school year. Using the latest application data available, the estimated cost of the initial application period for the program for the 2026-2027 school year is currently $155 million. The estimated cost will continue to increase throughout the year as applications are received for reduced funding amounts. “We are so excited to welcome thousands of new families into the Hope Scholarship Program. Seeing the Education Savings Account nearly double in participation is a true indicator of the impact and popularity of the program,” Treasurer Pack said. “Now our team turns its attention to helping these students get the resources they need to tailor their education towards their unique needs. Our goal is for West Virginia to continue to lead the nation in education innovation as we continue to build the program.”  During the 2026 Legislative Session, the West Virginia Legislature and Governor appropriated approximately $277 million to the Hope Scholarship Program. Existing private school and traditional homeschool students who had not previously been eligible for the program are now eligible due to universal expansion causing the increase. A student application submitted within the following dates will receive the associated level of Hope Scholarship funding: June 16-Sept. 15: 75% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount. Sept. 16-Nov. 30: 50% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount. Dec. 1-Feb. 28: 25% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount. The scholarship amount for the 2026-2027 school year is $5,435.62. Scholarship funds will now be distributed on a quarterly basis.  For more information on the Hope Scholarship, visit www.HopeScholarshipWV.gov. Read the full article

Families Must Apply by June 15 to Receive 100% Full-Year Award Amount of $5,435.62 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – State Treasurer Larry Pack, who serves as Chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, is encouraging more families to apply for the Hope Scholarship Program before the application deadline for full-funding closes one week from today on Monday, June 15 for the 2026-2027 academic year. Applications are available online at www.HopeScholarshipWV.gov. “Every child deserves a shot at a bright future – and that’s what the Hope Scholarship offers. We’ve already seen exponential growth in applications since expanding eligibility to all West Virginia children in grades K-12 for this upcoming school year,” Treasurer Pack said. “My team is excited to welcome new students to the program because at the end of the day, this is all about empowering parents and students to find the education that fits their unique needs. We encourage West Virginia families to submit their applications by June 15 so they can receive the full award amount.” Treasurer Pack announced in March that existing private school and traditional homeschool students who have not previously been eligible for the Hope Scholarship Program are now eligible to apply to participate in the State’s Education Savings Account program that provides funding to students exercising school choice in lieu of attending public school full-time. So far, 25,675 students have started applications for full funding of the Hope Scholarship Program for the 2026-2027 academic year. Of the 25,675 applications, 13,298 are returning Hope Scholarship recipients who submitted their Continuing Participation Confirmations and 12,377 are new students who applied for the program. There are currently 14,549 active participants (applications in Approved status) for 2025-2026. A student application submitted within the following dates will receive the associated level of Hope Scholarship funding: March 2-June 15: 100% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount. June 16-Sept. 15: 75% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount. Sept. 16-Nov. 30: 50% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount. Dec. 1-Feb. 28: 25% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount. Current Hope Scholarship students who wish to renew their participation in the program during the 2026-2027 school year have until June 15 to submit their Continuing Participation Confirmations. The Hope Scholarship award amount varies each school year depending on the amount of state aid funding per pupil provided to county boards of education for public school students. The scholarship amount for the 2026-2027 school year is $5,435.62. Scholarship funds will now be distributed on a quarterly basis. Families who participated in the Hope Scholarship Program during the 2025-2026 school year are encouraged to complete the Hope Scholarship Parent Satisfaction Survey that was emailed to them last month by June 30, 2026. For more information on the Hope Scholarship, visit www.HopeScholarshipWV.gov. Read the full article

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – State Treasurer Larry Pack announced today his Office’s Unclaimed Property Division returned more than $1.7 million worth of funds to individuals, businesses and organizations during the month of May. “As we near the end of the fiscal year, my Office continues to return unclaimed property money at the fastest pace in state history,” Treasurer Pack said. “With more than $530 million worth of listings in our online database, I encourage everyone to visit WVUnclaimedProperty.gov to see if we’re holding any money in your name.” The Unclaimed Property Division returned a total of $1,747,345 paid out across 1,600 claims representing 5,357 individual properties during the month of May. The top claims paid in May include: $17,000 to an individual in Bunker Hill, WV $12,000 returned to an individual in Barboursville, WV $11,000 returned to an individual in Fairmont, WV $10,000 returned to a business in Evans, WV $10,000 returned to a business in Washington, WV Since the start of Fiscal Year 2026, which began on July 1, 2025, the Treasurer’s Office has returned more than $35,971,175 to rightful owners. The State Treasurer’s Office now has more than $530 million worth of listings in its database. For more information about the unclaimed property program or to find out if the Office is holding any money for you or your family, visit www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov. n n n What is Unclaimed Property?  Unclaimed property can include financial accounts or items of value in which the owner has not initiated any activity for one year or longer. Common examples include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards. (While the title includes the word “property,” it does not however include real estate.) West Virginia’s unclaimed property laws protect the public by ensuring money and property owed to them is returned to them, rather than remaining permanently with financial institutions, business associations, governments and other entities. The Treasurer seeks to reunite the unclaimed property, including uncashed paychecks, stocks, or safe deposit box contents, with its owner. Nationwide, nearly 33 million people in the United States – one in every 10 – are estimated to have unclaimed property available for them to claim. How Can I Find Unclaimed Property in My Name?  West Virginians searching for lost financial assets can go to www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov. In addition to finding property, the website will also help you track a claim. A demonstration of how to use the Unclaimed Property search site is available on the Treasury’s YouTube page, at: https://youtu.be/K09yQ7YNKlE. To search for lost financial assets outside West Virginia, visit www.MissingMoney.com. Read the full article

Entries must be submitted by Wednesday, May 20, to qualify. CHARLESTON, W.Va. – State Treasurer Larry Pack is reminding students ages 17 or younger to enter his Office’s SMART529 “Fund the Future” Sweepstakes that will award one West Virginia child $10,000 in college savings. “As a father of six children, I know how important it is to save for higher education. Our children will become the future leaders of our state,” Treasurer Pack said. “That is why I encourage all eligible West Virginia families to enter our statewide sweepstakes by this Wednesday for a chance to win thousands of dollars that can be invested in their college education.” The “Fund the Future” sweepstakes, now in its third year, will award one lucky West Virginia child $10,000 deposited directly into a SMART529 account. To enter the sweepstakes, parents or legal guardians must submit an online entry form at www.wvtreasury.gov/fundthefuture.  To Be Eligible: Entries must be completed by a parent or legal guardian. Child must be 17 or younger. Child AND parent or legal guardian must be a resident of West Virginia. Only one entry per eligible child permitted. Multiple children in a household may be entered to win. Entries must be submitted by Wednesday, May 20. To enter the sweepstakes or view the official rules, visit www.wvtreasury.gov/fundthefuture. The winner of the sweepstakes will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, May 29, also known as “National 529 Day.” Treasurer Pack launched the “Fund the Future” sweepstakes on May 1 in Charleston. Since then, there have been more than 4,200 entries. SMART529 is a qualified tuition program issued by the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College and Jumpstart Savings Programs and administered by Hartford Funds. Complete information about SMART529 plans and investment options is available at www.SMART529.com. Read the full article

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – State Treasurer Larry Pack today announced West Virginia-based account holders of the SMART529 Program have surpassed $1 billion in total assets saved for the first time in history. “This achievement means West Virginians realize the benefit and value of investing in our state’s SMART529 plan to save for their child’s education,” Treasurer Pack said. “This milestone underscores the meaningful impact of our program in expanding access to higher education opportunities and improving long-term outcomes for West Virginia families. If we want a stronger economy, we must do everything in our power to invest in a well-trained workforce, as well as the next generation of West Virginia leaders.” Nationally, West Virginia’s SMART529 Plan has more than $3.4 billion in assets under management. There are three plans available to West Virginia participants: SMART529 WV Direct, SMART529 Select, and The Hartford SMART529. West Virginians can invest in any of these three options. SMART529 Select and The Hartford SMART529 are available nationwide. SMART529 is West Virginia’s federal and state tax-advantaged plan designed to help families save for both K-12 and higher education expenses. Savings may be used for tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, computers, supplies, and more. These savings can be used nationwide and around the globe at thousands of colleges, universities, and technical schools. The SMART529 Program is issued by the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College and Jumpstart Savings Programs and administered by Hartford Funds. Complete information about SMART529 plans and investment options is available at www.SMART529.com. Read the full article