CHARLESTON (PRESS RELEASE) – State Treasurer John Perdue's office returned to Mercer County residents the highest unclaimed property total amount and the largest average claim in the eight-county southeast region.
Mercer residents received a cumulative $343,252 in calendar 2011 with 262 claims paid. That works out to $1,310 per average claim. Included among claimants are individuals, businesses and family estates.
Mercer's totals received a huge shot in the arm by a $169,491 check presented to 89-year-old Frank Imperiale last summer. Imperiale's check is not the first large one to be returned to the Imperiale family; Frank's brother Xavier received a $630,837 check in 2003.
Unclaimed property is any asset from which a person has become separated. Examples could be a left-behind utility deposit or a forgotten paycheck.
After a certain period of inactivity, holders of such property are required to surrender the assets to the State Treasury. Through website access, newspaper inserts and the efforts of field staff, attempts are made to find owners. Once owners are found, the claim process starts, with one key aim the confirmation of identity. Real estate is not considered unclaimed property.
Other county totals for the southeast region:
• Raleigh -- $124,328, 256 claims, $485 average per claim
• Greenbrier -- $76,251, 111 claims, $687 average per claim
• Fayette -- $45,030, 133 claims, $338 average per claim
• Wyoming -- $23,431, 51 claims, $459 average per claim
• Summers -- $17,280, 38 claims, $454 average per claim
• Monroe -- $13,071, 33 claims, $396 average per claim
• McDowell -- $9,534, 34 claims, $280 average per claim
The West Virginia Unclaimed Property Division currently holds approximately 860,000 accounts worth approximately $162 million.
"As always, we're delighted to rejoin residents with their property, regardless of where they live in this great state," Treasurer Perdue said. "Unclaimed property belongs to our citizens and we must do everything we can to get it back to them."
