Auditor of State Dennis Milligan has reached a significant milestone, returning over $100 million to current and former Arkansans through the Unclaimed Property division.
Since taking office, Milligan has returned $100.2 million, with unclaimed property often including cash from unreturned utility deposits, unused checking accounts, or overpayments.
“We hit the ground running when I took office and we haven’t looked back,” Milligan said, crediting his team for their active outreach efforts.
These efforts include attending festivals, holding mobile offices, and running letter campaigns to notify people of their unclaimed property.
Milligan personally delivered claim paperwork to an elderly couple in Jacksonville, helping them recover over $489,000 they were unaware of.
Milligan’s team has worked to dispel skepticism about the program, known as the Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt.
“People are understandably skeptical when they hear that someone is trying to give them money, but I try to reassure them two things: one, the program is legitimate; and two, the money we’re returning is their money,” Milligan said.
The new Data Match program, authorized by Act 114 of 2025, has also contributed to the milestone by sending automatic checks to individuals owed between $50 and $5,000.
Since September, this initiative has returned $8.1 million through more than 41,000 checks.
“Thanks to the Arkansas Legislature, our new Data Match initiative helps cut through the red tape and get this money back into the hands of its rightful owners where it belongs,” Milligan said.
The auditor’s office still holds over $400 million in unclaimed property, available to individuals, businesses, and nonprofits.
