Press Releases

NEWPORT BEACH – State Controller Malia M. Cohen today announced all 58 counties of California will be reunited with a combined $2.3 million in unclaimed property. Controller Cohen made the announcement during the welcome remarks at the 115th California State Association of County Auditors (SACA) Conference.

The City and County of San Francisco and Los Angeles County top the list for unclaimed property values, with reunions totaling $562,112.46 and $492,415.70, respectively. Riverside County ranks third with $192,521.35, followed by San Mateo County with $181,443.18, and San Bernardino County with $96,244.66.

California’s Unclaimed Property program is administered by the State Controller’s Office (SCO), which currently safeguards unclaimed properties worth a total of $14 billion. Since 1959, this consumer protection program has been designed to ensure businesses and other entities return properties belonging to a customer with whom they have lost contact. Common types of unclaimed property include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, uncashed checks, insurance benefits, and safe deposit box contents.

“Safeguarding and reuniting Californians with their rightful assets — including those held by county entities — is a core mission of the State Controller’s Office, and I am proud to showcase that commitment here today,” said Controller Cohen. “As the chief fiscal officer of the world’s fourth-largest economy, I remain deeply focused on partnering with local governments to strengthen fiscal stewardship and ensure that every community across California is well served.”

Counties in attendance at the SACA Conference received their unclaimed property from Controller Cohen. The SCO is also hosting a booth that will provide a list of unclaimed property accounts available to claim by all counties upon request.

Controller Cohen urges all Californians to visit SCO’s claimit.ca.gov website to learn more about and search for their unclaimed property.

Below is the list of top unclaimed property values that were reunited with counties:

1. San Francisco: $562,112.46
2. Los Angeles: $492,415.70
3. Riverside: $192,521.35
4. San Mateo: $181,443.18
5. San Bernardino: $96,244.66
6. Ventura: $80,629.68
7. Fresno: $78,137.74
8. Santa Clara: $72,234.78
9. Santa Barbara: $68,578.52
10. Sacramento: $68,369.19

The SACA Conference is held April 29-May 1 in Newport Beach to convene auditor-controllers across the state for discussions of best practices in today’s legislative climate, as well as risk assessment, fraud scenarios, property tax primers and more.

The California State Association of County Auditors aims to foster collaboration among County Auditors, Controllers, and Finance Officers across California, while advancing best practices in accounting and auditing aligned with governmental standards. SACA aims to enhance understanding of legislation's financial impact on counties, improve efficiency through state-local government collaboration, and increase public awareness of our roles. Additionally, they strive to support professional growth through relevant programs in accounting, auditing, and public finance.

As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Cohen is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds. She is a member of numerous financing authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. She also serves on the boards for the nation’s two largest public pension funds. Follow the Controller on X at @CAController and on Facebook at California State Controller’s Office.

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