COLUMBUS, Ohio – Several Southeast Ohio ZIP codes each contain more than $5 million in unclaimed funds currently safeguarded by the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Unclaimed Funds. Notably, the region’s top two ZIP codes (45601 and 43701) each have more than $8 million awaiting their rightful owners. Statewide, the Division is holding $5.4 billion in unclaimed funds belonging to Ohio residents, businesses, and organizations.
Below is a list of the top ten ZIP codes in Southeast Ohio with the most in unclaimed funds safeguarded by the Division.
Top 10 ZIP Codes in Southeast Ohio: Listed in order of amount of Unclaimed Funds
- 45601 – Chillicothe, Ross County (Ohio Rank: 73) – $8.4 million
- 43701 – Zanesville, Muskingum County (79) – $8.1 million
- 45662 – Portsmouth, Scioto County (143) – $5.7 million
- 45750 – Marietta, Washington County (160) – $5.2 million
- 45701 – Athens, Athens County (202) – $4.4 million
- 43725 – Cambridge, Guernsey County (269) – $3.3 million
- 45638 – Ironton, Lawrence County (274) – $3.2 million
- 43950 – Saint Clairsville, Belmont County (300) – $2.8 million
- 45631 – Gallipolis, Gallia County (314) – $2.5 million
- 45690 – Waverly, Pike County (330) – $2.3 million
Below is a list of the top five ZIP codes statewide:
Top 5 ZIP Codes in Ohio: Listed in order of amount of Unclaimed Funds
- 45840 – Findlay, Hancock County – $24.8 million
- 43215 – Columbus, Franklin County – $23.9 million
- 45202 – Cincinnati, Hamilton County – $22.9 million
- 44122 – Beachwood, Cuyahoga County – $20.7 million
- 45501 – Springfield, Clark County – $17.6 million
Ohioans are invited to see where their ZIP code ranks by accessing a comprehensive list of 1,462 Ohio ZIP codes and seeing how much money is waiting to be claimed by local residents, companies, and organizations.
The Division publishes this list amid a statewide media campaign featuring Lt. Governor Jim Tressel that encourages Ohioans – particularly older individuals – to check for unclaimed funds. The campaign launched this past July during a historically busy period for the Division. When FY2026 ended on June 30, 2026, the number of submitted claims to the Division had increased by roughly 50% compared to FY2025. Additionally, the Division paid more than 184,000 claims last fiscal year, representing a 168% increase over FY2025. Meanwhile, the overall amount returned to Ohioans by the Division increased by 72% in FY2026 from FY2025 ($190 million vs. $149.9 million).
In addition to working to raise overall awareness of unclaimed funds and the claims process, the Division is also actively making important enhancements behind the scenes to help Ohioans receive their money faster. Several updates currently underway aim to remove barriers that can slow down the review and approval process. These enhancements include eliminating the requirement for a W-9 tax form, removing the need for notarized claim forms, and adding nearly two dozen intermittent and/or full-time staff dedicated to processing claims.
“When we see Ohio communities with especially high amounts of unclaimed funds, it reminds us how important it is for people to check and claim what belongs to them. We don’t want anyone to leave money behind,” Division Superintendent Akil Hardy said. “We’re committed to returning more money to Ohioans as quickly as possible by investing in technology that makes the claims process faster and easier.”
The search doesn’t end after residents check where their ZIP code ranks. Ohioans can follow these three simple steps to see if unclaimed funds are currently being held in their name or that of a loved one.
- Search for unclaimed funds and generate a claim form by visiting unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov.
- Review and gather the required documentation.
- Submit the claim form and any documents by mail or upload them directly through the system.
Ohioans who have submitted claims for funds can check the status of their claim 24/7 by visiting unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov. Individuals with questions are also invited to contact the Division’s customer support team at 614-466-4433.
