Treasury's Big Match Aims for Rapid Return of Unclaimed Funds

Connecticut State Treasurer Erick Russell has launched CT Big Match, described as a streamlining initiative designed to return unclaimed property to Connecticut residents quicker and easier than ever before.

“We anticipate that about $2.5 million in unclaimed property will be returned directly to more than 15,000 Connecticut residents through the CT Big Match program in the coming months, without recipients even having to file a claim,” said Treasurer Russell. “Our goal is to get this money back to its rightful owners, and this new system is greatly simplifying the process. I’m proud of our Unclaimed Property division for launching CT Big Match, and I thank them for all their hard work.”

Unclaimed property includes assets such as bank accounts, insurance policies, utility deposits, and uncashed checks. With CT Big Match, eligible residents will not need to file a claim for this money if their identity can be matched and confirmed in the Treasurer’s Office system.

How CT Big Match Works, according to Treasury officials:

• Automatic Matching: If you are the sole owner of unclaimed property worth less than $2,500, you may be eligible for CT Big Match.

• Notification: If we can match you and your address with our records of abandoned property, you will receive a letter in the mail informing you of the match and how much money you can expect to receive.

• Checks Go Out: About 6-8 weeks after receiving the notification, your check will arrive in the mail.

“We’re sending letters ahead of the checks because we realize that people will be reasonably suspicious of a check just showing up in the mail,” explained Treasurer Russell. “We want everyone to know that this is a legitimate program, and the money they receive from Connecticut’s Unclaimed Property program is theirs.”

CT Big Match is a continuation of the streamlining efforts that began last year with the launch of FastTrack. FastTrack uses similar matching technology to efficiently approve claims under $2,500 with a sole owner. Since it began, officials indicate that more than 22,000 Connecticut residents have been reunited with more than $3 million of abandoned property through FastTrack. 

“Whether you qualify for CT Big Match or not, we encourage everyone to check CTBigList.gov to see if they have unclaimed property,” said Treasurer Russell. “In Fiscal Year 2024, we returned $82 million to Connecticut residents, and we want to return even more this year. Searching CTBigList.gov for property and filing a claim is free and easy to do, and everyone should take a few minutes to see if they have money waiting for them.”

For more information, or to search for unclaimed property, visit CTBigList.gov.