JACKSON, Miss.–Maybe you had an old bank account that you forgot about. Maybe you moved and forgot to claim your deposit from the power company. You might be owed some money, and that’s one reason the Office of the State Treasurer Booth is open at the Mississippi State Fair. You’ll find the unclaimed property section to look it up.
You can find it inside the Trade Mart, said State Treasurer Lynn Fitch.
New this year, you will not only have the opportunity to search for unclaimed property, but will also have the chance to learn more about College Savings Mississippi and the Treasurer’s Education About Money (TEAM) when they stop by the booth, which is located inside the Trade Mart. The Treasurer’s staff will have computers and claim forms to assist Mississippians in searching for their unclaimed funds or securities.
“The Treasurer’s unclaimed property booth has been a great Fair tradition for many years,” said Fitch. “It is my hope to reach out to as many people as possible over these next twelve days. Last year at this very booth, we returned $132,000 to one family, and matched a total of $457,000 during the Fair. These experiences have truly been among the most rewarding parts of serving as Mississippi’s State Treasurer, and I look forward to continuing to work to return these dollars back into the hands of Mississippians.”
Treasury staff will also have information available about the two college savings plans offered through the Office of the State Treasurer, the Mississippi Affordable College Savings Plan (MACS) and the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Savings Plan (MPACT). MACS helps families save for college expenses such as tuition, books, supplies, and certain room and board expenses. Families can open a MACS account with a deposit as little as $25. Employers who stop by the booth will have an opportunity to learn how to offer payroll deduction for deposits to MACS accounts, as a benefit to their employees.
MPACT is Mississippi’s prepaid tuition plan that prepays the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, and protects against future rises in college tuition. MPACT offers tuition plans for universities, community colleges, or a combination of the two.
“With the price of college continuing to rise, it’s important to plan ahead,” said Treasurer Fitch. “So whether you take advantage of MACS, MPACT, or both plans, the most important thing is to plan ahead for your child’s future.”
To search for unclaimed property or learn more about College Savings Mississippi, you can visit the Treasurer’s website at www.treasurerlynnfitch.com.
