More than one in 10 Pennsylvania residents is owed unclaimed money, and a new state website aims to get it back to them faster.

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced the launch of searchandclaimpa.gov on Wednesday, Sept. 23, replacing the state's older unclaimed property search tool. The average claim is worth more than $1,000, according to the Pennsylvania Treasury. The state is still sitting on more than $5 billion in unclaimed property statewide.

With one in 10 Pennsylvanians owed money, residents in Whitemarsh, Plymouth and Whitpain townships may find dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks or forgotten stocks in the system. Unclaimed property can also include physical items like collectible coins, jewelry and savings bonds from old safe deposit boxes. State law requires businesses to report such property to the Treasury after three years of dormancy.

Garrity said in a statement that the upgraded site offers a faster way for Pennsylvanians to recover their money. Since taking office, she has returned more than $1.2 billion in unclaimed property to individuals, businesses and nonprofits.

The new system includes several upgrades. It automatically groups qualifying properties under the same owner, so claimants don't have to file separate searches. Claims of $500 or less can now be returned automatically through the state's Money Match program. No paperwork is required. The site also shows exact dollar amounts for properties under $500, lets users share found property with friends or family by email and flags potential fraud for additional review.

Money Match, created by Act 81 of 2024 with unanimous support in the state House and Senate, returned more than $50 million to Pennsylvanians in its first year. It is now built into the new site.

Since the upgraded system went live, an additional $5 million has already been matched with claimants, according to the Treasury.

Residents can search for unclaimed property at searchandclaimpa.gov or call the Treasury's customer service line at 800-222-2046.