Ohio vs. Michigan Rivalry Heats Up: Battle for Unclaimed Bucks Begins with Monthlong Challenge

COLUMBUS, Ohio- The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Unclaimed Fundsis kicking off a showdown with a familiar foe - the state up north. "Find Forgotten Funds: The Rivalry Continues" is a spirited November challenge that puts Ohio head-to-head with Michigan to see which state can rack up the most searches for unclaimed funds on their websites.<_o3a_p>

The challenge, which kicks off this Saturday, Nov. 1 and concludes Sunday, Nov. 30, taps into the legendary Ohio State University vs. University of Michigan football rivalry, channeling that competitive fire to help residents on both sides of the border discover forgotten money that's rightfully theirs.<_o3a_p>

"This campaign is about more than just bragging rights," said Susie Wagner, Outreach Supervisor for the Ohio Division of Unclaimed Funds. "It's also about raising awareness and helping Ohioans discover money they may not even know exists. Every year, millions of dollars go unclaimed simply because people don't know about it. This fun challenge aims to change that by educating and engaging residents of both states while tapping into the excitement of the rivalry."<_o3a_p>

How to participate
Ohio residents can join the challenge by visiting unclaimedfunds.ohio.govand searching their name, or even the names of friends and family members, for unclaimed funds. The process is completely free, takes only a few minutes, requires no account creation, and could lead to extra money in your pocket. If Ohioans do discover any unclaimed funds, they can file a file a claim on the spot via the user-friendly system.<_o3a_p>

How will the winner be decided?
Ohio and Michigan will track the number of completed searches conducted throughout the month. At the conclusion of the competition, the number of searches will be counted and the state with the most will be declared the winner. The results of the challenge will be announced during the week of Dec. 1.<_o3a_p>

"The real goal is to help as many people as possible connect with their hard-earned money," Wagner said. "The more searches that Ohioans conduct, the more people we can connect with their forgotten funds. This really is a win-win for everyone involved."<_o3a_p>

Help Ohio win
In addition to conducting searches for unclaimed funds, Ohioans are encouraged to spread the word and encourage friends and family to participate. Each search will count toward Ohio's total, and every claim filed could mean extra cash in your pocket.<_o3a_p>

For more information and to start your search, visit unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov. Let's show Michigan what Ohio is made of, on and off the field.<_o3a_p>

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About the Division of Unclaimed Funds
The Division of Unclaimed Funds is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.