Special to the HT
MEEKER | The Great Colorado Payback has returned $100 million to claimants with two months remaining in the fiscal year, breaking the previous $80 million record set in fiscal year 2024-25, State Treasurer Dave Young announced Thursday.
The program has resolved about 60,000 claims since July 1, 2025, putting it on pace with last year’s total.
“Returning $100 million is a historic victory for the Treasury and the state,” Young said. He added that the office is continuing to process claims and is “actively mailing out $5 million in checks to Coloradans right now.”
Bianca Gardelli, director of the Unclaimed Property Division, said new outreach strategies and streamlined processes have helped speed up claims.
“Our mission is simple: reunite owners with their funds as quickly as possible,” Gardelli said.
The milestone follows several years of increased returns tied to technology upgrades and legislative changes, according to the treasury. The program has returned $441 million since 2020 and nearly $900 million since it began in 1987.
In addition to the record payout, the treasury said it is mailing $5 million in checks to more than 6,000 preapproved claimants. Recipients will be able to cash the checks without additional documentation.
Unclaimed property includes money and assets turned over to the state when companies cannot locate their owners. The program currently holds about $2.3 billion owed to more than 17 million individuals and entities.
State officials estimate that one in 10 Coloradans has unclaimed property. Residents can search for funds through the state’s unclaimed property program website.
