Each year, the Illinois State Treasurer's Office receives the contents of safe deposit boxes from banks and other financial institutions. The contents have been abandoned for at least five years.

The names of the contents’ owners are published in local newspapers, and the contents are stored in the state's vault. If the owners or their heirs do not come forward to claim the contents, the Treasurer's Office holds an auction of the contents.

The property is sold on eBay and the proceeds are held for the rightful owners or heirs. Properties to be auctioned include jewelry, coins, stamps and many miscellaneous and collectible items. New items are added each week. Items that are underbid are sold on our eBay store page for a set price.

As of Wednesday, August 12, 2009, we are excited to re-launch our eBay auctions. Our first weekly auction will commence on Wednesday evening, August 12th. Please note our eBay user ID has changed to: illinoistreasurerunclaimedproperty. Click here to see our auction page.

A Neumann Association client photographs safe deposit box contents for the state website.

Public Service

In 2009, the State Treasurer's Office partnered with the Neumann Association for the second consecutive year to raise awareness of its programs and the Treasurer's online auctions. Throughout the month of March, the Treasurer's eBay auctions featured photographs taken by Neumann clients, helping to fulfill Neumann's mission to provide education, training and employment opportunities to people with disabilities. Read a Chicago Tribune story about our partnership here.

  
   

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