With more than $500 million in lost money for Louisiana citizens, Southwest Louisiana residents on Saturday will get a chance to see if a portion of that money belongs to them.

State Treasurer John Kennedy will host the annual Unclaimed Property Awareness Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 10, at Prien Lake Mall.

The average Unclaimed Property claim is $200-$400, and it mostly includes old savings and checking accounts, payroll checks, CDs, stocks and dividends, insurance proceeds, oil and gas royalty payments, utility deposits and similar funds. For example, if a business cannot locate an individual the money belongs to, generally because of a wrong address, the money is entrusted to the state.

Kennedy says he predicts they’ll return more than $20,000 throughout the course of the day.“It’s amazing to think of how many people actually have unclaimed property,” Kennedy said by phone Tuesday.

Since the program began in 1996 the state Treasury has given back about $300 million.“As fast as I return it, we get more money in,” he said. “I know it seems too good to be true, but we’ve returned a lot of money. There is no catch.”

Kennedy said he feels efforts like this help the economy.

“There’s an important principle here. It’s about holding government to the same standard that government holds people.”

Lost money in the 6-parish region include: Allen, $1,220,320; Beauregard, $1,474,170; Calcasieu, $11, 707,070; Cameron, $367,741; Jefferson Davis, $1,409,863; and Vernon, $2,626,801.

Attendees will be able to file a claim if they have lost money. Bring a photo ID and Social Security Card. Depending on the claim, more information may be required.

Kennedy encourages residents who cannot attend Saturday’s Unclaimed Property event to search for missing money online at www.LATreasury.com or by calling the Treasury’s toll-free hotline at 888-925-4127.

(mgnonline.com)