JPMorgan Chase is one of the largest banks in the world, and it’s also one of the largest holders of unclaimed property in California. JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. has reported over $76 million in unclaimed funds to the State Controller’s Office — from dormant checking and savings accounts, uncashed cashier’s checks, abandoned safe deposit boxes, and more.
If you’ve ever held an account with Chase, Washington Mutual, or any of the other banks JPMorgan has acquired, some of that money could be yours.
Why Does JPMorgan Chase Have So Much Unclaimed Property?
Chase serves roughly 82 million consumer households in the United States. With that volume of accounts, a steady stream of dormant balances flows to state governments every year. The most common sources include checking and savings accounts that went inactive after a customer moved or switched banks, uncashed cashier’s checks and money orders, safe deposit boxes at branches that were closed or consolidated, unclaimed credit card reward balances and refunds, and CDs that matured without being renewed or cashed out.
JPMorgan Chase has also grown through a long series of acquisitions. The most notable was Washington Mutual (WaMu), which failed during the 2008 financial crisis and was acquired by JPMorgan. Chase also absorbed Bear Stearns, Bank One, Chemical Bank, Manufacturers Hanover, and many others. If you had an account with any of these institutions, your unclaimed property may now be reported under the JPMorgan Chase name.
JPMorgan Chase Unclaimed Property in California
Based on our analysis of California’s unclaimed property data (as of November 2023), JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. has reported $76,967,708 in unclaimed property to California. This makes it the seventh-largest holder in the state.
Keep in mind this is a single entity in a single state. Washington Mutual, Bank One, and other acquired banks may appear as separate line items, and JPMorgan reports across all 50 states.
How to Search for Chase Unclaimed Property
Once funds have been escheated, Chase no longer holds them — the state does. You need to search state databases directly:
Multi-state search: MissingMoney.com lets you search multiple states at once.
State-by-state: Unclaimed.org links to each state’s individual database.
California: Search at claimit.ca.gov. See our California unclaimed property guide for details.
Search tips:
- Search under “Washington Mutual” and “WaMu” as well. WaMu had millions of customers across the western United States. If you had a WaMu account in 2008 when it failed, your unclaimed funds may appear under either the Washington Mutual or JPMorgan Chase name.
- Don’t forget Bank One. Before the JPMorgan Chase merger in 2004, Bank One was one of the largest banks in the Midwest. Former Bank One customers should search under both names.
- Search every state where you’ve banked. If you opened a Chase account in New York but later moved to California, the unclaimed funds could be in either state.
- Try business names. Small business checking accounts are commonly abandoned when a business closes.
How to File a Claim
Claims are filed through the state, not through Chase. You’ll typically need a government-issued photo ID, your Social Security number, and documentation linking you to the account — such as an old bank statement, the account number, or correspondence from the bank.
For heir claims, you’ll need a certified death certificate and proof of your relationship or legal authority.
If you had a Washington Mutual account specifically, keep in mind that WaMu’s failure was handled by the FDIC. You may also want to check the FDIC’s unclaimed funds database for any deposits from the WaMu failure that weren’t transferred to Chase.
Banks Acquired by JPMorgan Chase
If you banked with any of these institutions, your unclaimed funds may be reported under JPMorgan Chase:
- Washington Mutual (WaMu)
- Bear Stearns
- Bank One
- Chemical Bank
- Manufacturers Hanover
- Chase Manhattan Bank
- Great Western Financial
- First Chicago NBD
- Providian Financial
What to Do Next
With millions of former customers from Chase and its acquired banks, there’s a good chance someone you know has unclaimed money sitting with a state government. Run a search for yourself and your family — it’s free and takes just a few minutes.
For a full walkthrough of every database to check, read our complete guide to finding unclaimed money. You can also check our guides for Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Charles Schwab unclaimed property.
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