Is Pathward Unclaimed Property Escheat Letter a Scam?

Pathward is a large, legitimate bank that issues prepaid debit cards, gift cards, payroll cards, and tax refund deposits (such as Jackson Hewitt or H&R Block funds). If an account or card has been completely inactive for an extended period, state laws mandate that the bank must transfer those funds to the state treasury—a legal process called escheatment.

Is This a Scam?

The notice is highly likely legitimate, not a scam. It is a legally required "pre-escheatment" notification. The bank sends this as a final effort to return your money directly to you before they are legally forced to hand it over to the state.

How to Claim Your Money

You have two choices to get your funds back, depending on your comfort level:

Option 1: Claim directly from Pathward (Before Escheatment)

If you act before the deadline listed on your letter, you can reclaim the funds directly from the bank.

• Download and fill out the official Pathward Unclaimed Property Form.
• Mail, email (unclaimedproperty@pathward.com), or fax the form along with two copies of your government ID.
• Security Tip: Never use contact numbers or web addresses provided on an unexpected letter. Verify the official information on the Pathward Unclaimed Property Portal.

Option 2: Claim from your State (After Escheatment)

If you missed the deadline or feel uncomfortable sending your Social Security Number (SSN) and ID copies via mail/fax to the bank, you can simply let the funds transfer to the state.

• Once the deadline passes, Pathward will send the money to your state's treasury.
• You can search for and claim your funds securely and for free using tools like Unclaimed.org or MissingMoney.com.
• State governments never charge a fee to return your property, and there is no deadline to claim it once they have it.