2021

8 SPRINGFIELD – Bidders from across the country spent more than $192,000 at this past weekend’s live unclaimed property auction at the Illinois State Fair, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today. “We are very proud to host another successful live auction,” Frerichs said. “It was great to see collectors join us for our fifth year hosting this event. We look forward to hosting again in 2022.” This year’s auction, which was held on Saturday, Aug. 21, had more than 15,000 items, divided into 250 lots, worth approximately $150,000. Frerichs…

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced the winners of the 2021 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest. The annual contest encourages young photographers to explore and take photos that share their vision of agriculture in our state. “Congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Cream of the Crop photo contest and thank you to every student who submitted a photo,” Frerichs said. “We are proud of the images of Illinois agriculture captured by students across throughout our state. Through the hundreds of beautiful photos submitted, we…

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Funds, a mutual fund investment used by local governments through the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, earned the top AAA rating from Fitch Ratings, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today. The rating mirrors the investment confidence already shown by Morningstar for the Bright Start 529 college savings program. “When public officials focus on their duties and responsibilities, great things happen,” Frerichs said. “The Illinois Funds is another way we invest in the people of Illinois.” Established in 1975, more than 1,500 units of government such as…

SPRINGFIELD — One of the state’s oldest consumer-protection initiatives returned $226 million in lost and misplaced money to an estimated 174,000 people last year despite an economy struggling under the weight and fear of a global pandemic, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today. The program, often referred to as I-Cash, safeguards unclaimed property such as unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards until it can be returned to its owner. The state treasurer is required to return the money no matter how long it takes.…

SPRINGFIELD — An 1827 Bust half dollar coin, vintage 18K yellow gold manual wind Patek Philippe men’s watch, commemorative Olympic coins and sport memorabilia, including cards for Chicago legends Michael Jordan and Frank Thomas, are among the unclaimed property items worth nearly $150,000 to be auctioned on Aug. 21 at the Lincoln Stage during the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. “We are excited to visit the state fair and look forward to interacting with collectors for this year’s unclaimed property live auction,” Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said. “We have…