Title 12Banks and BankingRelease 119-73

§2503 State entitlement to escheat or custody

Title 12 › Chapter CHAPTER 26— - DISPOSITION OF ABANDONED MONEY ORDERS AND TRAVELER’S CHECKS › § 2503

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Decides which state may claim unclaimed money on a money order, traveler’s check, or similar written instrument when a bank or business is directly responsible (not a third‑party bank check). If the issuer’s records show the state where it was bought, that state alone may take the money under its own laws. If the records do not show where it was bought, the state where the issuer has its main office may take the money until another state gives written proof it was bought there. If the purchase state’s laws do not allow taking the money, the issuer’s main‑office state may take it, but the purchase state can get it back later if it changes its law.

Full Legal Text

Title 12, §2503

Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Where any sum is payable on a money order, traveler’s check, or other similar written instrument (other than a third party bank check) on which a banking or financial organization or a business association is directly liable—
(1)if the books and records of such banking or financial organization or business association show the State in which such money order, traveler’s check, or similar written instrument was purchased, that State shall be entitled exclusively to escheat or take custody of the sum payable on such instrument, to the extent of that State’s power under its own laws to escheat or take custody of such sum;
(2)if the books and records of such banking or financial organization or business association do not show the State in which such money order, traveler’s check, or similar written instrument was purchased, the State in which the banking or financial organization or business association has its principal place of business shall be entitled to escheat or take custody of the sum payable on such money order, traveler’s check, or similar written instrument, to the extent of that State’s power under its own laws to escheat or take custody of such sum, until another State shall demonstrate by written evidence that it is the State of purchase; or
(3)if the books and records of such banking or financial organizations or business association show the State in which such money order, traveler’s check, or similar written instrument was purchased and the laws of the State of purchase do not provide for the escheat or custodial taking of the sum payable on such instrument, the State in which the banking or financial organization or business association has its principal place of business shall be entitled to escheat or take custody of the sum payable on such money order, traveler’s check, or similar written instrument, to the extent of that State’s power under its own laws to escheat or take custody of such sum, subject to the right of the State of purchase to recover such sum from the State of principal place of business if and when the law of the State of purchase makes provision for escheat or custodial taking of such sum.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

12 U.S.C. § 2503

Title 12Banks and Banking

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73