We found $300.00 in one of our branch lobbies last month. No one has tried to claim it. Does anyone know what our responsibility is to try and find the owner? Or any suggestions on what we do with the money now. Can we put it in our recoveries account?

It depends on state law, but you may actually have to escheat it at some point.

What $300?

sounds like a donation to the employee's activity committee

My question is, How do we escheat something when we do not know who it belongs to? It would then just be a donation to the State. I like the idea of it being a donation to our employee charity. Every year we donate to the High Schools in our service areas for their Sober Grad party. If someone ever made a legitimate claim, we could always make it good.

We had a ring (seemingly of some value) that we found in the lobby and held onto for a year hoping the owner might claim it. I called our Bureau of Unclaimed Property (in PA) and was told that lost and found items do not fall under the Escheat laws and we might consider donating the ring to charity.

If you are located in New York, "Lost & Found Property" is to be deposited with the police.
NYS Personal Property Law "Article 7-B, Lost and Found Property" http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?cl=83&a=6

How's this for a "found money" problem.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/3024555/detail.html

I found what I needed to do in the California Civl Code. Although I am not sure how they are going to auction off cash money if it is not claimed. Thanks for all your responses.