More than $220m in lost money waiting to be claimed, NSW state government reveals

Around one in 14 New South Wales residents could be eligible to claim a share in more than $220 million of unclaimed money, the state government has announced.

The lost cash, which is being held in a NSW Office of State Revenue account, comes from old bank accounts where the owner cannot be tracked down, unclaimed share dividends, bill refunds, deceased estates and trust funds.

More than 530,000 separate cash deposits are also waiting to be collected.

NSW Finance Minister Dominic Perrottet said "one in 14 people" in New South Wales could be eligible to claim a share of the money.

"In 2016, one claimant was reunited with $428,000, but there are still lots of people out there who could be in line for a windfall to start the year," Minister Perrottet said.

Residents can check if they are owed a share by logging on to the department's website at www.osr.nsw.gov.au.