Ancestor search Archives

How migration during World War II led to the emergence of dormant accounts

roccagroup — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The chaos of World War II altered the world in profound ways, reshaping borders, economies, and the lives of millions. One lesser-discussed consequence of this massive upheaval is the proliferation of dormant accounts. These forgotten pockets of wealth, scattered across banks and financial institutions, were often left behind as people fled, migrated, or were forcibly displaced during the war.

A Global Displacement of People and Wealth

The scale of migration during World War II was unprecedented. By the war’s end, over 60 million people had been displaced, including refugees fleeing Nazi occupation, Holocaust survivors, and soldiers stationed far from home. As people escaped persecution or sought refuge in foreign lands, they often left behind their homes, businesses, and financial assets. For many, accessing their accounts became impossible amidst the destruction of infrastructure and the collapse of banking systems in war-torn regions.

In some cases, individuals deliberately deposited their wealth into foreign accounts to safeguard it from confiscation or loss. Switzerland, with its reputation for neutrality and banking secrecy, became a haven for such deposits. Unfortunately, as families were torn apart and records destroyed, these accounts often went unclaimed.

The Role of Banks During the War

Banks played a significant role in the story of dormant accounts. Many institutions, especially in Europe, were affected by wartime conditions. Branches were destroyed, records were lost, and in some cases, assets were seized by occupying forces. After the war, some banks made efforts to restore lost accounts, but many owners were untraceable, having perished in the Holocaust or the broader conflict.

In other instances, banks failed to make sufficient efforts to locate rightful owners or heirs. The issue of dormant accounts in Swiss banks, for example, became a major topic in the 1990s, when investigations revealed billions of dollars belonging to Holocaust victims and their descendants.

The Post-War Diaspora and Name Changes

The aftermath of the war saw millions resettling in new countries, often adopting new identities or anglicizing their names to integrate into their new communities. These changes made it even harder for financial institutions to match accounts with their rightful owners or heirs. A person who fled Poland as Jan Kowalski might have become John Smith in America, leaving his original bank account effectively untraceable.

Dormant Accounts: A Modern Legacy

Today, the inheritance of wartime migration and displacement lives on in the form of dormant accounts. These assets, often forgotten or inaccessible, represent untold stories of struggle and survival. Efforts to locate and return these funds have gained momentum in recent decades, driven by advances in technology and a growing emphasis on financial transparency.

Organizations and platforms, such as WIOLP, now use artificial intelligence and global databases to connect heirs with lost financial assets. By tracing name variations, migration patterns, and historical records, these tools offer hope for families seeking to reclaim a piece of their heritage.

Each unclaimed account is a reminder of a life disrupted by war and a family’s history left incomplete. As we continue to uncover and address these legacies, we honor the resilience of those who endured one of humanity’s darkest chapters.

Are you curious about whether your family’s history includes a dormant account? Start exploring today. The past may hold more than just stories – it may hold a tangible connection to your inheritace.

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Why you should look for unclaimed assets?

roccagroup — Mon, 05 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Did you know that billions of dollars in unclaimed assets are waiting to be claimed?

Many people are unaware that they may be entitled to money sitting in dormant bank accounts, forgotten savings accounts, uncashed checks, or unclaimed insurance payouts, waiting for their rightful owners or heirs to claim them.

The Shocking Reality of Unclaimed Assets

Unclaimed assets are more common than most people realize. Here are some staggering statistics:

Over $49 billion in unclaimed funds are held by state governments and agencies in the U.S..
In the UK, estimates suggest that between £15 billion and £50 billion are unclaimed across various financial products.
Similarly, in Belgium, nearly €483 million remains unclaimed in old bank accounts.

In 2022, U.S. state governments returned $3 billion in unclaimed property to rightful owners, but billions more remain unclaimed.

Why Do Assets Go Unclaimed?

There are many reasons why financial assets go unclaimed, including:

Change of Address: People often move, switch financial institutions, or change jobs and forget to update their contact details, which can result in lost communication.
Forgotten Accounts: Individuals sometimes open multiple accounts or financial products throughout their lives and may lose track of them, especially if they remain unused for years.
Name Changes: Changes due to marriage or other reasons can complicate the process of matching current records with old accounts or products.
Clerical Errors: Mistakes in record-keeping, such as misspelled names or outdated addresses, can hinder financial institutions from reaching the rightful owners of accounts.

Could You Be Entitled to Unclaimed Assets?

It’s possible that you or your relatives have unclaimed assets waiting to be discovered. These could include forgotten life insurance policies, investments, uncashed checks, bank accounts, or other assets. Reclaiming these funds not only provides a financial boost but also ensures that money rightfully returns to its owners.

Why Should You Search for Unclaimed Assets?

Ignoring unclaimed assets means leaving behind money that rightfully belongs to you or your family. Claiming these funds is your legal right. Whether it amounts to a few hundred dollars or thousands, reclaiming your money is always worthwhile. Searching for unclaimed funds can provide financial relief and can be used for savings, investments, or debt repayment. By looking for unclaimed assets, you ensure that the money from past generations stays within your family instead of being transferred to the government or a designated state fund.

How to Easily Check for Unclaimed Assets with WIOLP

Fortunately, searching for unclaimed assets is easier than ever. WIOLP provides an AI-powered search engine that allows individuals to find dormant unclaimed assets linked to their name or family members. Simply enter your name (or the name of a deceased relative), and WIOLP will scan the database to find potential matches.

If you’ve never checked for unclaimed assets, now is the time to do so. You could be sitting on assets you didn’t even know existed. Start your search today; the process is simple, fast, and secure, and it could lead to a pleasant financial surprise.

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How to properly use AI Match Finder?

roccagroup — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 08:33:29 +0000

Searching for dormant accounts and unclaimed assets can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

AI Match Finder scans databases of dormant accounts using advanced algorithms that detect name variations, misspellings, and related identities, increasing the chances of finding lost assets. Unlike manual searches, which rely on exact matches. Many dormant accounts exist under slightly different spellings, nicknames, maiden names, or initials, which can make manual searching difficult.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to properly search using AI Match Finder and share real-life examples of successful discoveries.

1. Start with Basic Information

Begin by entering your full legal name or the name of the person whose assets you are searching for. If you are searching for a relative, use the name as it was officially recorded, such as on birth certificates or legal documents.

2. Utilize Name Variations

AI Match Finder will generate variations such as common misspellings, abbreviations, and alternative forms of name changes. So when searching for a name, consider all possible combinations.

Example:

If searching for “William Smith” might also appear as “Bill Smith” or “Wilhelm Schmidt”.
If searching for “Jonathan Müller“, AI Match Finder might also check for “Jon Miller” or “John Miler“.

AI technology considers factors like:

Phonetic similarities (e.g., “Smith” vs. “Smyth“).
Common typos or misspellings (e.g., “Jonh” vs. “John“).
Shortened versions (e.g., “Robert” vs. “Rob“)
Middle names or initials (e.g., “James A. Smith” vs. “James Smith“).
Hyphenated or maiden names (e.g., “Mary-Jane Carter” vs. “Mary Jane Carter“).
Accounting for cultural naming conventions and common typographical errors.

By utilizing machine learning, AI Match Finder improves over time, increasing the likelihood of finding unclaimed assets that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Learn more about: How to find out information about relatives, 8 Rules for properly recording names, or Search ancestor’s name

3. Refine Results Using Filters

While AI Match Finder is designed to handle incomplete data, refining the search with details like birthdate, nationality, or last known residence, significantly increases accuracy.

So if too many potential matches appear, search more precisely by these filters:

Location: Narrow your search by selecting the country, state, or city where the person lived or held financial accounts.
Birth Date: If available, input the exact or approximate birth date to filter out irrelevant results.
Nationality: This filter helps identify records tied to specific countries, particularly useful for individuals with dual citizenship or migration history.

4. Review Matches and Claim

The AI provides a list of potential matches. However, manual verification of each potential match is essential before proceeding with claims of the assets.

If you identify a strong match, follow the instructions provided to verify ownership and initiate the claim process.

Real-Life Examples of AI Match Finder in Action

Example 1: The Case of a Misspelled Last Name

Lisa Anderson was searching for unclaimed assets belonging to her late grandfather, “Samuel Eriksson“. Initially, she didn’t find results under “Eriksson”. However, AI Match Finder suggested alternative spellings like “Ericson” and “Erickson”. A dormant account was found under “Samuel Erickson”, and Lisa successfully claimed her grandfather’s forgotten savings.

Example 2: Discovering an Account Under an Origin Name

Jessica Miller was looking for unclaimed funds left by her mother, “Margaret Miller“. AI Match Finder generated the name “Margaret Müller”. Jessica realized that it was her mother’s German name and the account was from before her mother moved to the USA, leading to a successful asset recovery.

Example 3: Identifying a Claim Through Phonetic Matching

John learned that his uncle, “Christopher McAllister“, had an insurance payout, but no records matched his search. AI Match Finder suggested alternate spellings like “McAlister” and “MacAllister“, leading to the discovery of the missing funds.

AI Match Finder is a powerful tool that simplifies the process of locating and claiming dormant accounts. By leveraging name variations and filters such as last known residence, birth date, or nationality, you can significantly improve your chances of finding unclaimed assets.
If you are searching for dormant accounts, ensure you take full advantage of AI Match Finder’s intelligent search capabilities to recover what rightfully belongs to you.

Ready to start your search?

Start searching now or read the next guide on How to use the WIOLP Search Engine step-by-step.

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Why people don’t contact financial institutions

roccagroup — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Many financial institutions have a statement on their websites that reads something like this: “If you think you might have a dormant account with us, contact us.” This statement assumes that individuals know where to look and how to navigate the process but this assumption is far from reality.

On the surface, this seems straightforward, but in reality, it poses a daunting challenge for individuals seeking to claim forgotten assets.

Many dormant accounts were forgotten by the claimants’ ancestors, leaving current generations with little to no information. Without specific details, such as the institution’s name or the account type, individuals often have to rely on guesswork or luck.

There are tens of thousands of financial institutions globally. With banks, funds, investment firms, or insurance companies in every corner of the world, the sheer number of possibilities makes it nearly impossible for individuals to know which financial institution to contact.

For an individual, determining which financial institution might hold a dormant account linked to their ancestors is an overwhelming task. With no central database of dormant accounts, people are left to just guess where to start.

Imagine the case of someone searching for an account linked to an ancestor who migrated multiple times. Over 70% of the global population has migrated at least once in their family history. So many dormant accounts are held in countries foreign to the claimant. Over centuries, migrations, spelling conventions, and language changes have altered how names are written and recorded.

A name or surname could have been shortened, hyphenated, or translated entirely into a different language.

For example, someone named “John Smith” in English could also be recorded as “Johann Schmidt” in German or “Giovanni Smit” in Italian.

To account for these variations, a claimant might need to try dozens of combinations. Multiply this by the number of potential institutions, and the effort becomes unmanageable.

Imagine trying to send an application to hundreds of financial institutions for every possible variation and combination of an ancestor’s name – it’s simply unrealistic.

Let’s break this down:

Name Variations: Ancestors may have adapted their names to fit local customs. Searching for every combination, such as “John Smith”, “Johann Schmidt”, and “Jean Smeets”, would require sending out hundreds or even thousands of requests.
Lack of Information: Often, individuals don’t have enough information about their ancestors. The account holder may not have passed down records or even mentioned the existence of the account.
Volume of Institutions: If someone wanted to check all possible financial institutions, they would face an astronomical number of requests. For example, there are over 4,000 banks in the U.S. alone, not to mention global institutions. It’s simply unfeasible to contact each one.
Response Times: Financial institutions can take anywhere from 30 to 120 days to respond to a single inquiry. With thousands of requests to send, this process could span decades.

Given these challenges, it’s no surprise that many people don’t even attempt to contact financial institutions.

How WIOLP Works

WIOLP aggregates information about dormant accounts from financial institutions worldwide into a single global, searchable database.

Instead of contacting thousands of financial institutions individually and guessing which financial institution might hold an account, claimants can search in one place WIOLP’s database using their ancestors’ names. The platform’s AI-powered search tools can handle multiple name variations and account for linguistic and cultural differences. This significantly reduces the time and effort required to locate dormant accounts.

WIOLP’s algorithms automatically generate potential name variations based on migration patterns, language changes, and spelling conventions. This eliminates the need for users to manually think of and search for every possible variation.

Even if claimants have limited information about their ancestors, WIOLP’s database and intelligent search tools can uncover potential matches based on partial data.

The platform is designed for global accessibility and intuitive tools that make it easy to use, even for those unfamiliar with financial systems.

Instead of waiting months for responses from individual financial institutions, WIOLP provides real-time potential matches. Users can review these results, refine their searches, and add new information as it becomes available.

With WIOLP, reclaiming dormant accounts is no longer a matter of luck but a matter of access.

Maintaining trust with customers, complying with regulations, and recovering dormant assets are all key to an institution’s long-term sustainability.

WIOLP empowers financial institutions to recover dormant accounts and unlock their hidden potential. Let’s start the conversation – Book a meeting

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How to use the WIOLP Search Engine

roccagroup — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:50:57 +0000

The WIOLP search engine, powered by AI Match Finder, is a powerful tool for globally locating dormant accounts and reclaiming lost financial assets. With its advanced AI Match Finder and user-friendly filters, the platform simplifies the search process and helps you find accounts that might be tied to your ancestors. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use the search engine effectively, complete with practical examples to maximize your success.

To get started, start here and sign up.

Searching Tip

Why combinations of names and last names are important? Considering name variations is crucial when searching for unclaimed inheritance. Historical records often contain discrepancies, and exploring these variations can significantly improve your chances of success.

1. Spelling Errors:
Typos and inconsistencies are common in historical records. Examples include:

William vs.Willem
Elizabeth vs.Elisabet
Johnson vs. Jhonson

2. Nicknames:
Many individuals used nicknames throughout their lives. Examples:

John may appear as Jack or Johnny
Mary may be recorded as Molly

3. Middle Names:
Middle names are often omitted or abbreviated. Examples:

David A. Smith might appear as David Smith or D. Smith

4. Marriage and Divorce:
Name changes due to marriage or divorce can add complexity. Examples:

Sarah Jones might become Sarah Miller after marriage
After a divorce, she might revert to Sarah Jones

5. Translations:
Names may be translated differently across languages. Examples:

Pedro (Spanish) could appear as Peter in English
Anna (German) might be listed as Anne

6. Historical Record Keeping:
Early record-keeping practices often led to variations, especially in handwritten documents. Examples:

MacLachlan might be written as McLaughlin
Catharine might appear as Katherine

7. Anglicized Names:
Immigrants often anglicized their names for easier pronunciation. Examples:

Søren (Danish) might become Soren or Suran
Giovanni (Italian) might appear as John

8. Historical Changes:
Spelling and naming conventions evolve over time. Examples:

Christian might have been written as Christen in older records

By exploring all possible variations and combinations of names and last names, you can uncover hidden accounts that may be listed under slightly different names. This comprehensive approach significantly increases your chances of success.

Step 1. Start with Basic Name Searches

Start by entering the first and last name of the person you are searching for in the search form. The search engine will analyze the information and generate results from the database of dormant accounts. This is your initial broad search to identify possible accounts linked to the name.

If you’re unsure of the exact spelling, don’t worry – AI Match Finder will suggest alternative spellings and combinations based on your query.

Example:

Searching for “Johnathan Miller” may also suggest variations like “Jonathan Miller” or “Jon Miller“. Also, use a Last name combination like “Müller” or “Miler“.
If your ancestor’s name is “John Michael Carter” input the full name into the respective fields. If you’re unsure about the middle name, leave it out.
Entering “Anna-Marie Smith” could reveal suggestions such as “Anne Marie Smith” or “Anna M. Smith“.
If the search is too broad, refine it by adding a middle initial, such as “William T. Johnson“.

Try combinations of names

Try combinations of last names

Searching Tip

When researching historical records, be prepared to encounter various variations and combinations of names and last names.

In the registration records, including registration documents, often contain discrepancies in name spellings due to factors like:

Recorder: The person recording the information might use their own spelling conventions.
Period: Variations in language and writing styles were common across different historical periods.
Origin: Names might be adapted to the language used in the document’s location.

It’s not uncommon for a single individual to have multiple recorded names.

Examples:

combinations of names: Johnathan – Jonathas (French) / Jonasan (Japanese) / Jonatan (Spanish, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian) / Gionata (Italian), or e.g. Elizabeth – Isabella (Italian) / Isobel (Scottish) / Isabel (Spanish) / Elisabeta (Romanian) / Elisabete (Portuguese) / Élisabeth (French)
combinations of last names: Rakoczi/Rakoczy/Rakocy, or e.g. Forgach/Forgacs/Forgac, or e.g. Raphanides/Raffanidesz/Rafanides.
Additionally, second names: Anna Maria/Anna-Maria or e.g. Anna Carolina, or e.g. Yves Edgar might be present.

These variations stem from the limitations of the classical Latin alphabet in representing non-Latin sounds during the Middle Ages. Solutions like “ph = f“, “ie = í“, “eu = oj“, and “gy = ď” were used, further contributing to diverse spellings.

Step 2. Refine Results with Filters

The search engine offers several filters to help you narrow down the results and identify the most relevant matches. Use filters such as date of birth, nationality, and last known residence to narrow down your search.

These filters are especially useful if the initial search has too many results.

Example:

For “Maria Gonzalez” adding a filter like Nationality: “Mexican” or Date of Birth: “12/15/1950” can help pinpoint the correct individual.
Searching for “David Brown” with Last known residence: “Chicago, Illinois” will prioritize matches from that region.
Filtering by Date of Birth: “03/22/1920” ensures the results are relevant to your ancestor, not someone with a similar name from a different era.

Step 3. Utilize AI Match Finder Suggestions

If you are uncertain about specific details, the AI Match Finder will analyze your query and suggest alternative spellings, name variations, or potential matches. It can detect patterns and recommend relevant combinations of names that you may not have considered.

This feature is particularly helpful when names have multiple spellings or were recorded differently in historical records. That might help identify accounts if some records are incomplete or inconsistent.

Sometimes, the person you’re searching for won’t yield direct results. In such cases, widen your search to include family members who might be linked to the same assets.

If you need to generate new suggestions for a different name or person, click the “Reset suggestions” button. This will clear the previous suggestions and allow the AI Match Finder to generate new combinations based on your new input.

Example:

If you search for “Raymond Albertini,” the AI Match Finder might suggest combinations of first names “Reynaldo” or “Rinaldo” and combinations of last names “Albertin” or “Alberti“.
For “Katherine Brown” the AI Match Finder may propose “Catherine” or “Caterina” as alternatives for first names and “Braun” or “Brun” as alternatives for last names.
If your ancestor had dual nationalities, like “Peter Schmidt” the AI Match Finder might recommend filtering by both German and American nationalities “Peter Smith” to explore all possibilities.

Step 4. Review and Select Potential Matches

Once the results are displayed, review each entry carefully. Check known residence, dates of birth, nationalities, residence, or financial institutions to make sure they are consistent with your ancestor’s history.

If you lack sufficient information about your ancestors to continue your search, you consider exploring genealogical resources on MyHeritage and then keep searching for lost inheritance again on our platform.

Learn more about: How to find out information about relatives, 8 Rules for properly recording names, or Search ancestor’s name

Example:

An account for “Laura Evans” shows a last known residence in London, but your ancestor lived in Los Angeles. This might indicate it’s a different person.
A match for “Weber” lists a birthdate of 00/00/1981, which aligns with your records. This is a strong lead worth pursuing.
If a match for “Emile Burnier” shows a Switzerland nationality and your ancestor was born in Geneve, this is likely accurate.

Searching Tip

If you don’t find a match right away, don’t be discouraged. Try variations and combinations of first and last names, or search using the names of other ancestors who may have been associated with the accounts. Keep in mind that our database is regularly updated with new accounts, while others may leave due to expiration. To increase your chances, make it a habit to search regularly and explore different possibilities.

1. Don’t Find a Match Yet?
Try broadening your search by exploring variations, nicknames, and alternative spellings. Here’s how to refine your approach:

Expand Variations: Try alternate spellings, nicknames, abbreviations, or translations of the names you’re searching for. For example, if searching for Elisabeth, try Elizabeth, Elisabet, or Lisbet.
Broaden Search Parameters: If you can’t locate the individual, search for close relatives, such as parents, siblings, or spouses, who might appear in associated records.
Use Common Patterns: Research common naming conventions for the specific time and place you’re investigating – such as patronymic names or regional spelling norms.
Check Related Records: Include broader date ranges and life situations. Sometimes, indirect records like marriage, immigration, or probate files can help confirm connections when direct matches are elusive.

2. Select Potential Matches:
When presented with potential matches, review them. When reviewing results, don’t dismiss partial matches too quickly. A record that’s close but not exact may still belong to your target. Consider the following steps to identify the most likely connection:

Cross-Reference Details: Compare the names, dates, nationalities and residences in the record with the information you already have. Even a partial match could indicate a potential lead.
Account for Name Variations: Remember, slight differences in spelling or formatting (e.g., William J. Smith vs. Wm. Smith) don’t necessarily rule out a match.
Investigate Associated Records: Look for accompanying details, such as relatives’ names, occupations, or addresses, to confirm potential matches.

If you’re not sure, save them and keep track of potential matches for future reference. Sometimes additional searches or new information can confirm a connection later.

Step 5. Contact the Financial Institution

When you find a potential match, click the “Select” button to proceed. WIOLP will send you an email with detailed information about the account and contact details for the relevant financial institution holding the dormant account.

Using the information provided in the email, reach out to the financial institution. Be prepared to verify your identity and provide documentation proving your relationship to the account holder.

You might need to provide his birth certificate, a death certificate, and documents proving your familial relationship, such as a family tree or will.

Example:

For the “Henry J. Miller” account, your email may include details about an account in a financial institution based in London. Reach out to the financial institution with the information provided to initiate the claim.
After selecting a match for “Michael Johnson” your email may include details about an account in a bank based in New York. Reach out to the bank with the information provided to initiate the claim.
A match for “Fatima Khan” might connect to a savings account held in Dubai. Use the contact details from the email to verify and initiate the claim.

Searching Tip

Once you’ve identified a potential match, reaching out to the financial institution is a crucial step to claim an unclaimed asset. Here’s how to do it effectively:

1. Contact the Financial Institution:
Use the contact information you received via email to connect with the institution and begin the process of verifying your identity and claiming your inheritance.

2. Provide the Necessary Information:
Submit the details you received in the email to the institution, including the Dormant Accounts Claim Form attached to the email, and ensure all required fields are accurately filled out.

3. Prepare the Necessary Documents:
To verify your identity and your relationship to the deceased, you’ll likely need to provide key documents. These might include:

For individuals:

Birth certificates (child’s birth certificate naming parents)
Name change certificate
Adoption Certificate
Court Orders e.g., guardianship
ID card or passport
Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
Separation or divorce certificates
Death certificates of the deceased
The last will, testament, or certificate of inheritance
Power of attorney for a third party who represents a claimant (where relevant)

For companies and other legal structures:

Company incorporation certificate
Legal succession agreement
Power of attorney for a third party who represents a claimant (where relevant)

Other documents (if available):

Bank account statements, retirement account statements, credit card statements
Financial product purchase agreement
Investment agreement
Trust accounts statements
Stock, bond, and other asset ownership certificates
Insurance documents – life insurance policy
others

Make sure these documents are readily available and properly organized before contacting the institution.

4. Follow the Institution’s Instructions:
The financial institution will provide guidance on the next steps required to claim your inheritance. Follow these instructions carefully to avoid delays or complications.

5. Keep Records of All Communication:
Maintain a thorough record of every communication you have with the institution. This includes keeping track of dates, the names of representatives you speak with, and any reference numbers provided. This documentation will help you monitor your progress and resolve any issues or disputes that may arise along the way.

By following these steps and staying organized, you’ll increase your chances of successfully claiming your unclaimed asset.

This information is for general guidance only and may not be applicable to all situations. Please consult with a qualified legal professional for specific advice regarding your individual circumstances.

Pro Tips for Success

Start Broad, Then Narrow: Begin with minimal filters and add more details as needed to refine your search.
Be Persistent and Thorough: Searching for dormant accounts may require trying multiple filter combinations. If you don’t find results initially, try variations of names, addresses, or other criteria.
Check Regularly: WIOLP updates its database periodically, so make sure to revisit your search for new results regularly.
Stay Organized: Ensure your documents are accurate and ready before contacting the financial institution.

Using the WIOLP search engine with its advanced AI Match Finder and tailored filters, you can efficiently locate dormant accounts and uncover lost financial assets.

Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to claiming what’s rightfully yours.

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Time to rescue old money from sleeping bank accounts

roccagroup — Fri, 21 May 2021 14:39:00 +0000

Moving to another country, a death, the closing of a company – there are any number of situations in which a person can forget to update the bank of important information relating to changes to an account.

Losing contact with a customer is something that can happen at any bank anywhere in the world. In Switzerland, there are clear rules dictating what measures a bank should take in such cases, but also what customers and their heirs can do to find their assets.

Wake up before your cash vanishes. An account is deemed to be dormant if has seen no activity in the past 60 years (Each country has its own rules regarding dormant accounts).

In other words, the provider has lost contact with the account holder, and no money has been paid in or taken out. You might think there would be relatively few accounts that were deemed dormant but you’d be wrong.

Of the 150 million bank accounts and building society accounts, up to half a million may be dormant.

Accounts opened by relatives for children, unbeknownst to those children, are common. Sums also lie untouched when people die and the executor doesn’t realize the account exists. In many cases, busy people simply forget about accounts.

Typically, a dormant account is just the remnants of savings, but it is not unusual for there to be several hundred thousand in an account.

A search can be carried out at any time once assets have become without contact – it is not necessary that the 60 years have passed. Because the assets that are contained in this centralized database are subject to bank – client confidentiality, an inquiry may only with proof of entitlement.

Despite the best of efforts to find customers and the possibility for individual searches through the Banking Ombudsman, it can nevertheless occur that contact cannot be re-established for decades. Losing contact with a customer is something that can happen at any bank anywhere in the world. There are clear rules dictating what measures a bank should take in such cases, but also what customers and their heirs can do to find their assets.

In order to give customers a final possibility to search for assets and thus ensure that banks can address dormant assets in a standardised manner and with legal certainty, there is a special procedure in place:

- Assets that were without contact for 10 years and then remained dormant for a further 50 years (i.e. 60 years since last contact with the customer), must be published on the internet if they are valued at over CHF 500 or have an unknown value, in order to give any parties that are potentially entitled to the assets the opportunity to establish contact. Bank-client confidentiality is rescinded for these assets in order to increase the possibility that the entitled parties can find their assets following publication.

- Here available, the last name, first name, date of birth and nationality of the customer (in exceptional cases the account or savings book number) will be published, as well as the last known place of residence or domicile. This applies to all types of assets, including safe-deposit boxes.

- Processing of the claim by the bank can result in the re-establishment of customer contact. In this case, the assets are no longer deemed dormant, and the authorised person may dispose freely of such.

- If there is no response to publication on the website after the specified publication period has elapsed, the assets must be transferred to the federal government by law. The rights of the customers then become null and void.

- According to the new guidelines, the banks must publish these assets on the website at least once annually.

His publication requirement applies to all relationships that exceed an asset value of CHF 500 or whose value is unknown (for example in the case of safe-deposit boxes).

If no contact is made by a legitimate claimant regarding publication within the specified period, the banks must transfer the assets to the Federal government. The duration of the period is one year. For older assets that have already been dormant for more than 50 years when the new regulation came into force, the period is five years.

Assets of up to a maximum value of CHF 500 will be transferred to the Federal government after 60 years without such publication.

Once the assets have been transferred to the federal government, all claims relating to the assets are null and void.

Let’s start searching for unclaimed money left by your ancestors in dormant accounts in financial institutions.

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Two centuries of Australia immigration

roccagroup — Thu, 21 May 2020 15:04:30 +0000

For more than two centuries, extensive immigration has underpinned economic and social development in Australia. The immigrant share of Australia’s population is high, at 28 percent, and the foreign-born population has grown more diverse over time as the country amended immigration policies that once favored newcomers from European countries. In addition, Australia ranks third among refugee resettlement countries, after the United States and Canada, having resettled more than 840,000 people since 1947.

Since European settlement began in the late 18th century, overwhelming the indigenous population, immigration has played a major role in Australia’s population growth—in many periods comprising more than half of the annual increase. Between the end of World War II and 2016, the Australian population more than tripled, from 7.4 million to 24.2 million.

In the second half of the 19th century, concerns grew about competition on the goldfields and other potential threats to the domestic workforce posed by low-wage migrant labor from Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Figure 1: Top Origin Countries of Permanent Resident Arrivals in Australia

Changes in the major source countries reflect this shift to nondiscriminatory selection, as well as the impact of economic, social, and political circumstances in individual countries. In 1972-73, around the formal end of the White Australia Policy, 43 percent of all permanent arrivals were from the United Kingdom and Ireland, while India ranked eighth with 2 percent (see Figure 1). By 2016-17, Indians had taken the lead, constituting 17 percent of the 226,000 permanent arrivals, followed by Chinese 13 percent and British 8 percent. Other non-European countries also grew in prominence, including the Philippines, Syria, and Vietnam.

In 2016, among all foreign born, those from the United Kingdom and New Zealand were the two largest groups, accounting for roughly 21 percent of Australia’s nearly 7.7 million immigrants. The next four top countries of origin – China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam – were all in Asia.

Australia follows the Canadian practice of using a points system to weigh and adjudicate applications for admission as an economic immigrant, with criteria reflecting changing emphases on age, family ties, language, education, work experience, and occupation. Since the introduction of the Numerical Multifactor Assessment Scheme (NUMAS) in 1979, the system has favored younger, skilled migrants with knowledge of English – the type of workers required as Australia restructured its economy to better cope with the challenges of globalization, by moving toward knowledge-based industries and away from manual labor. Since the 1980s, special entry schemes have admitted investors and businesspeople, most recently emphasizing innovation and investment.

While Australian immigration policy favored European immigrants until the latter part of the 20th century, the shift in more recent decades toward diversified admissions has helped Australia become the multicultural and economically competitive nation it is today.

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Where do New Yorkers come from?

roccagroup — Thu, 21 May 2020 15:03:23 +0000

Throughout it’s nearly 400-year history, New York City’s demography has been characterized by an ever-changing series of immigration waves, coming from all corners of the globe.

The graphic shows how these waves of immigration have varied over time. The circles represent each group’s share of New York City’s foreign-born population in the given year.

What About the Native Americans?

The Dutch purchase Manhattan Island
A 1626 letter to the Dutch government describing the purchase (translation)
Native Americans are not included in the chart because their population went to zero as soon as the Dutch bought Manhattan Island in 1626. At that time, and until the five boroughs were consolidated in 1898, New York City included Manhattan only.

However, they did continue to inhabit the lands around Manhattan, and had a quite significant impact on the City’s history.

In 1641, an attempt by the Dutch to solicit taxes from the natives led to a violent conflict known as Kieft’s War, which nearly wiped the Dutch out.

The Dutch ultimately beat the natives, but they were left in a weakened position, one which the British took advantage of in 1664 when they captured New Amsterdam and renamed it New York.

The number of the Inhabitants in this Province are about 3000 families* where of almost one halfe are naturally Dutch a great part English and the rest French.

*The total population of the province as it existed in 1698, was 18 067. In 1703 they numbered 20 749 and in 1723 was 40 564.

Prior to 1776, all New York City residents are treated as foreign born.

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South Africa immigration

roccagroup — Thu, 21 May 2020 15:02:20 +0000

European exploration of the African coast began in the 13th century when Portugal committed itself to discover an alternative route to the silk road that would lead to China. In the 14th and 15th century, Portuguese explorers traveled down the west African Coast, detailing and mapping the coastline and in 1488 they rounded the Cape of Good Hope.

The discoveries of diamonds and gold in the nineteenth century had a profound effect on the fortunes of the region, propelling it onto the world stage and introducing a shift away from an exclusively agrarian-based economy towards industrialisation and the development of urban infrastructure.

The first European settlers – Dutch farmers sent to re-provision ships of the Dutch East India Company – arrived at the Cape in 1652. They were joined in 1688 by Huguenots (French Protestant refugees), followed by groups from Belgium, Britain, France and Germany, and augmented by often highly skilled slaves from Indonesia and Malaya.

Temporary Residency – Top 10 Countries: Overseas

In 1805, the British inherited the Cape as a prize during the Napoleonic Wars,again seizing the Cape from the French controlled Kingdom of Holland which had replaced the Batavian Republic.

British sovereignty of the area was recognised at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the Dutch accepting a payment of 6 million pounds for the colony. As one of their first tasks they outlawed the use of the Dutch language in 1806 with the view of converting the European settlers to the British language and culture.

The discovery of gold in February 1886 at a farm called Langlaagte on the Witwatersrand in particular precipitated a gold rush by prospectors and fortune seekers from all over the world.

The working environment of the mines, meanwhile, as one historian has described it, was “dangerous, brutal and onerous”, and therefore unpopular among local black Africans. Recruitment of black labour began to prove difficult, even with an offer of improved wages. In mid-1903 there remained barely half of the 90,000 black labourers who had been employed in the industry in mid-1899. The decision was made to start importing Chinese indentured labourers who were prepared to work for far less wages than local African labourers. The first 1,000 indentured Chinese labourers arrived in June 1904. By January 1907, 53,000 Chinese labourers were working in the gold mines.

South Africa hosts a sizeable refugee and asylum seeker population. According to the World Refugee Survey 2008, published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, this population numbered approximately 144,700 in 2007.

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Gold sleeping accounts

roccagroup — Thu, 21 May 2020 15:01:27 +0000

In order to survive twentieth-century financial upheavals such as the stock market crash of 1929 and subsequent depression, achieving legal recognition for bank secrecy was the way the Swiss government could maintain its beliefs and refusal to interfere in the private affairs of its citizens. The Banking Act of 1934 accomplished this goal. The law was enacted in large part because both Germany and France attempted to press Swiss banks into divulging depositor information in the name of the “good of the state”.

One issue of the time that reinforced the passage of this law came during the era of Hitler when a German law stated that any German with foreign capital was to be punished by death.

NAZI GOLD

Many European Jews deposited their life savings in Swiss banks when WWII broke out during the 1930s and 1940s. And, after the war, many were not allowed to recover their assets because their documentation was gone.

Swiss banks have come under fire in recent years because of their actions towards Jewish account holders after World War II and also because money that German Nazis plundered from defeated countries and their prisoners was held in Swiss banks.

According to a report on Nazi theft of Jewish assets, during WWII “between January 1939 and June 30, 1945, Germany transferred gold worth around $400 million ($3.9 billion in today’s values) to the Swiss National Bank in Bern.” It is believed that much of this gold was stolen from Jews and sent to Switzerland to be melted down and used to finance the war.

“Although there is no evidence that Switzerland or other neutral countries knowingly accepted victim gold … at least a small portion of the gold that entered Switzerland and Italy included non-monetary gold from individual citizens in occupied countries and from concentration camp victims or others killed before they even reached the camps.” This gold was deliberately mixed with other gold when re-smelted.

After the war, to ensure that there could be no Nazi return to power, the Allies held or disposed of German external assets to prevent their return to German ownership or control.

The 1946 Allied-Swiss Washington Accord was held by the United States, United Kingdom and France. Under the Washington Agreement, Swiss negotiators agreed to transfer approximately 250 million Swiss francs ($58.1 million) of gold into the Tripartite Gold Commission’s (TGC) monetary gold pool. So the TGC established a proportional redistribution system which established that each country would receive approximately 65 percent of its recognized claim.

he problem of dormant accounts and heirless assets was not directly addressed in the Washington Agreement. Although no action was taken until 1962 a Swiss Federal Decree required banks, law offices, trustees and others to comb through records to discover dormant accounts belonging to foreign or stateless persons who were deemed victims of racist, religious or political persecution. As a result, a total of nearly 9.5 million Swiss francs (an approximate 1962 value of $2.4 million) was reported and about three-fourths was transferred to the rightful heirs.

The current investigation by the Swiss Bankers Association, begun in 1995, is the most recent attempt to find remaining dormant accounts and heirless assets. The investigations turned up approximately $32 million in 775 additional dormant accounts opened prior to 1945, though not all were of European origin.

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World’s immigration

roccagroup — Thu, 21 May 2020 15:00:04 +0000

In Europe the oversas immigration was tied to colonial migration traditions which created overseas expansion in its early stage. Apart from free settlers who paid their own costs of travelling and state employees, church and settlement companies employees, contractual labourers made a significant portion of people who traveled from NorthWest Europe to America in the 16th and 17th century.

From 30s of the 19the century, mass immigration from Europe got a long term status. The immigration became massive one from 1820. Between the years of 1820 and 1860 13.5 million of immigrants came into the USA while a great part of them came from South and Central Europe. At first, they came to America for better wages in steel factories, metal factories and coal mines with no intention to stay permanently. After some time more and more people intended to stay permanently.

In the period from 1900 to 1924 around 18 million of immigrants came in from similar areas. As the labour opportunities with gradual industrialization process went higher, the number of immigrants heading from centres of industrial development of West, Central and East Europe to the USA went lower. Towards the 90s of the 19th century overseas immigration was significantly reduced, except from Great Britain.

In the first decade of the 20th century when the European immigration reached the greatest extent, only third of immigrants came from Great Britain and NorthWest part of continental Europe, where e.g. originally great portion of German immigrant dropped to appr. 2%. Around 2/3 of European immigrants came from South Europe (41%), from East and SouthEast Europe and Eastern part of Central Europe (appr. 25% in total). By the year 1880 statistics of American immigration showed hardly 150,000 immigrants from Habsbrug Monarchy and Tsar’s Russia.

In the 90s of the 19th century there were 593,000 and 602,000. In the first decade of 20th century, when the “new migration“ reached the top, American statistics recorded 2,145,000 immigrants from Austria Hungary and 1,597,000 from Russia, among whom there are 976,000 Jews and 874,000 Poles.

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Search ancestor’s name

roccagroup — Thu, 21 May 2020 14:57:28 +0000

Our last name holds clues into your family history. Whether you have a common or unique last name, learning the meaning behind your name can unlock new details of your genealogy. It’s about your family history and your ancestor’s journey.

A last name meaning search can reveal:

- Where your family lived
- Your family’s national origin – Ireland, Germany, Italy, and more
- When your ancestors immigrated
- An ancestor’s occupation or nickname

Early last names were often linked to occupations, geographical features such as where your home was in the village, a nickname, physical feature, or even a combination of the mother’s and father’s names. Eventually, most people adopted patronymic names inherited from their fathers.

Perhaps there are other countries (and relatives) attached to your family tree that you had never considered before.

The genealogy behind your last name is more than just finding the meaning from a surnames list. Tracing your last name origin can help you gleam new insights into your family history and even about yourself. After all, your name is a piece of your identity.

Identifying your ancestors’ names in indexes and records may be difficult because of:

- Spelling errors and spelling changes over time
- Errors in reading handwriting
- Americanization of foreign surnames
- Errors made by an indexer
- Errors made by the transcriber of a record

In early church records it was up to a priest how the names were spelled and different Priests within the same parish had different ideas on how names should be spelled. When a census taker recorded a person’s name the census taker decided the name was spelled.

For example Reed, Reid, Ried, Read, Reed, and search under each spelling. First names were also spelled in many different ways and nicknames were frequently used such as Sally for Sarah and Patsy for Martha.

These 4 steps will help you identify your ancestor’s name in indexes and records

1. Look for the surname with the first or middle names as initials or abbreviations.

Vowels: Look for the name spelled with different vowels. For example, look for GILLESPIE under GALLESPIE, GELLESPIE, GOLLESPIE, GULLESPIE, or GYLLESPIE.

Double letters: Search the index for the name with double letters added or deleted. For example, for the name FULLER, try FULER. For the name BAKER, try BAKKER.

Transposed letters: Look for the name spelled with each of the first four letters transposed. For example, look for name WIGHTMAN under IWGHTMAN, WGIHTMAN, WIHGTMAN, and WIGTHMAN.

Misread letters: Old handwriting is often a challenge to read. For example, look for CARTER might be under GARTER, EARTER, OARTER, CEARTER, CEIRTER, CAETER, CASTER, and so forth.

Phonetic substitutes: You find ways the name may have been misspelled using letters which sound similar. For example, look for RADCLIFFE might be searched for under RHADCLIFFE, RATCLIFFE, RADDCLIFFE, RADKLIFFE, RADGLIFFE, RADCLIVE, or RADCLIPHE.

2. Apply the suggestions
Using your ancestor’s name, experiment with the suggestions made in the table above. Try possible:

- Alternative or phonetic spellings
- Handwriting alternatives
- Typos and inadvertent spelling errors
- Indexing errors

3. Search the original record
If the record is a copy, the transcriber may have misread the original record. To find the original record:

- Check the FamilySearch Catalog or MyHeritage to see if the original record has been filmed. If so, obtain the film and photocopy the page in question.

- Write to the place where the original record may be housed, such as a courthouse, state archives, or church. Ask for a photocopy of the page you need.

- Compare the copy of the record with the original record, watching for the suggestions made in the above.

4. Look for relatives in an index
Look for the names of parents, children, brothers or sisters, and uncles or aunts in the index. If you find relatives in the index, look at the original record to see if the person you want is mentioned in the record but was missed by the indexer.

You may need to be creative when trying to identify how a family names was spelled by a specific census taker.

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