34-24-105. Traveler's checks and money orders.

(a) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, any sum payable on a traveler's check that has been outstanding for more than fifteen (15) years after its issuance is deemed abandoned unless the owner, within fifteen (15) years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.

(b) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, any sum payable on a money order that has been outstanding for more than seven (7) years after its issuance is deemed abandoned unless the owner, within seven (7) years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.

(c) A holder may not deduct from the amount of a traveler's check or money order any charge imposed by reason of the failure to present the instrument for payment unless there is a valid and enforceable written contract between the issuer and the owner of the instrument pursuant to which the issuer may impose a charge and the issuer regularly imposes such charges and does not regularly reverse or otherwise cancel them.

(d) No sum payable on a traveler's check or money order described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section may be subjected to the custody of this state as unclaimed property unless:

(i) The records of the issuer show that the traveler's check or money order was purchased in this state;

(ii) The issuer has its principal place of business in this state and the records of the issuer do not show the state in which the traveler's check or money order was purchased; or

(iii) The issuer has its principal place of business in this state, the records of the issuer show the state in which the traveler's check or money order was purchased, and the laws of the state of purchase do not provide for the escheat or custodial taking of the property or its escheat or unclaimed property law is not applicable to the property.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, subsection (d) of this section applies to sums payable on traveler's checks or money orders deemed abandoned on the effective date of this act.

(f) As used in this section, "money order" means a money order issued by a business association and includes a personal money order or other similar instrument issued by a banking or financial organization, but not a bank money order, which is deemed a cashier's check.