Loftis to seek re-election as state treasurer

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S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis will seek re-election to the post he has held since 2010.

In his third term, Loftis manages, invests and retains custody of $60 billion in public funds and works to ensure that South Carolina maintains its credit ratings. As administrator of the state’s Unclaimed Property Program, he has returned more than $260 million in unclaimed funds to individuals, businesses, charities and other organizations, according to the state treasurer’s website.

Loftis also administers the state’s Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan and Palmetto ABLE Savings Program.

“It is a privilege to serve the citizens of this state, and I am excited to continue the important work of boosting the state’s investment earnings and saving taxpayer dollars by cutting costs and eliminating fraud,” Loftis said in a news release announcing his filing for re-election. “My professional staff works relentlessly to improve programs that enhance the financial well-being of our public agencies, our institutions and our citizens. I am grateful for the support I have received from hard-working people across this state and want them to know I’m still fighting for them.”  

The release touted Loftis’ spearheading of state pension reforms and technology upgrades and noted that the Future Scholar plan is five times larger than when his tenure began, having grown to almost $6 billion in assets with more than 200,000 account holders. The Palmetto ABLE program, launched by Loftis in 2017, provides South Carolinians with disabilities a tax-advantaged investment vehicle to save money without losing federal benefits.

Loftis also partnered with SC Economics to create the Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program, which provides specialized training and curriculum resources to K-12 educators who teach financial literacy.

Loftis, a native of Lexington County and a graduate of the University of South Carolina, also founded the Saluda Charitable Foundation, a humanitarian organization headquartered in Columbia.