By PSA Newsroom Staff
South Carolina voters are gearing up for Election Day on November 3, 2026, and one of the key statewide races on the ballot is State Treasurer. Curtis Loftis, who first took office in 2010, wants to keep the job he’s held for over a decade.
What Does the State Treasurer Do?
Think of the Treasurer as South Carolina’s chief banker. Loftis manages, invests, and protects more than $75 billion in public money. His office is right at the center of keeping the state’s finances healthy and securing those top-tier credit ratings—which keeps borrowing costs low and saves taxpayers money in the long run.
The job isn’t just about balancing accounts. The Treasurer’s Office runs several big programs that touch people’s lives every day:
• The Unclaimed Property Program, which reunites folks with money or assets they didn’t even know were missing
• Future Scholar, South Carolina’s 529 college savings plan
• The Palmetto ABLE Savings Program, giving people with disabilities a way to save and invest while keeping access to critical benefits
A Look at Loftis’ Track Record
Since he took office in 2011, Loftis has returned more than $365 million in unclaimed funds to South Carolinians, a sum that tops everything all previous treasurers managed combined.
He’s also overseen huge growth in the Future Scholar 529 plan. Right now, over 230,000 people have accounts, with more than $6.5 billion saved up. The Palmetto ABLE Savings Program? That’s grown fast too, with more than 3,300 accounts and $38.4 million in assets, making it one of the fastest-growing ABLE programs in the country.
The Treasurer’s Office has been front and center in state financing, handling the sale and refinancing of General Obligation and Revenue Bonds. These moves have helped fund billions in infrastructure, housing, transportation, and higher education projects—and saved South Carolina taxpayers more than $530 million along the way.
Pushing for Accountability
Loftis has built his reputation on being a watchdog for accountability and transparency in state government. He’s focused on:
• Growing financial education, especially in K-12 schools
• Pushing back against rules from unelected organizations that try to shape state fiscal policy
• Raising the alarm about what he sees as overreaching regulations and the rise of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards affecting public money
Leadership Roles
Besides his main job, Loftis wears a lot of other hats:
• Chairman, State Board of Financial Institutions
• Vice Chairman, State Fiscal Accountability Authority
• Vice Chairman, South Carolina Education Authority
• Vice Chairman, South Carolina Tobacco Authority
• Trustee, South Carolina Financial Literacy Board
On the national stage, he’s held leadership roles with groups like the National Association of State Treasurers, the College Savings Plan Network, and the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.
Recognition and Public Presence
Loftis’ work hasn’t gone unnoticed. He’s landed on Columbia Business Monthly’s 50 Most Influential list in 2023 and 2024, and the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers named him a “Friend of the Taxpayer.” National outlets like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Institutional Investor, and Bond Buyer have featured his leadership. He’s also a regular speaker at financial and policy events across the country.
A Little About Loftis
Born and raised in Lexington County, Loftis graduated from the University of South Carolina. He owns a small business and started the Saluda Charitable Foundation, where he’s both founder and benefactor.
Looking Toward November 3, 2026
As the general election gets closer, South Carolinians will size up the records and priorities of everyone running for statewide office. The choice for State Treasurer decides who’ll be in charge of the state’s finances, and who’ll protect public money for years to come.
