How Do I Replace Lost US Savings Bonds?

You can request a substitute electronic savings bond if your paper bond is lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated, or you never received it.

Reissuing: See Reissuing Paper EE Bonds if you want to change who is named on the bond or if there is a substantial error in the names.

Note that the bonds we replace or reissue will not be printed, but will instead be issued as electronic bonds on TreasuryDirect. Individual savings bonds are not splittable and must be reissued in their entirety. You can request that your bond be redeemed instead of replacing it electronically.

Is it possible to replace misplaced savings bonds?

You can obtain a replacement electronic savings bond if your paper bond is lost, stolen, destroyed, disfigured, or you never received it. Individual savings bonds are not splittable and must be reissued in their entirety. You can request that your bond be redeemed instead of replacing it electronically.

Where can I look for missing savings bonds on the internet?

You can verify if you have any lost bonds before submitting anything, according to Leslie H. Tayne, founder of the Tayne Law Group. “Treasuryhunt.gov, which lists matured, uncashed savings bonds, is a shortcut you can employ to find lost savings bonds,” Tayne explains.

Treasury Hunt is an online service provided by the Treasury Department. In 2017, the tool was retired, but it was resurrected in 2019.

Fill out Form 1048

Fill out Form 1048, “Claim for Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed United States Savings Bonds,” on the US Treasury’s website at treasurydirect.gov to look for lost savings bonds.

Tayne advises, “Fill out as much of the form as possible.” “Ask for the purchaser’s Social Security number and an estimate of the purchase timeline.”

Verify for your form

Don’t just sign your form after you’ve completed it to the best of your ability. It must be accredited. This isn’t easy, according to Justin Pritchard, a financial consultant at Approach Financial. “Getting your signature validated is the most difficult element of the procedure,” Pritchard explains. “To finish the process, you’ll need a signing guarantee or another appropriate kind of documentation. Unfortunately, having a paper notarized isn’t enough.”

Go to your local financial institution, such as a bank or credit union, to have your form confirmed. You will sign the form and have it confirmed by the institution’s certifying officer rather than a notary. Make an appointment with your bank or other financial institution ahead of time to see whether they have a certifying officer.

What should I do if my US Savings Bonds are lost?

Complete a Claim for Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed United States Savings Bonds to register a claim for a savings bond that has been lost, stolen, or destroyed (FS Form 1048). Please sign the form in the presence of a certifying officer who is authorized to do so (available at a bank, trust company, or credit union).

How long does it take to restore savings bonds that have been lost?

The Bureau of the Public Debt could usually locate down and reissue your bonds within three to four weeks if you had the serial number. However, without all of that data, the procedure could take months.

You can also use the Treasury Hunt tool to discover if the Bureau of the Public Debt has any undeliverable savings bonds for your children or any bonds that are no longer earning interest. Because Treasury Hunt may not have a record of all savings bonds (only Series E savings bonds issued after 1974 that have attained maturity), submitting a form for lost or stolen savings bonds is still necessary.

Even if nothing appears on TreasuryHunt, you can check the Treasury Securities That Have Stopped Earning Interest table to see the status once the bonds are reissued, as most bonds stop earning interest after 30 years, which is right around the age of the bonds you’re looking for.

If the bonds are still collecting income, you can verify their current value using TreasuryDirect.gov’s Calculate the Value of Your Paper Savings Bonds tool.

What is the procedure for cashing a savings bond that is not in my name?

If you are not identified as the owner or co-owner on the bond, you must produce legal evidence or other documentation to establish you are entitled to cash the bond, regardless of where you cash it. (Legal evidence is not returned.)

It is important to note that savings bonds cannot be transferred. You can’t cash a bond that belongs to someone else or that you bought on an internet auction site. (See Death of a Savings Bond Owner if you inherit a bond through the death of the bond owner.)

What is the best way to see if I have any savings bonds?

COMPLETE YOUR HOMEWORK: Look around your home for any signs of uncashed savings bonds. Check to see if the paper certificates have matured if you find them. 2. Go to the Treasury Department’s Web site to double-check if you have an outstanding savings bond in your name.

How can I get free stock and bond searches?

Go to www.treasurydirect.gov and type in your Social Security number or the name of any family member who may have owned a missing bond. You can start your “Treasury Hunt” to determine if you are owed any money so that you can get it for free.

Is it possible to cash in my parents’ savings bonds?

If you are now the owner of the savings bonds or if your parent listed you as the survivor beneficiary on the bonds, take them to a bank or other financial institution. In the presence of a bank official, fill out the redemption form on the back of the bonds and sign it. A driver’s license or other form of identification is required. You must also provide proof of death if you are mentioned as a survivor. This is usually done by a verified copy of the death certificate. The bank will redeem the bonds and pay you the proceeds.