- Whether you have a local bank account and it accepts savings bonds, inquire if it will accept yours. The answer may be contingent on the length of time you’ve had an account there. If the bank will cash your check, find out if there is a monetary restriction on redemptions and what kind of identification and other documentation you’ll need.
- Send these, along with FS Form 1522, to Treasury Retail Securities Services (download or order). The bonds are not required to be signed. You’ll need to verify your identity. The instructions are on FS Form 1522, in the “Certification” section. Our address is also included in the form.
Paper bonds
Your bank or credit union should be able to cash in your paper savings bonds. If you’re going to a financial institution where you’re not a member or customer, check to see if they’ll cash your bond before you go.
Confirm what documents you’ll need to bring with you by contacting the bank. Here’s what you should bring with you in general.
It’s important to remember that bonds can’t be cashed by just anyone. Savings bonds can only be cashed by the bond owner or co-owner, which includes “survivors,” or those identified on the bond who received ownership after the original owner died. You are not the registered owner (a savings bond is nontransferable) and cannot cash in the bond if you purchased it through an auction site like eBay.
If the child is too young to sign the payment request and the child lives with the parent or the parent has legal custody of the child the parent may cash in the child’s savings bond.
Anyone else who wants to cash in a bond must show proof of legal authority to do so.
You’ll sign each bond and receive the cash value at the bank. The bank will either hand you a 1099 tax form or mail it to you before the end of the tax year after you’ve cashed in your bond.
Paper bonds can also be redeemed through the mail. To cash in by mail, obtain an FS Form 1522 from the US Department of Treasury, have your signature certified, then mail the form to the address shown on the form.
Electronic bonds
By connecting into your TreasuryDirect account and setting up a direct payment to your bank or savings account, you can cash in your electronic bonds. Within two business days, the cash amount may be credited to your bank account.
Is it possible to sell bonds at any bank?
Most local financial institutions will cash paper EE and E bonds. This is the simplest and quickest way to cash bonds and gain access to your funds.
Does the post office accept savings bonds as payment?
If you want to cash in your savings bonds, you can do it in one of two ways. Neither affects the United States Postal Service, which is prohibited from cashing bonds. Whether you have old-fashioned paper bonds or the newer electronic kind, the redemption technique is different.
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.
To cash a savings bond, what documentation do I need?
If you want to redeem a paper E/EE or I bond, you’ll need a few items. You’ll also need confirmation of identity, such as a driver’s license from the United States. You’ll also need an FS Form 1522 that hasn’t been signed. They’ll see you sign the document and then certify your signature if you go to your local bank or credit union.
The unsigned bonds, along with the signed FS Form 1522 and, if you’re the bond’s beneficiary, accompanying legal evidence or other papers to indicate you’re entitled to cash the bond, should be sent to the US Department of Treasury at:
The same steps apply for series H or HH paper bonds, only you’ll ship the unsigned bonds to the US Treasury at:
Is it possible to cash a savings bond at Walmart?
As of 2022, Walmart does not cash savings bonds. Instead, you can cash a paper savings bond at a local bank or credit union. The TreasuryDirect interface can be used to cash electronic bonds. A savings bond can only be cashed after one year of ownership.
After 30 years, how much is a $50 EE savings bond worth?
Savings bonds are regarded as one of the most secure investments available. The underlying principle is that the value of a savings bond grows over time, but it’s easy to lose track of how much it’s worth over time.
The TreasuryDirect savings bond calculator, fortunately, makes determining the value of a purchased savings bond a breeze. You’ll need the bond series, face value, serial number, and issuance date to figure out how much your savings bond is worth.
If you bought a $50 Series EE bond in May 2000, for example, you would have paid $25. At maturity, the government committed to repay the face amount plus interest, bringing the total value to $53.08 by May 2020. A $50 bond purchased for $25 30 years ago is now worth $103.68.