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.
Is it possible to look for savings bonds by name?
The TreasuryDirect service maintained by the federal government can help you discover any outstanding or unclaimed savings bonds in your name.
What if I can’t locate my 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.
What is the location of my EE savings bonds?
You must submit proof, such as a copy of the death certificate for each deceased person, if the owner or both co-owners have died. Please include this in your request.
Is it possible to track savings bonds?
Our internet search engine for matured, uncashed savings bonds is Treasury Hunt (over 30 years old and no longer earning interest). Youcan also find missed payments on other securities. Your search may turn up the following results:
TreasuryHunt may be able to reconnect you with lost or missing money that you can use for whatever purpose you want, such as:
TreasuryHunt requires you to fill out an encrypted form with a few bits of information.
If any of the results are prospective matches, you’ll receive more instructions. Please try again later if your search is unsuccessful. Every month, Treasury Hunt adds additional securities that have matured and undeliverable payments.
What is the best way to look up a bond?
The Bureau of the Fiscal Service manages the TreasuryDirect.gov website, which contains information on the purchase, redemption, replacement, forms, and valuation of Treasury savings bonds and securities.
Is it possible to cash savings bonds that are not in your name?
When it comes time to cash in your savings bonds, as long as you have the necessary documentation, the process will be relatively simple. It’s important to keep in mind that savings bonds cannot be sold, exchanged, or given away. The only person who can cash in the bond is the person whose name is on it (with a few exceptions, which we’ll discuss shortly).
First and first, you’ll need the bond (unless it’s an electronic bond, in which case there’s no step at all). The monies are deposited into your bank account once you cash it in via the Treasury Web site). However, make certain that the bond may be cashed: It’s been at least a year since it was published (some bonds only require a six-month retention period).
How do I find out whether I have any bonds in my name?
A: Because the Treasury Hunt website is arranged by social security number, it only lists savings bonds acquired from 1974 to the present. If you feel you may be owed money from an older bond, you can request a hand search by filling out the form here or calling 1-800-553-2663.
A: If you find a bond for yourself or your family on the Treasury Hunt website, you’ll be prompted to submit a preliminary claim. (Don’t skip this step: the Treasury Hunt website has received 350,000 hits based on social security numbers since it launched, but only 100,000 people have left their contact information to claim their bonds.)
A Treasury Department “finder” will then contact you to obtain additional information and investigate your claim. If you are a match, the finder will either mail you claim forms or you can download them from the internet.
A certified signature is required on savings bond claim forms. This procedure entails visiting a bank, credit union, or other financial institution, presenting identification, and signing paperwork in the presence of a bank officer or notary who validates your signature as valid.
Q: Is there anything else I can do if I believe there should be savings bonds in my name but can’t discover any?
A:Yes. The Treasury Department adds a half million bonds to the database every month when they mature, so check back often.
Q: I suspect I may possess bonds that have not yet matured but which I have lost track of. What is the best way for me to look for those?
A:You can request a bond search by filling out this form or calling 1-800-553-2663. Treasury officials will look into your request depending on the information you’ve provided, such as your social security number.
A: The Treasury has produced a variety of savings bond series over the years, each slightly different. However, the basic series “EE” savings bond featured in the Treasury Hunt search engine functioned as follows:
1. A $50 bond, for example, cost $25 because you bought it for half its face value.
2.After 20 years, that EE bond was guaranteed to increase to its face value. As a result, a $25 savings bond would have increased to $50.
3. After that, the EE bond would continue to generate income for another ten years.
4.The EE bond had fully matured after 30 years and was no longer earning income. As a result, it’s advisable to cash it in or reinvest it so that your money is once again working for you.
Q: I purchased savings bonds several years ago but never received them in the mail. How can I get my money back?
A: These are referred to as “undeliverable” bonds by the Treasury Department. Once again, the solution is to request a manual search. You can fill out a request form or call 1-800-553-2663 to do so.
Q: I have a record of the dates and types of savings bonds I own. How can I know if they have stopped earning interest?
A: The Treasury Department’s website has charts that will show you. Still unsure?
The Treasury’s “Bond Wizard” is a good place to start.
The Series H bonds, which were issued from June 1952 to January 1957, pay interest for 29 years and 8 months.
How do I replace savings bonds that have been lost?
Complete FS Form 1048. (download or order). Take the completed form to your financial institution and have your signature certified in accordance with the form’s requirements. The original paper bonds are no longer yours once you get your bonds in a TreasuryDirect account or receive recompense for lost bonds.
After 30 years, what happens to EE bonds?
Interest is paid on EE bonds until they reach 30 years or you cash them in, whichever comes first. After a year, you can cash them in. However, if you cash them before the 5th year, you will forfeit the final three months’ interest.
