ID requirements to redeem Savings Bonds

Thursday, November 18th, 2004
Categorized as: Cashing in US Savings Bonds

I work for a nursing home and one of our residents has bonds she needs to redeem. However, she has no ID. How can we help her get these bonds redeemed?

Tom's response

To redeem a Savings Bond, you need a bank official to certify the owner's signature on the back of the bond. Although banks generally require some type of personal identification, the actual requirements are up to the bank.

I recommend you contact the nursing home's bank and explain the situation. An officer of the bank may be willing to certify your resident's signature.

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4 Comments

On March 7th, 2006 Jason said:

Can I cash a bond if I am not a member of that bank?

On March 7th, 2006 Tom Adams said:

Jason - it's up to each individual bank whether they will cash Savings Bonds at all or if they will cash a Savings Bond for any particular individual.

Certainly having an account at a bank helps, but it's not always a requirement and some banks won't cash Savings Bonds even if you do have an account with them.

If you have difficulty finding a bank that will complete a Savings Bond transaction for you, this post explains how to buy or cash in a Savings Bond through the Federal Reserve.

On May 4th, 2008 jim hill said:

If I'm divorced can I cash bonds that I bought with my wife where some have my name and some hers. we had a non-contested divorce where we both just got what we each had. We did both pay for the bonds but because of the business I was in I got the bonds and she got the cash. The bonds are all older than ten years.

On May 5th, 2008 Tom Adams said:

Jim - you can cash the bonds that list your name first. You can cash the bonds that have your name second if "OR" is between the names. Otherwise, you'll need your ex-wife's help in cashing the bonds, as only she can legally redeem them.

Tom Adams

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