Get a list of your US Savings Bonds
Tuesday, September 21st, 2004
Categorized as: Lost or stolen US Savings Bonds
How do I get a complete list of savings bonds that have been issued to my Social Security Number?
Tom's Response
This can be done, but it requires a signed letter from you. The Treasury wants to make sure that it's not giving this information away to someone who shouldn't have it.
Interestingly, if you apply for Social Security benefits that require you have no assets, the Social Security Administration has no trouble getting a list of your Savings Bonds from the Treasury, because the Treasury deems that the SSA is entitled to the information.
What you need to do is send a signed letter requesting the information. At a minimum you need to include your name, your address now, your Social Security Number, and the approximate issue date of the bonds.
However, the Treasury's ability to search improves if you can also include bond serial numbers (even the numbers from bonds you're not looking for can help), the names of co-owners or beneficiaries, the series and denomination, your address at time of issue.
If the bond was a gift to you include the giver's name, address at the time of issue, and, of particular importance, the giver's Social Security Number.
You will receive a list of your bond holdings, including series, issue date, face value, and serial number. The list won't include any bonds that have been redeemed, however.
If you're curious about whether a bond whose serial number you have has been redeemed, ask and they will tell you.
Send your letter to the Treasury at this address:
Bureau of the Public Debt
Accrual Securities Branch
PO Box 1328
Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328
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The Savvy Saver blog says:
I just saw this helpful post on Savings Bond Advisor on how to obtain a list of all savings bonds that have been issued to your social security number.
I am Executrix of my sister's will, recently passed away, and I found Series E Bond Numbers, no physical bonds,that I believe were our mother's and stepfather's. How do I find out what uncashed bonds are in the names and social security numbers of my deceased family members? Thank you
Barbara - just follow the procedure outlined above. Include the bond serial numbers you have in your letter as well as any other information that would help the Treasury find its records of your family's Savings Bonds.
Normally the Treasury will only tell you about your own bonds, but if you include a death certificate and evidence that you are responsible for the relevant estate or an heir of the relevant estate, they will give you information about bonds belonging to the estate.
How long does the process usually take once you have sent in the information regarding lost bonds?
Kim
Hi Kim - It's not unusual for a response to take six weeks, although many come back quicker than that.
It depends on how many other people send in requests the same time you do - there's a suprising amount of variablity in how many requests the Treasury receives each week.
The number of people handling requests doesn't change, so when there are a lot of requests it takes longer to get a response.
"Hard" requests, such as searches for bonds issued before 1974 when SSNs weren't required, also take longer because there are fewer people who have the expertise to do these searches.
I had several bonds bought in the 80's and 90's from various relatives. I have no idea where they are and what happened to them. What are my odds of having them replaced?
William - if your Social Security Number is on the bonds, your odds are 100%. However, sometimes gift bonds have the SSN of the giver. In that case, you odds improve if you can give the SSNs of the relatives who gave you the bonds when you make your request.
Tom Adams
My daughter received a bond in the mail without any name as to who it was from. How do we know who sent this to send a thank you?
Cheri - see Who gave us this bond?
Tom Adams
My father had bonds in his posession which had belonged to his father. Since his death we have not been able to find the bonds and don't know if they were ever cashed. Is there any way to track these bonds down and if so can they be paid out to the one remaining daughter or grandchildren.
Hi Mary Ann - The Executor of your father's estate should follow the instructions at the top of this page.
Tom Adams
Many years ago I had savings bonds stolen in a robbery. They were from my grandparents, given to me at the time of my birth. I am a Canadian citizen and they were American, living in Mass. at the time. I do not know either one of thier SSN numbers, and being Canadian I do not have an SSN. What is the likelihood that if I only have names, that I will get any information regarding these bonds? Many thanks for all your help!
Hi Anne - It will depend on how common your name is. If it's Anne Smith, for example, your chances aren't as good as they would be if your name was more unusual. In any case, it's worth a try.
Tom Adams
During our move recently, our file containing our vital records and our family's savings bonds went missing! My kids have received many savings bonds as gifts from many people. Is it possible to send just one letter to inquire about myself, my husband, and all three of my kids. We have no idea what the serial #s are, the dates of issuance, or the giver's SSN! Is it hopeless? (and don't worry - we are getting a safe deposit box)
Mandy - the Treasury won't tell you about someone else's Savings Bonds. So at a minimum you need to include info about all five of you and have all five sign the letter.
Tom Adams
How do I use existing savings bonds to pay for my sons education ? He is in a trade school.What are the steps ?
Hi Rene - you cash the bonds and use the money to pay the bill. If you also want a tax deduction, then see my page on the Savings Bond education deduction.
Tom Adams
My grandmother bought a bond for me I believe in 2002. I can not seem to locate it anywhere. How do I go about getting it replaced? My dads name is on it also since I was a minor at the time.
Wendy - the info you're looking for is here.
Tom Adams
tom, my x husband bought saving bonds through his job at thiocol ( which made bombs in st mary ga and there was a terrible accident, lots of people lost thier lives) we became divorce and a friend kept those bonds for us, he has long since passed away. i dont know my x ss number. and dont know if he had my ss number on the bonds what can i do.
Hi Towanda - Since your ex-husband bought the bonds, they would have his SS number on them. Unless he had you named as a co-owner or the court awarded the bonds to you in the divorce, you won't have any ability to make a claim on them.
Tom Adams
How can I find out how many savings bonds I gave to my grandson?
Hi Delores - there is no way to get a list of the bonds you have given have gifts. Your grandson, however (or his parents if he is a minor), can ask for a list of his bonds using the information at the top of this page.
Tom Adams
My x-wife bought a stack of savings bonds over 12 yrs. time(while we were married) and they were all in my name. They were never addressed during the divorce ,but they are or were in my name. How do I find out any info pertaining to these bonds . thanks Terry
Hi Terry - there's no special process for your situation. Just follow the instructions at the top of this page.
Tom Adams
I have to fill out a prequalification form for a mortgage and it asks for information on any bonds I hold. I remember getting a lot of bonds when I was younger, but any information on them is at my parents' house and I don't think they have record of all of them. I don't know what the serial numbers are, the dates of issuance, or the giver's SSN. Do you think without this info the Treasury can still provide information to me for all bonds?
Hi Cindy - the only way to find out is to ask them. It can depend on stuff like how unusual your last name is.
Tom Adams
Hi Tom,
My grandfather purchase bonds while he was in the war for my mother. I believe it may have been in her mother's name for her??? Her mom passed away when she was 6 years old and all of her possessions were gone through by other family members. We do not know what happened to those bonds. What do I need to do?
Jo - the information you're looking for is on our page about lost Savings Bonds. The more information you can provide the more likely it is they will be able to find a record of the bonds. If they can't find a record of them, you're out of luck.
Tom Adams
I have about 12 Series EE Bonds where I indicated my niece as beneficiary. I wanted to set up my grand nephew as beneficiary but at the time, he was not born yet. He is now 5 years old and with a social security #. Is it possible to change the beneficiary on these bonds?
Connie - The information you're looking for is here.
Tom Adams
My grandfather purchased my 2 sons a number of savings bonds over the years. My question is since his passing we can not find the bonds that have not been cashed but do know exist. What can I do to find out what bonds and the amounts of the bonds?
Hi David - What do you want to know that isn't already in the article at the top of this page?
Tom Adams
My ex just informed my college age sons that he cashed in their savings bonds a long time ago. All were in their names. My sons are outraged! Anything we can do legally to get them back???
Hi Patricia - the information you're looking for is here.
Tom Adams
I have another question though. The bonds were in my kids names only. Each boy had their own set of bonds. The only time we as parents were on the bonds was when we were listed as a beneficiary. He never told them that he was cashing them in, nor was he legally allowed to make any decisions for the boys because he did not have full custody. Was he allowed to cash them?? And where can I get a list of the ones that were cashed? Thanks for all your help.
Patricia - you can't normally get a list of Savings Bonds that have been cashed, but when the bonds have been stolen the Treasury will work with you on that.
When doing transactions involving a minor's Savings Bond, banks are supposed to deal only with the custodial parent, although I'd guess very few of them know that.
Tom Adams
hello. alright to make a long story short, when I was a baby my grandfather had a savings bond for my cousins and I. He passed away several years ago. I went to the bank where the savings bond was supposably made, and they told me that they cant find any records of it. Some of my family members told me that, my other grandfather visited him in the hospital when he was dying.. and had him sign over all of the savings bonds over to him. he told him that he was his " lawyer. " my grandfather didnt recognize any of us before he died.. so im thinking that it could be possible. what can i do?
Britny - Do you know how much money was involved? It's not possible to just "sign over" Savings Bonds in a simple transaction - it requires special forms and a bank officer to certify signatures. Even a crook wouldn't bother unless the amount was at least several thousand dollars.
Also, a Savings Bond can only have two names on it, so your grandfather may have had a Savings Bond he intended to give to you and your cousins, but it couldn't have had all your names on it. Unless the second name was yours there's nothing else you can do.
Tom Adams
My husband purchased savings bonds through work. He passed away and only his name is on the bonds. How can I cash these bonds.
Rachel Koza
Rachel - It depends on how your husband's estate was handled. There's more info here, or you can use the Ask the Treasury link above and to the right to get them to help you.
Tom Adams
The courts ordered that all Savings Bonds acquired during the marriage be divided 50-50. How can I be sure that my ex is being truthful the bonds he holds? Is there a way for me to get a list of all bonds issued under ex's SSN? Can I get a list of any that were redeemed in that SSN?
Jan - I suggest you use the "Ask the Treasury" link to the right and above to see if they will give you a list of your ex-husband's bonds in light of the court order. I don't know what their policy is in this special case.
Tom Adams
I'm glad I visited this website. It is the perfect answer to my concern. I have been purchasing bonds and it is by automatic payroll deduction.
I had had noticed the irregularity of the arrival of the bonds, and there are years when the number of bonds don't tally with what I should have received.
I'll definitely write to the address given above.
Thank you very much.
My husband died close to forty years ago. He sent saving bonds to me in my maiden name and I was all of 15 at the time. We married in 1971 and he died in 73. The bonds he sent me were destroyed in a fire at my grandparents home in the late 70's. I donot have his SSN now, nor do I have a death certificate. Will I be able to redeem the bonds? Or is it too late at this point?
Tina - it's not too late, but you have to file a claim. Info on that is here. Include a copy of your birth certificate to verify your name. Since the bonds are in your name, you don't need his death certificate.
Tom Adams
Tom, while I see that I can get a "list" of all of the savings bonds I purchased, I use Savings Bond Wizard which went south with a disk crash and I'd prefer not to re-enter 500 or so paper bonds into the new SBW I downloaded. I know that SBW can take a .csv file as input, do you know if the Dept. of the Treasury can provide the list in electronic format? (Excel, Word, etc.)
Thanks, Chris.
Chris - I don't know the answer to your question, but I encourage you to ask them and let us know what you find out.
Another possibility might be to scan the list they send you and use OCR software to turn it into an electronic file you can convert into a .csv file.
Tom Adams
Hello Tom. I as many other individuals want to know about my savings bonds my granparents opened up for me when I was born. They were putting 75 bucks in a year until I was 18. . .then my dad spent them and says he lost them. My over all question is how I can get information I need. Im 22 years old and Im homeless. I wanted to use those bonds to go to college but when I went asking about them, my father said he lost them but I know he spent them. He was always getting new computer crap and got a new truck magically and was never able to afford that stuff before. How do I go about recieving the information Im looking for?
Kyle - the info you're looking for is here.
Tom Adams
Hi. When my daughter was a baby i bought her a bond. I do not remember where i bought it and i cannot find it. Also her father had supposedly bought her and my son one on each of thier birthdays. They are both over 18 now and i would like to give it to her. Is there anyways I can get ahold of information to give to her? I'm not even sure how bonds work i just remember my mother told me i should get her one and i did but i just forgot all about it. I'm sure it is worth alot now for her.
Theresa - your kids can follow the instructions in the article at the top of this page to find out the serial numbers of the bonds. Once they have that, they can get the bonds replaced by following the procedure detailed here.
Tom Adams
When I was a small child, my parents and grandparents bought a number of bonds for me. Most are in my name. I'm an adult now. Will I have to pay income tax on the interest if I cash the bonds today?
RL - yes, after you cash the bonds the bank will send you and the IRS a 1099-INT tax form showing the amount of interest you have earned. You add that to your income on your tax form. For your state income taxes, there's a place on your state form where you can subtract the amount back out again.
Tom Adams
i have a question? i bought savings bonds for my grandchildern in my name as some were gifts from where i worked i am 75 years of age and not going to live for ever i want to sign over the bonds to my grande childern thank you for any help you can give me
Arlene - the information you're looking for is here.
Tom Adams
Ok I just got a 1099 from my bank for interest of $50.07 on a savings bond cashed in 2/2008. I never cashed in a bond and I don't even know if i had a bond or not.
It is listed just under my name ( not husbands) and my ss #. What is your comment?
I am recuperating from surgery and can't make it to bank to ask. My husband went but they can't give him any info because it is my name.
Hi Diana - I think you could handle this over the phone - no need to go to the bank.
I'm just guessing, but I'd suspect that the bank has more than one client with your name. One of them cashed a Savings Bond and the back office realized it needed a SSN. They looked up the client in the system and found you and used your number.
You can point out to the bank, I assume, that they didn't deposit the proceeds of the bond redemption into your account. So you could ask them to either deposit the proceeds in your account or to reissue you a corrected 1099 showing the interest you earned was zero.
Tom Adams
My husband and I are getting a divorce, I have suspected for a while(filed divorce 1 year ago this month)that he is hiding his cash by buying savings bonds in her daughters' name. Is there anyway I can find that out?
Elizabeth - You would need a court order to get that information, so you'll need to talk to your lawyer about this.
Tom Adams
My daugther received Savings Bonds as a baby from her Maternal Grand mother and her Paternal Grandmother. Unfortunately my grandmother died in a fire in her home some of her Savings Bonds were. I am unsure if I have all of her Bonds. Since she is still a minor can I request a list of her Bonds as the article above states.
Kenya - yes, a parent can make the request for a child. Just mention that in your letter.
Tom Adams
When a minor turns 18 and still has a bond in his/her name, is it legal for their parent to be able to cash it?
Also, Can a parent cash a bond of a 16-17 year old minor with out a signature from the minor?
Allison - The problem is that the bank doesn't know how old the child is.
The bank just has a person trying to cash a bond with a name on it similar to their own. The person says it's their child. The bank isn't required to get proof of age of the child.
I believe the age at which a minor becomes an adult varies from state to state, so I can't tell you an exact age at which this becomes fraud.
Tom Adams
I have recieved bonds for my baptism, first communion, confirmation, and my graduation. I am 29 years old now. I have no idea what happened to them. How can I find them?
Cathy - If you don't want to take the step outlined at the top of this page, try this page.
Tom Adams
I have a very different question. I cashed in an I bond about 3 weeks ago. Just today I received a correction from my bank stating they would be debiting my account. Apparently their back offices re-calculated it as an EE bond, and are now taking the difference out of my account. Is there any way, since I no longer have the bond form (application), to prove it was an I bond other than requesting the list from the treasury?
I know the bank will no longer have the original bond I redeemed, so is waiting for my list to arrive my only fighting chance to get my money back?
Vicki - although the bank will no longer have the bond, they should have its serial number. The last letters in the serial number ("I", "E", or "EE") denote what kind of bond it was.
If the bank refuses to solve this problem, contact the Treasury immediately, using the Ask the Treasury link above and to the right.
Tom Adams
I have some savings bonds that I got from work in 2000. I am having the hardest time finding out how to get them re-issued or cashed. Any advice out there?
Amy - if your have physical possession of the bonds, the information you're looking for is here.
If you've lost the bonds (or never received them), then you need to go here.
If you have some other problem, then you'll need to provide me a bit more detail.
Tom Adams
question : i purchased savings bonds about 20 years ago or so for my 2 kids. If i am not mistaken the bonds are in the kids name and i am the beneficiary. The bonds were stolen is there any way i can get these back. i know the younger daughters SSN but the older one, since her mother and i are divorced and there is no communication to either the x-wife or older daughter and do not know her SSN what are my chances of getting those replaced as well ?
Scott - if you can show the bonds were stolen the chance of getting them back is 100%. The information you're looking for is here.
Tom Adams
I am adopted and while i was still in foster care got a bond. I remember seeing a photo copy of this bond, but haven't seen it since i was a teenager. I have tried to search for it with my social # but haven't had any luck. I know the bond had my birth name on it however that got changed and i think my social did also. So do you have any recommendations?
Tiffany - the best you can do is fill out the form mentioned on my page about recovering lost bonds, get a bank to certify you signature on the form, and send it in with a letter providing any additional information you have that doesn't fit on the form.
The Treasury doesn't have anything but what was on the original bond, so whether they will find a record of the bond depends on whether any of the information you provide matches what's on the bond.
Tom Adams
I recently found out through the social security administration that I have a savings bond out there somewhere. I am on disability and it could cost me my benefits. I was told I needed to find out as much information as possible about this bond. I am pretty sure it was a gift from my aunt (that was always the gift she gave for birthdays and christmas every year). Without the serial number or date of issue, is it even possible to obtain information about it?
Jack - Follow the instructions in the text at the top of this page. If they found it for the SSA with nothing but your Social Security Number, they can find it for you with nothing but your Social Security Number.
Tom Adams