Recovering stolen Savings Bonds
Tuesday, February 14th, 2006
Categorized as: Lost or stolen US Savings Bonds
If a Savings Bond is taken without your knowledge and cashed in by someone who is neither the owner nor co-owner of the bond, what happens to them and to the bank that cashed the bond?
Tom's response
When this happens, you should contact the Treasury here and they will guide you through a case-by-case process they have for this situation.
If the process discovers that your bond was indeed stolen and redeemed by someone else, the bank will have to cover the lost funds. They will send the money to the Treasury who will reissue the bond to you.
Rate this post (1 to 5 stars): 
(Average rating: 4.33 stars)
(Average rating: 4.33 stars)
Loading ...
Tom thank you for having this site I do not know what to do ..My sons Savings bond was stolen from our apartment and I dont know how I am supposed to get it back, Please help me Stephanie ~
Stephanie - What you need to do is click on the link in the main article on this page. The text of the link says contact the Treasury here. A form will appear that will allow you to send an email to the Savings Bond representatives at the US Treasury. Tell them the bonds have been stolen and they will help you get the bonds replaced.
Tom Adams
Hey Tom,
There are a few savings bonds that were purchased to my name when I was younger. I am over the legal age to redeem them, however, my father is witholding them from me. What should I do?
Hi Joan - Possession of the paper bonds is legally meaningless. All that matters is who the bond is registered to. Use the link above to explain your situation to the Treasury and they'll advise you on how to proceed.
Tom Adams
My fiance attempted to cash bonds at citibank on wall street. He endorsed them and then the bank manager cashed them and claimed to have never seen him. The bank looked over all of the evidence and realized the bonds indeed had been cashed by the bank manager. They agreed to send the hefty sum of money to the treasury and have them replace the bonds. However, we are now being told by one of our lawyers that we may have to let the new bonds mature. The old bonds had already matured for a total of 6 years. Do we really have to wait another whole year?
Krissy - Typically when the Treasury "replaces" bonds, it replaces them with the original issue date. If that's the case here, you'll be able to cash them right away.
If Citibank buys you new bonds, on the other hand, then, yes, it will take a year before you can cash them.
But why would Citibank do that? I don't even get why are they replacing the bonds rather than just giving you the money. This one smells pretty fishy to me….
Tom Adams
My aunt, the executer of my grandfathers will, has been keeping for the last twelve years bonds that belong to my cousins and me. We found out she had used them as collateral to a bondsman to bail out an uncle. She has given all of the grandchildren their bonds, except for me. I believe they are still with the bondsman because she says she still owes him $1600, the exact amount the bonds are. What can I do about this?
Sally - The bondsman is in for a big surprise. Savings Bonds can't be used as collateral for a loan.
Scroll up this page and use the "contract the Treasury" link in the main article above and explain your situation.
If your aunt's name isn't on the bonds, then you can call them stolen and have them replaced. The Treasury will want all of the information you've given me, and probably more.
Tom Adams
I HAVE A SAVINGS BOND FOR MY DAUGHTER AND CAN NOT FIND IT.. HOW CAN I GET IT REPLACED
Sabrina - you're on the wrong page. The information you're looking for is here.
Tom Adams
hi, my name is johnny lee beckwith, and my biological father may have had some savings bonds. i am not sure. if he did, his sister may have stolen them when he dide in 2004.i am his legal aire, i am his son. can you tell me how to find them? his name was john l. weatherford.
thank you.
Johnny - leaving a comment here will not solve your problem. Scroll up and click where it says "Ask the Treasury" and ask the Treasury.
Tom Adams