How to Retrieve Lost Savings Bonds
Savings bonds are a popular gift for infants and children because of the time it takes for the bonds to mature. As children grow and move away from home to build their own lives, many times their savings bonds get misplaced. Those bonds, although lost, are still valid and can only be redeemed by the person entitled to them. The U.S. Treasury is aware of this problem and has developed a system for you to use when you need to get a savings bond replaced or reissued.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer with Internet access Adobe Reader installed (for download option)
Instructions
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Replacing a U.S. Savings Bond
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Open your Internet browser and go to http://treasury direct.gov/.
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Click "Forms" in the title bar at the top of the page. On the next page, click "Savings Bond Forms."
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Read the information about how forms can be obtained and then click "Reissue Forms" under the heading "Form Categories."
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For personal savings bonds, you will use the Form PD F 4000. Only use the Form PD F 1851 if the savings bond was issued to a trust rather than an individual. Choose your form and decide whether you want to download the form or have it mailed to you.
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If you want the forms mailed, choose how many forms you would like using the drop down arrow on the left of the form title. Click "Enter Mailing Address" at the bottom of the box, under the form title. On the next page, fill in your contact information and click "Order" at the bottom of the page.
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If you want to download the forms, you must have Adobe Reader installed on your computer. Click "PDF" to the right of the form title.
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After receiving the forms by mail or by downloading them, fill them in and mail them to the address printed on the last page of the form. Follow the instructions carefully and provide as much information as possible. If you downloaded the form, you can fill it out in Adobe Reader and print it, or you can print the blank form and fill it out by hand.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have savings bonds, keep a record of all the necessary identifying information. If the savings bond is lost, it can be replaced more quickly by providing all of this information to the Treasury.
