Unclaimed Assets: Find and Claim Lost or Unredeemed U.S. Savings Bonds

► Federal Reserve Safekeeping of U.S. Savings Bonds and Notes

In 1935, the U.S. Treasury initiated a ‘afekeeping program which allowed individual investors to store bonds in vaults at Federal Reserve banks. At the end of 1972, over 700,000 matured bonds with a face value of $50 million were held. Almost half belonged to World War II and other veterans.

Between 1977 and 1980, an effort to centralize safekeeping in the Bureau's Savings Bond Operations Office was made. Federal Reserve Banks wrote owners at last known addresses advising that safekeeping services would be terminated, and bonds would be transferred to the Bureau of Public Debt if not claimed within two months.

When the bonds were turned over, a list of owners with reported Social Security numbers was cross-matched with VA and SSA databases. As of year-end 1987, however, the Bureau still held 245,000 bonds with a face value of $10 million.

To recover safekeeping bonds held by the Office of the Treasurer of the United States or a Federal Reserve Bank, submit Treasury Form PD F 4239 - Request By Owner or Person Entitles to Payment or Reissue of United States Savings Bonds/Notes Deposited in Safekeeping when Original Custody Receipts are not Available

► Military Safekeeping of U.S. Savings Bonds

Although safekeeping services are no longer offered to the general public, the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force provided storage for up to one year after a member left service. Bonds unclaimed after one year may have been transferred to the Bureau of Public Debt.

Contact the safekeeping office of the appropriate service by mail or fax to request release of safekeeping bonds. Include purchase information (approximate dates and amounts), as well as full contact information, including Social Security number.

Note: Because the U.S. Treasury has phased out paper savings bonds, bonds in DFAS safekeeping were mandated to be mailed to service members by September 2014. For additional information visit the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) website – http://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/bondretrieval.html - phone (888) 332-7411 or contact: