There are several different bonds that a person may purchase or collect in a lifetime. Treasury bonds, EE/E savings bonds, I savings bonds and HH/H savings bonds are four bonds offered by the U.S. Treasury department. Many of these bonds go unclaimed once they reach maturity because people forget they have them, the bond certificates are lost or a person dies before cashing them in. The Internet has made it easy for individuals to learn if a deceased person had unclaimed bonds.
Locate Unclaimed Bonds
Visit the Treasury Direct website and go to the Treasury Direct Hunt page (find link in the references section below).
Fill in the social security number (SSN) or the employer identification number (EIN) of the person you are searching for in the box and click on “Search.”
Wait for results, which are available within a matter of minutes, sometimes seconds, depending on your Internet connection speed.
Find Unclaimed Bonds Issued Pre-1974
Download one of two forms available at the Treasury Hunt database. "For lost, stolen or destroyed bonds, submit Form PD F 1048. For undeliverable bonds (bonds not received), submit Form PD F 3062-4."
Follow instructions to fill out forms. Provide all relevant information to expedite process.
Submit forms to Treasury Hunt and wait for a response. Response time varies depending on the volume of requests and the complexity of your request.
