See www.savingsbonds.gov/indiv/tools/tools_treasuryhunt.htm. This is the Web site for the "Treasury Hunt" feature of the U.S. Treasury's Web site for savings bonds. The Treasury Hunt database does not contain a record of all savings bonds, however. The system only provides information on Series E bonds issued in 1974 and after.
Another way to search for possible bonds, without a computer, is to write to the Bureau of the Public Debt, 200 Third Street, Parkersburg, WV 26106-5312. Your relative should provide his/her Social Security number and contact information and any details that can possibly locate bonds, such as an estimated year and dollar amount of purchase.
To have the Bureau of the Public Debt search for your bonds, you'll need to complete Form 1048, Claim for Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed U.S. Savings Bonds. Include as much information as you can about the bond(s) including the bond owner's name and address, contact information, Social Security number, the bond face amount(s) and serial number(s), if known, and details about the loss. With a serial number, bonds can generally be tracked down and reissued with 3 to 4 weeks. Without a serial number, the process could take months.
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