Careful Record Keeping Helps Replace Bonds Net ‘Wizard’ Tracks Serial Numbers

How can you avoid losing your savings bonds?

Remember that bonds have value, so try to keep them in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box, your file cabinet or strongbox.

One bondholder’s bonds were eaten by the family dog, said Peter E. Hollenbach, spokesman for the Bureau of the Public Debt in Washington, which runs the savings bond program.

“We didn’t ask for the evidence; we just replaced them,” he said.

If you lose your bonds, you can make the replacement procedure go more smoothly by having a record of the serial numbers for each of your bonds. Keep the record separate from the bonds themselves.

If you have access to a computer, you can use the Bureau of the Public Debt’s “Savings Bond Wizard” program to keep track of your bonds and their serial numbers. The program is available at this Internet address:

http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov

If you want to replace a U.S. Savings Bond that’s been lost, stolen or mutilated, but you don’t have the bond’s serial number, try to supply this other information:

The series of the bond (Series E, EE, H, HH, etc.)

When the bond was issued (month, date and year)

The bond’s face amount ($50, $75, etc.)

Full name or names shown on bond’s face

Full address shown on bond’s face

Social Security number of first person listed

Date, details of bond’s loss, theft or mutilation

For more information about replacing bonds, write Bureau of the Public Debt, Savings Bond Operations Office, Parkersburg, W.Va. 26106-1328.