Found old savings bonds?
We turn them into a check.
Old U.S. savings bonds stopped earning interest years ago — many are worth several times what's printed on them. We handle all the government paperwork. You get paid.
— or send us a note below and we'll call you —
Show us what you found
Call us, or send photos of the bonds — kitchen-table lighting is fine. Haven't found any bonds, but think Mom or Dad had some? Tell us that too. We can search.
We tell you what it's worth — free
You'll get a straight answer and an exact dollar amount before you decide anything.
We handle everything
Every form, filled out and checked. We tell you exactly where to sign, and include a postage-paid envelope. The U.S. Treasury sends the money directly to you or the estate — never to us.
Only if we find money. If we find nothing, you owe nothing — and checking costs nothing.
Even the slightest chance is worth it. We research, we submit on your behalf, we handle all the correspondence — and the government always pays you directly.
Why you can't just look these up
Bonds bought before the mid-1970s aren't in any database — not the state's, not the Treasury's search tools, not anyone's. The government kept those records by serial number, not by name. Finding them takes family history, employment records, and a formal claim. That research is what we do.
Already know the details?
If you have dates, addresses, or family history handy, you can give us everything now — about ten minutes, and best guesses are fine. Then when we call, we're already working on your case instead of starting from scratch.
Fill out the detailed form → Completely optional — the quick form above is all we need to get started.Estate attorneys and fiduciaries: the same detailed form works for you too.
What kind of savings bonds might your family have?
If you've found old bonds, the series letter (printed on the front) tells you a lot. Here's the plain-English version — and whether you can cash it at a bank or have to file with the Treasury:
- Series E (1941–1980) — the big one. War bonds and payroll-plan bonds. Most families' bonds are these. Cashable at a bank; older ones may need a Treasury filing.
- Series EE & I (1980–today) — newer bonds, may still be earning interest. Cashable at a bank.
- Savings Notes / "Freedom Shares" (1967–1970) — sold alongside Series E. Cashable at a bank.
- Series H & HH (1952–2004) — paid interest by check every six months. Must be filed with the Treasury, not a bank.
- Series F, G, J, K (1941–1957) — older, less common. Must be filed with the Treasury.
- Armed Forces Leave Bonds & Adjusted Service Bonds — issued to WWI and WWII veterans. Rare, and often overlooked in estates. Special claim forms apply.
Not sure what you're holding? Photograph them at inkwelldiligence.com or call (402) 431-2871 — we'll tell you what each one is, what it's worth, and how to claim it. Free. Official details for every series are on the Treasury's site: Historical and Retired Bonds.
Started a bond claim — and never finished?
You're in good company. Treasury's own report says its old search site (Treasury Hunt) found over a million potential bond matches — and only about 24,000 bonds were ever claimed. Nearly everyone stalled on the paperwork. Not because they didn't want the money; because the forms are genuinely hard and nobody helps.
Two things you should know: the search site is gone now, but your match is still good — savings bonds never expire. And finishing is our whole job: we prepare every form, you sign once at your bank, and the U.S. Treasury pays you directly. No charge unless money is recovered.
Wherever you stalled, call — no judgment, just the next step: (402) 431-2871.
Want to do it yourself? Here are the forms — free.
Everything we file is a public government form. You never have to pay anyone, including us. These links go straight to the U.S. Treasury's own site (always the current version):
- FS Form 1522 — Cash in bonds you're holding. The basic payment request.
- FS Form 1048 — Claim lost, stolen, or destroyed bonds — including old ones you can't find but believe existed.
- FS Form 5336 — Small estates (no probate, Treasury securities $100,000 or less).
- FS Form 1455 — Estates with a court-appointed representative — distribute bonds to heirs.
- FS Form 4000 — Reissue a bond into a survivor's or heir's name (unmatured bonds only).
- Treasury's plain-English guides: estates with a court representative · estates without one · lost-bond claims
Fair warning from people who fill these out every day: the forms are free, but they're picky — the wrong signature certification or a missing document means the whole packet comes back. That's the part we handle. Questions cost nothing: (402) 431-2871.
Need certified death certificates?
Every bond claim needs them (the government keeps each copy — order three). The rule for any state: the certificate comes from the state where the person died — even if the estate, the family, or the bonds are somewhere else.
- Easiest: call the funeral home — funeral directors order certified copies routinely and can usually add more to the original order.
- Ordering yourself: the CDC keeps the official directory of every state's vital records office — find the state where the death occurred here, with current addresses, fees, and how to order (online, mail, or in person).
What you'll need is the same nearly everywhere: photo ID, a fee per copy (typically $15–25 — each state's page lists its current amount), and your relationship to the person — states issue death certificates only to close family or the estate's legal representative, so a personal representative who isn't immediate family should include their court letters.