Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi!

My post - exact same situation except bonds are in my kid’s name is right below yours. I just signed up for an online treasury account in hopes of being able to convert the bonds to an electronic form. I can update you if that works.

There is a way to get a signature verification and mail them in, but, I’m not incredibly comfortable mailing several thousand dollars worth of bonds.

Thanks! I saw yours after I posted my question, and wondered if it was the same issue. I saw the form for mailing in, but the signature certification is not the same as a notary. It has to be someone from a financial institution, so I'm guessing I would run into the same issue of needing a physical bank. I can't get USAA to certify my signature since no place to go in person, and would a bank where I don't have an account be willing to certify my signature? Very curious to hear if you're successful in converting to electronic - keep me updated, if you think of it!

Is there any way you can open up a second bank account at a nearby physical bank? We did this, in order to get access to a notary and a safe deposit box and other financial services. It's just a basic savings account that we don't touch.

Anonymous wrote:Hi!

My post - exact same situation except bonds are in my kid’s name is right below yours. I just signed up for an online treasury account in hopes of being able to convert the bonds to an electronic form. I can update you if that works.

There is a way to get a signature verification and mail them in, but, I’m not incredibly comfortable mailing several thousand dollars worth of bonds.

Thanks! I saw yours after I posted my question, and wondered if it was the same issue. I saw the form for mailing in, but the signature certification is not the same as a notary. It has to be someone from a financial institution, so I'm guessing I would run into the same issue of needing a physical bank. I can't get USAA to certify my signature since no place to go in person, and would a bank where I don't have an account be willing to certify my signature? Very curious to hear if you're successful in converting to electronic - keep me updated, if you think of it!

Anonymous wrote:Do I really have to open an account at a brick and mortar bank to cash them?

Banks will redeem savings bonds for non-customers, with some limitations. Here's an article with some tips:

https://www.kiplinger.com/article/saving/T052-C001-S003-how-to-cash-in-savings-bonds.html

We inhereited a bunch of savings bonds - over 100. I just registered them on line with Treasurey, sent them in, and they sent us a check for the amount. Of course, I also had to send in proof of inhereitance, but it was all fairly quick and easy. I would just do what the PP suggested. Open a treasurey account - pretty straight forward.

Hi!

My post - exact same situation except bonds are in my kid’s name is right below yours. I just signed up for an online treasury account in hopes of being able to convert the bonds to an electronic form. I can update you if that works.

There is a way to get a signature verification and mail them in, but, I’m not incredibly comfortable mailing several thousand dollars worth of bonds.

We have some old savings bonds recently unearthed by parents who were moving. We are having an awful time trying to cash them, as we use USAA and another online bank, who don't have the physical locations to do it. (USAA customer service was no help. Said we could take them to the office in Tysons - which is like an hour away from us - and when we got there, no deal.) Do I really have to open an account at a brick and mortar bank to cash them? Can I sign them over to someone else who does have an account at a physical bank so they can cash them and write me a check? It's not a ton of money, but it's annoying, and I don't want to forget and lose them.