Bureau of the Public Debt Aids Savings Bonds Owners Affected by California Wildfires
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2008
The Bureau of the Public Debt took action to assist victims of the effects of the recent wildfires in California by expediting the replacement or payment of United States Savings Bonds for owners in affected counties in that state. The emergency procedures are effective immediately and will allow authorized agents to redeem Series EE and I savings bonds that are less than one year old which are presented for payment by their owners through the end of January 2009.
Public Debt's action waives the normal one-year holding period for Series EE and I savings bonds presented to authorized paying agents for redemption by residents of the affected areas. Most financial institutions serve as paying agents for savings bonds. The one-year holding period for electronic savings bonds held in TreasuryDirect accounts is also waived for owners in the affected areas.
The affected California counties are: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and Santa Barbara.
Public Debt will also expedite the replacement of paper bonds lost or destroyed. Bond owners should complete form PD F-1048, available at most financial institutions or by writing to Customer Service Department, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, 90 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55401, phone (800) 553-2663. This form can also be downloaded from Public Debt’s website, www.treasurydirect.gov. Bond owners should include as much information as possible about the lost bonds on the form. This information should include how the bonds were inscribed, Social Security number, approximate dates of issue, bond denominations and serial numbers, if available. A notary public or an officer of a financial institution must certify the completed form. Completed forms should be forwarded to Public Debt’s Office of Retail Securities, 200 Third Street, Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328. Bond owners should write the word "DISASTER" on the front of their envelopes to help expedite the processing of claims.