How to Securely Convert Paper Savings Bonds to Electronic Securities

Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: April 8, 2024

Recently, when the US Treasury Department decided not to use paper bonds any longer, they asked all holders to securely convert their paper bonds to electronic bonds (which they call eBonds). Use these steps to make the conversion.

Part 1

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Visit the TreasuryDirect webpage .

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to your TreasuryDirect account. ^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
Treasury Direct
Website run by the U.S. Bureau of Fiscal Service that allows individuals to buy U.S. Treasury securities
Go to source}
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4
Locate and click the "ManageDirect(r)" link from the toolbar. It'll be just underneath the TreasuryDirect icon.
- Create a Conversion Linked account, using the page that results - then click the "Create Account" button to verify that you want to create a conversion account.
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6
Enter the requested information for each bond. You will need the bonds' series type (E, EE, or I), serial numbers, face value amounts and issue dates of these documents.
- Don't sign the back of your bonds however, You aren't redeeming them, you're merely converting them into their digital counterpart form. TreasuryDirect will digitally take care of this for you at redemption time - so that you don't even need to lift a single finger.
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You will find this button over on the right-hand side of the page, just below the toolbar.
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Click the "Create a Manifest" button.
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Type in the correct answer to the security question into the Answer field.
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Use the "Print Manifest" button to send it to your printer to be printed. You will need to send this paperwork to TreasuryDirect to process your bond conversion.

Part 2

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Dealing with the Documents

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There should be a signature page you need to sign, but again do not sign the back of your bond(s).
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2
Mail the document along with the unsigned bond(s) to the Treasury Department at the address below and wait for three-to-four weeks for the conversion to take place. ^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
Treasury Direct
Website run by the U.S. Bureau of Fiscal Service that allows individuals to buy U.S. Treasury securities
Go to source}
- Department of the Treasury
  Bureau of the Public Debt
  PO Box 7015
  Parkersburg, WV 26106-7015

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I deposit a savings bond into my bank account?

The_Trojan_Ghost

Community Answer

Most financial institutions will redeem your savings bonds. If your bank does not, it should be able to point you to a bank that will handle the redemption. You also could convert your paper bonds to electronic form through TreasuryDirect.gov and then redeem them into your bank account.

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Can I use a list of my paper bonds to create an electronic bond?

The_Trojan_Ghost

Community Answer

Yes. There is a website that does this for you called Treasury Direct. You will have to create an account if you haven't already.

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Can I use a list of my paper bonds to create an electronic bond?

Zin Thiri

Community Answer

Once your TreasuryDirect account is set up, log in, go to ManageDirectSM and click on the link “Establish a Conversion Linked Account,” which appears in the “Manage My Linked Accounts” menu.

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Tips

TreasuryDirect requires that you include at least one special character in your password (excluding the slash (/) character).

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If at any time during printing or before printing the conversion form you find yourself wanting to back out, you will need the manifest page. It is hard to discover and you will need to contact TreasuryDirect for help.

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Warnings

Do NOT sign the back of your paper bonds.

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You will need to print out the conversion document and send it in with your bond(s) in order for the bonds to appear on your list.

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If at any time during the conversion process, you press any of the browser's buttons (such as Back, Forward, Refresh or Home) you'll be automatically logged out and will have to log back in from the beginning.

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When you enter your one-time passcode to start the process with TreasuryDirect, be sure to check the "Remember Me" box and avoid clearing your browser's cookies. This should prevent their having trouble later recognizing you and your computer.

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Things You'll Need

computer (PC or Mac), mouse and keyboard
Internet access
US savings bond(s) to convert
printer
envelope
pen for writing the address on the envelope

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[1]

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[2]

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How to Securely Convert Paper Savings Bonds to Electronic Securities

Steps

Via Technology

Dealing with the Documents

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

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