Where the Serial Number Appears on Your Bond

The serial number on a savings bond is printed in the upper right corner of the front of the bond, just below the bond's denomination (the dollar amount). It is an eight-digit number that uniquely identifies that specific bond. On paper bonds, it is printed in black ink and is easy to spot once you know where to look.

If you own an electronic bond through TreasuryDirect, you will not have a physical serial number to find on paper. Instead, the bond's identifying information appears in your TreasuryDirect account online. When you log in, each bond shows a unique identification number that serves the same purpose as a serial number on a paper bond.

Key Takeaways

  • The serial number on a paper savings bond is located in the upper right corner of the front, printed as an eight-digit number below the denomination.
  • Electronic bonds held in TreasuryDirect do not have printed serial numbers; instead, your account displays a unique bond identification number online.
  • You need the serial number to report a lost or stolen bond, to redeem it, or to track it for tax purposes.
  • If you cannot locate the serial number on a paper bond, contact the Bureau of the Fiscal Service for help identifying your bond.

Why You Need the Serial Number

The serial number is your proof of ownership and the way the government tracks that specific bond. If you need to redeem the bond, report it lost or stolen, or file taxes on the interest it earned, you will need this number. Banks and the Treasury Department use it to verify which bond you are talking about, since many people own multiple bonds.

If you inherited a bond or received one as a gift and cannot find the serial number, you can still redeem it—but the process takes longer. You will need to provide other identifying information, such as the issue date, denomination, and series letter (also printed on the bond). The Bureau of the Fiscal Service can help you locate a missing serial number if you have the bond itself.

Serial Numbers on Different Bond Series

The location and format of the serial number is the same across all paper savings bond series—Series EE, Series I, and older Series E bonds all print it in the upper right corner. The eight-digit format has been standard for decades, so whether your bond is from 1990 or 2010, you will find the number in the same place.

Older bonds, particularly Series E bonds issued before the 1970s, may have slightly different formatting or printing quality, but the serial number is still in the upper right area of the front. If you own very old bonds and the number is faded or hard to read, a clear photograph of the bond can help the Treasury Department identify it.

What to Do If You Cannot Find the Serial Number

If the serial number is faded, torn, or otherwise illegible, do not assume the bond is worthless. Write down everything else you can see on the bond: the series letter (E, EE, or I), the issue date, the denomination, and the state where it was issued. These details together can identify the bond almost as well as the serial number.

Contact the Bureau of the Fiscal Service by mail or through their website. You can submit a form requesting help locating a bond's information. Include a clear photograph or photocopy of the bond if possible. The process may take several weeks, but the Treasury Department can track bonds using the other printed information if the serial number is not readable.

Recording Your Serial Numbers for Your Records

The best time to record serial numbers is when you first receive a bond or when you buy one. Write down the serial number, series, denomination, and issue date in a safe place—a spreadsheet on your computer, a notebook in a safe deposit box, or a document stored securely online. This record protects you if the physical bond is lost or damaged.

If you own bonds through TreasuryDirect, your account already keeps this record for you. Log in periodically to confirm your bonds are still there and note the account identification numbers. If you own paper bonds, this simple step of recording the serial number takes two minutes and can save you weeks of trouble later.

Serial Numbers and Bond Redemption

When you redeem a bond, you will need to provide the serial number to your bank or to the Treasury Department. Banks that handle bond redemptions use the serial number to verify the bond's value and ensure it has reached its final maturity date (if applicable). Without the serial number, redemption is possible but slower—the bank will ask for the other identifying information instead.

If you are redeeming through TreasuryDirect, the system already knows your bond's identification number because it is stored in your account. You simply select the bond you want to redeem, and the transaction is processed electronically. Paper bonds require you to provide the serial number in writing or in person at a bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the serial number on my bond is partially torn off?

You can still redeem the bond using the remaining digits and other information like the series, issue date, and denomination. Contact your bank or the Bureau of the Fiscal Service with the information you do have. They can cross-reference the details to identify your bond.

Are serial numbers the same on Series EE and Series I bonds?

The format is the same—eight digits in the upper right corner—but the serial numbers themselves are different because each bond is unique. The series letter (EE or I) is printed separately from the serial number, usually on the left side of the bond.

Do I need the serial number to check a bond's value online?

If you own the bond through TreasuryDirect, you log into your account and see the value without needing to enter a serial number. If you own a paper bond, you can use the Savings Bond Calculator on the Treasury Department website, but you will need the series, denomination, and issue date—the serial number is not required for that tool.

What happens if I lose a paper bond and do not have the serial number written down?

Report the loss to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service with as much information as you remember: the series, denomination, approximate issue date, and state of issue. They can search their records for bonds matching that description. The process takes time, but bonds are traceable even without the serial number.