Chase Bank will not cash savings bonds for you, but they can direct you to places that will

Chase does not redeem U.S. savings bonds—not Series EE, Series I, or any other type. The U.S. Department of the Treasury is the only entity legally permitted to cash them. That said, Chase employees can tell you where to go, and some branches will help you prepare the paperwork you need to submit to Treasury.

If you hold your bonds in a Chase brokerage account (through Chase Investment Services), those bonds may be redeemable through that platform, but those are typically Treasury securities held electronically, not physical paper bonds. The process is different and happens inside your account.

The fastest path forward depends on whether your bonds are paper or electronic, how old they are, and whether you have the original documents.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Bank branches cannot cash physical savings bonds under any circumstances; only the U.S. Department of the Treasury can redeem them.
  • If your bonds are held in a Chase brokerage account as Treasury securities, you can sell them through that account without going to Treasury.
  • Paper savings bonds can be redeemed by mail through the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service or in person at a Federal Reserve Bank.
  • You will need the original bond certificate, proof of ownership, and a completed form (FS Form 1522 for lost bonds, or a signature may provide for transfers).
  • Some Chase branches will notarize documents or help you gather what you need, but they cannot process the redemption itself.

Physical paper bonds: where to send them

If you own paper savings bonds issued by the Treasury, you have two redemption routes: mail or in-person at a Federal Reserve Bank.

For mail redemption, send your bonds to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Parkersburg, West Virginia 26106-1328. Include the original bond certificate, a completed form (the specific form depends on your situation), and proof of ownership such as a copy of your driver's license. The Treasury will mail you a check, which typically arrives within four to six weeks. You do not need a bank to process this.

For in-person redemption, locate the Federal Reserve Bank in your region and bring your bonds and identification. The Federal Reserve operates 12 regional banks across the country. You can find the one nearest you on the Federal Reserve's website. In-person redemption is faster—you walk out with a check the same day.

Chase can help you get ready: they can notarize your signature if the Treasury requires it, and they can answer questions about what documents to include. But the actual redemption happens between you and Treasury, not through Chase.

Electronic bonds in a Chase brokerage account

If you bought Treasury securities through Chase Investment Services or hold them in a brokerage account at Chase, those bonds live in your account electronically. You can sell them directly through your Chase account without contacting the Treasury at all.

Log into your Chase brokerage account, find the Treasury security you want to redeem, and place a sell order. The transaction settles in one to three business days, and the proceeds land in your account as cash. You can then transfer that cash to your Chase checking or savings account if you want it in a different place.

This process is much faster than mailing paper bonds to the Treasury, and it happens entirely within Chase's system. If you are unsure whether your bonds are held this way, call Chase Investment Services or log into your account and look for a "holdings" or "positions" section.

What documents you need for paper bond redemption

The Treasury requires specific paperwork depending on your situation. If you have the original bond certificate and you are the registered owner, you need the bond itself, a completed form, and a government-issued ID.

If the bond is registered to someone else but you are authorized to redeem it, you will need a signature may provide from a financial institution—Chase can provide this. If the bond is lost or destroyed, you will need to complete FS Form 1522 (Statement Regarding Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed U.S. Savings Bonds) and provide proof of ownership, such as a copy of the original purchase receipt or a bank statement showing the purchase.

If the bond is in the name of a deceased person, you will need a certified copy of the death certificate and proof that you are the executor or authorized heir. Different situations require different forms; the Treasury website lists all of them, or you can call the Bureau of the Fiscal Service at 844-284-2676 to confirm what you need before you mail anything.

Why banks cannot redeem savings bonds

Federal law restricts savings bond redemption to the Treasury itself. Banks are not licensed to handle this transaction, even though they hold customer money and process other government documents. It is a deliberate separation: the Treasury maintains a central registry of all bonds, and only they can verify ownership, check for lost or stolen bonds, and process the redemption against that registry.

This protects you. It means no one can cash a bond they do not own, and it means the Treasury has a complete record of every redemption. The downside is that it takes longer than cashing a check at your bank, but the security trade-off is intentional.

What to do if your bonds are very old

Savings bonds do not expire, but they stop earning interest after a certain number of years. Series EE bonds issued before May 2003 stop earning interest 30 years after issue; Series I bonds stop earning interest 30 years after issue as well. Series EE bonds issued after May 2003 earn interest for 30 years.

If your bonds have stopped earning interest, you should still redeem them—you will receive the full value they have accumulated, just no new interest going forward. The Treasury will not pay you interest on bonds you hold past their final maturity date, so there is no financial benefit to waiting. Bring them to a Federal Reserve Bank or mail them to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service with the same documents you would use for any other redemption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Chase notarize my savings bond documents?

Yes. Chase branches offer notary services, usually for free if you are a customer. Bring your bond documents and identification, and ask a branch employee to notarize your signature. Some branches require an appointment; call ahead to confirm.

What if I lost my savings bond certificate?

You can still redeem it. Complete FS Form 1522 and mail it to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service along with proof of ownership—a bank statement showing the purchase, a receipt, or a letter from the original purchaser. The Treasury will search their records and issue a replacement if they find it.

How long does it take to get my money after I mail bonds to the Treasury?

Four to six weeks is typical. The Treasury processes mail redemptions in the order they arrive. If you need the money faster, visit a Federal Reserve Bank in person and walk out with a check the same day.

Do I have to be a Chase customer to get help preparing my bond redemption?

No. Any bank can notarize documents or answer general questions about the process. You do not need to be a customer anywhere to redeem bonds with the Treasury.

Can I redeem part of a savings bond?

No. Savings bonds are redeemed in full. You cannot cash half a bond and keep the other half earning interest.