Short answer: The federal "Treasury Hunt" search tool was shut down on September 30, 2025. You can no longer use it to look up unclaimed savings bonds. The good news: there is still a clear, free, official way to find and claim matured or unclaimed U.S. savings bonds. This guide walks you through exactly what to do now.
What happened to Treasury Hunt?
For years, the U.S. Department of the Treasury ran an online tool called Treasury Hunt that let you search for matured or unclaimed savings bonds. As of September 30, 2025, that tool is no longer available. The change came from a federal law called the SECURE Act 2.0, which updated how people find and claim unredeemed or matured Treasury securities.
If you have seen old articles or links telling you to "use the Treasury Hunt tool," those are now out of date. The search itself has moved somewhere else.
Where to search now
Unclaimed Treasury securities, including savings bonds, are now handled through each individual state's unclaimed property program. States can securely access the Treasury's database of unredeemed or matured securities and help you with your claim.
To start your search, go to unclaimed.org. This is the official site run by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). It helps you find your state's unclaimed property office, which is now the main place to look.
Tip: Start with the state where the original owner lived when the bond was bought, or where the bond was most likely issued.
What information you will need
When you contact your state's unclaimed property office, have these ready:
- The full legal name of the bond owner (or the name of the original purchaser).
- The state of residence at the time of purchase, or the last known address.
- Supporting documents if you are claiming on behalf of someone else, such as a death certificate or proof of relationship for heirs.
What if the bond is lost, stolen, or destroyed?
If you actually owned a paper savings bond and it was lost, stolen, or destroyed, there is a separate federal process. You can file FS Form 1048 ("Claim for Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed United States Savings Bonds") with TreasuryDirect. Download the form from the forms page at treasurydirect.gov, fill in as much detail as you can (owner names, approximate purchase dates, and Social Security number if known), and follow the signing and mailing instructions on the form. Some claims must be signed in front of a notary or certifying officer, which many banks and credit unions can do.
Why this is worth your time
This is not a scam or a long shot. The Treasury is holding billions of dollars in matured, unredeemed savings bonds that stopped earning interest years ago. A savings bond stops earning interest after 30 years, so an old bond sitting in a drawer, or one bought by a relative decades ago, may be worth cashing now.
Watch out for scams
You never have to pay a fee to search for or claim your own unclaimed property. The official tools, unclaimed.org and TreasuryDirect, are free. Be careful with any website or "finder" service that charges you to look up bonds that you can search for yourself at no cost.
Quick recap
- The old Treasury Hunt tool closed on September 30, 2025.
- Search for unclaimed savings bonds through your state's unclaimed property office, starting at unclaimed.org.
- For a bond you owned that was lost, stolen, or destroyed, file FS Form 1048 with TreasuryDirect.
- Official searches are always free.