Bureau of the Public Debt aids Savings Bond owners in Oklahoma, California and Nevada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 12, 2006

The Bureau of the Public Debt took action to assist wildfire victims in Oklahoma and flooding victims in California and Nevada by expediting the replacement or payment of United States Savings Bonds for owners in affected counties in those states. 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 February 2006.

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. Electronic savings bonds held in the TreasuryDirect account system may also be redeemed early by eligible owners.

The affected counties are, in Oklahoma: Canadian, Cotton, Garvin, Hughes, Lincoln, Logan, Mayes, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Seminole, and Stephens; in California: Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Napa, Sacramento, Sonoma, and Trinity; in Nevada: Carson, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe.

Public Debt will also expedite the replacement of 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, P.O. Box 291, Minneapolis, MN 55480-0291, 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 Investor Services, 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.