Bureau Of The Public Debt Aids Savings Bonds Owners Affected By Severe Weather in New York And New Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2004

The Bureau of the Public Debt took action to assist victims of severe weather in New York and New Jersey by expediting the replacement or payment of United States Savings Bonds for owners in those areas. 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 November 2004.

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.

The counties in New York affected include: Allegany, Broome, Columbia, Chenango, Delaware, Monroe, Orange, Onondaga, Steuben, Sullivan, Ulster, and Warren.

The counties in New Jersey affected include: Hunterdon, Mercer, Sussex, and Warren.

Public Debt will also expedite the replacement of bonds lost or destroyed. Bond owners in the affected counties should complete form PD F-1048, available at most financial institutions or by writing the Customer Service Department of their servicing Federal Reserve Bank. For counties in New York and Northern New Jersey, the address is: Federal Reserve Bank of Buffalo, P.O. Box 961, Buffalo, NY 14240-0961; phone (800) 234-2931; for Mercer County, New Jersey, the address is: Federal Reserve Bank of Pittsburgh, P.O. Box 867, Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0867; phone (800) 245-2804. 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.