How to Transfer Savings Bonds Between TreasuryDirect Accounts

Transferring savings bonds between TreasuryDirect accounts isn’t complicated, but there are a couple of quirks — particularly around partial transfers and when a paper form gets thrown into the mix — that are worth knowing ahead of time.

Finding the Transfer Page

Log into your TreasuryDirect account and click the ManageDirect tab along the top. Look for the Manage My Securities section, then select Transfer securities. You’ll be asked to pick the type of security you’re transferring. Make your choice and click Submit.

Selecting Which Bonds to Transfer

You’ll get a summary page showing your eligible securities. Check the box next to whichever bonds you want to move, then hit Submit.

Full Transfers vs. Partial Transfers

Here’s where things fork depending on how many securities you picked:

• More than one security: You’ll land on the Multiple Transfer Request page. Moving several securities at once means you’re transferring the full value of each — no partial amounts.
• Just one security: You’ll see the Transfer Request page, which gives you the choice between a full or partial transfer. If you go partial, there’s a $25 minimum on what you transfer, and the original security needs to keep at least $25 in it afterward.

Recipient Details

Either way, you’ll need to enter the recipient’s taxpayer identification number and their TreasuryDirect account number. Worth double-checking both before you submit — a transfer sent to the wrong account creates a headache. Click Submit when you’re ready to proceed.

When a Paper Form Is Required

Some transactions require a physical Transfer Request form (FS Form 5511) to complete the process. If yours is one of them, a link to the form will show up on screen. From there, the steps are:

1. Print and fill out the form following its instructions.
2. Get it signed in front of an authorized certifying official at a financial institution — a bank officer, for instance.
3. Mail the completed form to TreasuryDirect.

One important note: A notary public does not count as a certifying official here. It has to be someone at a financial institution.

Final Review and Confirmation

If no paper form is needed, you’ll go straight to a review page — either Transfer Review or Multiple Transfer Review depending on your earlier selection. Read through everything, and use the Edit option to fix anything that looks off before you finalize.

When you’re satisfied everything is correct, read the statement at the bottom and click Submit. A confirmation page will come up once the request goes through — print it or save it somewhere you can find it later.