Signature Certification — TreasuryDirect (2024)

FAQs

Who can certify TreasuryDirect account authorization? ›

Who may certify signatures in the U.S. We require the notary public's seal or stamp. We require the institution's seal or signature guarantee stamp. If the institution is an authorized paying agent for U.S. Savings Bonds, we require a legible imprint of the paying agent's stamp.

Your signature on Page 2 must be certified by an authorized certifying official. Certification by a Notary public is NOT acceptable. Acceptable certifications include a financial Institution's Official Seal or Stamp (such as Corporate Seal, Signature Guaranteed Stamp, or Medallion Stamp).

Why Is a Medallion Signature Guarantee So Hard to Get? Medallion signature guarantees expose financial institutions to risks and liabilities; therefore, they do not issue them readily or to just anyone.

Any officer of a corporation or any other organization which is an authorized issuing agent for United States Savings Bonds, Series E. All certifications by such officers must be authenticated by a legible imprint of the issuing agent's dating stamp.

A certified document needs to be signed in front of a witness who affirms the signature is your true one; and in the case of a copied document, warrants that the copy is true and identical to the original one. The certifier declares this to be true and adds their signature and the date.

An investor can obtain a signature guarantee from a financial institution. However, this institution must be a member of a recognized securities guarantee program, such as Medallion. Membership with the Medallion program ensures that transfer agents will immediately accept certificates for processing.

Security questions are used to help us confirm your identity if you forget your account number or password. As an added security measure, TreasuryDirect may require you to answer one of your security questions when you attempt to perform certain transactions.

Certain formal documents require a Medallion signature guarantee (MSG), which authenticates your signature, and ensures you have the legal authority and capacity to sign. You can typically obtain an MSG from a bank officer, trust company, or member of the U.S. stock exchange. (A notary public cannot provide an MSG.)

To quickly summarize, signature guarantees, also known as medallion guarantees are for financial documents and notary stamps are for legal documents. Both signature guarantees and notary seals are used to verify the identity of parties involved and people agreeing to the documents in question.

While there is no direct alternative to a Medallion Signature Guarantee, some financial institutions may accept a notarized signature as an alternative for certain transactions. However, this varies depending on the institution and the type of transaction.

Can I be denied a Medallion Signature Guarantee? ›

Please note: Your bank may decline or refuse to provide a medallion signature guarantee if the documentation and/or the forms provided are insufficient to determine the appropriate person to sign.

Medallion signature guarantee stamps are backed by bank assets and require a thorough screening, including document verification. A notary stamp only confirms the signer's identity and is backed by a surety bond that protects the public, not the notary.

To ensure that a payment is correct, personnel who provide information to certifying officers must provide accurate information. The law (31 U.S.C., section 3325) requires certifying officers within the Department. These officers are pecuniarily liable for erroneous payments (see paragraph 330303).

Series EE or I paper savings bonds

First, fill out Form 1522. You'll complete the form with information about the bonds you want to cash in, including serial numbers and their value. If you're cashing in savings bonds with a value of more than $1,000, you'll also need to get your signature notarized.

Pecuniary Liability

Certifying Officers are one of several types of Accountable Officers. Certifying Officers, therefore, are both accountable for funds in their control and are pecuniarily liable for any of those funds that are improperly disbursed.

Certifying Officer or Notary

Getting it signed by a notary public is easier than getting it from a bank or credit union. Make sure you download the latest FS Form 5444. Other TreasuryDirect forms don't accept a notary stamp. You still need to get it signed and stamped by a certifying officer at a financial institution.

That happens when you use an address that is not on your bank account, or transpose an account number. The Treasury is very stick about this. You can try to call them early in the morning at 844-284-2676 to find out exactly what the problem is. Otherwise you have to file that 5444 form.

The purpose of requesting the information is to enable the Bureau of the Fiscal Service and its agents to issue securities, process transactions, make payments, identify owners and their accounts, and provide reports to the Internal Revenue Service.