Holders of lost savings bonds dating to World War II say Treasury not making them easy to find

Lost war bonds not easy to find

HELENA, Mont. — Holders of lost savings bonds dating back to World War II say its not nearly as easy to track down the lost money as the U.S. Treasury Department claims in an ongoing lawsuit.

The Bureau of the Public Debt counters that demanding paperwork requirements are meant to make sure that only the legal owners of the old bonds are able to redeem them.

Anne Adams of Nashville, Tenn., says Treasury told her she would have to provide copies of her husband’s Vietnam-era payroll stubs from the Marines to prove ownership of their family bonds.

The federal Bureau of the Public Debt says it helps however it can, but needs to make sure the bonds only go to the rightful owners.

Several states are suing the federal government, seeking the money back on behalf of their residents.