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FEDERAL RE SER VE BANK
O F NEW YORK
Fiscal Agent o f the United States
/"Circular No. 3 8 6 9 T
L April 20, 1953 J

PAYMENT OF SAVINGS BONDS WITHOUT OWNERS’ SIGNATURES

Revision o f Treasury Department Circular No.

888

To All Qualified Paying Agents o f Savings Bonds
in the Second Federal Reserve D istrict:

The Treasury Department has revised its Circular No. 888, effective May 1, 1953, a
copy of which is enclosed. The circular as revised sets forth regulations governing the
special endorsement of Savings bonds o f any series, and provides for the payment of
matured Series F and G bonds by eligible paying agents.
The revision incorporates two m ajor changes. The first is that the eligibility
established by a paying agent to process Savings bonds under the “ o ld ” circular is
withdrawn at the close of business April 30, 1953. Paying agents must apply anew under
the revised circular for authority to endorse specially and make payment of Savings
bonds without requiring the owner to sign the requests fo r payment on the backs o f the
bonds. Under the new authority agents may also forward specially endorsed bonds to the
Federal Reserve Bank for authorized exchanges or, if they desire, for payment. The
authority granted under the revised circular will not become effective until May 1, 1953.
The endorsement stamps to be used in processing bonds under the revised circular are
different from those now in use.
The second m ajor change is that the revised circular provides for the payment o f
matured Series F and G Savings bonds, and agents establishing eligibility under the
revised circular will be permitted to specially endorse and pay those bonds, if they are in
order fo r payment, instead o f forwarding them to the Federal Reserve Bank fo r payment.
The details of this provision are found in section 330.8 (B ). No fees will be paid to
agents in connection with their payment o f matured F and G bonds.
Agents desiring to qualify under Department Circular No. 888, Revised, should make
application to this Bank on Form PD 2291, two copies o f which are enclosed. The form
provides spaces on which to indicate whether the applying agent desires to obtain its own
endorsement stamps locally or whether it wants this Bank to furnish them. Agents that
qualify will be notified by us on Form PD 2292.
Additional copies of this circular and o f Department Circular No. 888, Revised, will
be furnished upon request.




A

llan

S proul,

P resident.

R E G U L A T IO N S G O V E R N IN G T H E SPE C IA L EN D O R SEM E N T OF U N IT E D STA TE S SAVINGS
BONDS OF A N Y SERIES A N D TH E P A Y M E N T OF M A T U R E D SERIES F A N D G
BONDS B Y E LIG IB LE P A Y IN G A G EN TS

1953

TREASU RY DEPARTM ENT,

Department Circular No. 888

Revi8ed
B u« , “

O f f ic e

of t h e

Secretary,

W ashington, A p ril 8, 1953.

pr„ t r c Debt

Pursuant to Section 22 o f the Second L iberty B ond A ct, as amended, (49 Stat. 21, as am ended; 31
U .S.C. 757c) Department C ircular No. 8 8 8 , dated M ay 15, 1951 (31 C F R 1951 SU PP. 330), is hereby
revised effective M ay 1, 1953, to read as follow s:
See. 330.1. Purpose o f regulations.— These regulations (1 ) prescribe a procedure whereby eligible
qualified paying agents may specially endorse United States Savings Bonds o f certain classes, with or with­
out the ow ners’ signatures to the requests fo r paym ent, and ( 2 ) make provisions fo r such agents to pay
certain bonds so endorsed or forw ard them to the Federal Reserve Bank o f the D istrict fo r payment or
fo r any authorized exchange. See sec. 330.3 hereof fo r classes o f bonds which such payin g agents may
endorse and sec. 330.8 hereof fo r those which they may p ay or present to the Federal Reserve Bank o f
the D istrict fo r payment or exchange. A lthough the provisions o f this circular are designed prim arily
to perm it paym ent without the signatures o f the owners to the requests fo r paym ent on bonds held by
paying agents in safekeeping or trust accounts fo r known customers, application thereof is not so limited.
F o r example, an eligible paying agent may process a matured bond o f Series F or G by special endorsement
under the provisions and conditions o f this circular fo r the owner, whether or not he signs the request fo r
paym ent, and whether or not the bond is held in a safekeeping or trust account. U N D E R NO C IR C U M ­
S T A N C E S S H A L L T H E P R O V IS IO N S O F T H IS C IR C U L A R B E U SE D TO G IV E E F F E C T TO A
T R A N S F E R , H Y P O T H E C A T IO N , O R P L E D G E O F A B O N D O R TO P E R M IT P A Y M E N T TO A N Y
P E R S O N O T H E R T H A N T H E O W N E R OR C O O W N E R . V IO L A T IO N O F T H E S E P R O H IB IT IO N S
W IL L B E C A U SE F O R T H E W IT H D R A W A L O F A N A G E N T ’S P R IV IL E G E TO P R O C E S S A N Y
B O N D S U N D E R T H IS C IR C U L A R ,
Sec. 330.2. A gen ts eligible to process bonds.— A n y institution qualified as a paying agent o f United
States Savings Bonds under the provisions o f Department Circular No. 750, Revised, upon establishing
its eligibility in accordance with this section, is hereby authorized to process savings bonds and to p ay
m atured savings bonds o f Series F and G, subject to the provisions and conditions o f this circular and any
instructions issued hereunder. In order to establish such eligibility, the institution should a pp ly on
Treasury Department F orm P D 2291, Revised, to the Federal Reserve Bank o f the D istrict in which it is
located. This form provides a certification that by duly-executed resolution o f its governing board or
committee the institution has been authorized to apply fo r the privilege o f processing and paying bonds in
accordance with the provisions and conditions o f Department Circular No. 8 8 8 , Revised, including all
supplements, amendments, and revisions thereof, and any instructions issued in connection therewith. I f
the application is approved, the Federal Reserve Bank will so n o tify the institution b y means o f Treasury
Departm ent Form P D 2292, Revised. The authority given in this circular to pay matured savings bonds
o f Series F and G and to otherwise process savings bonds will become effective upon the receipt o f such
duly-executed Form P D 2292, Revised, but not before M ay 1, 1953. The Secretary o f the Treasury
reserves the right to withdraw such privilege from any institution at any time and such action may be
taken either b y the Treasury Department direct or through a Federal Reserve Bank, acting as fiscal agent
o f the U nited States. The eligibility established b y any institution to process savings bonds under D epart­
ment Circular No. 8 8 8 , dated M ay 15, 1951, is hereby withdrawn, effective at the close o f business A pril
30, 1953.
Sec. 330.3. Bonds eligible fo r processing.— A United States Savings B ond o f any series may be
processed under these regulations upon the request o f the registered owner (which term as now and here­




1

after used in this circular includes a coow ner) named on the bond. The term “ ow n er” is defined to include
individuals, incorporated and unincorporated bodies, executors, administrators, and other fiduciaries
nam ed on the bonds. The procedure does not apply, fo r example, to cases where a parent requests payment
or exchange in behalf o f a m inor child who is named on the bond as its owner or to cases where requests
fo r paym ent or exchange are made by surviving beneficiaries, or to any other cases requiring death cer­
tificates or other supporting evidence.
Sec. 330.4. Guaranty given to the United States.— Each paying agent b y the act o f paying or
presenting to the Federal Reserve Bank o f the D istrict either fo r paym ent or fo r exchange a bond bearing
the special endorsement prescribed in sec. 330.6 shall be deemed thereby (1 ) to have unconditionally
guaranteed to the United States the validity o f the transaction, including the identification o f the owner
and the disposition o f the proceeds or the new bonds, as the case may be, in accordance with his instructions,
(2 ) to have assumed complete and unconditional liability to the U nited States fo r any loss which may be
incurred b y the U nited States as a result o f the transaction, and (3 ) to have unconditionally agreed to
make prom pt reimbursement fo r the amount o f the loss upon request o f the Treasury Department.
Sec. 330.5. E viden ce o f ow n er’s authorization to agent.— B y the act o f paying or presenting to the
Federal Reserve Bank o f the D istrict fo r paym ent or fo r exchange a bond bearing the special endorsement
prescribed in sec. 330.6, the paying agent represents to the U nited States that it has obtained adequate
instructions from the owner with respect to paym ent or exchange o f the bond and disposition o f its
proceeds or the new bond, as the case may be. To support this representation agents should maintain such
records as may be necessary to establish the receipt o f such instructions as well as records establishing
com pliance therewith.
Sec. 330.6. Endorsem ent o f bonds.— Each bond processed
follow in g endorsement (see sec. 330.7 fo r additional instructions
form ) :
Request b y owner and validity o f
guaranteed in accordance with T.
No. 8 8 8 , Revised.

under these regulations shall bear the
covering bonds inscribed in coownership
transaction
D. Circular

(Name and location o f agent)

This endorsement must be placed on the back o f the bond in the space provided fo r the ow ner to request
paym ent. The endorsement stamp must be legibly impressed in black or other dark-colored ink. The
Federal Reserve Bank o f the D istrict will furnish rubber stamps for impressing the above endorsement or,
in lieu thereof, w ill approve designs fo r suitable stamps to be obtained by payin g agents. Requests fo r
endorsement stamps to be furnished or approved by the Federal Reserve Bank shall be made in w riting
b y an officer o f the institution. The use o f endorsement stamps which have been approved or furnished
b y Federal Reserve Banks pursuant to Departm ent Circular No. 8 8 8 , dated M ay 15, 1951, shall be discon­
tinued at the close o f business A p ril 30,1953.
Sec. 330.7. Bonds in coownership form .— In addition to the endorsement prescribed in sec. 330.6, the
payin g agent shall, in the case o f bonds registered in coownership form , indicate which coowner requested
paym ent o r exchange. This should be done b y encircling in black or other dark-colored ink the name o f
such coowner (o r both coowners i f a join t request fo r paym ent or exchange is m ade) as it appears in the
inscription on the face o f the bond.
Sec. 330.8.

P aym ent or exchange o f bonds.—

(A )
Paym ent o f Series A to E , inclusive, b y paying agents.— Bonds o f Series A to E , inclusive, bearing
the special endorsement (see sec. 330.3 and sec. 330.6) may be paid b y a paying agent pursuant to the
authority and subject to the provisions and conditions o f Departm ent Circular No. 750, Revised, and the
instructions issued pursuant thereto, except, o f course, that the ow ner’s signature to the request for




2

paym ent o f the bond will not be required, and except also that each such endorsed bond carries with it a
guarantee to the United States against loss (see sec. 330.4). Series A to E bonds, inclusive, which bear
the special endorsement and which are thereafter paid by the paying agent under Department Circular
No. 750, Revised, will be combined with other Series A to E bonds paid under that circular and forwarded
to the Federal Reserve Bank o f the District.
(B ) Paym ent o f M A T U R E D BON DS— S E R IE S F A N D G— by paying agents.— M atured savings
bonds o f Series F and G other than those marked “ D U P L IC A T E ” , bearing the special endorsement (see
sec. 330.3 and sec. 330.6), may be paid by qualified paying agents whose eligibility to pay matured Series F
and G bonds has been duly established pursuant to sec. 330.2. No fees w ill be paid to the agents for
making these payments. Such matured bonds may be paid only under the provisions and conditions o f this
subsection and such instructions as may be issued pursuant thereto. It will be required that (1 ) the bonds
be o f a class which may be processed b y special endorsement (see sec. 330.3), (2 ) the owner (as defined in
sec. 330.3) has requested the payment, (3 ) the bonds bear no material alteration, irregularity, mutilation,
or other defect that may be a basis fo r questioning paym ent thereof, and (4 ) the bonds bear the special
endorsement (see sec. 330.6). The paym ent o f matured bonds o f Series F and G shall be made in accord­
ance with the follow in g p rovision s:
(a ) A Series F bond shall be paid at its face value.
(b ) A Series G bond shall be paid at its face value together with the final interest due thereon
at the rate o f $1.25 fo r each $100 o f face value. The total amount payable at m aturity fo r each
authorized denomination, including the final interest due, is as fo llo w s :
Series G Bond
authorized
denominations

$

100
500
1.000
5.000
10,000

Amount payable
(Face value plus
final interest)

.....................................................................................
.....................................................................................

.....................................................................................

$

101.25
506.25
1,012.50
5,062.50
10,125.00

( c ) Each bond shall bear on its face, in the upper right portion, a paym ent stamp setting forth
the w ord “ P A I D ” and the amount o f the paym ent (including the final interest on Series G bonds),
the date o f paym ent (month, day, y ea r), and the name and location o f the paying agent including the
A B A transit number or other iden tifyin g code approved or assigned by the Federal Reserve Bank o f
the D istrict (the paym ent stamp prescribed fo r use under Departm ent Circular No. 750, Revised, may
be used).
(d ) The proceeds o f each bond shall be disposed o f pursuant to the ow ner’s instructions.
(e ) Paid bonds shall be forw arded to the Federal Reserve Bank o f the D istrict at such time or
times pursuant to such instructions as m ay be prescribed b y such Bank, as fiscal agent o f the
United States.
( f ) Each payment shall be subject to the guaranty and liability provisions o f sec. 330.4 hereof.
(g ) P aying agents shall be subject to such other instructions governing these payments as may
be issued b y the Federal Reserve Bank o f the District, as fiscal agent o f the United States.
The Federal Reserve Bank o f the D istrict will make immediate settlement, subject to adjustment, with
the paying agent fo r the total amount due on the paid bonds forw arded hereunder b y the agent at any
one time.
(C ) P aym ent or exchange o f bonds by Federal Reserve Banks— A ll series.—
(1 )
General.— A ll bonds forw arded to a Federal Reserve Bank fo r paym ent or exchange under the
provisions and conditions o f this circular must be accom panied b y appropriate instructions governing the




3

transaction and the disposition o f the redemption checks or the new bonds, as the case m ay be. The bonds
must be kept separate from any bonds the agent m ay p ay and they must be presented in accordance with
such instructions as may be issued b y the Federal Reserve Bank o f the D istrict, as fiscal agent o f the
U nited States.
(2 ) P aym ent.— Savings bonds presented to an eligible paying agent fo r paym ent which the agent
elects to process b y special endorsement under the provisions and conditions o f this circular (see sec. 330.3
fo r bonds eligible to be so processed) must be forw arded to the Federal Reserve Bank o f the D istrict fo r
paym ent ( i ) i f the bonds are not payable under subsections ( A ) or ( B ) o f this section or (ii) if being
payable under said subsections, the agent does not elect to make the payment.
(3 ) E xchange.— Savings bonds which are to be exchanged, in whole or in part, pursuant to an
authorized exchange m ay be processed by an eligible paying agent b y special endorsement under the
provisions and conditions o f this circular (see sec. 330.3 fo r bonds eligible to be so processed) : Provid ed ,
That each such specially endorsed bond must be forw arded to the Federal Reserve Bank o f the D istrict
which, as fiscal agent o f the United States, is authorized to effect the exchange.
Sec. 330.9. Functions o f Federal R eserve Banks.— The Federal Reserve Banks, as fiscal agents of
the U nited States, are authorized and directed to perform such duties, and prepare and issue such
instructions, as may be necessary to the fulfillm ent o f the purpose and requirements o f this circular. The
Federal Reserve Banks may utilize any or all o f their Branches in the perform ance o f these duties.
Sec. 330.10. Modification o f other circulars.— The provisions o f these regulations shall be considered
as amendatory o f and supplem entary to Department Circulars 530, 653, 654, 750, 751, 885, 905, and 906
and any revisions thereof, and those circulars are hereby modified where necessary to accord with the
provisions hereof.
Sec. 330.11. O ther circulars generally applicable.— E xcept as provided in these regulations the
circulars referred to in the preceding section will continue to be generally applicable.
Sec. 330.12. Supplem ents and amendments.— The Secretary o f the Treasury may at any time or
from time to time supplement or amend the terms o f these regulations, or o f any amendment or supple­
ment thereto.




G. M. H U M PH R E Y ,
S ecretary o f the Treasury.

4

Form PD 2291
(Rev. April 1953)
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Fiscal Service
Bureau of the Public Debt

A PP LIC A TIO N -A G R E E M E N T
T o establish the eligibility o f a qualified paying agent to handle
United States Savings B onds under the provisions
o f Treasury Departm ent Circular N o. 888, Revised

IMPORTANT— Before signing this application
please read the instructions appearing below.

------------------------------------------ , 19------To

the

F

ederal

R

eserve

Bank

of

New Y

ork,

Fiscal A gent o f the United S tates:
W

hereas,

t h e ------------------------------------------—

.------------------------------- is a qualified agent for the paym ent

(Name of institution)

o f savings bonds under Treasury Department Circular No. 750, Revised, and desires to establish its
eligibility to handle savings bonds in accordance with the provisions and conditions o f Treasury Department
Circular No. 8 8 8 , R evised ; and
W h e r e a s , it has been authorized b y duly executed resolution o f its governing board or authorized
committee thereof to apply fo r the aforesaid privilege and to agree to com ply with and be bound b y the
provisions and conditions o f Circular No. 8 8 8 , Revised (including all supplements, amendments and
revisions thereof and any instructions issued thereunder) with respect to the special endorsement and
paym ent o f savings bonds or their presentation to the Federal Reserve Bank fo r paym ent or exchange.

N ow T h e r e f o r e , the --------------------------------------------------------------------- does hereby make application fo r
(Name of institution)

such privilege and in consideration fo r the granting thereof does hereby bind itself to such agreement and
compliance with the aforementioned provisions and conditions.
I n W i t n e s s W h e r e o f , it has caused this instrument to be executed in its behalf b y the officer below
named, thereunto duly authorized b y a resolution o f its governing board or committee thereof adopted on the

--------------- day o f -------------------------------- , 19------- , and its corporate seal to be hereunto attached, attested by
its Secretary (or other officer having custody o f its record s), this__________day o f ................................ , 19_____

[S E A L ]

(Name of institution)

A ttest:
(Address)

B y ...
(Signature of officer)

(Signature of officer)

(Title of officer)

(Title of officer)

INSTRUCTIONS — READ CAREFULLY
1. In case the institution has no corporate seal, strike out the words “ its corporate seal to be hereunto attached” and insert
opposite the word “ Attest” the words “ The institution has no corporate seal.”
2. For use in connection with processing bonds under Circular No. 888, Revised, indicate below whether the applicant will
obtain special endorsement stamps locally or desires to obtain a supply from the Federal Reserve Bank:
□ Special endorsement stamps will be obtained locally.
□ S u p p ly ......................... special endorsement stamps.
(number)