2006-08-02 08:41:01 · 8 answers · asked by buzzy 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Investing
Call and talk to someone at your bank they can tell you.
2006-08-02 08:44:47 · answer #1 · answered by shirley e 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The minimum information you need is your grandchild's name. There's no place on the form for the grandchild's birthday. There's a place for a Social Security Number, but it can be either yours or the child's.
All the SSN is used for is to track the bond in case it's lost, but no one thinks to look for lost bonds using their grandparent's SSN, so it's better to use the child's.
You will need to provide an address to have the bond mailed to (they don't hand them to you at the bank - it will take about three weeks to arrive). It's typically better to give your own address so that you can present the bonds yourself. When you have them sent to the child's address, no one will know where they came from.
If you'd like to see your Savings Bond used for college, the child's parents, but not the child, can get a tax deduction on the interest the bonds earn if they can meet the income limits at that time. But if you want to try for this you need to put the bonds in the name of one of the parents. The child can be a beneficiary but not a co-owner to get this deduction.
Some of the other answers here say that it takes Savings Bonds take a long time to "mature," but that's not true. They pay interest for 30 years, which is indeed a long time, but they can be cashed after just one year. There's a three-month interest penalty if they're cashed before five years.
Series I bonds have done much better than Series EE bonds since they were introduced in 1998 and probably make the better gift, although they are sold at full face value rather than half face value.
2006-08-02 19:00:33 · answer #2 · answered by Tom W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can go to the Treasury Direct website @ www.savingsbonds.gov. They have all of the info you need and you can even purchase them. I don't recommend them because they take a long time to mature. If you are saving for college try an investment account. Sallie mae.com has some great information on this. If not for college they also have some other accounts for children.
2006-08-02 15:48:46 · answer #3 · answered by poohbare95 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you may want to know what the maturity date is on the bond (when is it repaid), what the coupon (stated interest) rate is on the bond, how the coupon rate compares to market rate (could you make more money other ways?), and the issuing company's bond rating (is there a risk they may default?).
2006-08-02 15:45:36 · answer #4 · answered by -j. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get them at a bank but, I would not recomend it because they take too long to mature
2006-08-02 15:45:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my parents just did this for my son, they needed his ss#, birthday, and name. But that was all, it was a very nice thing that they did for my son im for sure your grandkids will appreciate it.
2006-08-02 15:46:18 · answer #6 · answered by a100percutie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
name address & ssn
2006-08-02 15:45:29 · answer #7 · answered by belle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call your bank and ask them.....DUH!
2006-08-02 15:44:25 · answer #8 · answered by daddysboicub 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋