Ze Bonds
April 12, 2011 12:34 PM Subscribe
Can anyone tell me where I can cash some U.S. EE savings bonds in Paris, France?
My own bank here won't do it, and I don't want to have to open an account at another bank just for the privilege of redeeming these bonds. I know there is a baroque process involving having someone at the U.S. embassy witness my signature, then mailing the bonds back to the States, but isn't there any bank here who will take them? The Treasury web site says foreign banks that are incorporated in the U.S. normally provide this service abroad, but I have no idea which banks those are.
My own bank here won't do it, and I don't want to have to open an account at another bank just for the privilege of redeeming these bonds. I know there is a baroque process involving having someone at the U.S. embassy witness my signature, then mailing the bonds back to the States, but isn't there any bank here who will take them? The Treasury web site says foreign banks that are incorporated in the U.S. normally provide this service abroad, but I have no idea which banks those are.
Do you have a US bank account too? If so, they have your signature on file, and, according to some US embassy pages, you should just be able to send the bonds into the US bank and have them redeemed into your account. You could then transfer the funds to your account in France. Keep photocopies obviously.
Failing that, it doesn't look like going through the embassy will be that hard. It looks like you go, show some ID, sign, they stamp it, and you send it off to the Bureau of Public Debt in the US. Probably not substantially more troublesome than finding a bank in Paris that will do it and an employee that knows the procedure. I'd contact the embassy first to see if you need an appointment and to confirm the ID requirements.
posted by zachlipton at 2:19 PM on April 12, 2011
Failing that, it doesn't look like going through the embassy will be that hard. It looks like you go, show some ID, sign, they stamp it, and you send it off to the Bureau of Public Debt in the US. Probably not substantially more troublesome than finding a bank in Paris that will do it and an employee that knows the procedure. I'd contact the embassy first to see if you need an appointment and to confirm the ID requirements.
posted by zachlipton at 2:19 PM on April 12, 2011
Alternatively, apparently Chase and Citibank have a branch each in Paris. It looks like you can sign the bonds there, have them countersigned by a bank official, and then mail them to the US to be cashed. It's possible they can cash them directly, but I somehow doubt it. Still worth a shot.
The embassy route is probably not a bad bet though.
posted by zachlipton at 2:24 PM on April 12, 2011
The embassy route is probably not a bad bet though.
posted by zachlipton at 2:24 PM on April 12, 2011
Have you tried HSBC? They're NY-based (I believe) and I'm pretty sure they have a branch just down the street from where I used to live in the 16th.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 5:31 PM on April 12, 2011
posted by hapax_legomenon at 5:31 PM on April 12, 2011
Response by poster: Hapax: yes, HSBC was the first bank I called. They'll only do it if I open an account with them.
Will try Barclays, Chase and Citibank. Thanks folks.
posted by Paris Elk at 12:38 AM on April 13, 2011
Will try Barclays, Chase and Citibank. Thanks folks.
posted by Paris Elk at 12:38 AM on April 13, 2011
Response by poster: For anyone still interested:
-Citibank in Paris no longer exists.
-Chase Manhattan says they do investment banking only.
-Barclays just says no.
-Same for BNP.
I'll try CIC and Société Générale, but I have little hope. Looks like i'll have to go the embassy/signature/mailing it in route.
posted by Paris Elk at 3:57 AM on April 26, 2011
-Citibank in Paris no longer exists.
-Chase Manhattan says they do investment banking only.
-Barclays just says no.
-Same for BNP.
I'll try CIC and Société Générale, but I have little hope. Looks like i'll have to go the embassy/signature/mailing it in route.
posted by Paris Elk at 3:57 AM on April 26, 2011
This may be a stretch but do you have an AMEX card? I don't but have heard stories of AMEX employees making some really amazing things happen for their card members. And I think there is/used to be an AMEX office somewhere near Place de l'Opéra.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 9:23 AM on April 26, 2011
posted by hapax_legomenon at 9:23 AM on April 26, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks hapax, but no, no AMEX card...
posted by Paris Elk at 11:15 PM on April 29, 2011
posted by Paris Elk at 11:15 PM on April 29, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dripdripdrop at 1:16 PM on April 12, 2011