States can now use federal data to find lost savings bonds
What happened
The Treasury Department must now share information about US savings bonds with states. This means states can finally use federal records to find owners of abandoned bonds.
Why it matters
States have long tried to reunite people with unclaimed property. US savings bonds were a blind spot because the federal government kept those records private. This rule opens up that data. It means more people will get back money they didn't know they had.
The signal
Watch for state abandoned property reports in the next year to see how many bond owners they locate, or how much money they return.