The email came completely out of the blue. And not surprisingly, more than a few savers were disappointed when they saw an unexpected subject line that read: “TreasuryDirect: Validating your account information this summer.”
Is it true? Or is it a scammer just trying to get your bank account information? Why does TreasuryDirect want you to verify your bank account information now? TreasuryDirect.gov is an online location where you can purchase Treasury securities and U.S. savings bonds, including the inflation-indexed Series I Savings Bond.
“With summer approaching,” the TreasuryDirect email begins, “we recommend taking a moment to maintain good TreasuryDirect account hygiene by checking your bank account and contact information before the busy season gets underway.”
TreasuryDirect account hygiene? In fact?
The email further states that by ensuring that your bank account information is accurate, you will ensure that future payments “will be sent to your preferred bank account and that Treasury can contact you if needed.”
Savers are wise to proceed with caution when receiving any emails claiming to be from TreasuryDirect, banks or other financial firms. Crooks are increasingly imitating government agencies such as the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service and financial institutions. And there remains the risk of fraudulent websites that impersonate the genuine TreasuryDirect site as a way to hack individual accounts and redirect redemptions to accounts controlled by crooks.
Another key point to remember: Treasury will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your password by phone, text, or e-mail.
Is this summer ‘cleanup’ email real?
Strangely, savers, I have been told by the US Treasury Department’s Fiscal Service media team that the email is actually legitimate.
A spokesperson for the Fiscal Service, responding to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, said customers’ needs may change over time, as well as their bank accounts. “This email is a friendly reminder to make sure their information is up to date,” according to the statement.
According to a Fiscal Service spokesperson, “This is not related to outreach scams.”
According to a statement provided to the Detroit Free Press, “The purpose of the email is to maintain TreasuryDirect account hygiene by reminding customers to check their bank account and contact information. This ensures future payments are being sent to their preferred bank account and Treasury can contact customers if needed.”
Also included is a note at the bottom of the email saying that you can verify the validity of the email and read more about why you received it at Treasurydirect.gov.
Other previously sent TreasuryDirect emails
This is not the first time that TreasuryDirect has sent emails to some savers.
TreasuryDirect sent similar emails in late January to encourage savers to verify their banking account information.
Additionally, according to a report to Congress on March 11, 2025, by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Fiscal Services, the Treasury sent approximately 243,000 emails in 2024 to remind customers of their maturing savings bonds.
As a result of those emails, the report said there were more than 122,000 bond redemptions, totaling more than $94 million. According to the report to Congress, such outreach efforts were continuing to increase redemptions.
When it comes to unclaimed savings bonds the U.S. Treasury faces a long list of challenges in returning the money into the right hands of consumers. In some cases, savers fail to keep their contact information updated, making it difficult to trace the consumer. These emails may also solve a part of that puzzle at some point.
In the latest email, sent in late June, savers are told they can view bank account information on file by logging into TreasuryDirect.gov. You should type TreasuryDirect.gov directly into your web browser to avoid visiting any potentially fraudulent sites.
On the TreasuryDirect.gov site, you will navigate to the Account Information tab. Once you are on the Other Account Information section, you will select “Bank Information”. Your primary bank account is the first account listed.
The email explains different scenarios. What do you do if you need to add a new bank account? You will select the “Add” button, answer your security question, enter your new account details and select the “Submit” button to save the new bank account.
What do you do if you have to delete a non-primary bank account? Select the radio button to the left of the bank account you want to delete, click the “Delete” button and answer your security question. If there is a verification hold on a bank account, it cannot be removed.
How to contact TreasuryDirect
Of course, you’d almost wish it was a scam email so you could simply ignore it. But you shouldn’t do this, especially if the Treasury seems concerned about the lack of accurate bank accounts or other information.
It is also recommended to take a moment to review your account’s contact information in the Account Information tab, including your email, phone, and address. To update that information, you will select the “Edit” button at the bottom of the screen.
Savers who encounter any issues when updating their account – or who have forgotten the answers to their security questions – can call TreasuryDirect at 844-284-2676 Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm Eastern Time. The number is toll free.
Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompor at: (email protected). X Follow him on @tompor.