[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 31, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 31CFR353.55]

[Page 335-336]
 
                  TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE: TREASURY
 
         CHAPTER II--FISCAL SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
 
PART 353--REGULATIONS GOVERNING UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS, SERIES EE AND HH--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart J--Certifying Officers
 
Sec. 353.55  Individuals authorized to certify.


    The following individuals are authorized to act as certifying 
officers for the purpose of certifying a request for payment, reissue, 
or a signature to a Public Debt form:
    (a) Officers generally authorized--(1) At banks, trust companies, 
and member organizations of the Federal Home Loan Bank System.
    (i) Any officer of a bank incorporated in the United States, the 
territories or possessions of the United States, or the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico.
    (ii) Any officer of a trust company incorporated in the United 
States, the territories or possessions of the United States, or the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    (iii) Any officer of an organization that is a member of the Federal 
Home Loan Bank System. This includes Federal savings and loan 
associations.

[[Page 336]]

    (iv) Any officer of a foreign branch or a domestic branch of an 
institution indicated in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iii) of this 
section.
    (v) Any officer of a Federal Reserve Bank, a Federal Land Bank, or a 
Federal Home Loan Bank.
    (vi) Any employee of an institution in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through 
(v) of this section, who is expressly authorized to certify by the 
institution.

Certification by these officers or designated employees must be 
authenticated by a legible imprint of either the corporate seal of the 
institution or of the issuing or paying agent's stamp. The employee 
expressly authorized to certify by an institution must sign his or her 
name over the title ``Designated Employee''.
    (2) At issuing agents that are not banks or trust companies. Any 
officer of an organization, not a bank or a trust company, that is 
qualified as an issuing agent for bonds of Series EE. The agent's stamp 
must be imprinted in the certification.
    (3) By United States officials. Any judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of 
a United States court, including United States courts for the 
territories and possessions of the United States and the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico; any United States Commissioner, United States Attorney, or 
United States Collector of Customs, including their deputies; in the 
Internal Revenue Service, any Regional Commissioner, District Director, 
Service Center Director, or Internal Revenue agent.
    (b) Officers with limited authority--(1) In the Armed Forces. Any 
commissioned officer or warrant officer of the Armed Forces of the 
United States, but only for members of the respective services, their 
families, and civilian employees at posts, bases, or stations. The 
certifying officer must indicate his or her rank and state that the 
individual signing the request is one of the class whose request the 
certifying officer is authorized to certify.
    (2) At the Veterans Administration, Federal penal institutions, and 
United States Public Health Service hospitals. Any officer in charge of 
a home, hospital, or other facility of the Veterans Administration, but 
only for the patients, or employees of the facility; any officer of a 
Federal penal institution or a United States Public Health Service 
hospital expressly authorized to certify by the Secretary of the 
Treasury or his designee, but only for the inmates, patients or 
employees of the institution involved. Officers of Veterans 
Administration facilities, Federal penal institutions, and Public Health 
Service hospitals must use the stamp or seal of the particular 
institution or service.
    (c) Authorized officers in foreign countries. Any United States 
diplomatic or consular representative, or the officer of a foreign 
branch of a bank or trust company incorporated in the United States 
whose signature is attested by an imprint of the corporate seal or is 
certified to the Department of the Treasury. If none of these 
individuals is available, a notary public or other officer authorized to 
administer oaths may certify, but his or her official character and 
jurisdiction must be certified by a United States diplomatic or consular 
officer under seal of his or her office.
    (d) Authorized officers in particular localities. The Governor and 
the Treasurer of Puerto Rico; the Governor and the Commissioner of 
Finance of the Virgin Islands; the Governor and the Director of Finance 
of Guam; the Governor and the Director of Administrative Services of 
American Samoa; or designated officers of the Panama Canal Commission.
    (e) Special provisions. If no certifying officer is readily 
accessible, the Commissioner of the Public Debt, Deputy Commissioner, 
any Assistant Commissioner, or other designated official of the Bureau 
or of a Federal Reserve Bank or Branch is authorized to make special 
provision for any particular case.