The CUSIP number is a unique identifier used to identify US bonds. Most US traded securities have a CUSIP number. However, the CUSIP number has primary importance in the bond market, where it is used to process and settle trades.
Where most stocks have a 3 or 4 letter ticker symbol to identify them (ie AAPL for Apple stock or BAC for Bank of America), the bond market uses the 9 Character CUSIP Number.
What does CUSIP Stand For?
CUSIP is an acronym for the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures. The identification system is owned by the American Bankers Association. The system is administered by Standard and Poors and has been used since 1964.
For more information on individual bonds, visit our Free Guide to Investing in Corporate Bonds.
Why Bonds need CUSIP Numbers
As of 2017, there are less than 4,000 publicly traded companies in the U.S. In 2015 there were over 5000. While some of those companies offer several types of stock (preferred, common) it is very unusual for a company to have more than 3 classes of stock. At most, there are 20,000 unique stock issues of publicly traded companies. There are well over 1,000,000 different bond issues. Most of these bond issues are municipal bonds issued by cities, counties, and states. With so many different bond issues, precise identification is critical.
There are three parts to a CUSIP Number
Example: 912828 + NB + 2 would be 912828NB2 CUSIP #
- The First 6 digits (912828) identify the issuer. In this case, the issuer is the Treasury Department.
- The next two characters (NB) identifies the specific bond.
- The last digit (2) of the number has no significance in identifying the bond.
How do you search for or look up a CUSIP number?
Having a CUSIP number in most cases is critical to finding information on a particular bond. If you own a bond, your broker should be able to provide the CUSIP number. If you are looking for information on a bond you do not already own and don’t know the CUSIP number, Fidelity has a nice tool here that will allow you to search for it using other criteria.
Learn More
Buying Bonds – A How to Guide
Financial Bonds have lower default rates and higher yields
What Happens When a Corporate Bond Defaults?
Fidelity’s CUSIP Lookup Tool
Where can I go on the web to find information on old stocks that I have the Cusip number for.
Hi Ron,
Thanks for the comment. This should be what you are looking for: http://activequote.fidelity.com/mmnet/SymLookup.phtml
Let us know if there are any other questions.
Thanks
Dave
this tells me how to search for the CUSIP# but it does not tell me how to track bonds using the CUSIP# and that is what i need.
Hi,
This should be what you are looking for:
http://www.learnbonds.com/bond-prices/
Let us know if there are any other questions.
Best Regards,
Dave
To track a portfolio of bonds for free, you can use Bondview. This is the gold medal site according to LearnBonds.
Jim Walker
Bondview
is there a bond in place on my birth certificate if so how do i look that up or where do i get the cusip number for that
Hi Harv,
I am not sure what you men by is there a bond in place on your birth certificate. If you can give me a little more info I will be happy to try and help. Best Regards, Dave
what iFEDERAL FARM CR BKS CONS BD 4.70000% 10/01/2024s the cusip for
I wanted to know if inmates that are incarcerated have cusip numbers that they can obtain in order to pay a bond that could possible get them out of jail/prison?
Possibly*
I would like to know if inmates in prison have CUSIP numbers also and how to get the
number to use the bond to pay to get out of prison .
I think I have found out how to get the CUSIP # thank you
How did u obtain the cusip #
I paid to have someone find my cusip numbers for my SS and BC and they also provided the mutual funds that they are in. Now I’m trying to figure out how can I find the account number associated with the funds in order to find out how many shares I have and if I am able to sell or liquidate those shares. Any ideas?
What service did you use that was successful in acquiring your CuSip number for SS and BC?
I have give OID’s to a few corps so how to I find their CUSIP number
How do u find cusip numbers?
hello sir please can you tell me how or where to find my cusip number…..i have been on the fidelity site and found the company that is trading my birth certificate but i am unable to find my cusip number….please can you help me sir!!!?????
Having a CUSIP number in most cases is critical to finding information on a particular bond. If you own a bond, your broker should be able to provide the CUSIP number. If you are looking for information on a bond you do not already own and don’t know the CUSIP number, Fidelity has a nice tool here that will allow you to search for it using other criteria.
please can you tell me how and where to find my cusip number, i have already found the company that is trading my bc and all but i am unable to locate my cusip number, i have my ss card and birth certificate all in my sight but i can not find the cusip number…that is the other part to the puzzle for me …please can you help me
The CUSIP number is on the back of your SS card (ie D12345678) change the letter to a number D is 4 – A is 1 – B is 2 ect… The letter indicates a Federal Reserve Bank
Did the reversal work or u know for a fact ?
My ss card has no cusip number on the back how can I find out what it is
Hi Richard,
The red or blue Letter with 8 numbers following is the number you need to track investments. I just did it and it works!
Regarding the back of the ss, that’s not a CUSIP. The letter is the fed bank. mine is F which is Atlanta so Technically I could use the Atlanta routing number which is represented by F then the rest of the number on the back is the specific account. Its what the treasury calls a minors account being held by a “custodian” which is a federal reserve Bank primary (one of the big 12) or its agents like capital one. I think every time you open up an account they connect to that bank. Why do you think they wont open account without an ss, and why do you think they beg you to get an account even if you have 2 dollars. Btw if you ever overdraft, don’t consent. FDIC actually insures that and its the bank that is liable, not you. I would go slow with the BC and SS. I’ll give some hints. Security interest in the debtor/US person, Foreign Trust Creditor, and Bankruptcy and reorganization of the registered agent