A new online service from the U.S. Treasury Department, called Buy Direct (www.publicdebt.treas.gov), will let people buy Treasury bills, notes and bonds online. However, to purchase bonds online, a person must have an established account with the department.
Buyers will be identified by providing proprietary information. A personal identification number must be keyed in along with a taxpayer identification number. They then can select an investment by clicking on a menu. The process reportedly takes two minutes. After the user makes his purchases, money from his bank account is transferred by the bureau, after which he receives a confirmation.
