By Michelle Durham

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Buying a bond in years past involved a visit to the bank, but today, you have to buy bonds on the Treasury Department’s website.

Campaign Director For The Treasury Department’s “Ready..Save Grow” Campaign, Jerry Kelly, says things may be a little different, but a lot of the same steps need to be followed.

“Instead of walking into a bank, a customer who wants to buy a bond, particularly as a gift, will set up a treasury direct account at treasurydirect.gov. They can buy a bond either for themselves or for another individual as a gift,” he said.

But before you sit in front of the computer you need to have certain information about the recipient, including their name and social security number.

Temple Assistant MIS Professor Sunil Wattal (Credit: temple.edu)

Some have complained that this is cumbersome, but Temple University Assistant MIS Professor Sunil Wattal feels differently.

“It is true that some people may be disadvantaged in the short-term, but in the long-term most people, especially the seniors, will figure out a way to use the internet,” he said.

Wattal advises to guard those social security numbers closely and says when you go to the Treasury Department’s website, make sure you have an e-mail address and routing number to your bank too.