The conversion of paper savings certificates from series A, B and D to digital format began this Monday, January 5, 2026, and can be done at CTT branches that sell State savings products, with the titles being registered in the IGCP’s “Savings Account”. The process runs until November 29, 2029 and, after the exchange, the physical certificates are rendered useless for all legal purposes.
According to SIC Notícias, the measure is implemented by the IGCP and is based on Instruction No. 1/2025, published in February 2025, with the aim of dematerializing old titles and strengthening the computerized registration.
For those who still keep certificates at home, the rule of thumb is simple: there is a long period to deal with the matter, but conversion becomes the mandatory step to keep these titles fully operational in the system and avoid future identification problems.
What changes from January 5, 2026
The conversion is done “on the spot” and the holder receives proof of the operation, with the certificates only existing in digital (scriptural) format.
The IGCP emphasizes that the process is free of charge for savers and that the commercial conditions of the certificates remain unchanged; What changes is the support and the form of registration.
Another relevant change is the elimination of the “mover” figure: from January 5, 2026, the movement of certificates from these series can only be done by the holder or by an attorney with specific powers.
Where to convert savings certificates and what you need to bring
The conversion must be requested in person at a CTT store in the network that sells state savings products (or in other locations that may be announced by the IGCP), with delivery of the physical titles.
To confirm and update the data, the IGCP indicates that it is mandatory to update identification elements and present personal and tax identification, as well as proof of IBAN, tax address and professional status, in addition to contact details such as email and/or cell phone.
In practice, and as explained by CTT themselves, it pays to prepare the documentation before going to the counter, especially for those with old titles and outdated data, to avoid repeated trips.
Inheritances, deadline and what happens if you don’t convert
In the event of the death of the holder, and for transfers that occur from January 5, 2026, the IGCP provides that the transfer of series A, B and D certificates will be done by registration in accounts in the name of the heirs, without the possibility of registering as a “mover”, which requires that the titles in the heirs’ Savings Account be converted into book-entry format.
The deadline is clear: on November 29, 2029, certificates that have not been converted are automatically amortized and the value is transferred to the current balance in the holder’s Savings Account, with no interest accruing from that date onwards.
The series covered are old and very present in “family drawers”: series A was issued between 1961 and 1986, series B had subscriptions between 1986 and 2008 and series D between 2015 and 2017, which helps to explain why this process will affect many heirs and older holders.
Why is this happening now
According to , one of the problems that dematerialization aims to reduce is the difficulty in identifying owners and heirs of very old products, with incomplete accounts and data. The Court of Auditors has warned of this risk and, in a recent opinion, pointed out cases in which the IGCP was unable to pay amounts due to difficulties in identifying investors.
In practical terms, the recommendation for those who have paper certificates is not to delay: locate the titles, confirm whether they belong to series A, B or D and schedule a visit to CTT with the necessary documentation, keeping proof of conversion. The deadline runs until 2029, but those who deal early reduce the risk of surprises and avoid rushing when renewals and updates start to pile up.
Also read:
