book-entry Hear it!

book-entry Finance Definition
  1. A method used by the U.S. Treasury and some agency issuers, such as Fannie Mae, to confer ownership of the bonds and notes. Book-entry consists of an entry on the computerized records of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, a Federal Reserve Bank, or a financial institution. No actual certificate is given to the owner.
  2. Refers to stock certificates and corporate bonds that are held on behalf of customers using only the brokerage firm’s name. The brokerage firm keeps track of who the owners are.