Learn about the types of U.S. savings bonds, how to buy or redeem them, and calculate their value. Find out how to change a bond’s ownership, replace it, and whether it is taxable.
What are savings bonds?
By buying a U.S. savings bond, you are lending the government money. When you redeem a bond, the government pays you back the amount you bought the bond for plus interest.
Manage electronic savings bonds
To buy, redeem, or manage electronic savings bonds, you will need to create or log into your TreasuryDirect account.
Buy savings bonds
You can buy electronic savings bonds online. Paper bonds can only be purchased as part of your IRS tax refund.
Learn how to buy U.S. savings bonds.
Determine the value of savings bonds
You can determine the value for an electronic savings bond by logging into your TreasuryDirect account.
For paper bonds, use the savings bond calculator.
Current EE and I series savings bonds
The U.S. Department of the Treasury currently sells two types of savings bonds, the EE and I series. Both series have different interest rates, which are either fixed or change with inflation. Learn more about EE bonds and I bonds, including how to:
- Buy and redeem them
- Determine their value
- Claim them if the owner has died
- Change ownership or beneficiaries
- Update personal information or fix errors
- Replace them if they are lost, stolen, or destroyed
- Report interest on your federal tax return
Older HH and historical savings bonds
The U.S. Department of the Treasury no longer issues HH and other historical bond series. But you can still redeem them.
HH series savings bonds
The last HH series savings bonds the U.S. government issued are still earning interest until 2024. Learn more about HH bonds, including how to:
- Redeem them
- Determine their value
- Claim them if the owner has died
- Change ownership or beneficiaries
- Update personal information or fix errors
- Replace them if they are lost, stolen, or destroyed
- Report interest on your federal tax return
Historical and retired savings bonds
Like HH bonds, you can no longer buy historical and retired savings bonds. Learn more about older savings bonds series and savings securities, and find out:
- When the U.S. government issued them
- If they are still earning interest
- How to cash them
- What their value is or how to calculate it
- If the interest is taxable
Search for missing savings bonds
Search for matured savings bonds and missing interest using Treasury Hunt, an online tool from TreasuryDirect.
LAST UPDATED: January 24, 2024
Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.
FAQs
For starters, savings bonds, which have been around since the 1930s, are no longer an attractive investment. "The interest rates are so low these days that people just don't even get involved in them anymore," says Jim Moore, a Wells Fargo financial advisor based in St. Louis.
Who to call with questions about U.S. savings bonds? ›
U.S. Savings Bonds
Toll-free: 844-284-2676 Note: Beware of scammers, and carefully dial the correct numbers.
Why is my $100 savings bond only worth 50? ›
There are two primary reasons a bond might be worth less than its listed face value. A savings bond, for example, is sold at a discount to its face value and steadily appreciates in price as the bond approaches its maturity date. Upon maturity, the bond is redeemed for the full face value.
How long does it take for a $100 EE savings bond to mature? ›
All Series EE Bonds reach final maturity 30 years from issue.
Do savings bonds double every 7 years? ›
Series EE savings bonds are a low-risk way to save money. They earn interest regularly for 30 years (or until you cash them if you do that before 30 years). For EE bonds you buy now, we guarantee that the bond will double in value in 20 years, even if we have to add money at 20 years to make that happen.
Do savings bonds ever lose value? ›
If a bond is held past its maturity, the federal government remains responsible for the debt. However, savings bonds that are held past their maturity date do not continue to earn interest and may actually lose value due to inflation.
What happens to EE bonds after 30 years? ›
If you still have a paper EE bond, check the issue date. If that date is more than 30 years ago, it is no longer increasing in value and you may want to cash it.
Can a bank refuse to cash a savings bond? ›
Another reason to contact your financial institution before heading to a branch is that some banks may not cash all types of bonds.
How to avoid paying taxes on savings bonds? ›
You can skip paying taxes on interest earned with Series EE and Series I savings bonds if you're using the money to pay for qualified higher education costs. That includes expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse or a qualified dependent. Only certain qualified higher education costs are covered, including: Tuition.
Is TreasuryDirect.gov legit? ›
TreasuryDirect.gov is the one and only place to buy and redeem U.S. savings bonds and other securities directly from the U.S. Treasury! Your investments are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.
Treasury bonds are widely considered a risk-free investment because the U.S. government has never defaulted on its debt. However, investors should understand that even U.S. government bonds have interest rate risk. That is, if market interest rates rise, the prices of these bonds will fall, as they did throughout 2022.
How much does it cost to buy a $50 savings bond? ›
Bonds are sold at face value, for example, a $50 bond costs $50.
How to tell if a savings bond is still good? ›
If the bond is not valid, a red prohibition symbol with the text Invalid will be displayed. The Total Value and Total Interest for the invalid bond will not be displayed. Do not redeem the bond for the customer. The bond will need to be sent to the Treasury Securities Services Site for processing.
How much is an EE bond worth after 20 years? ›
EE bonds you buy now have a fixed interest rate that you know when you buy the bond. That rate remains the same for at least the first 20 years. It may change after that for the last 10 of its 30 years. We guarantee that the value of your new EE bond at 20 years will be double what you paid for it.
Do bonds double in value after 20 years? ›
Key takeaways
Series EE bonds issued today will mature in 20 years, and they are guaranteed to double in value over that time. You can let the bond continue to accumulate interest for an additional 10 years after maturity.
Which US savings bond is guaranteed to double in value in 20 years? ›
EE bonds you buy now have a fixed interest rate that you know when you buy the bond. That rate remains the same for at least the first 20 years. It may change after that for the last 10 of its 30 years. We guarantee that the value of your new EE bond at 20 years will be double what you paid for it.
How often does a 20 year bond pay interest? ›
Bonds and Notes
Bonds are long-term securities that mature in 20 or 30 years. Notes are relatively short or medium-term securities that mature in 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10 years. Both bonds and notes pay interest every six months.
What to do with 40 year old savings bonds? ›
If your savings bond from a Series other than EE, I, or HH has finished its interest-earning life, you could cash it and use the money for something else – a project, a financial need, or a new investment like an interest-earning savings bond or other Treasury security.
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