If you keep the bond for 20 years, we will make a one-time adjustment, if necessary, to fulfill this guarantee.
Also at 20 years
For bonds bought since May 2005, we may change the interest rate or the way the EE bond earns interest for the last 10 years of the bond's 30-year life. If we do that, we must do it before the bond is 20 years old.
If you do not want that new interest rate or the new way the bond will earn interest in its last 10 years, you can cash it when it reaches 20 years and has at least doubled what you paid for it. (You can, of course, cash the bond any time after it is 1 year old.)
You can find a bond’s current value
If the bond is in TreasuryDirect, look in your account there. If the bond is paper, use the Savings Bond Calculator.
Note: For bonds less than 5 years old, values shown in TreasuryDirect and the Calculator don’t include the last three months of interest. That’s because if you cash a bond before 5 years, we don’t pay you the final three months of interest.
Paper bonds differ from electronic bonds in 2 ways
The price compared to the face value differs.
- Paper EE bonds were sold for half their face value. You paid $50 for a $100 paper EE bond.
- We sell electronic EE bonds for their face value. You pay $100 for a $100 electronic EE bond.
The purchase amount of the bonds may differ.
- Paper EE bonds were sold only in certain amounts.
- You may buy electronic EE bonds in any amount from $25 to $10,000 in penny increments. For example, you may buy an electronic EE bond for $36.73.
Here’s how we set the interest rate for these EE bonds
For an EE bond you already own that we issued since May 2005, the interest rate is already fixed (at least for the first 20 years of the bond's life).
Each May 1 and November 1, we set the interest rate for all EE bonds we’ll sell in the following six months.
To set the interest rate, we take market yields and adjust them to account for components that are unique to savings bonds. Examples of those unique components: The fact that we let you cash the bond after you have had it for one year and the fact that you can wait to pay taxes until you cash the bond (which could be 30 years after you buy it).
Interest rates for EE bonds since May 2005
| Date we set the fixed rate for EE bonds | Fixed rate for EE bonds we issued in the 6 months after that date |
| November 1, 2023 | 2.70% |
| May 1, 2023 | 2.50% |
| November 1, 2022 | 2.10% |
| May 1, 2022 | 0.10% |
| November 1, 2021 | 0.10% |
| May 1, 2021 | 0.10% |
| November 1, 2020 | 0.10% |
| May 1, 2020 | 0.10% |
| November 1, 2019 | 0.10% |
| May 1, 2019 | 0.10% |
| November 1, 2018 | 0.10% |
| May 1, 2018 | 0.10% |
| November 1, 2017 | 0.10% |
| May 1, 2017 | 0.10% |
| November 1, 2016 | 0.10% |
| May 1, 2016 | 0.10% |
| November 1, 2015 | 0.10% |
| May 1, 2015 | 0.30% |
| November 1, 2014 | 0.10% |
| May 1, 2014 | 0.50% |
| November 1, 2013 | 0.10% |
| May 1, 2013 | 0.20% |
| November 1, 2012 | 0.20% |
| May 1, 2012 | 0.60% |
| November 1, 2011 | 0.60% |
| May 1, 2011 | 1.10% |
| November 1, 2010 | 0.60% |
| May 1, 2010 | 1.40% |
| November 1, 2009 | 1.20% |
| May 1, 2009 | 0.70% |
| November 1, 2008 | 1.30% |
| May 1, 2008 | 1.40% |
| November 1, 2007 | 3.00% |
| May 1, 2007 | 3.40% |
| November 1, 2006 | 3.60% |
| May 1, 2006 | 3.70% |
| November 1, 2005 | 3.20% |
| May 1, 2005 | 3.50% |
FAQs
May 2, 2005
The earnings rate for Series I Savings Bonds is a combination of a fixed rate, which will apply for the life of the bond, and the inflation rate. The 4.80% percent earnings rate for I bonds bought from May 2005 through October 2005 will apply for the first six months after their issue.
How much is a 30 year old $50 savings bond worth? ›
How to get the most value from your savings bonds
| Face Value | Purchase Amount | 30-Year Value (Purchased May 1990) |
|---|
| $50 Bond | $100 | $207.36 |
| $100 Bond | $200 | $414.72 |
| $500 Bond | $400 | $1,036.80 |
| $1,000 Bond | $800 | $2,073.60 |
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 do savings bonds work after 20 years? ›
Series EE bonds
Series EE savings bonds carry a fixed rate and are guaranteed to double in value if kept for 20 years or longer, which is obtained by an adjustment provided at the 20-year ownership mark.
How long should you hold series I bonds? ›
You can cash in (redeem) your I bond after 12 months. However, if you cash in the bond in less than 5 years, you lose the last 3 months of interest. For example, if you cash in the bond after 18 months, you get the first 15 months of interest. See Cash in (redeem) an EE or I savings bond.
When should I cash out my I bonds? ›
Remember, when you cash out your I Bonds you don't earn the interest until you complete the month and that you lose the prior 3 months' interest. If you want to keep all your good interest and get the most out of your I Bonds you should cash out: after earning 3 months of lower interest and.
How much is a $500 savings bond from 1986 worth? ›
A $500 savings bond with a picture of Alexander Hamilton that was issued in April 1986 was worth $1,130.60 as of December. The next interest payment is in April 2016. All bonds bought in 1986 are currently earning 4 percent until their final maturity date.
Do I bonds double in 30 years? ›
EE Bond and I Bond Differences
The interest rate on EE bonds is fixed for at least the first 20 years, while I bonds offer rates that are adjusted twice a year to protect from inflation. EE bonds offer a guaranteed return that doubles your investment if held for 20 years. There is no guaranteed return with I bonds.
Should you buy 30 year Treasury bonds? ›
A 30-year Treasury bond yields about 4.25 percent (as of April 2024). If that yield is not higher than inflation, then your investment loses purchasing power. “Investors should plan on inflation over the next 30 years averaging around 3 percent,” McBride says.
What are the disadvantages of TreasuryDirect? ›
Securities purchased through TreasuryDirect cannot be sold in the secondary market before they mature. This lack of liquidity could be a disadvantage for investors who may need to access their investment capital before the securities' maturity.
I bonds offer an inflation-protected return, ensuring your savings keep pace with rising costs. EE bonds, on the other hand, provide a fixed-interest rate for the life of the bond, offering a predictable return.
Should I cash bonds after 20 years? ›
If you want full value, you should hold the Series EE bonds at least until maturity, and if you want extra, you can hold them until 30 years. But once 30 years have passed, it's a good idea to cash them in because you won't get any extra benefit.
Should I wait 30 years to cash in savings bonds? ›
Most savings bonds stop earning interest (or reach maturity) between 20 to 30 years. It's possible to redeem a savings bond as soon as one year after it's purchased, but it's usually wise to wait at least five years so you don't lose the last three months of interest when you cash it in.
Which US savings bond is guaranteed to double in value in 20 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.
How to avoid paying taxes on savings bonds? ›
How to avoid paying taxes on U.S. savings bonds
- Your filing status is not married filing separately.
- Your 2022 Modified Adjust Gross Income (MAGI) is less than $158,650 if married filing jointly and $100,800 if head of household status.
- The owner of the bond is at least 24 years old before the bond's issue date.
Series–The series can be found in the upper right corner of your paper savings bond. This Calculator provides values for paper savings bonds of these series: EE, I, E.
Can I buy $10,000 I bond every year? ›
One increasingly popular pick are I Bonds, savings bonds issued by the U.S. government. These bonds are virtually risk free and have a robust fixed interest rate. There is generally a $10,000 limit per year for purchasing I Bonds, but there are a few ways to get around this limit.
Is there a downside to I bond? ›
The cons of investing in I-bonds
There's actually a limit on how much you can invest in I-bonds per year. The annual maximum in purchases is $10,000 worth of electronic I-bonds, although in some cases, you may be able to purchase an additional $5,000 worth of paper I-bonds using your tax refund.
What is the average return on Series I bonds? ›
The annual rate for Series I bonds could fall below 5% in May based on inflation and other factors, financial experts say. That would be lower than the current 5.27% interest on I bond purchases made before May 1, but higher than the 4.3% interest offered on new I bonds bought between May 1, 2023, and Oct. 31, 2023.
