How much is a $50 savings bond worth now?
The government promised to pay back its face value with interest at maturity, bringing its value to $53.08 by May 2020. A $50 bond purchased 30 years ago for $25 would be $103.68 today. Here are some more examples based on the Treasury's calculator. These values are estimated based on past interest rates.
If necessary, the Treasury Department will make a one-time adjustment to the interest to make that happen. After 30 years, the bonds have reached final maturity. After this date, bonds no longer earn interest.
If you have a savings bond and want to know how much it is currently worth, all you have to do is use the U.S. Department of Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator. This allows you to quickly find the value of any savings bond by entering information found on the bond.
The annual interest rate for EE bonds issued from May 2022 through October 2022 is 0.10%. Regardless of the rate, at 20 years the bond will be worth twice what you pay for it.
After 30 years, these bonds stop earning more interest. A $50 Series EE savings bond with a picture of President George Washington that was issued in January 1986 was worth $113.06 as of December. The bond will earn a few more dollars in interest at the next payment in January 2016.
Series EE savings bonds also mature after 30 years. Like I bonds, they will earn interest until they are redeemed. Series EE bonds differ from I bonds in two main ways: They offer a fixed interest rate for the life of the bond.
EE Bond and I Bond Differences
EE bonds offer a guaranteed return that doubles your investment if held for 20 years. There is no guaranteed return with I bonds. The annual maximum purchase amount for EE bonds is $10,000 per individual whereas you can purchase up to $15,000 in I bonds per year.
Most bonds can be cashed in after one year, but you will lose three months' worth of interest if you cash them in before five years. If you are holding hundreds of dollars in savings bonds, you will still get them back at their current value.
Savings bonds are an easy way for individuals to loan money directly to the government and receive a return on their investment. Bonds are sold at face value, for example, a $50 bond costs $50. Bonds accrue interest, and your gains are compounded, meaning that interest is earned on interest.
U.S. Bond Denomination Value
Series EE U.S. savings bonds are guaranteed to reach their denomination value no later than 20 years after issue. This means the $200 bond purchased for $100 will be worth the $200 by no later than the 20-year anniversary of the bond.
Are savings bonds worth it?
Savings bonds are not the best investment, even for college. The rate of return is set by the U.S. government and market conditions, and it can take up to 20 years for the bonds to fully mature to double their original value. 1 That is a fairly low rate of return.
What is the difference between EE and I bonds? EE bonds we sell today earn a fixed rate of interest and, regardless of rate, are guaranteed to double in value in 20 years. I bonds we sell today earn a variable rate of interest that's tied to inflation; as inflation occurs, the value of the bond goes up.
How long must I keep an EE Bond? EE bonds earn interest until they reach 30 years or until you cash them, whichever comes first.
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.
- If you hold an account at a local bank and it cashes savings bonds, ask the bank if it will cash yours. The answer may depend on how long you've held an account there. ...
- Send them to Treasury Retail Securities Services along with FS Form 1522 (download or order).
Meanwhile, a $50 Patriot Bond purchased in June 2005 — after the new interest-rate system for Series EE bonds began — would be worth $41.20 as of November 2019.
Most bonds can be cashed in after one year, but you will lose three months' worth of interest if you cash them in before five years. If you are holding hundreds of dollars in savings bonds, you will still get them back at their current value.
You'll need the bond series, denomination, serial number and issue date. A $50 bond issued in August 1980, which sold for $25, is now worth $167.40. To cash in your 1980-issued bonds, you can go to your local bank. Most banks will give you money on the same day if you're an account holder.
Most savings bonds stop earning interest (or reach maturity) in about 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.
If you cash an I bond before it is five years old, you will lose the last three months of interest. I bonds earn interest for 30 years if you don't cash the bonds before they mature. If you've been affected by a disaster, special provisions may apply.
What should I do with old savings bonds?
If you discover that your savings bonds have matured, you should cash them in and invest the money elsewhere. If you have paper bonds, contact your bank to see if it cashes savings bonds (not all banks do, and some will cash in savings bonds only for customers who have had accounts for at least six months).
EE Bond and I Bond Differences
EE bonds offer a guaranteed return that doubles your investment if held for 20 years. There is no guaranteed return with I bonds. The annual maximum purchase amount for EE bonds is $10,000 per individual whereas you can purchase up to $15,000 in I bonds per year.
U.S. Bond Denomination Value
Series EE U.S. savings bonds are guaranteed to reach their denomination value no later than 20 years after issue. This means the $200 bond purchased for $100 will be worth the $200 by no later than the 20-year anniversary of the bond.
Savings bonds are sold at a discount and do not pay regular interest. Instead, as they mature, they increase in value until they reach full face value at maturity.
