Maturity timelines depend on the bond type and when you bought it

Series EE bonds take 20 years to reach face value, and Series I bonds take 20 years as well. However, both types continue earning interest beyond that point — they don't stop growing at year 20. Series EE bonds can earn interest for up to 30 years total, and Series I bonds for up to 30 years. The "maturity" date most people refer to is when the bond reaches its may provide minimum value, not when it stops earning.

If you hold a bond past its 20-year mark, you'll keep collecting interest, but the rate changes. For Series I bonds, the interest rate adjusts every six months based on inflation. For Series EE bonds, the rate stays fixed at whatever you locked in when you bought it. Many people hold bonds well into their 30-year window because the interest keeps accumulating.

Key Takeaways

  • Series EE and Series I bonds both reach their may provide face value at 20 years, but they earn interest for up to 30 years total.
  • You can cash in a bond anytime after one year, but you'll lose the last three months of interest if you cash it before five years.
  • The interest rate on Series EE bonds stays the same for the entire 30-year life, while Series I rates adjust every six months.
  • Bonds continue earning money after year 20, so holding them longer usually means more total value unless you need the cash sooner.

What happens at the 20-year mark

At 20 years, a Series EE bond is may provide to be worth at least double what you paid for it. If it hasn't reached that value through interest alone, the Treasury makes up the difference. This is the "maturity" point — the bond has fulfilled its basic promise. But the bond itself doesn't expire or stop working at year 20.

Series I bonds work differently in terms of what you're may provide, but they also reach a natural milestone at 20 years. The interest you've earned by then is locked in and belongs to you. After year 20, you're earning additional interest on top of what you already have.

The reason people sometimes confuse year 20 with "the end" is that it's the point where you've definitely made your money back. Before year 20, especially in the first five years, you're still building toward that may provide return.

The penalty for cashing in early

You can redeem a bond anytime after one year has passed. However, if you cash it in before five years, you lose the last three months of interest. This penalty applies to both Series EE and Series I bonds. So if you bought a bond on January 1 and tried to cash it on December 31 of year four, you'd get back your principal plus interest through September 30 — the last three months would be forfeited.

After five years, there's no penalty. You can cash the bond at any point and keep all the interest you've earned up to that moment. This is why financial advisors often say savings bonds work best as a five-year minimum commitment, even though they technically mature at 20 years.

How interest rates affect your timeline

Series EE bonds are sold at a 50% discount. You pay $50 for a $100 bond, and it's may provide to reach $100 in 20 years. The interest rate is set when you buy and stays the same for all 30 years. Currently, the Treasury sets this rate, and it changes every six months for new purchases — but your rate never changes once you own the bond.

Series I bonds work on a different schedule. You pay face value (no discount), and the interest rate combines a fixed rate plus an inflation rate. The fixed part never changes, but the inflation part adjusts every May 1 and November 1. This means your bond's growth rate can change twice a year, which affects how much you'll have at any given point.

If inflation is high, Series I bonds will grow faster and reach higher values. If inflation is low, they grow more slowly. Series EE bonds grow at a steady, predictable pace because the rate is locked in from day one.

Holding bonds past 20 years

Many people hold bonds into their 25th, 28th, or even 30th year because the interest keeps compounding. A Series EE bond bought 25 years ago is still earning interest at the rate you locked in back then. A Series I bond bought 25 years ago is still earning interest, though the inflation component adjusts twice yearly.

The trade-off is liquidity. Your money is tied up in a bond that doesn't pay you monthly or quarterly — you only see the full value when you cash it in. If you need the money sooner, you can redeem it, but you'll have less than if you'd waited. If you don't need it, letting it sit and compound is usually the better financial move.

The 30-year final maturity date is when the Treasury stops paying interest. After 30 years, the bond is worth whatever it accumulated, and it earns nothing more. At that point, you should cash it in or it becomes a non-earning piece of paper.

Tracking your bond's current value

You can check what your bond is worth right now using the Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator on TreasuryDirect.gov. You'll need the series, denomination, serial number, and issue date. The calculator shows you the current value and tells you how much interest has accrued so far.

If you have paper bonds, you can also take them to a bank to have them valued, though not all banks offer this service anymore. Most people now hold bonds electronically through TreasuryDirect, which makes tracking much simpler — you can log in anytime and see your balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cash in a bond before it matures at 20 years?

Yes. You can redeem a bond anytime after one year. If you cash it before five years, you forfeit the last three months of interest. After five years, you keep all interest earned with no penalty.

What's the difference between maturity and final maturity?

Maturity (20 years) is when the bond reaches its may provide minimum value and has fulfilled its basic promise. Final maturity (30 years) is when the bond stops earning interest entirely. The bond is still worth money after year 20, but it stops growing at year 30.

Do I have to cash in my bond at maturity?

No. You can hold it past 20 years and let it keep earning interest. You only need to cash it in when you need the money or when it reaches 30 years and stops earning.

Which bond matures faster, EE or I?

Both reach their 20-year maturity point at the same time. However, Series I bonds may grow faster if inflation is high, so they might reach higher values sooner. Series EE bonds grow at a steady, predictable rate set when you buy.

What happens if I forget about a bond for 30 years?

The bond stops earning interest at year 30 and becomes worth whatever it accumulated. You should cash it in at that point. If you lose track of bonds you own, you can search for them on TreasuryDirect or contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Division.