How Long Savings Bonds Take to Reach Full Value

Savings bonds reach their full face value at maturity, which is 20 years from the issue date for Series EE bonds and 30 years for Series I bonds

The maturity date is printed on your bond or shown in your TreasuryDirect account. You can cash a Series EE bond after one year, but if you do before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of interest. Series I bonds have the same one-year holding requirement and the same three-month interest penalty for early redemption within five years. After five years, you can redeem either type without penalty.

The difference between maturity and when you can cash the bond matters. You do not have to wait until maturity to access your money, but the bond continues earning interest until it reaches its maturity date — and the longer you hold it, the more you earn.

Key Takeaways

Series EE bonds mature in 20 years; Series I bonds mature in 30 years, and both reach their full face value at that point.
You can redeem either bond type after one year, but redeeming before five years costs you the last three months of interest.
After five years, you can cash your bond anytime without an interest penalty, though it will continue earning until maturity.
The maturity date is fixed when the bond is issued and does not change based on when you buy it or how long you hold it.

Series EE Bonds: 20-Year Maturity

A Series EE bond issued today will reach its full face value in 20 years from the issue date. If you buy a bond on March 15, 2024, it matures on March 15, 2044. The issue date is what counts, not the purchase date — if you buy a bond that was issued months earlier, the maturity date is still 20 years from when it was originally issued.

Series EE bonds earn interest monthly, and that interest compounds semiannually. The interest rate is set by the U.S. Treasury and changes every six months. You can see the current rate and historical rates on the TreasuryDirect website. The bond will continue earning interest for the full 20 years, even if you cash it early.

Series I Bonds: 30-Year Maturity

Series I bonds mature in 30 years from the issue date, making them a longer-term holding than Series EE bonds. An I bond issued on March 15, 2024, matures on March 15, 2054. Like EE bonds, the issue date is fixed and does not change.

Series I bonds are designed to protect against inflation. The interest rate has two parts: a fixed rate that never changes, and an inflation rate that adjusts every six months based on the Consumer Price Index. The combined rate is what you earn. Because the inflation component adjusts, your earnings can vary significantly over time, especially during periods of high inflation.

What Happens at Maturity

When a bond reaches its maturity date, it stops earning interest. If you have not cashed it by then, you should redeem it to avoid holding a non-earning asset. You can cash a matured bond through TreasuryDirect or, for paper bonds, through a bank or the Federal Reserve.

The bond will not disappear or become worthless at maturity — you simply stop earning interest on it. Many people forget about bonds and discover them years after maturity. You can still redeem a matured bond, but you will not recover any interest that would have accrued after the maturity date.

Redeeming Before Maturity Without Penalty

You can redeem a Series EE or Series I bond after holding it for five years without losing any interest. This is the break-even point. If you bought the bond five years ago, you can cash it today and receive the full value plus all interest earned to date.

Before five years have passed, you can still redeem the bond, but you forfeit the last three months of interest. This penalty applies whether you redeem after one year or after four years and eleven months. After five years, the penalty no longer applies, and you keep all interest earned.

Tracking Your Bond's Maturity Date

If you own bonds through TreasuryDirect, log into your account to see the exact maturity date for each bond. The account shows the issue date, current value, interest earned to date, and the maturity date. You can set a reminder for yourself or use your account's notification features if available.

For paper bonds, the issue date is printed on the bond itself. You can calculate the maturity date by adding 20 years (for EE) or 30 years (for I) to the issue date. If you have lost track of your paper bonds, you can search the Treasury's Savings Bond Database using your Social Security number to locate them and confirm their issue dates.

Interest Continues Until Maturity

One of the key features of savings bonds is that they earn interest for the full maturity period, even if you do not need the money. A Series EE bond earning interest for 20 years will have roughly doubled in value by maturity (the exact amount depends on the interest rate at the time you bought it). Series I bonds earn based on inflation, so the final value depends on how much inflation occurred during the holding period.

This is why holding a bond to maturity, or at least past the five-year mark, is often the better financial choice than cashing it early. The longer you hold it, the more interest compounds, and after five years you have no penalty for redeeming whenever you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cash my bond before it matures?

Yes. You can redeem a Series EE or I bond after holding it for one year. If you redeem before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of interest. After five years, you can redeem anytime without penalty, though the bond continues earning interest until its maturity date.

What is the difference between the maturity date and when I can cash the bond?

The maturity date is when the bond reaches its full face value and stops earning interest — 20 years for EE bonds, 30 years for I bonds. You can cash the bond anytime after one year, but you will earn more interest if you hold it longer, especially past five years when the early redemption penalty no longer applies.

Do I have to cash my bond on the maturity date?

No. You can hold a matured bond indefinitely, but it will not earn any more interest. It is a good idea to redeem it once it matures so your money can be put to use elsewhere. You can redeem a matured bond through TreasuryDirect or at a bank.

How do I find out when my paper bond matures?

The issue date is printed on the bond. Add 20 years for a Series EE bond or 30 years for a Series I bond to find the maturity date. If you cannot locate your bonds, search the Treasury Savings Bond Database using your Social Security number to find them and confirm their issue dates.

Does the interest rate stay the same for the entire 20 or 30 years?

For Series EE bonds, the rate is fixed when you buy the bond and does not change. For Series I bonds, the fixed portion stays the same, but the inflation portion adjusts every six months, so your total earnings can vary over time.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.