How to find your savings bond's current value

The U.S. Department of the Treasury runs a free tool called the Savings Bond Calculator that tells you exactly what any bond is worth right now. You enter the bond series (Series EE, Series I, or Series HH), the issue date, and the denomination you paid for it, and the calculator shows you the current redemption value — what you would receive if you cashed it in today.

You can access this tool at treasurydirect.gov under the "Savings Bonds" section. The calculator updates whenever interest rates change, so the value you see reflects the most recent accrual. If you have physical paper bonds, the information you need is printed on the bond itself. If you hold bonds in a TreasuryDirect account online, you can log in and see the value of each bond listed there.

The value shown is not a guess or an estimate — it is the amount your bank or credit union will give you if you walk in and ask to redeem the bond. Some financial institutions charge a small fee to process the redemption, so ask before you cash it.

Key Takeaways

  • The Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator at treasurydirect.gov shows your bond's exact current value based on its series, issue date, and denomination.
  • Series EE bonds earn interest monthly and reach their face value at 20 years; Series I bonds earn interest based on inflation rates that change every six months.
  • A bond's value grows whether you hold it in a TreasuryDirect account or as a physical paper certificate, but you can only see the current value by using the calculator or logging into your account.
  • You can cash in most bonds at any bank or credit union, though some may charge a small processing fee.

How Series EE bonds build value over time

Series EE bonds earn a fixed interest rate that the Treasury sets every six months. When you buy a Series EE bond, you pay half its face value — so a $100 bond costs you $50. The bond then earns interest each month, and after 20 years it is may provide to be worth at least its full face value, even if interest rates have been very low.

After 20 years, a Series EE bond continues to earn interest for another 10 years (up to 30 years total), though the rate does not change. The longer you hold it, the more it is worth. If you cash it in before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty.

The current interest rate for new Series EE bonds is set by the Treasury and announced twice a year. You can find the current rate on treasurydirect.gov. Because the rate is fixed when you buy the bond, your bond will earn that same rate for its entire life, regardless of what happens to interest rates in the economy.

How Series I bonds build value differently

Series I bonds work differently from Series EE bonds because their interest rate changes. An I bond's rate has two parts: a fixed rate (set when you buy it) and an inflation rate (that changes every six months based on the Consumer Price Index). Together, these two rates determine how much your bond earns.

You pay the full face value for an I bond — a $100 bond costs $100 — and it earns interest every month. The inflation portion means that when prices rise, your bond earns more interest. When inflation is low, your bond earns less, but it will never earn less than the fixed rate you locked in when you bought it.

I bonds must be held for at least one year before you can cash them in. If you redeem one before five years have passed, you forfeit the last three months of interest. The Treasury announces new inflation rates every May and November, and bonds purchased after those dates earn the new rate going forward.

What happens to your bond value if you hold it past maturity

Series EE bonds stop earning interest after 30 years, and Series I bonds stop after 30 years as well. Once a bond reaches its final maturity date, it no longer grows in value, and you should cash it in or reinvest the money elsewhere.

You can find your bond's maturity date by using the Savings Bond Calculator — it will tell you the exact date the bond stops earning interest. After that date, the value shown in the calculator will not change, even if you wait longer to redeem it. The Treasury will not automatically cash your bond when it matures, so it is your responsibility to keep track of the date and decide what to do with the money.

How to read the value on a paper savings bond certificate

If you hold a physical paper bond, the certificate itself does not show the current value — it only shows the denomination (the face value you paid for) and the issue date. To find out what it is worth today, you must use the Treasury's calculator or contact your bank.

Paper bonds issued before May 2003 may have a redemption value table printed on the back, but those tables are outdated and do not reflect current interest rates. Do not rely on them. The only accurate way to know what an old paper bond is worth is to use the online calculator or take it to a bank and ask them to look it up in the Treasury system.

Why your bond's value might be different from what you expected

Many people assume a Series EE bond bought for $50 is worth $100 after 20 years, but that is only the minimum may provide. If interest rates have been higher than expected, the bond could be worth more. Conversely, if you cash in a Series EE bond before 20 years have passed, it will be worth less than $100 because it has not yet earned enough interest to reach its face value.

For Series I bonds, the value depends on both the fixed rate and the inflation rate at the time you bought it. A bond purchased when inflation was high will be worth more than one purchased when inflation was low, even if both are the same age. This is why two I bonds of the same denomination and purchase date can have different values if they were bought in different months.

The penalty for early redemption (losing three months of interest) also affects the value you receive. If you cash in a bond that is only four years and six months old, you will get less than if you wait until it is five years old, because the penalty applies.

Where to cash in your bond and what to expect

You can redeem a savings bond at most banks and credit unions, even if you did not open your account there. Bring the physical bond certificate (if you have one) or your TreasuryDirect login information (if you hold it online). The financial institution will verify the bond's value using the Treasury system and give you the cash or deposit it into your account.

Some banks charge a small fee to process the redemption, typically $5 to $25, though many do not charge anything. Call ahead and ask about fees before you go in. If you are redeeming a bond held in a TreasuryDirect account, you can transfer the money directly to your bank account without visiting a branch — you do this through your online account.

The redemption process usually takes a few business days if you are depositing the money into an account, or you may receive cash on the spot if you are redeeming a paper bond in person. There are no taxes withheld at the time of redemption, but you will owe federal income tax on the interest you earned when you file your tax return that year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out what my old paper savings bonds are worth without the original certificate?

If you have lost the certificate, you can contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Division at 1-844-284-2676 or visit treasurydirect.gov to search for bonds registered in your name. You will need to provide your Social Security number and other identifying information. The Treasury can look up bonds issued in your name and tell you their current value.

Do savings bonds earn interest while I hold them, or only when I cash them in?

Savings bonds earn interest every month while you hold them, whether they are paper certificates or held in a TreasuryDirect account. The interest accrues (builds up) automatically, and you receive the total accumulated value when you redeem the bond. You do not have to do anything to earn the interest — it happens on its own.

What is the difference between the purchase price and the current value of my bond?

The purchase price is what you paid for the bond when you bought it. The current value is what it is worth today, including all the interest it has earned. For a Series EE bond bought for $50, the current value might be $65 after three years, or $100 after 20 years. The difference between these two numbers is the interest you have earned.

If I cash in my bond early, will I lose all the interest I earned?

No. If you redeem a bond before five years have passed, you lose only the last three months of interest as a penalty. All the interest earned before that penalty period is yours to keep. After five years, you can cash in the bond without any penalty and receive all the interest you have earned.

How often does the Treasury update the interest rates for new savings bonds?

The Treasury announces new interest rates for Series EE bonds every six months, on May 1 and November 1. Series I bonds also get new inflation rates every six months on the same dates. The rates you lock in when you purchase a bond stay the same for the life of that bond, but new bonds purchased after the rate change will earn the new rate.