Chase does not sell U.S. savings bonds directly
If you want to buy a savings bond through Chase, you cannot do it at a Chase branch or through Chase online banking. Chase is a commercial bank, and the U.S. Treasury — the only issuer of savings bonds — sells them only through TreasuryDirect, a federal website, and through some banks and brokers that act as intermediaries. Chase is not one of those intermediaries.
This is a common point of confusion because Chase does sell other investment products like CDs, money market accounts, and brokerage services. But savings bonds are different — they come directly from the government, and the government controls where and how they are sold.
The good news is that buying savings bonds is straightforward once you know where to go. You do not need a Chase account or any bank account to purchase them. You can open a TreasuryDirect account with just an email address and a Social Security number.
Key Takeaways
- Chase does not sell Series EE or Series I savings bonds, and no commercial bank sells them directly — only TreasuryDirect and a small number of authorized financial institutions do.
- You can buy savings bonds through TreasuryDirect at treasurydirect.gov without a bank account, using just your Social Security number and an email address.
- Some banks and brokers outside of Chase, such as Fidelity and Vanguard, do sell savings bonds as part of their brokerage services, but they charge fees that TreasuryDirect does not.
- If you have a Chase savings or checking account, you can link it to your TreasuryDirect account to fund your bond purchases.
Where to actually buy savings bonds
TreasuryDirect is the primary and lowest-cost way to buy savings bonds. You create an account at treasurydirect.gov, verify your identity, and link a bank account — which can be your Chase account or any other bank. Once linked, you can purchase Series EE bonds or Series I bonds directly from the U.S. Treasury with no fees or markups.
A smaller number of banks and brokers also sell savings bonds as a brokerage service. Fidelity, Vanguard, and some other financial institutions offer this, but they typically charge a transaction fee per bond purchase — usually between $25 and $50 per transaction. This fee does not exist on TreasuryDirect, which is why most people buy there.
If you already have a Chase account and prefer to manage everything in one place, you can still use TreasuryDirect. straightforward link your Chase checking or savings account to your TreasuryDirect account, and you can fund purchases from there. The bonds themselves will be held in TreasuryDirect, not in your Chase account, but the money to buy them comes from Chase.
How to set up a TreasuryDirect account
Start by going to treasurydirect.gov and clicking "Open an Account." You will need a valid Social Security number, an email address, and a U.S. mailing address. You do not need a bank account yet — you can create the TreasuryDirect account first.
After your account is created, you will need to link a bank account to fund your purchases. This is where you can use your Chase account. You will provide your Chase routing number and account number. TreasuryDirect will make two small test deposits to verify the account is yours, and you will confirm those amounts in your Chase online banking to complete the link.
Once your bank account is linked, you can purchase bonds when ready. You can buy as little as $25 in Series EE bonds or $100 in Series I bonds. There is no maximum annual purchase limit on TreasuryDirect, though Series I bonds are capped at $10,000 per person per calendar year (with an additional $5,000 limit if you use your tax refund).
Why Chase does not sell savings bonds
The U.S. Treasury deliberately limits where savings bonds are sold to keep costs down and may support equal access. By selling through TreasuryDirect and a small network of authorized institutions, the Treasury avoids paying commissions to thousands of banks and brokers. Those savings are passed on to you — there are no fees on TreasuryDirect purchases.
If Chase sold savings bonds, it would likely charge a fee to do so, just as Fidelity and Vanguard do. The Treasury's model keeps the cost to zero, which is one reason TreasuryDirect is the most common purchase method.
Chase does offer other savings products that compete with savings bonds — like high-yield savings accounts and CDs — but those are Chase's own products, not government-issued securities. If you are comparing savings bonds to what Chase offers, you should look at the interest rates and terms of each to decide what fits your situation.
Comparing savings bonds to Chase savings products
Chase offers several ways to save money, and it is worth understanding how they differ from savings bonds. A Chase high-yield savings account typically pays interest that changes monthly based on market conditions. A Chase CD locks your money for a set term — three months, one year, five years — and pays a fixed rate for that period. Series I savings bonds from the Treasury pay a rate that adjusts every six months based on inflation.
The main trade-off is flexibility. With a Chase savings account or CD, you can withdraw your money whenever you want (though a CD charges a penalty if you withdraw early). With savings bonds, you cannot cash them in for one year, and if you cash them in before five years, you lose the last three months of interest. But savings bonds often pay more over time because they are backed by the government and carry no default risk.
If you are trying to decide between a Chase product and a savings bond, compare the current interest rates on TreasuryDirect and at Chase, then think about how long you plan to leave the money untouched. If you need access within a year, a Chase savings account is better. If you can wait, a savings bond may pay more.
What to do if you want to buy through a bank
If you strongly prefer to buy savings bonds through a bank rather than TreasuryDirect, you have a few options, but none of them are Chase. Fidelity, Vanguard, and some regional banks and brokers sell savings bonds, but they charge transaction fees. You would pay $25 to $50 per purchase, which reduces your return, especially on smaller purchases.
The only reason to buy through a bank instead of TreasuryDirect is if you want a single statement that shows all your investments in one place. If you own stocks or mutual funds at Fidelity, for example, you might want your savings bonds there too for simplicity. But if your only goal is to buy savings bonds, TreasuryDirect is the better choice because it costs nothing.
If you call a Chase branch and ask about savings bonds, the representative may direct you to TreasuryDirect or suggest a Chase CD as an alternative. This is not because Chase is hiding anything — it is because Chase does not have the authority to sell government securities directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy savings bonds through Chase online banking?
No, Chase online banking does not offer savings bond purchases. You must go to TreasuryDirect.gov to buy them. You can link your Chase account to TreasuryDirect to fund the purchase, but the transaction happens on the Treasury's website, not in Chase.
Will my savings bonds show up in my Chase account?
No. Savings bonds are held in your TreasuryDirect account, not in Chase. Your Chase account will show the money leaving when you buy the bond, but the bond itself lives in TreasuryDirect. You manage and redeem it through that website.
Is TreasuryDirect safe if I am used to banking with Chase?
Yes. TreasuryDirect is run by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Your bonds are as safe as they can be — safer than any bank deposit, because they are not subject to bank failure.
Can I set up automatic purchases of savings bonds from my Chase account?
TreasuryDirect does not offer automatic recurring purchases. You must log in and buy bonds manually each time. However, you can set a reminder for yourself, and the process takes only a few minutes once your Chase account is linked.
What if I already own savings bonds from Chase?
Chase has not sold savings bonds in recent years, so this is unlikely. If you own bonds from an older purchase, they are probably held in TreasuryDirect or were purchased through a broker. Check your bond documents or contact TreasuryDirect to find out where they are registered.