Maturity timelines depend on the bond type and purchase date

A savings bond reaches maturity — the point at which it stops earning interest — on a specific date set when you buy it. For Series EE bonds, maturity is 30 years from the issue date. For Series I bonds, maturity is also 30 years. Series HH bonds, which are no longer sold, matured after 20 years. The maturity date is printed on your bond or shown in your TreasuryDirect account if you own electronic bonds.

Before maturity, your bond continues to earn interest every month. After maturity, it stops earning. You can still hold the bond after maturity — it will not disappear — but you are no longer building value. Many people cash bonds in at maturity or shortly after, though you can hold them indefinitely if you choose.

The actual time from purchase to maturity is always the same for each bond type, but the calendar date changes based on when you bought it. A Series EE bond purchased in January 2024 matures in January 2054. One purchased in June 2024 matures in June 2054.

Key Takeaways

  • Series EE and Series I bonds both mature 30 years after their issue date, at which point they stop earning interest.
  • Your bond's exact maturity date appears on the physical bond or in your TreasuryDirect account online.
  • Bonds continue to earn interest every month until maturity, even if you do not check on them for years.
  • You can cash a bond at any time after the first year, but you lose the last three months of interest if you cash it before five years have passed.

When you can cash a bond before it matures

You do not have to wait for maturity to get your money. You can cash Series EE or Series I bonds after one year of ownership. However, there is a penalty for early withdrawal: if you cash the bond before it has been held for five years, you lose the last three months of interest earned.

This penalty applies only to bonds cashed before the five-year mark. Once a bond reaches five years old, you can cash it without losing any interest. After that point, you still earn interest every month until maturity, so there is no financial reason to hold past five years unless you want the interest to keep growing.

The one-year minimum exists to prevent when ready redemption. You cannot buy a bond and cash it the next day. But after 12 months, the option is yours, even though the penalty makes it costly to do so in the first five years.

How interest compounds before maturity

Savings bonds earn interest monthly, but the interest is added to the bond's value, not paid out to you. This means your bond grows in value each month, and the next month's interest is calculated on the larger amount. This is called compounding.

For Series I bonds, the interest rate changes every six months (in May and November). The rate you earn depends on when you bought the bond and which six-month period you are in. Series EE bonds earn a fixed rate set at purchase, so the rate never changes for that bond.

Because interest compounds monthly for 30 years, the total value at maturity is significantly higher than the purchase price. A Series EE bond purchased for $50 will be worth more than $50 at maturity — exactly how much more depends on the interest rate in effect when you bought it.

What happens to your bond after maturity

Once a bond reaches its 30-year maturity date, it stops earning interest. The value freezes at whatever it had grown to by that date. If you hold the bond for another year without cashing it, the value remains the same — no additional interest accrues.

You can leave a matured bond in your TreasuryDirect account indefinitely. It will not expire or disappear. However, there is no financial benefit to holding it after maturity. The only reason to keep it would be if you straightforward had not gotten around to cashing it yet.

If you own a physical paper bond that has matured, you can cash it at a bank or through the Treasury. If you own an electronic bond in TreasuryDirect, you can request redemption online, and the funds will be deposited to your linked bank account within a few business days.

Tracking your bond's maturity date

If you own electronic bonds through TreasuryDirect, log into your account at treasurydirect.gov to see the exact maturity date for each bond. The account shows the issue date, current value, interest rate (if applicable), and the maturity date all in one place.

For paper bonds, the maturity date is printed on the bond itself, usually near the series letter and denomination. If you have lost track of a paper bond's details, you can contact the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which maintains records of registered bonds. They can tell you the issue date and help you determine maturity.

If you are unsure whether a bond has matured, checking the issue date is the easiest way to know. Add 30 years to the issue date, and that is your maturity date. Any bond issued before today's date minus 30 years has already matured.

Differences in maturity between bond types

Series EE bonds and Series I bonds both mature after 30 years, so the timeline is the same for both. The difference is in how interest is earned. Series EE bonds earn a fixed rate that never changes. Series I bonds earn a variable rate that adjusts twice per year based on inflation.

Series HH bonds, which were discontinued in 2004, had a 20-year maturity instead of 30. If you own an HH bond, it matured 20 years after its issue date. Any HH bond issued before 2004 has long since matured.

Savings Notes and other older bond types had different maturity periods, but these are rarely encountered today. If you own an unusual bond type and are unsure of its maturity date, the Treasury's website or a call to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service can clarify.

Planning around maturity for your financial goals

If you bought bonds years ago and are now approaching maturity, it is worth reviewing your account to see what you have. Matured bonds sitting in an account earn nothing, so cashing them and moving the money to an interest-bearing account makes financial sense.

If you are buying bonds now and want to know when you will have access to the money, remember the five-year rule: you can cash without penalty after five years, but the full maturity date is 30 years out. For most people, five years is the practical holding period, not 30.

Some people buy bonds as a long-term savings tool specifically because the 30-year maturity discourages spending the money. If that is your goal, the long timeline works in your favor. If you need the money sooner, plan to hold for at least five years to avoid the interest penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cash a bond on its exact maturity date?

Yes. On the maturity date, the bond stops earning interest, but you can cash it when ready. There is no grace period or important date — you can redeem it on that date or any time after. If you wait weeks or months after maturity to cash it, the value will be the same.

What if I lose a paper bond before it matures?

Contact the Bureau of the Fiscal Service with your bond's series, denomination, and serial number if you have it. They can place a stop on the bond and issue a replacement. If the bond is lost or stolen before maturity, the replacement will have the same maturity date as the original.

Do I have to cash a bond at maturity, or can I let it sit?

You can let it sit indefinitely. Matured bonds do not expire or disappear from your account. However, they earn no interest after maturity, so there is no financial reason to hold them unless you straightforward have not gotten around to cashing them yet.

If I buy a bond today, when will it mature?

A Series EE or Series I bond purchased today will mature 30 years from now. The exact date depends on the month you purchase it. You can see the precise maturity date in your TreasuryDirect account or on the bond certificate itself.

Does the interest rate affect how long a bond takes to mature?

No. The maturity date is always 30 years from the issue date, regardless of the interest rate. A higher rate means the bond will be worth more at maturity, but it will not mature any sooner. The timeline is fixed; only the final value changes based on the rate.