Maturity timelines depend on the bond type and when you bought it
A savings bond reaches maturity when it stops earning interest. For Series EE bonds, that happens 30 years after purchase. For Series I bonds, maturity is also 30 years. For Series HH bonds (no longer sold), maturity was 20 years. The maturity date is fixed the moment you buy the bond — it does not change based on market conditions or when you cash it in.
Before maturity, your bond continues to earn interest every month. You can cash it in at any time after you own it for one year, but if you cash it before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty. After five years, you can cash it without penalty, though it will still be earning interest until the full maturity date arrives.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury issues savings bonds and sets these timelines. You can check the exact maturity date of any bond you own by entering its serial number into the Treasury's online tool at treasurydirect.gov.
Key Takeaways
- Series EE and Series I bonds mature 30 years after you purchase them, and they stop earning interest on that date.
- You can cash in a bond after one year of ownership, but cashing it before five years means losing the last three months of interest.
- After five years, you can cash a bond without penalty, though it continues earning interest until maturity.
- The Treasury's online tool at treasurydirect.gov shows the exact maturity date for any bond using its serial number.
- Bonds purchased in paper form at banks have the same maturity timeline as bonds bought electronically through TreasuryDirect.
Series EE bonds and the 30-year maturity window
Series EE bonds take exactly 30 years to mature from the issue date printed on the bond. The issue date is the first day of the month you purchased it, even if you bought it on the 15th or 28th. A Series EE bond issued in January 2024 will mature in January 2054.
During those 30 years, the bond earns interest monthly. The interest rate for new Series EE bonds changes every six months — the Treasury announces new rates on the first business day of May and November. Your bond keeps earning at the rate that was in effect when you bought it; the rate does not change if new rates are announced later.
Series EE bonds are sold at half their face value. A $100 bond costs $50. If you hold it to maturity, the Treasury guarantees it will be worth at least face value — so your $50 investment becomes at least $100. If interest rates have been low, the may provide minimum ensures you do not lose money. If interest rates have been high, your bond will be worth more than face value because of the accumulated interest.
Series I bonds and inflation-adjusted maturity
Series I bonds also mature in 30 years, but their interest rate changes every six months based on inflation. The rate has two parts: a fixed rate (set when you buy) and an inflation rate (adjusted every May and November). Together, these determine how much your bond earns each month.
Like Series EE bonds, Series I bonds are sold at face value — a $100 bond costs $100. The maturity date is 30 years from the issue date. You can cash it after one year, with the three-month interest penalty if you cash before five years.
Because Series I bonds track inflation, they tend to earn more interest than Series EE bonds when inflation is high. However, when inflation drops, the interest rate on new Series I bonds drops too. Your existing bond keeps its original fixed-rate component, but the inflation portion adjusts downward.
What happens when a bond reaches maturity
When a bond reaches its maturity date, it stops earning interest. The bond itself does not disappear or become worthless — it straightforward stops growing. You still own it, and you can still cash it in at any time after maturity, but you will receive only the value it had on the maturity date, with no additional interest.
The Treasury does not automatically cash your bond when it matures. You must request the redemption yourself through TreasuryDirect (if you own it electronically) or through the bank or financial institution where you hold it (if you own it in paper form). The process takes a few business days after you request it.
If you do not cash a matured bond, it will sit in your account earning nothing. There is no important date to cash it, but there is no benefit to waiting either. Many people cash matured bonds and reinvest the money in new bonds or other savings vehicles.
Early redemption and the five-year penalty rule
You can cash a savings bond as soon as one year after purchase, but the Treasury charges a penalty if you cash it before five years have passed. The penalty is three months of interest — meaning you lose the interest you would have earned in months 10, 11, and 12 of ownership (or the equivalent for bonds held longer than one year but less than five years).
After five years of ownership, you can cash the bond without any penalty. You still receive all the interest earned up to that point. This five-year window is separate from the 30-year maturity date — it is a rule about early withdrawal, not about when the bond stops earning interest.
For example, a Series EE bond purchased in January 2024 will mature in January 2054. If you cash it in June 2024 (five months in), you cannot cash it at all — you must wait until January 2025 (one year). If you cash it in January 2026 (two years in), you lose three months of interest. If you cash it in January 2029 (five years in), you get all interest with no penalty. If you cash it in January 2054 (maturity), you get the full value with no penalty.
Paper bonds versus electronic bonds and maturity dates
Savings bonds come in two forms: paper certificates (purchased at banks and some credit unions) and electronic bonds (purchased through TreasuryDirect online). The maturity timeline is identical for both. A paper Series EE bond and an electronic Series EE bond purchased on the same day will both mature 30 years later.
The difference is in how you track and redeem them. Paper bonds have a certificate with a serial number and issue date printed on it. You keep the physical certificate and bring it to a bank to cash it. Electronic bonds exist only in your TreasuryDirect account online. You log in and request redemption through the website.
Paper bonds can be harder to track if you lose the certificate or forget where you stored it. The Treasury's online tool can help you locate bonds if you have the serial number, but if you have lost that too, you may need to contact the Treasury directly. Electronic bonds are easier to monitor because they appear in your account dashboard with their maturity dates clearly listed.
How to find the maturity date of a bond you own
If you own an electronic bond through TreasuryDirect, log into your account at treasurydirect.gov. Your dashboard shows all bonds you own, including the issue date and maturity date for each one. The maturity date is always 30 years after the issue date.
If you own a paper bond, the issue date is printed on the certificate itself. Add 30 years to that date to find the maturity date. You can also use the Treasury's online tool to verify the bond's details if you enter the serial number.
If you have lost a paper bond or cannot locate its serial number, contact the Bureau of the Fiscal Service at 844-284-2676 or visit treasurydirect.gov/services/. They can search for bonds registered in your name and provide maturity information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cash a bond after it matures?
Yes. A matured bond does not expire or become invalid. You can cash it at any time after the maturity date, but it will not earn any additional interest. The value you receive is the amount it was worth on the maturity date.
What is the difference between maturity and the five-year penalty period?
Maturity is when the bond stops earning interest (30 years). The five-year penalty period is a rule about early withdrawal — if you cash the bond before five years, you lose three months of interest. These are two separate timelines. A bond can be past the five-year mark but still earning interest because it has not yet reached maturity.
Do I have to cash my bond on the maturity date?
No. You can cash it anytime after maturity, or you can leave it uncashed indefinitely. However, once it matures, it stops earning interest, so there is no financial benefit to holding it longer.
If I bought a bond in 2010, when does it mature?
A bond purchased in 2010 matures 30 years later, in 2040. The exact month depends on which month in 2010 you bought it. You can check the precise maturity date using the Treasury's online tool at treasurydirect.gov if you have the serial number.
Can the maturity date change?
No. The maturity date is set when you purchase the bond and does not change. It is always 30 years from the issue date for both Series EE and Series I bonds, regardless of market conditions or interest rate changes.