Maturity timelines for U.S. savings bonds
A savings bond reaches final maturity — the point at which the U.S. Treasury stops paying interest — after 30 years from the issue date. Before that, the bond earns interest for the first 20 years, then stops earning anything new for the remaining 10 years. The issue date is printed on the bond itself and also appears on your Treasury Direct account if you own bonds electronically.
The maturity date matters because it tells you when the bond stops growing in value. After 30 years, you still own the bond and can still cash it in, but you will not earn any additional interest. The Treasury will not automatically cash it for you at maturity — you have to request the redemption yourself through Treasury Direct or a bank.
Series EE bonds and Series I bonds both follow this 30-year final maturity schedule. The difference between them is how they earn interest during those 30 years, not when they stop earning it.
Key Takeaways
- Both Series EE and Series I bonds stop earning interest after 30 years from their issue date, though they remain valid and redeemable after that point.
- Series EE bonds earn interest for the full 30 years, while Series I bonds earn interest for 30 years as well, with the rate changing every six months.
- You can cash in a bond before it reaches final maturity, but you will lose the last three months of interest if you redeem it before five years have passed.
- The issue date on your bond or in your Treasury Direct account determines when the 30-year clock started, not the date you purchased it.
When you can cash in a bond before final maturity
You can redeem a savings bond at any time after you have owned it for one year. However, if you cash it in before five years have passed, you will forfeit the last three months of interest earned. This penalty applies whether you redeem the bond after one year or after four years and eleven months.
After five years, you can redeem the bond without losing any interest. At that point, you receive the full current value, which includes all interest earned up to the redemption date. Many people hold bonds well past the five-year mark because the interest continues to compound, but there is no requirement to do so.
If you own paper bonds, you redeem them at a bank. If you own electronic bonds through Treasury Direct, you request the redemption through your online account, and the funds are deposited to your linked bank account within a few business days.
How interest accrual works during the 30-year period
Series EE bonds earn a fixed interest rate that is set when you purchase the bond and does not change. The rate is announced by the Treasury twice a year, in May and November, and applies to all EE bonds purchased during that six-month period. Once your bond is issued, that rate stays the same for the entire 30 years.
Series I bonds earn a composite rate that changes every six months. The rate is made up of a fixed component (set when you buy the bond and never changes) plus an inflation component (adjusted every May and November based on the Consumer Price Index). Your I bond's rate will shift on May 1 and November 1 each year, but only the inflation portion changes — the fixed part remains locked in.
Interest on both types of bonds is compounded semiannually, meaning the Treasury adds interest to your bond's value every six months, and future interest is calculated on that larger amount. You do not receive the interest as a payment; it stays in the bond and increases its redemption value.
The difference between maturity and redemption
Maturity is when the bond stops earning interest. Redemption is when you cash it in and receive the money. These are two separate events, and you do not have to redeem a bond when it reaches maturity.
A bond that has reached final maturity (30 years old) can still sit in your Treasury Direct account or a safe deposit box indefinitely. You can redeem it whenever you need the money. The only consequence of waiting past maturity is that you are not earning any additional interest, so there is no financial benefit to holding it longer — but there is also no penalty.
If you own a paper bond that has reached final maturity, the Treasury recommends redeeming it because paper bonds can deteriorate over time, and a damaged bond may be harder to redeem. Electronic bonds have no such risk.
What happens if you lose track of your bond's age
If you own paper bonds and do not remember when they were issued, the issue date is printed on the front of the bond. Look for a line that says "Issue Date" followed by a month and year. That date tells you exactly when the 30-year clock started.
If you own electronic bonds through Treasury Direct, log into your account and view your bonds list. Each bond shows the issue date, current value, and the date it will reach final maturity. Treasury Direct also displays how much interest the bond has earned so far and what the redemption value would be if you cashed it in today.
You can also contact Treasury Direct by phone at 844-284-2676 if you need help locating a bond or understanding its maturity date. They can look up bonds registered in your name and provide the details you need.
Maturity dates for bonds purchased at different times
The maturity date depends entirely on the issue date, not on when you bought the bond or when you received it as a gift. If you purchased a Series EE bond in May 2024, it will reach final maturity in May 2054. If someone gave you a Series I bond that was issued in November 2020, that bond will reach final maturity in November 2050, regardless of when you received it.
This matters if you inherit bonds or receive them as a gift. The 30-year clock started when the original owner purchased them, not when you took ownership. You can still redeem them at any time after holding them for one year, but the maturity date remains the same.
If you are trying to plan around a bond's maturity date — for example, if you want to use the money at a specific time — calculate 30 years forward from the issue date shown on the bond. That is your final maturity date.
Why the 30-year timeline matters for your savings plan
The 30-year maturity is important if you are counting on a bond to grow to a certain value by a specific date. A bond purchased today will not earn interest beyond 30 years, so if you need the money in 35 years, the bond's value will be frozen at the 30-year mark. You would need to move the money to another savings vehicle if you want it to continue earning interest.
For most people, 30 years is a long enough timeline that this is not a practical concern. But if you are buying bonds as part of a multi-decade savings strategy — for example, to fund a grandchild's education — it is worth noting that the bond stops growing at the 30-year point.
You also do not have to wait the full 30 years to access your money. After five years, you can redeem without penalty, so a bond is not a locked-in commitment the way some other savings products are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cash in a savings bond before it matures?
Yes. You can redeem a bond anytime 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 without any penalty and receive the full current value.
What happens to my bond after it reaches final maturity?
The bond stops earning interest, but it remains valid and redeemable. You can cash it in whenever you want. There is no important date to redeem it, and the Treasury will not automatically cash it for you. Electronic bonds can be held indefinitely; paper bonds should be redeemed eventually because they can deteriorate.
How do I find out when my bond will mature?
Add 30 years to the issue date printed on the bond or shown in your Treasury Direct account. That is your final maturity date. If you own electronic bonds, Treasury Direct displays the maturity date directly in your account.
Do Series EE and Series I bonds mature at different times?
No. Both reach final maturity 30 years from their issue date. The difference is how they earn interest during those 30 years — EE bonds earn a fixed rate, while I bonds earn a rate that adjusts for inflation every six months.
If I inherit a bond, does the maturity date change?
No. The maturity date is based on when the bond was originally issued, not when you inherited it. A bond issued 10 years ago will reach final maturity 20 years from now, regardless of who owns it.