Where to check your savings bond value

The U.S. Department of the Treasury runs a free tool called the Savings Bond Calculator at treasurydirect.gov. You enter the bond series, denomination, and the month and year it was issued, and the calculator shows you what it is worth on any date you choose — including today.

You do not need to own a Treasury Direct account or log in. The calculator works whether your bond is physical paper or digital. It handles Series EE bonds, Series I bonds, Series HH bonds, and older series like Series E and Series H.

If you have lost the bond or cannot read the issue date clearly, you can still get a value estimate. The Treasury also publishes redemption value tables by series and issue date on the same website, updated monthly. These tables show what bonds were worth on the first and last day of each month going back decades.

Key Takeaways

  • The Treasury Savings Bond Calculator at treasurydirect.gov is free and requires no login — enter the series, amount, and issue date to see today's value.
  • Physical paper bonds and digital bonds held in Treasury Direct have the same value on the same date; the form does not change the worth.
  • Series I bonds earn interest monthly but can only be redeemed for full value after one year, and redeeming before five years costs you the last three months of interest.
  • Series EE bonds issued before May 2003 may have reached their final maturity and stopped earning interest, so checking the value tells you whether the bond is still growing.
  • If you cannot find the issue date, the Treasury publishes monthly redemption tables showing what each bond series was worth on specific dates.

How interest accrues on different bond types

Series EE bonds earn a fixed interest rate set when you buy them. The rate is announced every six months by the Treasury, and your bond keeps that same rate for 30 years. The interest compounds semiannually, meaning it is added to the bond twice a year, and then the next interest payment is calculated on the larger amount.

Series I bonds work differently. They earn a combined rate made up of a fixed portion (set when you buy) and an inflation portion (adjusted every six months based on the Consumer Price Index). The inflation rate changes, so your total earnings rate changes twice a year. Interest accrues monthly, not semiannually.

Series HH bonds, which are no longer sold but many people still hold, earn a fixed rate for 20 years. They pay interest by check or direct deposit every six months rather than adding it to the bond itself.

Older series like E, H, and savings notes stopped earning interest after their final maturity date. If you own one of these, the calculator will show you the final value it reached — it will not grow further even if you hold it longer.

When you can cash in a bond and get its full value

Series EE and I bonds can be redeemed one year after purchase. If you redeem a Series I bond before it has been held for five years, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty. Series EE bonds have no early redemption penalty after one year.

Series HH bonds can be redeemed at any time after six months, with no penalty.

The redemption value shown in the Treasury calculator is the amount you receive if you cash in the bond on that date. If you redeem early and are subject to a penalty, the calculator does not subtract it — you have to do that math yourself. For a Series I bond redeemed before five years, subtract three months of interest from the calculator value to find out what you will actually receive.

After a bond reaches its final maturity date, it stops earning interest and will not grow in value no matter how long you hold it. The Treasury calculator will show you when that date is. At that point, there is no reason to keep the bond — you can redeem it for its final value.

Reading the information on a physical bond

If you have a paper bond in your hand, you need three pieces of information to use the calculator: the series letter (EE, I, HH, E, or H), the denomination (the dollar amount printed on the bond), and the issue date.

The series letter and denomination are printed prominently on the front. The issue date is usually printed near the bottom or on the back, often as a month and year. Some older bonds show only the year.

If the printing is faded or damaged, look for any visible numbers or letters. Even a partial issue date can help you narrow down the value using the Treasury's monthly redemption tables. If you truly cannot read any date, you can contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Division at 844-284-2676, though response times vary.

Bonds held in a Treasury Direct account

If you bought bonds through Treasury Direct (the Treasury's online platform), you can log into your account and see the current value of each bond without using the calculator. The account shows the purchase date, series, denomination, and current value updated daily.

You can also see the interest earned to date and the maturity date. If you want to redeem a bond, you can do it directly from your account, and the funds transfer to your linked bank account within a few business days.

The value shown in your Treasury Direct account matches what the Savings Bond Calculator would show for the same bond on the same date.

What to do if you inherited a bond or found one

If you inherited a bond or found one and do not know who owns it, you can still look up its value using the calculator. The value belongs to whoever owns the bond — the person named on it or, if it was left in a will, the person who inherited it.

If the bond is in your name or you have inherited it legally, you can redeem it. If you are unsure about ownership or whether you have the right to cash it in, contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Division or speak with the estate's executor or attorney.

Bonds do not expire. Even a bond issued 50 years ago can still be redeemed for its current value, though it may have stopped earning interest if it reached final maturity.

Series I bonds and inflation adjustments

Series I bonds are designed to protect against inflation. The interest rate has two parts: a fixed rate that never changes, and an inflation rate that adjusts every May and November based on the Consumer Price Index.

When the inflation rate adjusts, your bond's total earnings rate changes when ready. If inflation is high, your rate goes up. If inflation is low or negative (deflation), your rate can go down, but it will never fall below zero — your bond will earn at least the fixed rate.

The Savings Bond Calculator shows the value as of a specific date, using the inflation rate that was in effect on that date. If you check the value today and then check it again in six months after a new inflation rate takes effect, the bond will be worth more because the new rate will explore going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find the value of a bond if I only know the year it was issued, not the month?

Yes. The Treasury publishes redemption value tables showing what each bond series was worth on the first and last day of each month. If you know only the year, you can look up the range of values for that year and get a close estimate. For a more precise value, contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Division.

Does a bond lose value if I do not redeem it by a certain date?

No, but it stops growing. Once a bond reaches its final maturity date, it stops earning interest. The value shown in the calculator on that date is the highest value it will ever reach. Holding it longer does not increase the worth, but it also does not decrease.

If I own a Series I bond, will the calculator show me the value after the next inflation adjustment?

No. The calculator shows the value on the date you enter, using the inflation rate in effect on that date. After the next inflation adjustment (May or November), the rate changes and the bond's value will grow faster or slower depending on the new rate. You would need to check the calculator again after the adjustment to see the updated value.

What if the bond was issued before 1974?

The calculator handles bonds issued back to 1941. If your bond is older than that or you cannot find it in the system, contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Division at 844-284-2676. They can look up the value using their records.

Is the value the calculator shows the same as what I will receive if I cash it in?

For most bonds, yes. The exception is Series I bonds redeemed before five years of ownership — you lose the last three months of interest, so subtract that amount from the calculator value. For all other bonds redeemed after the required holding period, the calculator value is what you receive.