FOR RELEASE AT 10:00 AM
May 1, 2024
Series EE savings bonds issued May 2024 through October 2024 will earn an annual fixed rate of 2.70% and Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 4.28%, a portion of which is indexed to inflation every six months. The EE bond fixed rate applies to a bond’s 20-year original maturity. Bonds of both series have an interest-bearing life of 30 years.
Rates for savings bonds are set each May 1 and November 1. Interest accrues monthly and compounds semiannually. Bonds held less than five years are subject to a three-month interest penalty.
I Bond Composite Rate of 4.28% includes a Fixed Rate of 1.30%
The composite rate for Series I Savings Bonds is a combination of a fixed rate, which applies for the 30-year life of the bond, and the semiannual inflation rate. The 4.28% composite rate for I bonds issued from May 2024 through October 2024 applies for the first six months after the issue date. The composite rate combines a 1.30% fixed rate of return with the 2.96% annualized rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The CPI-U increased from 307.789 in September 2023 to 312.332 in March 2024, a six-month change of 1.48%.
Series EE Bonds Issued May 2005 and Later
Series EE bonds issued from May 2024 through October 2024 earn today’s announced rate of 2.70%. All Series EE bonds issued since May 2005 earn a fixed rate in the first 20 years after issue. At 20 years, the bonds will be worth at least two times their purchase price. The bonds will continue to earn interest at their original fixed rate for an additional 10 years unless new terms and conditions are announced before the final 10-year period begins.
Series EE Bonds Issued from May 1997 through April 2005
Series EE bonds issued from May 1997 through April 2005 continue to earn market-based interest rates set at 90% of the average 5-year Treasury securities yields for the preceding six months. The new interest rate for these bonds, effective as the bonds enter semiannual interest periods from May 2024 through October 2024 is 3.81%. Market-based rates are updated each May 1 and November 1.
Series EE Bonds Issued Before May 1997
Series EE bonds issued before May 1997 earn various rates for semiannual earnings periods, depending on the issue dates. Please visit www.treasurydirect.gov for details and current values.
Savings Bonds Over 30 Years Have Stopped Earning Interest
All Series E savings bonds have matured and stopped earning interest. Series EE bonds issued from January 1980 through May 1994 are no longer earning interest. Series EE bonds issued from June 1994 through October 1994 will stop earning interest during the next six months.
More Information
Electronic Series EE and Series I savings bonds may be bought in TreasuryDirect®, a secure, web-based system operated by Treasury since 2002. Owners of paper savings bonds can continue to redeem them at some financial institutions. Paper Series EE and Series I Bonds can only be reissued in electronic form in TreasuryDirect.
Series I paper savings bonds remain available for purchase using part or all of a federal income tax refund. For more information on this feature, visit www.irs.gov.
To find more information on savings bonds and which ones are still earning interest, visit Fiscal Service’s website www.treasurydirect.gov.
Bondholders may also visit TreasuryHunt.govand conduct a simple search to see if they own any savings bonds.
The Savings Bond Calculator tool, which is helpful for calculating redemption values can also be found on the site. The website provides information and instructions for opening an online account to buy electronic savings bonds and Treasury marketable securities: bills, notes, bonds, Floating Rate Notes (FRNs), and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS).
TreasuryDirect® is a registered mark of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
FAQs
Series EE savings bonds issued May 2024 through October 2024 will earn an annual fixed rate of 2.70% and Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 4.28%, a portion of which is indexed to inflation every six months. The EE bond fixed rate applies to a bond's 20-year original maturity.
Are series EE bonds a good investment? ›
The U.S. Treasury pledges that these bonds will double in value if held for 20 years, translating to an effective interest rate of about 3.5% per year over that period. Stability: EE bonds offer a stable, predictable return, making them an excellent choice for conservative investors.
How long does it take for a $100 EE savings bond to mature? ›
Key points. Series EE bonds mature in 20 years but earn interest for up to 30 years. The U.S. Treasury guarantees Series EE bonds will double in value in 20 years. You don't receive the interest on your Series EE bond until you cash it.
How much interest do Series EE savings bonds earn? ›
Current Rate: 2.70%
(But if you cash before 5 years, you lose 3 months of interest.) (Note: Older EE bonds may be different from ones we sell today.)
What is the difference between a Series EE and a Series I savings bond? ›
EE Bond and I Bond Differences
The interest rate on EE bonds is fixed for at least the first 20 years, while I bonds offer rates that are adjusted twice a year to protect from inflation. EE bonds offer a guaranteed return that doubles your investment if held for 20 years. There is no guaranteed return with I bonds.
Should I cash out my Series EE bonds? ›
You can get your cash for an EE or I savings bond any time after you have owned it for 1 year. However, the longer you hold the bond, the more it earns for you (for up to 30 years for an EE or I bond). Also, if you cash in the bond in less than 5 years, you lose the last 3 months of interest.
How much is a $50 Patriot bond worth after 20 years? ›
After 20 years, the Patriot Bond is guaranteed to be worth at least face value. So a $50 Patriot Bond, which was bought for $25, will be worth at least $50 after 20 years. It can continue to accrue interest for as many as 10 more years after that.
Do EE bonds lose value after maturity? ›
As of July 2024, there were 96 million matured unredeemed savings bonds held by investors. If bonds are held past their maturity date, the bonds can lose value due to inflation. To understand how this value is lost, see the illustration below. Imagine you bought a series EE bond 30 years ago for $500.
Do you have to pay taxes on savings bonds? ›
Savings bond interest is exempt from state and local income tax. Savings bond interest is subject to federal income tax; however, taxation can be deferred until redemption, final maturity, or other taxable disposition, whichever occurs first.
Do EE bonds double in 30 years? ›
They earn interest regularly for 30 years (or until you cash them if you do that before 30 years). For EE bonds you buy now, we guarantee that the bond will double in value in 20 years, even if we have to add money at 20 years to make that happen.
Because Series E savings bonds are in paper format, the easiest way to cash them in is to bring them to your financial institution. Your bank or credit union can use information about when the bonds were issued and the interest rate at the time to calculate the value and provide you with the money you're entitled to.
Who cashes Series EE bonds? ›
You may be able to cash in paper EE bonds at a bank where you have an account or through TreasuryDirect. Ask your bank about its process for cashing savings bonds. Ask your bank how much it will cash at one time. Determine the identification or other documents you will need.
Is now a good time to cash in savings bonds? ›
How long should I wait to cash in a savings bond? It's a good idea to hang on to your bond for as long as possible, ideally until it matures, so you can take full advantage of compound and accrued interest.
What is the downside of an I bond? ›
Cons of Buying I Bonds
I bonds are meant for longer-term investors. If you don't hold on to your I bond for a full year, you will not receive any interest. You must create an account at TreasuryDirect to buy I bonds; they cannot be purchased through your custodian, online investment account, or local bank.
Can I bonds lose value? ›
You can count on a Series I bond to hold its value; that is, the bond's redemption value will not decline.
Why do Series I bonds pay so much? ›
The actual rate of interest for an I bond is calculated from the fixed rate and the inflation rate. The combined rate changes every 6 months. It can go up or down. I bonds protect you from inflation because when inflation increases, the combined rate increases.
Do EE bonds really double in 20 years? ›
EE bonds you buy now have a fixed interest rate that you know when you buy the bond. That rate remains the same for at least the first 20 years. It may change after that for the last 10 of its 30 years. We guarantee that the value of your new EE bond at 20 years will be double what you paid for it.
How much will a Series EE bond be worth in 20 years? ›
The government guarantees they will double in value in 20 years, even if it must add money to your account to make that happen. When do Series EE savings bonds mature? Series EE savings bonds issued since May 2005 mature in 20 years, at which time they will have doubled in value.
What happens to EE bonds after 30 years? ›
EE bonds earn interest until the first of these events: You cash in the bond or it reaches 30 years old. Therefore, many of these bonds have stopped earning interest. If you moved your EE bond into a TreasuryDirect account, we pay you for the bond as soon as it reaches 30 years and stops earning interest.
