How to find your EE bond's current value

The Treasury Savings Bond Calculator on TreasuryDirect.gov tells you exactly what your EE bonds are worth today. You enter the series letter, the issue date printed on the bond, and the denomination (the face value written on the front), and the calculator shows you the current redemption value.

You do not need to own the bond or have a TreasuryDirect account to use it. The calculator works for any EE bond issued after 1974. If you have the physical paper bond in your hand, you have everything you need: the series letter is printed near the top, and the issue date is printed on the left side.

If you have lost the bond or cannot find these details, you can contact the Bureau of the Fiscal Service at 844-284-2676 or visit treasurydirect.gov/indiv/research/research.htm to search their records by your Social Security number and the approximate issue date.

Key Takeaways

  • The Treasury Savings Bond Calculator on TreasuryDirect.gov shows your bond's current value when you enter the series letter, issue date, and denomination.
  • EE bonds earn interest monthly and are worth more the longer you hold them, but they stop earning interest after 30 years.
  • You can redeem an EE bond at any bank or credit union, though some financial institutions charge a small fee to process the transaction.
  • If you redeem an EE bond before it has been held for five years, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty.

Why your EE bond's value changes over time

An EE bond you bought for $50 is not worth $50 forever. The bond earns interest every month, which means its value grows. The amount of interest depends on the rate that was in effect when you bought the bond.

EE bonds issued from May 2003 onward earn a fixed rate set by the Treasury Department. That rate stays the same for the entire 30-year life of the bond. For example, an EE bond issued in May 2024 earns a different fixed rate than one issued in May 2023. The Treasury announces new rates every six months, on May 1 and November 1.

Older EE bonds—those issued before May 2003—earn variable rates that change every six months. The rate adjusts based on five-year Treasury note yields. Even though the rate changes, the bond's value only goes up, never down.

When your EE bond stops earning interest

An EE bond earns interest for exactly 30 years from its issue date. After 30 years, the bond stops growing in value, even if you keep holding it. At that point, you should redeem it and move the money elsewhere if you want it to continue earning interest.

You can check when your bond will reach its 30-year maturity date by looking at the issue date on the bond itself. If the issue date is January 2000, the bond stops earning interest in January 2030.

The five-year holding penalty and when it applies

If you redeem an EE bond before you have held it for five years, the Treasury deducts the last three months of interest from your payment. This is called the early redemption penalty. For example, if you bought a bond in January 2024 and redeemed it in December 2024, you would lose the interest earned in October, November, and December.

After five years, you can redeem the bond without any penalty and receive the full value including all interest earned. Many people hold their bonds for at least five years to avoid this loss.

Where to redeem your EE bond and get paid

You can redeem an EE bond at most banks and credit unions. Bring the physical bond and a form of identification. The financial institution will verify the bond, calculate its current value, and pay you in cash or deposit the money into your account.

Some banks charge a small fee to process the redemption—typically $5 to $15—though many do not. Call ahead and ask whether there is a fee before you go in. If your bank charges a fee and you want to avoid it, you can redeem the bond through TreasuryDirect online if you have an account there, though this requires you to have already registered the bond in your account.

The redemption is immediate. You walk out with the money the same day, or it deposits within one to two business days if you choose direct deposit.

How to report the interest on your taxes

When you redeem an EE bond, the interest you earned is subject to federal income tax. You report it on your tax return for the year you redeem the bond. The financial institution where you redeem it does not send you a tax form automatically—you are responsible for calculating the interest and reporting it yourself.

To find the interest amount, subtract the purchase price from the redemption value. If you bought a $50 bond and redeemed it for $67, the interest is $17. Add this to your other income on your tax return.

Some people choose to report the interest each year as the bond earns it, rather than waiting until redemption. This spreads the tax liability across multiple years. If you want to do this, you must report it consistently every year. Talk to a tax professional if you are unsure which method works better for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my bond's value without the physical bond?

Yes. Contact the Bureau of the Fiscal Service at 844-284-2676 or visit treasurydirect.gov/indiv/research/research.htm. You will need your Social Security number and the approximate issue date. They can look up the bond in their records and tell you its current value.

What happens if I lose my EE bond?

Contact the Bureau of the Fiscal Service with your Social Security number and the issue date. They can issue a replacement bond for the same amount and value. The process takes several weeks. You will need to prove ownership, usually with a copy of your tax return from the year you bought the bond.

Do I have to redeem my EE bond when it reaches 30 years?

No, you can hold it longer, but it will not earn any more interest. After 30 years, the bond's value stays the same. There is no penalty for holding it past maturity, but you are not gaining anything by doing so.

Will the Treasury calculator show me the exact amount I will receive?

The calculator shows the redemption value as of the date you check it. The actual amount you receive may be slightly different if you redeem the bond on a different date, because interest accrues monthly. The difference is usually small—a few cents to a few dollars depending on the bond's size.

Can I redeem part of an EE bond?

No. EE bonds are redeemed in full only. You cannot cash in half of a $100 bond and keep the other half. You must redeem the entire bond or not redeem it at all.