How to find your EE bond's current value
The U.S. Department of the Treasury publishes the value of every EE bond issued since May 2003 on the TreasuryDirect website. You do not need to own the bond or have a TreasuryDirect account to look it up — the tool is open to anyone. Go to treasurydirect.gov, click "Savings Bond Calculator," and enter the series (EE), the issue date (the month and year printed on your bond), and the denomination ($50, $100, $500, or $1,000).
The calculator shows what your bond is worth on the current date and what it will be worth on any future date you choose. This is the actual redemption value — the amount a bank or the Treasury will pay you if you cash it in.
If your EE bond was issued before May 2003, the calculation is more complex because those bonds followed a different interest schedule. The Treasury's Savings Bond Wizard tool can handle older bonds, but you will need to know the exact issue date and series letter printed on the bond itself.
Key Takeaways
- The TreasuryDirect Savings Bond Calculator on treasurydirect.gov shows the exact current value of any EE bond issued since May 2003 in seconds.
- EE bonds issued after May 2003 earn interest every six months, and the value shown in the calculator is what you can cash in immediately.
- Bonds issued before May 2003 require the Savings Bond Wizard tool because they used a different interest formula.
- You can look up any bond's value without logging in or proving ownership — the tool is public.
- The value changes every six months on the first and last day of each month, so checking again in a few weeks may show a different amount.
Why the value changes every six months
EE bonds do not earn interest continuously. Instead, the Treasury announces a new interest rate every six months, on May 1 and November 1. On those dates, all EE bonds in circulation earn interest based on the rate that was just announced. The rate is tied to the 6-month Treasury bill rate, so it moves up and down with the broader economy.
This means your bond's value will be the same from May 1 to October 31, then jump on November 1 when the new rate kicks in. If you check the calculator on May 15 and again on May 2, the value will be identical. But if you check on October 31 and then November 1, you will see an increase.
The current rate for new EE bonds and the rate your older bond earns are not necessarily the same. Your bond earns the rate that was in effect when you bought it, locked in for the life of the bond. This is why an older EE bond you bought in 2010 might earn a different rate than one you bought last month.
The difference between current value and final value
An EE bond has a may provide minimum value: it will be worth at least double the amount you paid for it when it reaches 20 years old. If you paid $50 for a bond, it is may provide to be worth at least $100 on its 20-year anniversary, even if interest rates have been very low the whole time.
Most EE bonds reach that doubling point before 20 years because interest rates are usually higher than the minimum may provide. But if you bought a bond during a period of very low rates, the may provide ensures you will not lose money.
After the bond reaches 20 years, it stops earning interest. At that point, the value shown in the calculator will not change anymore — it is final. You can still hold the bond and cash it in at any time, but you will not earn anything new.
What happens if you cash in before 20 years
You can cash in an EE bond at any time after you have owned it for one year. If you cash it in before five years, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty. After five years, there is no penalty — you get the full value shown in the calculator.
This means a bond you bought six months ago is worth something, but if you cash it in now, you will lose three months of interest. A bond you bought five years ago is worth its full calculated value with no reduction.
The value the calculator shows assumes you are cashing in the bond on that date with no penalty applied. If you are thinking about cashing in before the five-year mark, subtract three months of interest from that number to see what you will actually receive.
How to check a bond you do not have in front of you
If you own a bond but cannot find the physical certificate, you can still look up its value if you have a TreasuryDirect account. Log in, go to "Manage Direct," and your bonds will be listed with their current values. The account shows bonds you bought through TreasuryDirect, which is how most people buy EE bonds today.
If you own a paper EE bond and have lost the certificate, you will need the issue date and denomination to use the public calculator. If you cannot remember those details, contact the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service at 1-844-284-2676. They can search for bonds registered in your name, though the process takes several weeks.
Understanding the difference between Series EE and other bond types
The calculator works only for Series EE bonds. If you own a Series I bond (inflation bond), Series HH, or an older series like Series E, the value calculation is different. The TreasuryDirect website has separate tools for each series because they earn interest in different ways.
Series I bonds, for example, earn a combined rate made up of a fixed rate plus an inflation rate that changes every six months. Series EE bonds earn a single fixed rate that never changes. If you are not sure which series you own, look at the bond itself — the series letter is printed clearly on the front.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cash in my EE bond at a bank?
Yes. Most banks will cash in EE bonds for you, though some require you to have an account there. Call ahead to confirm they handle savings bonds. The bank will give you the full value shown in the TreasuryDirect calculator if the bond is at least five years old, or the value minus three months of interest if it is younger.
What if the calculator shows a different value than what my bank told me?
The difference is usually because the bank checked the value on a different date. Bond values only change on May 1 and November 1. If you checked the calculator today and the bank checked it last week, they might show different amounts. Ask the bank to check again on the current date, or bring a printout from the calculator with you.
Do I have to pay taxes on the interest my EE bond earned?
Yes, but you have a choice about when. You can pay federal income tax on the interest each year as it accrues, or you can wait and pay all the tax when you cash in the bond. Most people wait until they cash it in. You will owe tax on the difference between what you paid and what you received.
Will my EE bond ever be worth less than what I paid for it?
No. The 20-year doubling may provide means your bond will be worth at least double your purchase price. Even if interest rates stay very low, the Treasury ensures you will not lose money. After 20 years, the value stops growing, but it will not decrease.