Check the current value on TreasuryDirect or use the savings bond calculator
The U.S. Department of the Treasury maintains TreasuryDirect, the official website where you can log in and see the exact current value of any savings bond you own. If you registered your bonds there when you bought them, you can view their value instantly by signing into your account at treasurydirect.gov. The site shows you the purchase price, the current value, the interest earned so far, and the maturity date.
If you do not have a TreasuryDirect account or prefer not to create one, the Treasury also publishes a free savings bond value calculator on its website. You enter the bond series (Series EE or Series I), the issue date, and the denomination, and the calculator returns the current value. This tool works for bonds issued after 1974. The calculator updates monthly when the Treasury announces new interest rates for Series I bonds.
For bonds you hold in paper form rather than electronic form, you will need the issue date printed on the bond itself. The issue date is the month and year the bond was purchased, and it appears in the lower left corner of the certificate.
Key Takeaways
- TreasuryDirect shows the current value of any bond in your account instantly, including interest earned and maturity date.
- The Treasury's free calculator works for any bond issued after 1974 if you know the series, issue date, and denomination.
- Series EE bonds earn interest monthly but only show their full value when you cash them or at maturity.
- Series I bonds adjust their interest rate every six months, so their value changes on May 1 and November 1 each year.
- Paper bonds and electronic bonds have the same value; the only difference is how you hold and redeem them.
Why the value you see today is not the same as what you paid
When you buy a Series EE bond, you pay half its face value. A $100 bond costs $50. The bond earns interest over time, and when it reaches maturity (normally 20 years), it is worth its full face value. Before maturity, the value sits somewhere between what you paid and the full amount.
Series I bonds work differently. You pay the full face value upfront—a $100 bond costs $100—but the interest rate changes every six months based on inflation. The value grows by that interest rate, compounded semiannually. Because the rate adjusts, the value of a Series I bond can move up or down depending on whether inflation is rising or falling.
Both types earn interest every month, but you do not see that interest until you cash the bond or it matures. The calculator and TreasuryDirect both show you the accrued interest included in the current value.
Understanding the difference between face value and current value
Face value is the amount printed on the bond certificate—the amount the Treasury promises to pay you at maturity. For a Series EE bond, this is double what you paid. For a Series I bond, this is what you paid.
Current value is what the bond is worth today if you were to cash it in. This includes the principal you paid plus all the interest it has earned so far. The current value is always less than or equal to the face value (unless you own a Series I bond and inflation has pushed the rate very high, in which case the current value can exceed the face value before maturity).
When you cash a bond before it matures, you receive the current value, not the face value. If you cash a Series EE bond after only five years, you get the principal plus five years of interest, not the full $100 (if that was the face value).
How to read the value breakdown on TreasuryDirect
When you log into TreasuryDirect and view a bond, the site shows you several numbers. The purchase price is what you paid. The current value is what it is worth today. The interest earned is the difference between those two. The next accrual date tells you when the next monthly interest payment will be added (usually the first of the month).
TreasuryDirect also displays the final maturity date, which is when the bond stops earning interest. For Series EE bonds, this is 30 years from the issue date. For Series I bonds, this is also 30 years. After that date, the bond no longer earns interest, and you should cash it.
If you own a Series I bond, TreasuryDirect will also show you the composite rate—the current interest rate the bond is earning. This rate changes on May 1 and November 1 each year. The next rate change date appears on the bond details page.
What to do if you own paper bonds and cannot access TreasuryDirect
Paper savings bonds issued before 2003 were not registered in TreasuryDirect, so you cannot look them up online. For these bonds, use the Treasury's savings bond value calculator. You will need to know the series (EE or I), the exact issue date, and the denomination ($50, $100, $500, or $1,000).
If you have lost the bond certificate or cannot read the issue date, you have two options. You can contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Operations office by mail at the address listed on treasurydirect.gov, or you can take the bond to your bank and ask them to help you look up the value. Some banks maintain records of bonds they sold and can retrieve the issue date from their archives.
Paper bonds can be converted to electronic form in TreasuryDirect. Once you do this, you can see the value online and manage the bond digitally. The conversion process takes a few weeks, and you will need the bond certificate and your Social Security number.
How interest accrual works and when you see the money
Savings bonds earn interest every month, but the interest is not paid to you in cash. Instead, it is added to the bond's value. When you check the current value on TreasuryDirect or the calculator, that number already includes all the interest earned so far.
You do not receive the interest until you cash the bond. At that point, you get the full current value—principal plus all accrued interest—in one payment. If you cash a bond before it has earned interest for a full month, you receive interest only through the last accrual date (usually the first of the month).
Series I bonds have a penalty if you cash them within the first five years: you lose the last three months of interest. So if you cash a Series I bond after two years, you receive the value as of two years minus three months. Series EE bonds have no early redemption penalty after one year, though the Treasury recommends holding them for at least five years to avoid losing interest.
Why the calculator might show a different value than your bank statement
If you own a savings bond through a bank or brokerage account rather than directly through TreasuryDirect, the value shown in your account statement may lag behind the actual current value. Banks and brokerages update bond values on their own schedules, often weekly or monthly, rather than in real time.
The Treasury's calculator always shows the most current value because it updates based on the official interest rates announced by the Treasury. If you see a discrepancy, the calculator is the authoritative source. Your bank or brokerage will catch up within a few business days.
Some older bonds held through banks may also be valued using outdated interest rates if the bank has not updated its system. If you suspect this is happening, contact your bank directly and ask them to recalculate the value using the current Treasury rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see the value of a bond someone else owns?
No. TreasuryDirect requires you to log in with your own Social Security number and password. You can only view bonds registered in your name or in a trust or entity you control. If you inherit a bond, you will need to work with the Treasury to transfer it into your name before you can see its value online.
What if my Series I bond value went down?
Series I bond values do not actually go down, but the interest rate can drop. If you own a Series I bond and the inflation rate falls, the new composite rate announced on May 1 or November 1 will be lower than the previous rate. Your bond continues to earn interest at the new rate, but the growth slows. The value you already have does not disappear.
How often does the calculator update?
The Treasury updates the savings bond calculator monthly, usually around the 20th of each month, when it announces the new interest rates for Series I bonds. Series EE bond values update at the same time. If you check the calculator on different days within the same month, you will see the same value.
Is the value shown on TreasuryDirect what I will actually receive if I cash the bond?
Yes, with one exception: if you cash a Series I bond within five years of purchase, you lose the last three months of interest. The value shown on TreasuryDirect includes all accrued interest, so you would need to subtract three months' worth to see what you would actually receive. The site does not calculate this automatically.