How to find your EE bond's current value
The U.S. Treasury publishes the value of every EE bond issued since May 2003 on a public database called Savings Bond Calculator, which you can access free at treasurydirect.gov. You enter your bond's serial number and issue date, and the calculator shows you exactly what it is worth today — including all interest earned to date.
If your bond was issued before May 2003, you will need to use the older Savings Bond Wizard tool, also on treasurydirect.gov, which works the same way but covers bonds from 1974 onward. Both tools update monthly when the Treasury announces new interest rates, so the value you see reflects the most recent rate period.
You do not need to own the bond or have a Treasury account to look up its value. The serial number and issue date are printed on the bond itself — on paper bonds, they appear in the top right corner. If you have lost the physical bond but remember when you bought it and from whom, you can still search by issue date and denomination to narrow down which bond is yours.
Key Takeaways
- The Savings Bond Calculator at treasurydirect.gov shows the current value of any EE bond issued since May 2003 when you enter its serial number and issue date.
- Bonds issued before May 2003 require the older Savings Bond Wizard tool, also free on the Treasury website.
- The value shown includes all interest earned to date and updates each month when new interest rates take effect.
- You do not need to own the bond or have a Treasury account to look up its value using either tool.
What the value includes and does not include
The value the calculator shows you is the redemption value — what the Treasury will pay you if you cash in the bond today. This includes your original purchase price plus all interest that has accrued since you bought it. For EE bonds, interest compounds semiannually, meaning the Treasury adds interest twice a year, and that new interest then earns interest itself.
The calculator does not show you what the bond will be worth in the future. It shows only the present value. If you want to know what your bond will be worth at maturity (30 years from issue date for EE bonds), you will need to do a separate calculation or check the Treasury's rate schedules to project forward.
Understanding the difference between purchase price and current value
EE bonds are sold at a 50 percent discount to their face value. This means you pay $50 for a $100 bond, or $25 for a $50 bond. When you first buy an EE bond, its redemption value equals what you paid for it — nothing more. The value grows only as interest accrues.
The calculator shows you the redemption value, not the face value. So if you bought a $100 bond (paying $50), and the calculator shows it is worth $67.50 today, that means you have earned $17.50 in interest. The face value remains $100, but you cannot redeem it for that amount until the bond reaches its final maturity at 30 years.
When you can cash in your bond and what you will receive
You can redeem an EE bond at any time after you have held it for one year. If you redeem it before five years have passed, you will lose the last three months of interest as a penalty. After five years, you receive the full redemption value shown in the calculator with no penalty.
When you redeem, you receive the exact amount the calculator shows. If it says your bond is worth $67.50, that is what you will be paid — not rounded up or down. You can redeem through your bank, through a brokerage firm, or by mail to the Treasury if you have a TreasuryDirect account.
How interest rates affect your bond's value
EE bonds earn interest at a rate set by the Treasury and announced each May and November. The rate applies to all bonds issued in that six-month period. Your bond's rate never changes — it stays the same for the entire 30-year life of the bond, whether rates go up or down in the future.
Because your rate is locked in, the value of your bond grows at a predictable pace. The calculator accounts for this and shows you the exact value based on the rate your bond earns. If you bought your bond when rates were higher, its value will grow faster than a bond bought when rates were lower.
What to do if you cannot find your bond's serial number
If you have a paper bond but the serial number is faded or damaged, you can still look it up if you remember the issue date and denomination. Go to treasurydirect.gov and use the Savings Bond Wizard or Calculator, then search by those details. The Treasury's database will show you bonds matching that description.
If you bought your bond through a bank or brokerage and never received a physical certificate, the institution that sold it to you should have a record. Contact them with your purchase date and the amount you paid, and they can provide the serial number or look up the value for you. If you bought through TreasuryDirect, you can log into your account and see all your bonds listed with their current values.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay taxes on the interest my EE bond earned?
Yes. EE bond interest is subject to federal income tax. You can choose to report it each year as it accrues, or wait and report all of it in the year you redeem the bond. State and local taxes do not apply to EE bond interest. Consult a tax professional about which reporting method makes sense for your situation.
Can I look up someone else's bond value?
The Treasury's calculator does not require you to prove ownership, so technically you can enter any serial number and issue date you have access to. However, only the registered owner can redeem the bond. If you are trying to find the value of a bond left to you in an estate, contact the executor or the financial institution that holds it.
What if the calculator shows my bond is worth less than I paid for it?
This should not happen. EE bonds always earn interest, so the redemption value is always at least what you paid. If the calculator shows a lower amount, double-check that you entered the serial number and issue date correctly. An error in either field will return the wrong bond's information.
How often does the calculator update the bond values?
The Treasury announces new interest rates on the first business day of May and November each year. The calculator updates to reflect these new rates on those dates. Between rate announcements, your bond's value does not change in the calculator, even though interest is technically accruing in the background.