How to find your Series EE bond's current value

The U.S. Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator is the only tool that will give you the exact value of your specific bond. You enter the bond's series, denomination, issue date, and series number (printed on the bond itself), and the calculator returns what it is worth today.

You can access this calculator at treasurydirect.gov under the "Savings Bond Calculator" link. The calculation is free and takes about two minutes. You do not need to log in or create an account.

If you have lost the bond or cannot read the series number clearly, you can still get a rough estimate by knowing the issue date and face value. Series EE bonds issued after May 2003 earn interest monthly, and the Treasury publishes the composite rate used to calculate that interest on its website each month.

Key Takeaways

  • The Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator at treasurydirect.gov is the official source for your bond's exact current value.
  • Series EE bonds issued after May 2003 earn a composite rate that changes every six months, so the value grows continuously.
  • A Series EE bond will double in face value at its 20-year mark if it has not already earned more through interest.
  • You can redeem a Series EE bond at most banks or through TreasuryDirect, but you will owe federal income tax on the interest earned.

Why the value changes every month

Series EE bonds do not earn a fixed interest rate. Instead, the Treasury sets a composite rate every six months (in May and November), and your bond earns interest based on that rate for the next six-month period. The interest is added to your bond's value on the first day of each month.

This means the value of your bond grows a little bit each month, but the amount of growth depends on what the composite rate was during that six-month window. If you check your bond's value in January versus February, you will see a small increase in February because interest was added on the first of that month.

The composite rate itself is based on the average yield of Treasury marketable securities, so it moves with broader economic conditions. When Treasury yields are higher, the composite rate is higher, and your bond earns more. When yields are lower, your bond earns less.

The may provide doubling feature at 20 years

Every Series EE bond has a doubling may provide: if the bond has not earned enough interest to double its face value by the time it reaches 20 years old, the Treasury will add a one-time adjustment to bring it to exactly double. This means a $50 bond will be worth at least $100 at the 20-year mark, even if interest rates were very low during that period.

After 20 years, the bond continues to earn interest at the current composite rate. Most Series EE bonds will have earned more than double their face value by the time they reach 30 years old, at which point they stop earning interest and are considered fully matured.

The doubling may provide only applies once. If your bond reaches 20 years and is worth exactly $100 (the doubled amount), it will not double again at 40 years. It will simply continue earning the composite rate until it stops earning at 30 years.

How to read the value on a physical bond

If you hold a paper Series EE bond, the face value is printed on the front (for example, $50 or $100). This is not what the bond is worth today. The actual current value depends on how long you have owned it and what interest rates have been.

You cannot calculate the value by hand because you would need to know the exact composite rate for every six-month period since the bond was issued. This is why the Treasury's calculator exists—it does that work for you using the official rate history.

The only exception is if your bond is very new (less than a month old). A brand-new Series EE bond is worth exactly its face value, with no interest yet added.

Bonds held in TreasuryDirect accounts

If you own Series EE bonds through a TreasuryDirect account (the Treasury's online platform), you can see your bond's current value by logging in and viewing your account holdings. The value updates on the first business day of each month when interest is posted.

TreasuryDirect shows the value in real time, so you do not need to use the calculator if your bonds are registered there. You can also download a statement showing all your bonds and their current values.

If you own paper bonds, you will need to use the calculator because there is no central registry tracking their value. The Treasury does not maintain records of paper bonds unless you registered them with TreasuryDirect after purchase.

What happens to the value when you cash in the bond

When you redeem a Series EE bond, you receive its current value in cash. If you redeem through a bank, you get the money immediately (though some banks may hold it for a few business days). If you redeem through TreasuryDirect, the money goes into your linked bank account within one to two business days.

The value you receive is the face value plus all the interest earned, minus any federal income tax you owe on that interest. You will receive a Form 1099-INT from the Treasury or your bank showing the interest amount, which you must report on your tax return.

If you redeem a Series EE bond within the first five years of ownership, you will lose the last three months of interest as a penalty. After five years, there is no penalty, and you receive the full current value.

Checking your bond's value without the series number

If you have a paper bond but cannot read the series number clearly, you can still get an estimate. Look at the issue date and the face value, then use the Treasury's published composite rate history to work backward. However, this will only give you an approximate value, not the exact amount.

The more accurate route is to take the bond to your bank and ask them to look up the series number using their bond-reading equipment. Many banks have machines that can read the microprint on older bonds. Once you have the series number, you can use the calculator for the exact value.

If the bond is very old (issued before 1974) or damaged, the bank may not be able to read it. In that case, you can contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Division directly for help locating the series number.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if the bond is registered in a TreasuryDirect account. If you own a paper bond, you need the bond itself (or at least its series number) to look up the value. The Treasury does not maintain a searchable database of paper bond owners.

What if the calculator says my bond is worth less than I paid for it?

That cannot happen. Series EE bonds never lose value. The lowest they can be worth is their face value (if they are brand new), and they can only stay at face value for the first month. After that, interest is added every month, so the value always increases.

Do I have to pay taxes on the value right away, or only when I cash it in?

You only owe federal income tax on the interest when you redeem the bond. You can choose to report the interest each year as it accrues, but most people wait until they cash in the bond. State and local taxes vary by location.

Will my bond's value keep growing after 30 years?

No. Series EE bonds stop earning interest at 30 years old. After that, the value is fixed at whatever it reached on the 30-year anniversary. You can still hold the bond, but it will not increase in value anymore.

How often should I check my bond's value?

There is no need to check it more than once or twice a year unless you are planning to redeem soon. The value grows slowly and predictably, so checking monthly will not change any decisions you need to make.