Check the current value on TreasuryDirect
The fastest way to find your bond's value is to log into TreasuryDirect, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's official website where savings bonds are held and tracked. If you own the bond through TreasuryDirect (which is where most bonds issued after 2002 live), you can see the exact current value of every bond you own by signing in with your username and password.
Go to treasurydirect.gov, click "ManageDirect" in the top menu, and log in. Your account dashboard will show each bond's current value, the date you bought it, the maturity date, and the interest rate. The value updates monthly on the first business day, so if you check on the 5th of the month, you are seeing the value as of the 1st.
If you have never set up a TreasuryDirect account, you can create one with your Social Security number and email address. If you inherited bonds or received them as a gift and they are not yet in your account, you will need to register them first — the Treasury website has instructions for that process under "Manage My Savings Bonds."
Key Takeaways
- TreasuryDirect shows your bond's current value the moment you log in, updated monthly on the first business day.
- Paper bonds and older electronic bonds can be valued using the Savings Bond Calculator on treasurydirect.gov, which requires the bond series, denomination, and issue date.
- Series EE and I bonds earn interest monthly but only pay out that interest when you cash them or they reach final maturity, so the value you see includes accrued interest you have not yet received.
- A bond's value stops growing 30 years after issue for Series EE bonds and 30 years after issue for Series I bonds, at which point cashing it in is usually the only option.
Use the Savings Bond Calculator for paper bonds
If you own a physical paper bond — one you hold in your hand — you cannot see its value in TreasuryDirect because paper bonds are not registered there. Instead, use the Savings Bond Calculator at treasurydirect.gov/BC/SBCPrice.
To use the calculator, you need three pieces of information: the bond's series (printed on the front — usually EE, I, or an older series like E or HH), the denomination (the face value, also printed on the front — $50, $100, $500, etc.), and the exact issue date (printed on the bond). Enter those three items and the calculator will show you the current value.
The calculator works for all paper bonds ever issued, including very old ones from decades ago. If your bond is past its final maturity date (30 years for most Series EE and I bonds), the calculator will tell you that too — at that point the bond stops earning interest and you should cash it in.
Understand what "current value" actually means
The value the Treasury shows you is not the amount you paid for the bond. It is the amount you would receive if you cashed the bond in today. For Series EE bonds, you typically pay half the face value upfront — so a $100 bond costs $50 — and the value grows over time until it reaches $100 at 20 years, then continues growing beyond that.
Series I bonds work differently: you pay the full face value upfront, and the value grows from there based on inflation rates that change every six months. A $100 Series I bond costs $100, and its current value will be $100 plus all the interest it has earned since you bought it.
The current value includes all interest earned to date, even if you have not cashed the bond yet. That interest is yours — it is not a separate payment you receive later. When you cash the bond, you get the current value shown, nothing more.
Know the difference between current value and maturity value
Every savings bond has a maturity date — the date when the bond stops earning interest. For Series EE bonds, this is 30 years after the issue date. For Series I bonds, this is also 30 years. At maturity, the bond's value is locked in and will not grow any further, even if you do not cash it.
The current value is what the bond is worth today. The maturity value is what it will be worth on the maturity date, assuming no additional interest accrues (which it will not, because interest stops at maturity). If you check TreasuryDirect or the calculator, you can see both dates listed.
If your bond has already reached maturity, the current value and maturity value are the same — the bond is no longer earning anything. At that point, cashing it in is usually the best move, because you are not gaining anything by holding it.
Account for the early redemption penalty on Series EE bonds
Series EE bonds have a penalty for cashing in before five years: you lose the last three months of interest. So if you bought a Series EE bond and want to cash it in after two years, you would get the value as of two years minus three months. This penalty only applies to Series EE bonds, not Series I bonds.
After five years, there is no penalty — you can cash the bond at any time and receive its full current value. The Treasury website and the calculator do not automatically subtract the penalty, so if you are thinking about cashing in a Series EE bond before five years, subtract three months of interest from the value shown.
Series I bonds have no early redemption penalty, but they do have a different rule: if you cash them in before five years, you lose the last three months of interest, just like Series EE. After five years, you can cash Series I bonds with no penalty.
Check your bonds if you inherited them or received them as a gift
If someone gave you a savings bond or left you one in a will, you can still find its current value using the same methods. For paper bonds, use the Savings Bond Calculator. For electronic bonds, you may need to claim them in TreasuryDirect first.
To claim an inherited or gifted bond in TreasuryDirect, you will need the original owner's Social Security number and the bond's series, denomination, and issue date. The Treasury website has a process for registering bonds that were issued before the TreasuryDirect system existed or that were issued to someone else.
Once the bond is registered to you, you can see its value in your TreasuryDirect account and cash it whenever you choose. There are no tax penalties for inheriting or receiving a savings bond, though you will owe income tax on the interest when you cash it.
What to do once you know the value
Knowing your bond's current value helps you decide whether to hold it or cash it. If the bond is past maturity and no longer earning interest, cashing it in makes sense — you are not losing anything by doing so. If the bond is still earning interest and you do not need the money, holding it may be the right choice.
If you decide to cash a bond held in TreasuryDirect, you can do so directly through your account — the money goes to your linked bank account within a few business days. For paper bonds, you will need to take the bond to a bank or credit union that cashes savings bonds, or mail it to the Treasury with a form.
Keep in mind that the interest you earn on savings bonds is subject to federal income tax (and sometimes state income tax, depending on your state). You do not owe tax until you cash the bond, so holding the bond does not trigger a tax bill — only cashing it does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the value shown in TreasuryDirect not match what I paid for the bond?
Series EE bonds are sold at a discount — you pay half the face value, so the value grows over time. Series I bonds are sold at full face value, but the value grows as interest accrues. In both cases, the value shown is the current amount you would receive if you cashed it today, not the original purchase price.
Can I cash my bond before the maturity date?
Yes. Series EE bonds can be cashed anytime after one year, though you lose three months of interest if you cash before five years. Series I bonds can be cashed anytime after one year, with the same three-month penalty if cashed before five years. After five years, both can be cashed with no penalty.
What happens if I lose a paper savings bond?
Contact the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service at savingsbonds.gov or call 1-844-284-2676. You can report the bond lost or stolen and request a replacement. You will need the bond's series, denomination, and issue date, plus proof of ownership.
Do I have to cash my bond when it reaches maturity?
No, but you should. Once a bond reaches final maturity (30 years after issue), it stops earning interest. Holding it after that point gains you nothing, so cashing it and putting the money elsewhere is usually the better choice.
How often does the value in TreasuryDirect update?
The value updates once a month, on the first business day. If you check on different days, you may see the same value until the next update date arrives. This is normal and does not mean your bond is not earning interest — it is, but the display only refreshes monthly.