Your Series EE bond's current value depends on how long you've held it and the interest rate it earned when you bought it
A Series EE savings bond grows in value every month, but the amount it's worth right now is not printed on the bond itself. You have to look it up using the bond's issue date and serial number. The U.S. Department of the Treasury runs a free tool called the Savings Bond Calculator that tells you the exact current value in seconds.
The value you see today is what you would receive if you cashed the bond in right now. Series EE bonds earn interest monthly, so the value changes every single month — it goes up, never down. If you bought a $50 Series EE bond in 2015, it's worth more today than it was last month, and it will be worth more next month too.
Key Takeaways
- Use the Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator at treasurydirect.gov to find your bond's current value — you need the issue date and serial number.
- Series EE bonds earn interest every month, so the value printed on your bond when you bought it is not what it's worth now.
- A Series EE bond reaches its final value after 30 years, at which point it stops earning interest and you should cash it in or convert it.
- You can cash a Series EE bond anytime after one year, but if you cash it before five years, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty.
How to use the Savings Bond Calculator
Go to treasurydirect.gov and look for the Savings Bond Calculator link. You will need three pieces of information: the denomination (the dollar amount printed on the bond — usually $50 or $100), the issue date (the month and year you bought it), and the series (which is always EE for the bonds you're asking about).
Enter those details and the calculator shows you the exact value as of today. The value updates daily, so if you check again tomorrow, the number will be slightly higher. You do not need the serial number for the calculator — the Treasury only needs to know when you bought it and how much you paid.
If you have lost the bond or can't find the issue date, you can contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Division at 1-800-553-2663. They can look up bonds in your name if you provide your Social Security number and other identifying information.
Why your bond is worth more than you paid for it
Series EE bonds are sold at half their face value. If you bought a $100 Series EE bond, you paid $50 for it. That $50 is your purchase price. The bond then earns interest every month, so its value grows toward $100 and beyond.
The interest rate on Series EE bonds is set by the Treasury and changes every six months. Bonds you bought in 2010 earn a different rate than bonds you bought in 2020. The older your bond, the longer it has been earning interest, so it's usually worth more — unless you bought it recently at a higher interest rate.
The Treasury guarantees that a Series EE bond will reach its face value (double what you paid) within 20 years. So a $50 bond will be worth at least $100 after 20 years, even if the interest rate was very low when you bought it. After 20 years, it continues to earn interest for another 10 years, up to a total of 30 years.
What happens when your bond reaches 30 years old
Series EE bonds stop earning interest after 30 years. At that point, the value shown in the calculator is the final value — it will not go up anymore. You should cash the bond in or convert it to a Series I bond (which earns a different interest rate and can continue growing).
If you do nothing and leave the bond sitting in a drawer, it keeps its value but earns nothing new. There is no penalty for waiting to cash it in, but you're losing out on interest you could be earning elsewhere.
You can learn about any of your bonds have reached 30 years by using the Savings Bond Calculator. If a bond shows "Final Value" in the results, that bond has stopped earning interest and you should decide what to do with it.
The penalty for cashing in a bond before five years
You can cash a Series EE bond anytime after you've held it for one year. But if you cash it in before five years have passed, the Treasury takes back the last three months of interest as a penalty. This means you lose money compared to waiting.
For example, if your bond is worth $52 today but you bought it only three years ago, cashing it in now means you get $49 instead. The $3 difference is the three months of interest the Treasury keeps. If you wait two more years (until the five-year mark), you can cash it for the full current value with no penalty.
After five years, there is no penalty no matter when you cash the bond. You always get the full current value shown in the calculator.
Where to cash your bond once you know its value
You can cash a Series EE bond at most banks and credit unions. Bring the physical bond and a form of ID. The bank looks up the current value, gives you a check or deposits the money into your account, and you sign the back of the bond to transfer it.
If you own the bond through TreasuryDirect (the Treasury's online account system), you can cash it directly through your account without going to a bank. Log in, select the bond, and request payment. The money goes into your linked bank account within a few business days.
If the bond is in someone else's name or you've lost it, the process is more complicated. Contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Division at 1-800-553-2663 and they will walk you through the steps to verify ownership and receive payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find the value of a bond I bought 20 years ago?
Yes. Use the Savings Bond Calculator with the issue date and denomination. If you don't remember the exact date, you can contact the Treasury at 1-800-553-2663 with your Social Security number and they will search their records for bonds in your name.
What if the calculator says my bond is worth less than I paid for it?
That should not happen with a Series EE bond that's more than a few months old. Series EE bonds always earn interest and never lose value. If the calculator shows a lower value than you expect, double-check the issue date — entering the wrong date is the most common reason for unexpected results.
Do I have to pay taxes on the interest my bond earned?
Yes, but you can choose when. You can pay taxes on the interest every year as it accrues, or you can wait and pay all the taxes when you cash the bond in. Most people wait until they cash it in. Talk to a tax professional about which option makes sense for your situation.
Is my Series EE bond still earning interest if I haven't cashed it in yet?
Yes, as long as it's less than 30 years old. Series EE bonds earn interest every month for 30 years. You don't have to do anything — the interest accrues automatically whether the bond is in a drawer or in a bank account.