US savings bonds stop earning interest at final maturity, which is 30 years from the issue date for Series EE and Series I bonds

After 30 years, your bond stops accruing interest entirely. The Treasury stops adding money to your account, and the value stays frozen at whatever it reached on that final maturity date. You can still hold the bond, but it will not grow any further.

The 30-year period is fixed and does not change based on when you cash the bond or how long you leave it sitting. A Series EE bond issued on January 1, 2024, reaches final maturity on January 1, 2054—regardless of whether you cash it in 2030 or 2055.

Key Takeaways

  • Series EE and Series I bonds stop earning interest at 30 years from the issue date, and the value becomes permanently fixed at that point.
  • You can hold a bond past final maturity without losing the value it has already earned, but no new interest will accrue.
  • The issue date printed on your bond certificate or shown in TreasuryDirect is what determines when the 30-year clock ends.
  • Cashing a bond before final maturity may trigger an early redemption penalty (three months of interest for bonds less than five years old), but holding it past maturity carries no penalty.

How to find your bond's final maturity date

The issue date is printed on the physical bond certificate or displayed in your TreasuryDirect account online. Add 30 years to that date, and you have your final maturity date. If your bond was issued on March 15, 2010, it reaches final maturity on March 15, 2040.

For paper bonds, look at the front of the certificate. For electronic bonds held in TreasuryDirect, log in to your account, find the bond in your portfolio, and the issue date will be listed there. The system also shows the maturity date directly in many cases.

What happens if you hold a bond past final maturity

Once a bond reaches final maturity, you own an asset with a fixed value that will never change. The bond itself does not disappear or become worthless—it simply stops growing. You can keep it in a drawer, in TreasuryDirect, or in a safe deposit box indefinitely.

However, there is no financial reason to hold it past maturity. The money is no longer working for you. Most people cash mature bonds and either spend the money or reinvest it elsewhere. If you do decide to cash it, the Treasury will pay you the full matured value with no additional penalty for waiting past the 30-year mark.

The difference between final maturity and the early redemption window

Final maturity (30 years) is different from the early redemption penalty period (5 years). If you cash a bond within the first five years of purchase, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty. After five years, you can cash it anytime without that penalty—but it will still stop earning interest at 30 years.

This means a bond issued in 2010 stops earning interest in 2040, whether you cash it in 2015, 2025, or 2050. The early redemption penalty only applies if you cash it before 2015. After that, you can cash it whenever you want without losing interest, but the interest itself stops accruing in 2040 regardless.

Series I bonds and inflation-adjusted interest

Series I bonds work the same way: they stop earning interest at 30 years from issue. However, I bonds earn interest in two parts—a fixed rate that never changes, plus an inflation-adjusted rate that changes every six months. Both parts stop accruing at final maturity.

The inflation component is why I bonds can seem more complicated, but the 30-year rule applies equally. An I bond issued in May 2020 stops earning all interest (both fixed and inflation-adjusted) in May 2050. After that date, the bond's value is locked in permanently.

What to do when your bonds approach final maturity

Set a reminder for about six months before your bond reaches 30 years. At that point, decide whether to cash it or let it sit. There is no rush—the bond will not lose value if you wait—but you should not expect any more growth.

If you have multiple bonds, track their issue dates so you know which ones are approaching maturity. TreasuryDirect makes this easier by showing all your bonds in one place with their issue dates and current values. A simple spreadsheet with issue dates and maturity dates can also help you stay organized.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I extend a bond past 30 years to keep it earning interest?

No. The 30-year final maturity date is set by the Treasury and cannot be extended. Once a bond reaches that date, it stops earning interest permanently. You cannot renew or roll it over into a new bond automatically.

What if I lose track of when my bond matures?

If you own the bond in TreasuryDirect, log in and check your account—the issue date and maturity date are listed there. For paper bonds, the issue date is on the certificate itself. You can also contact the Treasury or a bank that handles savings bonds for help locating this information.

Do I have to cash my bond when it reaches final maturity?

No. You can hold it indefinitely after maturity without penalty. However, it will not earn any more interest, so there is no financial benefit to keeping it. Most people cash mature bonds and reinvest the money elsewhere.

Will my bond lose value after 30 years?

No. The value stays exactly the same. A bond worth $5,000 at final maturity will still be worth $5,000 ten years later. It simply stops growing, but it does not shrink.

How does the early redemption penalty work if I cash before final maturity?

If you cash a bond within five years of purchase, you lose three months of interest. After five years, you can cash it anytime without that penalty. But the bond still stops earning interest at 30 years, regardless of when you cash it.