Where to find your savings bonds online
The U.S. Department of the Treasury runs a website called TreasuryDirect where you can see all the savings bonds registered in your name. Go to treasurydirect.gov, click "Login" in the top right, and sign in with your username and password. If you do not have an account yet, you will need to create one using your Social Security number and a valid email address.
Once you are logged in, your dashboard shows every bond you own — the series (EE or I bonds, for example), the issue date, the current value, and when you can cash it without penalty. This is the fastest way to check multiple bonds at once, and the information updates daily.
If you own bonds that were issued before you opened a TreasuryDirect account, you may need to add them manually. The website has a section called "Manage My Savings Bonds" where you can enter the bond series, denomination, and serial number to link older bonds to your account.
Key Takeaways
- TreasuryDirect at treasurydirect.gov is the official place to see all your savings bonds, their current value, and when you can cash them.
- You will need to create a free TreasuryDirect account using your Social Security number and email address if you do not already have one.
- Bonds issued before you opened your TreasuryDirect account can be added manually using the bond series, denomination, and serial number.
- The Treasury also offers a paper-based lookup tool if you have lost your bonds or do not remember the details.
- Your bank or financial advisor can also help you locate and value bonds you own, though TreasuryDirect is always the official source.
Using the paper savings bond lookup tool
If you own physical paper bonds or do not want to create a TreasuryDirect account, the Treasury offers a lookup tool at savingsbonds.gov. Enter the bond series, denomination, and serial number, and the tool will tell you the current value and redemption date.
This tool works for bonds issued from 1941 onward. You do not need to log in, and you can check as many bonds as you want. The downside is that you have to enter each bond individually, so if you own many bonds, TreasuryDirect is faster.
The savingsbonds.gov tool also has a section called "Find Savings Bonds" that can search for unclaimed bonds in your name if you think you may have lost track of some. You will need your Social Security number and the state where the bonds were issued.
What the bond information actually tells you
When you check your bonds, you will see several pieces of information. The issue date is when the bond was purchased. The series (EE, I, or another letter combination) tells you what type of bond it is and what interest rate rules apply to it. The denomination is how much you paid for it — usually $25, $50, $100, or $500.
The current value is what the bond is worth right now if you cash it today. This is not the same as what you paid for it. EE bonds earn interest every month, and I bonds earn interest that changes with inflation, so the current value grows over time.
The final maturity date is when the Treasury stops paying interest on the bond — usually 30 years after issue. After that date, the bond is worth whatever it was worth on the final maturity date, and it earns nothing more. You can still cash it, but there is no reason to hold it.
The earliest redemption date tells you when you can cash the bond without a penalty. For most bonds, you can cash them after one year, but if you cash them before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of interest. After five years, you can cash them with no penalty.
How to check bonds you own but did not buy yourself
If someone bought a bond for you — a parent, grandparent, or other relative — you may not know the details. If the bond is registered in your name, you can add it to your TreasuryDirect account or look it up on savingsbonds.gov if you have the series, denomination, and serial number.
The serial number is printed on the front of a paper bond, usually in the bottom right corner. If you have the physical bond, you can read it directly. If you do not have the bond itself, ask the person who bought it or check old gift records or bank statements from the time it was purchased.
If a bond is registered in someone else's name but they want you to have it, they will need to contact the Treasury to change the registration. This is a formal process that requires paperwork, so it is worth doing if the bond has significant value.
What to do if you cannot find a bond you think you own
Start by checking TreasuryDirect and savingsbonds.gov with your Social Security number. If the bond does not show up, it may be registered under a different name — for example, if you were married and the bond was issued under your maiden name, or if a parent bought it under their name.
Try searching under any previous names you have used, and ask family members whether they remember the details. If you have a paper bond but lost the serial number, you can still look it up if you remember the series, denomination, and approximate issue date.
If you truly cannot locate a bond, contact the Treasury's Savings Bond Division by phone at 1-800-553-2663. They can search their records using your name and Social Security number, though the process may take several weeks.
Checking bonds held by a bank or financial advisor
Some people own savings bonds through a bank or brokerage account rather than directly through TreasuryDirect. If this is your situation, log into your bank or brokerage account and look for a section labeled "Holdings," "Investments," or "My Bonds." The current value and other details should be listed there.
Your bank or advisor may charge a small fee to hold bonds for you, and they may not update the value as frequently as TreasuryDirect does. If you want to see the most current information, you can always check TreasuryDirect directly — the value there is the official one.
If you want to move bonds from a bank account to TreasuryDirect, you will need to cash them first and then buy new bonds through TreasuryDirect. This is a straightforward process, but be aware that you may trigger a tax event if the bonds have earned significant interest.
Understanding the difference between checking value and cashing a bond
Checking your bond's value does not cash it or change anything about it. You are simply looking at information. The bond stays yours, keeps earning interest, and you can check it as many times as you want without any cost or consequence.
Cashing a bond is a separate action that you do when you actually want the money. On TreasuryDirect, you initiate a redemption request, and the Treasury deposits the money into your bank account within a few business days. On savingsbonds.gov, you cannot cash bonds directly — you have to go to a bank or the Treasury to do that.
Before you cash a bond, check the earliest redemption date to make sure you will not lose interest. If you cash before the five-year mark, you forfeit the last three months of interest, which can be a meaningful amount on older bonds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay to check my savings bonds?
No. TreasuryDirect and savingsbonds.gov are both free. If you check your bonds through a bank or financial advisor, they may charge you a fee for holding the bonds, but checking the value itself costs nothing.
How often does the value update on TreasuryDirect?
TreasuryDirect updates bond values daily. The interest on savings bonds is calculated and added every month on the bond's anniversary date, so the value may jump slightly on that day each year.
What if I lost my physical bond but remember buying it?
You can search for it on savingsbonds.gov or TreasuryDirect using your Social Security number and the information you remember — the series, denomination, and approximate issue date. If you still cannot find it, call the Treasury's Savings Bond Division at 1-800-553-2663.
Can I check someone else's savings bonds?
Only if you are listed as the owner or co-owner on the bond. If the bond is registered in someone else's name only, you will not be able to see it in TreasuryDirect or look it up on savingsbonds.gov without their permission and involvement.
What does it mean if my bond shows "final maturity"?
It means the bond has stopped earning interest. You can still cash it for whatever it is worth, but holding it longer will not increase its value. Most people cash bonds once they reach final maturity, though there is no requirement to do so.