Cleaning out a drawer or opening an old safety deposit box and finding a stack of crisp, colorful paper with "United States Savings Bond" printed across the top is a bit like finding a winning lottery ticket you forgot to cash. But the excitement usually fades into a confusing question: how much is a us savings bond worth now?
It’s not as simple as looking at the number printed on the front. That "Face Value" is often a total lie—or at least, a very outdated truth. If you have an old Series EE bond with "$100" printed on it, you probably only paid $50 for it. If it’s a Series I bond, you paid the full hundred.
Knowing the actual cash-in value is the difference between a nice dinner out and a down payment on a car.
The Quick Math on Series EE and I Bonds
Most people are holding onto two specific types: Series EE or Series I. They work differently, earn interest at different speeds, and honestly, the rules for when to cash them can be a headache.
As of early 2026, the rates have shifted again. For bonds issued between November 2025 and April 2026, Series I bonds are currently earning a composite rate of 4.03%. Series EE bonds issued in that same window are sitting at a fixed 2.50%.
But those are the new ones. What about the dusty ones from 1994 or 2005?
The Series EE "Double Your Money" Rule
If you have a Series EE bond, there’s one golden rule: it is guaranteed to reach its face value after 20 years.
Let's say you bought a $100 EE bond in May 2005. You actually paid $50 for it. By May 2025, the Treasury Department was legally required to make that bond worth at least $100, regardless of what the interest rates were doing. If the interest didn't get it there, they just added a one-time "adjustment" to make it happen.
✨ Don't miss: Hindustan Motors Ltd Share Price: What Most People Get Wrong
If your bond is less than 20 years old, it might still be worth less than the number on the paper.
Series I Bonds: The Inflation Fighters
Series I bonds are different. You bought these at face value ($100 for a $100 bond). Their value grows based on a combination of a fixed rate and an inflation rate that changes every six months.
Because inflation spiked a few years back, some I bonds from the early 2020s were earning massive returns—over 9% at one point. Today, that has cooled off. If you're looking at an I bond today, you’ve likely seen the growth slow down, but it’s still protecting your purchasing power better than a standard piggy bank.
How Much Is a US Savings Bond Worth Now? (The Real Numbers)
To give you a better idea of the "real world" value, here are a few snapshots of what common bonds might be worth in January 2026 based on their issue dates:
- A $50 Series I Bond from August 2012: This bond originally cost $50. With over a decade of inflation-adjusted interest, it’s currently worth roughly **$70.94**.
- A $100 Series EE Bond from May 1995: This bond is technically "dead." It reached final maturity after 30 years in May 2025. It’s no longer earning a dime. If you’re holding this, you are literally losing money to inflation every day it sits in your drawer.
- A $1,000 Series I Bond from April 2022: Remember the "I bond craze"? If you bought then, your bond has already grown to about $1,190.40 by now.
The "Dead Bond" Warning
This is the part most people miss. Savings bonds don’t earn interest forever. Most stop after 30 years.
If you have a Series E bond (no "E" after the "E"), it has definitely stopped earning interest. Those were issued up until 1980. Series EE bonds issued before January 1996 are also hitting their 30-year expiration dates right now. If your bond was printed in the early 90s, it’s basically just a historical souvenir until you take it to a bank or the Treasury.
How to Find Your Exact Value
You don't have to be a math whiz to figure this out. The U.S. Treasury provides a tool called the Savings Bond Calculator on their TreasuryDirect website.
It’s a bit of a "retro" looking website—very 1990s—but it’s the only source of truth. You’ll need three things for each bond:
- The Series (EE, I, E, or Savings Note).
- The Denomination (the amount printed on it).
- The Issue Date (the month and year printed on the right side).
Important Note: You do not need to enter the serial number just to check the price, though it helps if you want to save your list for later.
When Should You Cash In?
Timing is everything. If you cash in a bond too early, you might get "penalized."
For both EE and I bonds, if you cash them out before you’ve held them for five years, you lose the last three months of interest. It’s a small sting, but it adds up.
Also, consider the "Next Accrual" date. Savings bonds usually add interest every six months or once a month depending on the series. If your bond is about to "click" over to the next interest payment on February 1st, and you cash it on January 30th, you lose that entire month's growth.
Wait for the first day of the new month.
Taxes: The Part Everyone Hates
You’ve found out your bond is worth a fortune. Great. But Uncle Sam wants his cut.
Savings bond interest is subject to federal income tax. The good news? It's usually exempt from state and local taxes. You can either pay the tax every year as the bond grows (hardly anyone does this) or pay it all at once when you cash the bond in.
If you’re cashing in a bond to pay for higher education, you might actually be able to skip the federal tax entirely. There are very specific rules about income limits and which schools qualify, so check out IRS Form 8815 before you make a move.
Actionable Steps for Your Bonds
Don't just leave those bonds in a shoebox. Here is exactly what you should do today:
- Audit your stash: Group your bonds by series and year. Identify any that are older than 30 years—these are "dead" and need to be cashed immediately.
- Use the Calculator: Go to TreasuryDirect and run your numbers. Look at the "Next Accrual" column.
- Decide on Paper vs. Electronic: If you have paper bonds, they are getting harder to cash at local banks. Many banks have stopped doing it for non-customers, and some have stopped entirely. You may need to mail them to the Treasury to get your money.
- Check for "Lost" Bonds: If you think you owned bonds but can't find them, use the Treasury Hunt tool on the TreasuryDirect site. You just need your SSN or the name of the person who bought them. Millions of dollars in matured bonds are sitting in the Treasury's basement waiting for someone to claim them.
Knowing how much is a us savings bond worth now is only half the battle; knowing when to let it keep growing and when to pull the trigger is what makes you a smart investor. If your bond has stopped earning interest, your next move is simple: get that money into a high-yield account or a new investment where it can actually work for you again.