LemonTrades
TL;DR
- Use the Treasury’s free savings bond calculator: enter the series, the face value and the issue date printed on the bond.
- As examples, a $100 paper EE bond from January 2000 is worth $124.64 in November 2026, and a $100 I bond from January 2001 is worth $463.96.
- EE bonds issued from January 1980 through November 1996 have stopped earning interest, so cash those in. Holding on earns you nothing.
- LemonTrades warns you before the inflation reports and Fed decisions that set what bonds pay.
The number printed on an old paper savings bond isn’t what it’s worth. It could be worth a little less or several times more. Here are real values from the Treasury’s calculator.
| Bond, $100 face value | You paid | Worth, Nov 2026 | Still earning? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series EE, January 1985stopped January 2015 | $50 | $230.64 | No |
| Series EE, January 1990stopped January 2020 | $50 | $207.36 | No |
| Series EE, January 1996stopped January 2026 | $50 | $125.24 | No |
| Series EE, January 2000market-based rate | $50 | $124.64 | Yes, to 2030 |
| Series EE, January 2005market-based rate | $50 | $106.72 | Yes, to 2035 |
| Series EE, June 2005fixed rate | $50 | $105.08 | Yes, to 2035 |
| Series EE, January 2010doubles in January 2030 | $50 | $61.28 | Yes, to 2040 |
| Series I, January 2001high fixed rate | $100 | $463.96 | Yes, to 2031 |
| Series I, January 2010 | $100 | $163.32 | Yes, to 2040 |
| Series I, January 2020 | $100 | $131.00 | Yes, to 2050 |
Values come from the Treasury’s calculator for November 2026. Multiply for other sizes: a $1,000 bond is worth ten times as much, and a $50 bond half as much. Paper EE bonds cost half their face value, while I bonds cost their full face value.
How to check yours
- Find the series (EE, E, I or HH), the face value and the issue date on the bond.
- Enter them in the Treasury’s savings bond calculator. It’s free, and you don’t need an account.
- Electronic bonds show their current value in your TreasuryDirect account.
Which bonds have stopped earning?
Savings bonds earn interest for 30 years. All Series E bonds and all EE bonds issued from January 1980 through November 1996 have stopped, and those from December 1996 through April 1997 will stop within the next six months. If you hold one of these, there’s no reason to wait: cash it in and report the interest on your taxes.
When waiting pays off
EE bonds issued since May 2005 are guaranteed to double at 20 years. A $100 paper bond from January 2010 cost $50 and is worth $61.28 today, yet the Treasury will lift it to $100 in January 2030. Cashing in just before that date would give up most of the gain.
How to cash in a savings bond
- Electronic bonds: sell them in your TreasuryDirect account, and the money goes to your bank.
- Paper bonds: some banks will cash them, often only for their own customers. You can also mail them to the Treasury with FS Form 1522.
- Lost bonds: search Treasury Hunt, then replace them with FS Form 1048.
- Taxes: you’ll owe federal tax on the interest, but not state or local tax.
New to all this? Start with what a savings bond is, or see how to invest $10,000 if you’re cashing in a large amount.
Sources
- TreasuryDirect: savings bond calculator
- TreasuryDirect: new savings bond rates, November 1, 2026
- TreasuryDirect: cashing a bond
- TreasuryDirect: Treasury Hunt for lost bonds
Education, not financial or tax advice. See our disclaimer.
