How Do Savings Bonds Work?

Looking for a nearly risk-free way to save for the future? A savings bond might be right for you.

With amounts ranging from $25 to $10,000, U.S. savings bonds fit almost any budget. Most importantly: You’ll never lose value on your initial investment.

Plus these bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government — which has never defaulted on bonds.

The catch? Savings bonds typically don’t earn much interest. However, that’s not always the case, especially during times of high inflation.

Curious to learn how savings bonds work?

Read on.

What Is a Savings Bond?

A savings bond is essentially a loan to the federal government issued by the U.S. Treasury.

Think of it as an IOU from Uncle Sam. You give the government your money, and in exchange, the U.S. government pays you back — with interest — at a later date.

There are two types of savings bonds:

1. Series I Bonds
2. Series EE Bonds

Savings bonds are sold at face value. If you want to invest $100, for example, you buy a $100 bond. There are no fees or hidden expenses.

After you purchase a bond, you start earning interest on your principal. Interest can accumulate for as long as 30 years.

Savings bonds are considered one of the safest investments out there. The interest rate can’t go below zero and the bond value can’t decline.

How Do Savings Bonds Work?

Savings bonds work by paying you compound interest on your deposit.

A savings bond accrues interest over time, though interest doesn’t pay out until you redeem the bond.

Interest on savings bonds is compounded semiannually, or twice a year.

This means that every six months after the bond’s issue date, interest the bond earned in the six previous months is added to the bond’s principal value. Interest is then earned on this new, higher principal value.

Here are some other characteristics of savings bonds:

• Your bond can accrue interest for up to 30 years after purchase.
• You must wait at least one year before you can cash in a savings bond.
• You can buy a maximum of $10,000 worth of each type of savings bond in a single calendar year, or a total of $20,000.
• If you cash in (redeem) a savings bond within five years after purchase, you’ll lose the previous three months of worth of interest payments. For example, if you redeem a bond after 24 months, you only get the first 21 months of interest.
• You can purchase a savings bond in any amount over $25 in one cent increments. For example, you can purchase an EE bond for $51.23.
• Interest accrues monthly and compounds semiannually.
• The interest rate can’t go below zero, even during times of deflation.
• Rates are set each May 1 and November 1.

Where Do You Buy a Savings Bond?

The fastest and easiest way to buy savings bonds is from the U.S. Treasury’s online portfolio platform, TreasuryDirect.

To get started, you will need to make an account, enter some personal details and link your bank account information.

Electronic bonds purchased through TreasuryDirect are usually added to your online account in just one business day.

Direct Deposit Option

The U.S. Treasury also lets you purchase savings bonds via automatic payroll deductions.

To get started, log into your TreasuryDirect account and set up a Payroll Savings Plan.  Decide what type of savings bond you want to purchase along with the dollar value.

Finally, give your employer these direct deposit instructions and ask them to send the amount you choose to TreasuryDirect each time you get paid.

Once your Payroll Savings Plan is up and running, the U.S. Treasury system will automatically purchase the type of bond you want each time you’ve accumulated enough money in your account.

For example, if you want to buy $50 Series I savings bonds and you ask your employer to withhold $25 from each paycheck, TreasuryDirect will purchase a $50 bond on your behalf every other payday.

These payroll deductions continue automatically until you update your preferences.

Paper Bonds

Once upon a time, you could buy paper savings bonds from your local bank or credit union. This hasn’t been the case since 2012.

However, you can still purchase paper I bonds with your federal tax refund when you file your annual tax return. (Paper EE bonds are no longer available.)

You can purchase up to $5,000 in paper I bonds each calendar year. Paper I bonds come in denominations of $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1,000.

Just tell your tax preparer you want to buy Series I savings bonds with part or all of your refund. If you use tax preparation software like TurboTax, the program will walk you through the process.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will forward your savings bond request to the Treasury Department, and you should receive your paper bond at the address on your tax return in about three weeks.

Different Types of Savings Bonds

The biggest difference between I bonds and EE bonds is how they earn interest.

Series I Bonds

Series I bonds rates are tied to inflation. As inflation goes up, so does the variable interest rate on these bonds.

I bond rates are derived from two different figures:

1. A fixed rate of return, which remains the same throughout the life of the bond. (It’s currently at 0%.)
2. An inflation rate that is set twice a year. This rate of interest fluctuates based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.

I bonds issued from November 2021 through April 2022 pay a composite annualized rate of 7.12% for six months.

On May 1, 2022, The Treasury will calculate a new inflation rate. If inflation continues to heat up, you could earn more interest. If it cools off, your variable rate declines.

Remember: Even if inflation goes down, you won’t lose any money. You just won’t earn as much interest as you did when inflation was higher.

Series EE Bonds

EE savings bonds earn the same fixed interest rate for up to 30 years. It doesn’t change over time.

Regardless of the fixed interest rate, the bond will be worth twice what you paid for it after 20 years.

These bonds will continue earning interest at their original fixed rate for another 10 years unless new terms and conditions are announced before the final 10-year period begins.

Series EE savings bonds purchased from November 2021 through April 2022 earn an annual rate of 0.10%.

Series EE bonds replaced Series E bonds which were first issued to help the government fund itself during World War II. Series E bonds were sold until 1980 and are no longer issued.

How to Cash in Savings Bonds

Cashing in electronic savings bonds is quick and easy.

Simply log in to your account on TreasuryDirect and follow the redemption instructions.

Your initial investment plus any interest earned will be deposited into your linked checking or savings account within two business days.

Important facts to know about cashing in your bonds:

• You must wait at least one year after issue to cash in a savings bond.
• Only the owner can redeem the bond.
• You can’t sell a savings bond to someone else.

You can redeem the cash value of paper bonds on the TreasuryDirect website or at financial institutions.

If you redeem a paper bond at a bank or credit union, bring your ID with you along with the savings bond.

The financial institution will usually give you a tax form when you’re there, or it will mail one to you.

Pro Tip

If a financial institution doesn’t accept your bond, check out these institutions from the Treasury website. 

Pros and Cons

Savings bonds can be a great way to diversify your portfolio.

But they’re not the best investment in every situation.

Pros

• They're a safe, low-risk investment. Savings bonds are backed by the U.S. government. If you keep the bond until maturity, you're guaranteed to get your entire original investment back plus interest.
• No fees. Savings bonds are sold at face value. If you want a $50 I bond, you pay $50. It’s that simple. 
• Low minimum investment. You only need $25 to purchase an electronic savings bond.
• Diversification. Savings bonds can add stability to your portfolio. They’re seen as a good way to offset more volatile investments like stocks.
• Buy now, pay taxes later. Savings bonds offer tax-deferred growth, so you don’t pay federal tax on bond interest until you redeem it. You might avoid federal taxes entirely if bond funds are used for
• You can avoid paying other taxes, too. You won’t pay any local income tax or state tax when you redeem your bonds.
• Series I bonds protect against inflation. This is one of the only investments with a guaranteed built-in hedge against rising inflation.

Cons

• Not as liquid as a savings account. You can’t redeem U.S. savings bonds for at least one year after purchase.
• Long maturity dates. You will lose three months interest on savings bonds redeemed before five years. A Series EE bond only doubles in value if you hold it for at least 20 years.
• Rates on Series EE bonds have been under 1% for more than a decade. Rates on EE savings bonds are low: They’ve held steady at 0.10% since Nov. 2015. If you lock in a low rate, you’re stuck with it.

Pro Tip

You can earn a better return by putting your money in a high-yield savings account or investing in the stock market.

Savings Bonds FAQ

Are Savings Bonds a Good Investment?

When inflation is high, Series I bonds are a great investment. They earn an attractive rate that compounds twice a year. You can start small and your investment is backed by the U.S. government. 

But when inflation is lower, other investments have historically earned higher returns. The stock market, for example, has historically earned a 10% annual return. 

Series EE bonds can be a good investment if you have a long time horizon and a very low risk tolerance. They can also be useful to pay for future college expenses. 

Do I Have to Pay Taxes on the Interest?

You don’t pay federal taxes on accrued interest until you redeem the savings bond. 

Savings bonds aren’t subject to state or local taxes either.

Savings bonds used to finance education won’t be subject to any taxes.

Can You Buy U.S. Savings Bonds As a Gift?

Yes. To give an electronic bond to someone else, both you and your recipient must create a TreasuryDirect account. 

You will also need to know the recipient’s full name and Social Security number or taxpayer ID number. 

To gift a paper I bond, you need to fill out an additional form when you file your federal tax return. 

Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder. 

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.