Brandon Lee
The U.S. Department of the Treasury currently sells two types of savings bonds: the EE and I series. You can buy an electronic savings bond for any amount between $25 and $10,000, with a maximum purchase of $10,000 in Series EE electronic savings bonds and $10,000 in Series I electronic savings bonds in a calendar year. The interest rate on I bonds changes every six months, based on inflation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of bond | EE and I series |
| Interest rate | Fixed or changes with inflation |
| Minimum purchase amount | $25 |
| Maximum purchase amount | $10,000 |
| Maximum purchase amount per calendar year | $10,000 |
| Purchase options | Electronic or paper |
| Bond ownership | Individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, partnerships or other entities |
| Bond beneficiaries | Self, child, or others |
| Bond redemption | Through TreasuryDirect account |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Department of the Treasury sells two types of savings bonds: EE and I series
- EE savings bonds can be purchased for between $25 and $10,000
- EE savings bonds can be purchased electronically or as paper bonds
- EE savings bonds can be purchased for oneself or as gifts
- EE savings bonds can be purchased for children
The US Department of the Treasury sells two types of savings bonds: EE and I series
The US Department of the Treasury currently sells two main types of savings bonds: EE and I series. By buying a US savings bond, you are essentially lending the government money. When you redeem a bond, the government pays you back the amount you bought it for, plus interest.
The two series have different interest rates, which are either fixed or change with inflation. EE bonds tend to be in higher demand when interest rates are higher, while I bonds become more attractive when inflation is expected to increase, as they protect against inflation, preserving the value of the money invested. For example, in response to rising inflation in the US from 2021 to 2022, the public invested heavily in Series I bonds, purchasing nearly $153 billion worth between April 2021 and February 2023.
Both types of bonds are redeemable after 1 year. If redeemed within the first five years, the interest accumulated over the last three months will be deducted from the final payout. Bonds can be held for up to 30 years, and the longer they are held, the more they earn. However, if held past their maturity date, bonds can lose value due to inflation.
To buy, redeem, or manage electronic savings bonds, you will need a TreasuryDirect account. Paper bonds can only be purchased as part of your IRS tax refund.
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EE savings bonds can be purchased for between $25 and $10,000
The US Department of the Treasury currently offers two types of savings bonds: the EE and I series. Series EE savings bonds are a low-risk way to save money, earning interest over 30 years or until you cash them (whichever comes first). The US government guarantees that the bond will double in value in 20 years.
EE savings bonds can be purchased for any amount between $25 and $10,000. For example, you could buy an electronic savings bond for $75.38. In any calendar year, you may buy up to $10,000 in Series EE electronic savings bonds and up to $10,000 in Series I electronic savings bonds for yourself. This option will be discontinued on January 31, 2025.
Whether you buy an electronic or paper bond, you must specify who owns the bond. Paper bonds can only be purchased as part of your IRS tax refund. To buy, redeem, or manage electronic savings bonds, you will need to create or log into your TreasuryDirect account.
You may also register the bond in the name of a trust or estate. An electronic bond in TreasuryDirect can also be in the name of a corporation, partnership, or other entity. If you are thinking of using the money from savings bonds to pay for a child's college education, do not put the bond in the child's name. Keep the bond in your name.
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EE savings bonds can be purchased electronically or as paper bonds
The US Department of the Treasury currently sells two types of savings bonds: the EE and I series. Both series have different interest rates, which are either fixed or change with inflation.
The value of an electronic savings bond can be determined by logging into your TreasuryDirect account. For paper bonds, you can use the savings bond calculator.
It is important to note that the US Department of the Treasury no longer issues HH and other historical bond series. However, you can still redeem them.
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EE savings bonds can be purchased for oneself or as gifts
The US Department of the Treasury currently sells two types of savings bonds: the EE and I series. You can buy an electronic savings bond for any amount between $25 and $10,000. In any calendar year, you can buy up to $10,000 in Series EE electronic savings bonds and up to $10,000 in Series I electronic savings bonds for yourself. This is in addition to the amount you can spend on buying savings bonds for a child or as gifts. You can name yourself, a child, yourself and someone else, or anyone you want to give the savings bond to as a gift.
If you buy savings bonds for a child, the child needs a TreasuryDirect account that is linked to the account of a parent or another adult custodian. You can open a TreasuryDirect account for the child and then buy savings bonds or other securities, as well as conduct other transactions for them.
To buy, redeem, or manage electronic savings bonds, you will need to create or log into your TreasuryDirect account. Paper bonds can only be purchased as part of your IRS tax refund. You can determine the value of an electronic savings bond by logging into your TreasuryDirect account. For paper bonds, you can use the savings bond calculator.
Note that you can only cash the bonds that you own or co-own unless you have legal evidence or other accepted documentation that shows you are entitled to cash the bond.
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EE savings bonds can be purchased for children
The US Department of the Treasury currently sells two types of savings bonds: Series EE and Series I. You can buy them for yourself, your child, or as a gift for someone else. If you are buying savings bonds for a child, the child needs a TreasuryDirect account that is linked to the account of a parent or another adult custodian.
The parent or adult custodian may open a TreasuryDirect account for the child. Paper bonds can be purchased as part of your IRS tax refund. You can buy electronic savings bonds online. In any one calendar year, you may buy up to $10,000 in Series EE electronic savings bonds and up to $10,000 in Series I electronic savings bonds for yourself as the owner of the bonds. That is in addition to the amount you can spend on buying savings bonds for a child or as gifts.
Whether you buy an electronic or paper bond, you must specify who owns the bond. You may name yourself, a child, yourself and someone else, or anyone you want to give the savings bond to as a gift. The person or people you name must meet certain conditions: they must have a Social Security Number and meet one of the following three conditions—they are a United States citizen, they live in the US, or information on their residence is not available.
If you are thinking of using the money from savings bonds to pay for your child's college education, do not put the bond in the child's name. Keep the bond in your name. Whether the bonds are paper or electronic, to use them for college expenses, the bonds must be in an adult's name, not the child's.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the U.S. Department of the Treasury currently sells two types of savings bonds, the EE and I series.
You can buy an electronic savings bond for any amount between $25 and $10,000.
You can buy electronic savings bonds online through your TreasuryDirect account. Paper bonds can only be purchased as part of your IRS tax refund.
