When should you cash in Series EE savings bonds?

Most savings bonds stop earning interest (or reach maturity) in about 30 years. It’s possible to redeem a savings bond as soon as one year after it’s purchased, but it’s usually wise to wait at least five years so you don’t lose the last three months of interest when you cash it in.

Should I cash my EE savings bonds?

EE bonds earn interest for 30 years if you don’t cash the bonds before they mature. So the longer you hold the bond (up to 30 years), the more it is worth. If you’ve been affected by a disaster, special provisions may apply. All E bonds and some EE bonds have stopped earning interest and should be cashed.

When does a series E savings bond mature?

If it’s a series E or series H bond, then it’s matured, as all of those bonds are no longer being issued and all the existing ones have already hit their maturity date. If it’s a series EE or series I bond, then it matures 30 years after the issue date.

When do Series EE bonds reach face value?

EE bonds have been purchased at a discount in the past, and they reached face value at maturity. You pay face value and the bond accrues interest as you hold it if you purchase an EE bond in 2021. It grows in value by the amount of interest, or coupons, accrued each year until you either cash it in or it reaches 30 years from its date of issue.

When to cash in savings bonds that have matured?

Series HH bonds mature 20 years after the issue date. If the series name is anything else, then it’s probably from an outdated series and has matured — you can look up the series name on the Treasury Direct website to confirm. Image source: Getty Images. Once you’ve confirmed that your savings bonds have indeed matured, you should cash them in.

What are the different types of savings bonds?

The Treasury sells two types of savings bonds: Series EE and Series I. Series EE pays a fixed amount of interest for the life of the bond, while Series I offers a mix of fixed and inflation-adjusted interest payments that change over time. Until 2012, you could choose between the purchase of electronic or paper bonds.