A 1981 Series EE savings bond is worth $153.44 per $50 of face value in November 2026 if issued January to April 1981, and $146.90 if issued May to December 1981.
A $100 bond is worth $306.88 or $293.80. Bought at half of face value, each bond stopped earning in 2011, so its value no longer changes.
These values come from Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files. The 1981 values hold from November 2026 to May 2027.
Values for November 2026
How Much Is a 1981 Series EE Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1981 paper Series EE bond is worth $146.90 (a $50 bond issued May to December) to $30,688.00 (a $10,000 bond issued January to April) in November 2026, across the 8 paper face values in 31 CFR 351.40. Each face value has 2 values. Which faces Treasury sold in 1981 is not established.
Table 1 lists all 12 issue months. The rules of Series EE savings bonds explain why only 2 values appear.
Table 1: What a 1981 paper Series EE savings bond is worth in November 2026, by issue month and face value
| Issue month | $50 | $75 | $100 | $200 | $500 | $1,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 | Original maturity | Stopped earning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1981 | $153.44 | $230.16 | $306.88 | $613.76 | $1,534.40 | $3,068.80 | $15,344.00 | $30,688.00 | Jan 1, 1990 | Jan 1, 2011 |
| February 1981 | $153.44 | $230.16 | $306.88 | $613.76 | $1,534.40 | $3,068.80 | $15,344.00 | $30,688.00 | Feb 1, 1990 | Feb 1, 2011 |
| March 1981 | $153.44 | $230.16 | $306.88 | $613.76 | $1,534.40 | $3,068.80 | $15,344.00 | $30,688.00 | Mar 1, 1990 | Mar 1, 2011 |
| April 1981 | $153.44 | $230.16 | $306.88 | $613.76 | $1,534.40 | $3,068.80 | $15,344.00 | $30,688.00 | Apr 1, 1990 | Apr 1, 2011 |
| May 1981 | $146.90 | $220.35 | $293.80 | $587.60 | $1,469.00 | $2,938.00 | $14,690.00 | $29,380.00 | May 1, 1989 | May 1, 2011 |
| June 1981 | $146.90 | $220.35 | $293.80 | $587.60 | $1,469.00 | $2,938.00 | $14,690.00 | $29,380.00 | Jun 1, 1989 | Jun 1, 2011 |
| July 1981 | $146.90 | $220.35 | $293.80 | $587.60 | $1,469.00 | $2,938.00 | $14,690.00 | $29,380.00 | Jul 1, 1989 | Jul 1, 2011 |
| August 1981 | $146.90 | $220.35 | $293.80 | $587.60 | $1,469.00 | $2,938.00 | $14,690.00 | $29,380.00 | Aug 1, 1989 | Aug 1, 2011 |
| September 1981 | $146.90 | $220.35 | $293.80 | $587.60 | $1,469.00 | $2,938.00 | $14,690.00 | $29,380.00 | Sep 1, 1989 | Sep 1, 2011 |
| October 1981 | $146.90 | $220.35 | $293.80 | $587.60 | $1,469.00 | $2,938.00 | $14,690.00 | $29,380.00 | Oct 1, 1989 | Oct 1, 2011 |
| November 1981 | $146.90 | $220.35 | $293.80 | $587.60 | $1,469.00 | $2,938.00 | $14,690.00 | $29,380.00 | Nov 1, 1989 | Nov 1, 2011 |
| December 1981 | $146.90 | $220.35 | $293.80 | $587.60 | $1,469.00 | $2,938.00 | $14,690.00 | $29,380.00 | Dec 1, 1989 | Dec 1, 2011 |
Note: the table shows every paper EE face value in 31 CFR 351.40; your bond's face value is printed on it. A new issue group starts with the May 1981 row (May 1, 1981).
Source: Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Savings Bonds Value Files (Fiscal Data, dataset 015-BFS-2014Q3-094, updated November 2, 2026), redemption month November 2026. Values for each face value are the file's $25-unit value times the face value divided by 25.
What a $50, $100 or $1,000 Bond From 1981 Is Worth Today
A $100 Series EE bond from 1981 is worth $306.88 in November 2026 if issued January to April, and $293.80 if issued May to December. The $50 pair is $153.44 and $146.90; the $1,000 pair $3,068.80 and $2,938.00.
A $100 bond cost $50, so it is worth 6.1 times its price (January to April) or 5.9 times (May to December). These are also its values after 30 years.
Why Every 1981 EE Bond Has Stopped Earning Interest
Every 1981 Series EE bond reached final maturity between January 1 and December 1, 2011, 30 years after its issue month, and has stopped earning interest (31 CFR 351.5).
- January to April 1981 issues: original maturity (end of the first guaranteed period) 1990, after 9 years, extensions from 1990 and 2000, final maturity 2011.
- May to December 1981 issues: original maturity 1989, after 8 years, extensions from 1989 and 1999, final maturity 2011.
A May 1981 bond reached original maturity on May 1, 1989, 8 months before a January 1981 bond on January 1, 1990 (extension years are our calculation). The rules on when savings bonds mature and stop earning interest differ by series.
Why January to April 1981 Bonds Are Worth More Than May to December Bonds
January to April 1981 bonds are worth more because the value file prices them at $76.72 per $25 of face value, against $73.45 for May to December 1981 bonds. The step falls on May 1, 1981, the first issue date of a new group in 31 CFR 351.19.
The file shares $76.72 across 6 issue months (November 1980 to April 1981) and $73.45 across 18 (May 1981 to October 1982). The gap is $13.08 on a $100 bond.
Table 2: Where 1981 sits among EE issue months of 1980 to 1986, November 2026
| Issue months | Months | $100 value, November 2026 | Guarantee and original maturity | Maturity schedule (original + 1st + 2nd extension) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January to October 1980 | 10 | $331.48 to $334.80 | 7%, 11 years | 11 + 10 + 9 |
| November 1980 to April 1981 (includes January to April 1981) | 6 | $306.88 | 8%, 9 years | 9 + 10 + 11 |
| May 1981 to October 1982 (includes May to December 1981) | 18 | $293.80 | 9%, 8 years | 8 + 10 + 12 |
| November 1982 to February 1983 | 4 | $280.32 | 7.5%, 10 years | 10 + 10 + 10 |
| March 1983 to October 1986 | 44 | $230.64 | 7.5%, 10 years | 10 + 10 + 10 |
Note 1: row 1 combines two values. January to April 1980 issues are worth $331.48 and May to October 1980 issues $334.80; the 1980 page explains the difference.
Note 2: rows 4 and 5 share terms but entered extensions before and after March 1, 1993 (31 CFR 351.21(a)).
Source: Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Savings Bonds Value Files (Fiscal Data, dataset 015-BFS-2014Q3-094, updated November 2, 2026), redemption month November 2026. Values for each face value are the file's $25-unit value times the face value divided by 25. Rules: 31 CFR 351.19, 351.21; TreasuryDirect page "EE bonds issued 1980 through April 1995".
The 8% and 9% Guarantees of 1981 Bonds
1981 EE bonds carried a guaranteed rate, compounded semiannually: 8% for 9 years on January to April issues, and 9% for 8 years on May to December issues.
A bond earned the higher of that value and a market-based one, 85% of 6-month averages of 5-year Treasury yields, counted from November 1982 for bonds held 5 more years (31 CFR 351.20(b)), as Treasury's page on EE bonds issued 1980 through April 1995 lists.
Both groups entered their first extension between May 1989 and April 1990 (our calculation), inside the 6% minimum window of 31 CFR 351.21(a)(1). The savings bond interest rates by issue date show the history.
Why the 9% Bonds Are Not Worth More Today
A higher starting guarantee did not give a higher value today because the guarantee covered only the first 8 or 9 years of a 30-year life. Under 31 CFR 351.19, January to April 1981 bonds ran 9 + 10 + 11 years, and May to December bonds 8 + 10 + 12.
Second extensions began in 2000 and 1999 (our calculation) under a 4% minimum (31 CFR 351.21(a)(2)).
How to Find the Exact Value of Your 1981 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1981 EE bond by its face value and issue month; the serial number is not needed. Our savings bond calculator, built on Treasury's published value files, prices it from the same inputs.
- Check that the bond says Series EE.
- Read the issue date on a paper savings bond (31 CFR 351.42).
- Note January to April or May to December.
- Find your face value in Table 1.
- Check the as-of month, November 2026.
TreasuryDirect's calculator is Treasury's free tool.
Which Savings Bonds Were Issued in 1981
A savings bond issued in 1981 is one of 4 kinds: Series EE, Series HH, a U.S. Retirement Plan Bond or an Individual Retirement Bond. EE bonds cost half of face value; the others cost face. Series E sales ended in June 1980, so a 1981 bond is never Series E.
Table 3: Savings bonds issued in 1981
| Attribute | Series EE (1981) | Series HH savings bonds (1981) | Retirement Plan Bonds and Individual Retirement Bonds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Half of face | Face value | Face value |
| Face values | Paper face values in 31 CFR 351.40: $50 to $10,000 (8 values); which were sold in 1981 is not established | $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 | Not tabled here |
| Interest | Added to the bond's value | Paid to the owner every 6 months; 7.5% for November 1980 to April 1981 issues, raised by 1% from May 1981; 8.5% for May 1981 to October 1982 issues (31 CFR 352.2(e)(1)) | Not tabled here |
| How bought | Cash purchase | Cash purchase (until 1982) or exchange of E or EE bonds | Not tabled here |
| Life | 30 years (stopped January to December 2011) | 20 years (stopped 2001, our calculation from 31 CFR 352.2(c)) | Individual Retirement Bonds mature at age 70 1/2 (31 CFR 346.1(b)) |
| Worth in November 2026 | Table 1 ($293.80 or $306.88 per $100) | Face value | Not in our data |
| Where to cash | A bank that cashes savings bonds, or FS Form 1522 by mail | Treasury only, FS Form 1522 by mail, direct deposit only | FS Form 1522 by mail |
| 3-month early-cash penalty | Never applied (EE issued May 1997 and later only) | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Note: Series E bonds were sold until June 1980; a bond dated 1981 is not Series E.
Sources: 31 CFR 341, 346.1(b), 351.40, 352.0, 352.2; TreasuryDirect Series HH page and timeline (as of November 11, 2026).
Cashing a 1981 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1981 paper EE bond is cashed at a bank that redeems savings bonds or by mail with FS Form 1522, and Treasury charges no fee. See how to cash savings bonds.
Banks may cash paper bonds but are not required to (FS Publication 0022, Rev. October 2022).
On the form (PDF, TreasuryDirect, Revised April 2026), a request of $1,000 or less in total needs no certification: one $200 bond ($613.76 or $587.60) needs an ID copy only. Above $1,000, such as one $500 bond ($1,534.40 or $1,469.00), a notary or certifying officer must certify the signature.
Treasury says 3 months or longer for bonds in your name and 5 months or longer for bonds not in your name, such as an estate's (as of November 11, 2026). See cash by mail with FS Form 1522.
Mail it to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150.
Tax Year 2011: When Interest on a 1981 Bond Was Reportable
Interest on a 1981 bond that was never cashed was reportable for tax year 2011, the year of its final maturity, unless the owner reported it yearly (26 CFR 1.454-1(a)(1); IRS Publication 550).
The interest is $256.88 or $243.80 on a $100 bond, exempt from state and local income tax (31 U.S.C. 3124(a)); see federal tax on savings bond interest.
If the owner died before final maturity in 2011, interest earned before death is income in respect of a decedent unless reported on the final return (26 U.S.C. 691). For an owner alive in 2011, how unreported 2011 interest is treated is not established; ask a tax professional. See taxes on inherited savings bonds.
Lost, Found or Inherited 1981 Bonds
A lost 1981 bond is claimed with FS Form 1048 (Revised March 2026), and the claim needs the bond's serial number. The FS Form 1048 claim for lost, stolen or destroyed savings bonds is free.
Claims 6 years or more after final maturity need the savings bond serial number (31 CFR 353.29(c)); 1981 bonds passed that point in 2017 (our calculation). Treasury Hunt closed September 30, 2025.
A deceased owner's bond goes to the surviving "OR" co-owner or the POD (payable-on-death) beneficiary, else the estate (31 CFR 353.70(b)(1), (c)(1)); see savings bonds after death. For a found bond, see found old savings bonds.
Treasury may share records of bonds over 3 years past final maturity with a State that has an agreement (31 U.S.C. 3105(f); 89 FR 102735). None is publicly known as of November 11, 2026; see unclaimed savings bonds.
Other Issue Years and Face Values
Value tables for other issue years and face values are listed below. January to October 1982 issues are worth the same $293.80 per $100 bond as May to December 1981 issues.
- 1980 Series EE savings bond value
- 1982 Series EE savings bond value
- 1985 Series EE savings bond value
- $50 savings bond worth (all years)
- $1,000 savings bond worth (all years)
- Banks that cash savings bonds
1981 Savings Bond FAQ
Did 1981 EE bonds earn 8% or 9% interest?
Yes, as guaranteed minimums: 8% a year for January to April 1981 issues and 9% for May to December issues, compounded semiannually, for 9 or 8 years. All interest stopped in 2011. Face value was reached at 9 or 8 years, not 20 (that applies to EE bonds issued June 2003 and later); see the final maturity of savings bonds.
How much is a $500 savings bond from 1981 worth?
A $500 Series EE bond from 1981 is worth $1,534.40 in November 2026 if issued January to April and $1,469.00 if issued May to December. It cost $250; cashing it by mail needs a notary or certifying officer.
Why is my $100 savings bond only worth $50?
A paper EE bond is worth less than face value only if it was issued May 2007 to December 2011 and is not yet 20 years old. Every 1981 bond was worth at least face by 1990; see how much a $100 savings bond is worth.
What is the value of a 1998 savings bond?
A $100 Series EE bond from 1998 is worth $126.16 to $128.28 in November 2026, by issue month, and earns interest until 2028. See the 1998 Series EE savings bond value.
Do 1981 savings bonds expire?
No: savings bonds never expire, and a 1981 bond can be cashed at any time (Executive Order 13968, 85 FR 83745); it earns nothing after 2011 (see when to cash savings bonds).
Claiming from Treasury and from state programs costs nothing, and the forms are free. Found bonds you cannot cash, or a relative's bonds? ClaimMyBonds is a private company, not the government; we can help with the paperwork, tracing and follow-up.