Every 1985 Series EE savings bond is worth $115.32 per $50 of face value in November 2026, in every issue month: $230.64 for a $100 bond and $2,306.40 for a $1,000 bond. Bought at half of face value, each is worth 4.6 times its price. Every one stopped earning interest in 2015.
These values come from Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files, which change on the 1st for bonds still earning. The 1985 values hold from November 2026 to May 2027.
Values for November 2026
How Much Is a 1985 Series EE Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1985 paper Series EE savings bond is worth $115.32 (a $50 bond) to $23,064.00 (a $10,000 bond) in November 2026, and a January issue is worth the same as a December issue. The current regulation lists 8 paper EE face values (31 CFR 351.40), the amount printed on the bond.
Table 1 lists all 12 issue months. The rules of Series EE savings bonds by issue date explain why they match.
Table 1: What a 1985 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 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Jan 1, 1995 | Jan 1, 2015 |
| February 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Feb 1, 1995 | Feb 1, 2015 |
| March 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Mar 1, 1995 | Mar 1, 2015 |
| April 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Apr 1, 1995 | Apr 1, 2015 |
| May 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | May 1, 1995 | May 1, 2015 |
| June 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Jun 1, 1995 | Jun 1, 2015 |
| July 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Jul 1, 1995 | Jul 1, 2015 |
| August 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Aug 1, 1995 | Aug 1, 2015 |
| September 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Sep 1, 1995 | Sep 1, 2015 |
| October 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Oct 1, 1995 | Oct 1, 2015 |
| November 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Nov 1, 1995 | Nov 1, 2015 |
| December 1985 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Dec 1, 1995 | Dec 1, 2015 |
Note: the table shows every paper EE face value in 31 CFR 351.40; your bond's face value is printed on it.
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.
How Much Would a $100 Savings Bond From 1985 Be Worth Today?
A $100 Series EE savings bond from 1985 is worth $230.64 in November 2026, whatever month of 1985 it was issued. The $100 bond cost $50, so it gained $180.64. That is also its value after 30 years, reached in 2015.
Why Every 1985 EE Bond Has Stopped Earning Interest
Every 1985 Series EE bond reached final maturity between January 1 and December 1, 2015, 30 years after its issue month, and has stopped earning interest (31 CFR 351.5). See 31 CFR Part 351.
- Issue: January to December 1985, at half of face
- Original maturity: 10 years, January to December 1995
- Extension: from original maturity to final maturity
- Final maturity: 30 years, January to December 2015
The rules on when savings bonds mature and stop earning interest differ by series.
Why Every 1985 Issue Month Has the Same Value
Every 1985 issue month has the same value because the file prices all 44 issue months from March 1983 to October 1986 at one figure, $57.66 per $25 of face value.
The block before it (November 1982 to February 1983) is worth $70.08 per $25 and the block after it (November 1986 to February 1993) $51.84: for a $100 bond, $280.32, $230.64 and $207.36. The month was not ignored: each bond earned the same total.
Table 2 shows the blocks and their rules.
Table 2: Where 1985 sits among EE issue months of May 1981 to April 1995, November 2026
| Issue months | Months | $100 value, November 2026 | Guarantee and original maturity | Extension minimum when the bond reached original maturity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1981 to October 1982 | 18 | $293.80 | 9%, 8 years | 6% (entered May 1989 to October 1990) |
| November 1982 to February 1983 | 4 | $280.32 | 7.5%, 10 years | 6% (entered November 1992 to February 1993) |
| March 1983 to October 1986 (includes all of 1985) | 44 | $230.64 | 7.5%, 10 years | 4% or the minimum in effect (entered March 1993 to October 1996) |
| November 1986 to February 1993 | 76 | $207.36 | 6%, 12 years | 4% or the minimum in effect |
| March 1993 to April 1995 | 26 | $164.12 | 4%, 18 years | 4% or the minimum in effect |
Note: extension entry month = issue month plus original maturity (our calculation); minimums from 31 CFR 351.21(a). Row links lead to the 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1994 year pages.
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 7.5% Guarantee and 10-Year Original Maturity of 1985 Bonds
1985 EE bonds carried a 7.5% guaranteed rate, compounded semiannually, for a 10-year original maturity, and earned the higher of that guaranteed value and a market-based value.
The market-based value was 85% of 6-month averages of 5-year Treasury yields (31 CFR 351.20). See Treasury's page for EE bonds issued 1980 through April 1995 and savings bond interest rates by issue date.
Why the Shared Value Starts in March 1983 and Ends in October 1986
The shared value starts in March 1983 and ends in October 1986 because both edges line up with a change in the rules. November 1982 to February 1983 issues entered their extension before March 1, 1993, under the 6% minimum.
March 1983 issues entered it on March 1, 1993, under the 4% minimum, or the minimum in effect when it began (31 CFR 351.21(a)). November 1986 issues moved to a 6% guarantee and a 12-year original maturity (31 CFR 351.19). We state only the match, not which rule set each value.
How to Find the Exact Value of Your 1985 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1985 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 a paper EE bond from them.
- Check that the bond says Series EE.
- Read the issue date on a paper savings bond: month and year, always the 1st (31 CFR 351.42).
- Read the face value.
- Find your face value in Table 1.
- Check the as-of month, November 2026.
TreasuryDirect's calculator is Treasury's free tool. The face design announced March 29, 1985 (timeline) does not change the value.
Which Savings Bonds Were Issued in 1985: Series EE and Series HH
A savings bond issued in 1985 is one of 2 series: a Series EE bond (bought at half of face, $50 to $10,000) or a Series HH bond (issued at face value in exchange for older bonds, $500 to $10,000).
A 1985 HH bond had a 20-year life, stopped earning in 2005 (our calculation), is worth face value and is cashed only by Treasury.
Table 3 compares the two savings bond series sold in 1985.
Table 3: Series EE and Series HH bonds issued in 1985
| Attribute | Series EE (1985) | Series HH savings bonds (1985) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Half of face | Issued at face value, by exchange only (cash sales ended in 1982) |
| Face values | $50 to $10,000 (the 8 face values in 31 CFR 351.40) | $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 |
| Interest | Added to the bond's value | Paid to the owner |
| Life | 30 years (stopped January to December 2015) | 20 years (stopped 2005, our calculation from 31 CFR 352.2) |
| Worth in November 2026 | Table 1 ($230.64 per $100) | Face value |
| 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 |
| 3-month early-cash penalty | Never applied (EE issued May 1997 and later only) | Not applicable |
Note: Series E bonds were sold until June 1980; a bond dated 1985 is not Series E.
Sources: 31 CFR 351.40, 352.0, 352.2; TreasuryDirect Series HH page (as of November 11, 2026).
Cashing a 1985 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1985 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 needs no certification (one $200 bond, $461.28, needs an ID copy). Above $1,000, such as one $500 bond ($1,153.20), sign before a notary or certifying officer.
Mail it to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150; Treasury says 3 months or longer for bonds in your name (as of November 11, 2026). See cash by mail with FS Form 1522.
Tax Year 2015: When Interest on a 1985 Bond Was Reportable
An uncashed 1985 bond's interest was reportable for tax year 2015, the year of its final maturity, unless the owner reported it yearly (26 CFR 1.454-1(a)(1); IRS Publication 550).
Interest is value minus price: $180.64 on a $100 bond. It is exempt from state and local income tax (31 U.S.C. 3124(a)); see federal tax on savings bond interest. Ask a tax professional about a missed year.
Inherited bond interest is income in respect of a decedent (earned but not yet taxed) unless reported on the final return (26 U.S.C. 691); see taxes on inherited savings bonds.
Lost, Found or Inherited 1985 Bonds
A lost 1985 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 filed 6 years or more after final maturity need the savings bond serial number (31 CFR 353.29(c)); 1985 bonds passed that point in 2021 (our calculation). Treasury Hunt has not been available since 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. A newly discovered bond starts with found old savings bonds.
Every 1985 bond is over 3 years past final maturity, so Treasury may share its owner records 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. Every 1984 issue month is worth $230.64 per $100 bond.
- 1984 Series EE savings bond value
- 1995 Series EE savings bond value
- 1996 Series EE savings bond value
- $50 savings bond worth (all years)
- $100 savings bond worth (all years)
- Banks that cash savings bonds
1985 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $200 EE savings bond from 1985 worth after 30 years?
A $200 Series EE savings bond from 1985 is worth $461.28 in November 2026, its final value, reached at 30 years in 2015.
How much is a $1,000 savings bond from 1985 worth?
A $1,000 savings bond from 1985 is worth $2,306.40 in November 2026 in every issue month. It cost $500; cashing it by mail needs a notary or certifying officer.
Did 1985 EE bonds earn 7.5% interest?
Yes, as a guaranteed minimum: 1985 EE bonds were guaranteed 7.5% a year, compounded semiannually, for their first 10 years, and stopped earning in 2015. They reached at least face value at 10 years, not 20.
How much would a $50 savings bond be worth from 1986?
A $50 Series EE bond from 1986 is worth $115.32 in November 2026 if issued January to October 1986, and $103.68 if issued November or December 1986. See the 1986 Series EE savings bond value.
Do 1985 savings bonds expire?
No: savings bonds never expire, and a 1985 bond can be cashed at any time (Executive Order 13968, 85 FR 83745); it earns nothing more after 2015. For bonds still earning, 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.