A 1986 Series EE savings bond is worth $230.64 per $100 of face value in November 2026 if it was issued January to October 1986, and $207.36 per $100 if it was issued November or December 1986.
Face value is the amount printed on the bond; each bond cost half of that. A $50 bond is worth $115.32 or $103.68, and a $1,000 bond $2,306.40 or $2,073.60. All 1986 bonds stopped earning in 2016, so the values are final.
The figures come from Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files. Redemption value, the cash Treasury pays today, changes on the 1st of a month only while a bond still earns, so 1986 bonds stay flat from November 2026 to May 2027. Within 1986, only the November 1, 1986 change of terms changes the value.
Values for November 2026
How Much Is a 1986 Series EE Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1986 paper Series EE bond is worth $103.68 (a $50 bond issued November or December) to $23,064.00 (a $10,000 bond issued January to October, where that face value existed) in November 2026. 31 CFR 351.40 lists 8 paper EE face values, each with two 1986 figures; which of them existed in 1986 is not established.
Table 1 lists all 12 issue months. The rules of Series EE savings bonds by issue date are on our series page.
Table 1: 1986 Series EE savings bond value by issue month and face value, November 2026
| Issue month | $50 | $75 | $100 | $200 | $500 | $1,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 | Original maturity | Stopped earning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1986 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Jan 1, 1996 | Jan 1, 2016 |
| February 1986 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Feb 1, 1996 | Feb 1, 2016 |
| March 1986 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Mar 1, 1996 | Mar 1, 2016 |
| April 1986 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Apr 1, 1996 | Apr 1, 2016 |
| May 1986 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | May 1, 1996 | May 1, 2016 |
| June 1986 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Jun 1, 1996 | Jun 1, 2016 |
| July 1986 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Jul 1, 1996 | Jul 1, 2016 |
| August 1986 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Aug 1, 1996 | Aug 1, 2016 |
| September 1986 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Sep 1, 1996 | Sep 1, 2016 |
| October 1986 | $115.32 | $172.98 | $230.64 | $461.28 | $1,153.20 | $2,306.40 | $11,532.00 | $23,064.00 | Oct 1, 1996 | Oct 1, 2016 |
| November 1986 | $103.68 | $155.52 | $207.36 | $414.72 | $1,036.80 | $2,073.60 | $10,368.00 | $20,736.00 | Nov 1, 1998 | Nov 1, 2016 |
| December 1986 | $103.68 | $155.52 | $207.36 | $414.72 | $1,036.80 | $2,073.60 | $10,368.00 | $20,736.00 | Dec 1, 1998 | Dec 1, 2016 |
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 face/25.
Values are shown for every paper EE face value in 31 CFR 351.40; the face value is printed on your bond. Every 1986 bond has stopped earning interest, so these values are final. November and December 1986 issues follow the rules that began November 1, 1986.
How Much Would a $50 or $100 Savings Bond From 1986 Be Worth Today?
A $50 savings bond from 1986 is worth $115.32 in November 2026 if issued January to October, and $103.68 if issued November or December; a $100 bond is worth $230.64 or $207.36. A $50 bond cost $25, so it is worth 4.6 times its price in the earlier group and 4.1 times in the later one. These are also the values after 30 years, reached in 2016. No 1986 bond is Series E, which ended in June 1980.
Why Every 1986 EE Bond Has Stopped Earning Interest
Every 1986 Series EE bond reached final maturity, the date interest stops, between January 1 and December 1, 2016, 30 years after its issue month. Four dates (31 CFR 351.5, 351.19 and 351.42) mark its life.
- Issue: January to December 1986, at half of face
- Original maturity (first scheduled maturity date): January to October 1996 (10 years), or November and December 1998 (12 years)
- Extensions: further periods until final maturity
- Final maturity: January to December 2016 (30 years); interest stops
The value is fixed, yet a bond never expires. See how savings bonds mature and stop earning interest.
Why November and December 1986 Bonds Are Worth Less Than January to October Issues
November and December 1986 bonds are worth less because Treasury changed the Series EE terms for bonds issued from November 1, 1986: the guaranteed rate fell from 7.5% to 6%, and the original maturity grew from 10 to 12 years.
The gap is $5.82 per $25 of face value, $23.28 per $100 and $232.80 per $1,000, about 10%.
Table 2 compares the two groups of 1986 EE bonds, issued before and from November 1, 1986.
Table 2: The two groups of 1986 Series EE bonds
| Attribute | Issued January to October 1986 | Issued November or December 1986 |
|---|---|---|
| Value of a $100 bond, November 2026 | $230.64 | $207.36 |
| Value per $25 unit | $57.66 | $51.84 |
| Worth vs purchase price | 4.6 times | 4.1 times |
| Guaranteed rate, original maturity | 7.5%, compounded semiannually | 6%, compounded semiannually |
| Original maturity | 10 years (January to October 1996) | 12 years (November, December 1998) |
| Extensions | 10 years, then 10 years | 10 years, then 8 years |
| Final maturity (interest stopped) | January to October 2016 | November, December 2016 |
| Extension minimum | 4% or the minimum in effect when the period began | same |
| Value block | March 1983 to October 1986 (44 months) | November 1986 to February 1993 (76 months) |
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 face/25. Terms: 31 CFR 351.19, 351.21; TreasuryDirect "1980 through April 1995" page.
January to October 1986: The 7.5% Guarantee and 10-Year Original Maturity
A 1986 EE bond issued January to October 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 is 85% of 6-month averages of 5-year Treasury yields (31 CFR 351.20, 351.21). Two 10-year extensions followed the original maturity (31 CFR 351.19: 10, 10, 10). TreasuryDirect lists the terms on its 1980 through April 1995 page; see savings bond interest rates by issue date.
November and December 1986: The 6% Guarantee and 12-Year Original Maturity
A 1986 EE bond issued in November or December carried a 6% guaranteed rate, compounded semiannually, for a 12-year original maturity, under the same higher-of rule.
Extensions of 10 and then 8 years followed (31 CFR 351.19: 12, 10, 8), so both groups end in 2016 by different paths. Every extension began after March 1, 1993, so each carried a minimum of 4% or the minimum in effect (31 CFR 351.21(a)(2)).
Why a 1986 Bond Can Be Worth the Same as a 1983 or a 1993 Bond
A 1986 bond is worth the same as bonds from other years because the value file prices whole blocks of issue months at one figure.
January to October 1986 are the last 10 of 44 months (March 1983 to October 1986, $57.66 per $25); November and December 1986 are the first 2 of 76 (November 1986 to February 1993, $51.84).
So an October 1986 bond equals a March 1983 bond, and a November 1986 bond equals a February 1993 bond. The edges line up with dates in 31 CFR 351.19 and 351.21(a).
Table 3 shows the blocks of issue months that share one value.
Table 3: Where 1986 sits among EE issue months of 1981 to 1995, November 2026
| Issue months | Months | $100 value, November 2026 | Guarantee and original maturity | 1986 months in block | Year page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1981 to October 1982 | 18 | $293.80 | 9%, 8 years | none | none |
| November 1982 to February 1983 | 4 | $280.32 | 7.5%, 10 years | none | 1983 Series EE savings bond value |
| March 1983 to October 1986 | 44 | $230.64 | 7.5%, 10 years | January to October | 1985 Series EE savings bond value |
| November 1986 to February 1993 | 76 | $207.36 | 6%, 12 years | November, December | 1989 Series EE savings bond value |
| March 1993 to April 1995 | 26 | $164.12 | 4%, 18 years | none | 1994 Series EE savings bond value |
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 face/25. Terms: 31 CFR 351.19; month counts are our count of the value file.
How to Find the Exact Value of Your 1986 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1986 EE bond by its face value and issue month; you do not need the serial number. Our savings bond calculator, built on Treasury's published value files, takes the same inputs. TreasuryDirect's Savings Bond Calculator is Treasury's free tool.
- 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).
- Note whether it is October 1986 or earlier, or November or December 1986.
- Find your face value in Table 1, in the row for your issue month.
- Check the as-of month.
Which Savings Bonds Were Issued in 1986: Series EE and Series HH
A savings bond dated 1986 is one of 2 series: Series EE, bought at half of face (face values listed in 31 CFR 351.40, $50 to $10,000), or Series HH, issued at face value for $500 to $10,000.
HH bonds came only in exchange for older bonds (Series E, EE or Savings Notes) or by reinvesting matured H or HH bonds (31 CFR 352.7, 352.8), because cash sales ended in 1982.
HH split on the same date: a 7.5% original-maturity yield to October 1986 and 6% from November 1986, paid semiannually (31 CFR 352.2(e)(1)). An HH bond lasted 20 years, so 1986 HH bonds stopped earning in 2006 (derived).
Table 4: Series EE and Series HH bonds issued in 1986
| Attribute | Series EE (1986) | Series HH savings bonds (1986) |
|---|---|---|
| How obtained | bought for cash at half of face | only in exchange for older bonds or reinvested matured H or HH bonds (31 CFR 352.7, 352.8) |
| Face values | $50 to $10,000 in the current list (31 CFR 351.40); which existed in 1986 is not established | $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 |
| Interest | added to the bond's value | paid to the owner every 6 months |
| Rate, issued January to October 1986 | 7.5% guarantee, 10 years | 7.5% original-maturity yield |
| Rate, issued November or December 1986 | 6% guarantee, 12 years | 6% original-maturity yield |
| Life | 30 years (stopped January to December 2016) | 20 years (stopped 2006, derived from 31 CFR 352.2) |
| Worth in November 2026 | Table 1 ($230.64 or $207.36 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 May 1997 and later only) | not applicable |
Series E bonds were sold until June 1980; a bond dated 1986 is not Series E. Sources: 31 CFR 351.19, 351.40, 352.2; TreasuryDirect Series HH page (as of November 11, 2026).
Cashing a 1986 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1986 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 savings bonds but need not (FS Publication 0022, Rev. October 2022).
FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026, PDF from TreasuryDirect) needs a notary or certifying officer only above $1,000. One $200 bond ($461.28 or $414.72) needs only an ID copy; any $500 bond ($1,153.20 or $1,036.80) needs certification.
For the whole request, mail it to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150; cashing takes 3 months or longer if you are named on the bond, 5 months or longer if you are not (TreasuryDirect, as of November 11, 2026). See cash by mail with FS Form 1522.
Tax Year 2016: When Interest on a 1986 Bond Was Reportable
Interest on a 1986 bond that was never cashed was reportable for tax year 2016, the year of its final maturity, unless the owner reported it yearly.
The rule names the year of cashing or final maturity, whichever came first (26 CFR 1.454-1(a)(1); IRS Publication 550). Interest is value minus price: $180.64 per $100 bond or $157.36.
Interest is subject to federal income tax but exempt from state and local income tax (31 U.S.C. 3124(a)); state estate or inheritance taxes can still apply.
The education exclusion covers only Series EE bonds issued after 1989 (and Series I bonds), so no 1986 bond qualifies. Ask a tax professional about a 2016 return that omitted it; see federal tax on savings bond interest.
If the owner died before the bond's 2016 final maturity, the pre-death interest is income in respect of a decedent unless it was reported on the final return (26 U.S.C. 691); see taxes on inherited savings bonds.
Lost, Found or Inherited 1986 Bonds
A lost 1986 bond is claimed with FS Form 1048 (Revised March 2026), and the claim needs the serial number. Claims 6 or more years after final maturity need it (31 CFR 353.29(c)), a point 1986 bonds passed during 2022 (derived).
Treasury Hunt, a discontinued Treasury tool, closed in 2025. Use the FS Form 1048 claim for lost savings bonds; see the savings bond serial number.
The surviving "OR" co-owner or POD (payable-on-death) beneficiary takes the bond, else the estate; see inherited savings bonds after death. Found one? See found old savings bonds.
Every 1986 bond is more than 3 years past final maturity, so 31 U.S.C. 3105(f) lets Treasury share owners' names with a State under an agreement; none is publicly known as of November 11, 2026 (89 FR 102735); see unclaimed savings bonds.
Other Issue Years and Face Values
Other issue years have the same tables.
- 1985 Series EE savings bond value
- 1988 Series EE savings bond value
- 1998 Series EE savings bond value
- $50 savings bond worth, all years
- $100 savings bond worth, all years
- Banks that cash savings bonds
1986 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $1,000 savings bond from 1986 worth?
A $1,000 savings bond from 1986 is worth $2,306.40 in November 2026 if issued January to October, and $2,073.60 if issued November or December. It cost $500.
How much is a $200 EE savings bond from 1986 worth after 30 years?
A $200 Series EE bond from 1986 is worth $461.28 (January to October) or $414.72 (November, December) in November 2026, its final value since 2016. It cost $100. See $200 savings bond worth.
Can a 1986 savings bond be too old to redeem?
No: savings bonds never expire, and a 1986 bond can be cashed at any time (Executive Order 13968, 85 FR 83745). It has earned nothing since 2016.
Is it worth keeping a 1986 EE bond instead of cashing it?
A 1986 EE bond has earned no interest since its final maturity in 2016, so holding it adds nothing to its value. The choice stays with the owner; see when to cash savings bonds.
How much is a savings bond from 1987 worth?
A Series EE bond from 1987 is worth $207.36 per $100 in November 2026 in every issue month, the same as a November or December 1986 bond. See a savings bond from 1987.
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.