A $50 Series EE savings bond issued in 1997 is worth $63.30 to $64.92 in November 2026, and a $100 bond $126.60 to $129.84, depending on the issue month. Every 1997 bond still earns interest and stops between January 1 and December 1, 2027. January to April and May to December issues follow different rules.
The values come from Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files for redemption month November 2026. Values change on the 1st of a month.
Values for November 2026
How Much Is a 1997 Series EE Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1997 paper Series EE savings bond is worth $63.30 (a $50 bond issued January to April) to $12,984.00 (a $10,000 bond issued May) in November 2026.
Paper EE bonds sold for half of face value (the amount printed on the bond), so every 1997 bond is now worth more than face. January to April issues are all equal, and May to December issues are worth $128.04 to $129.84 per $100.
The rules of Series EE savings bonds explain the divider in Table 1.
Table 1: What a 1997 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 | Stops earning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1997 | $63.30 | $94.95 | $126.60 | $253.20 | $633.00 | $1,266.00 | $6,330.00 | $12,660.00 | Jan 1, 2027 |
| February 1997 | $63.30 | $94.95 | $126.60 | $253.20 | $633.00 | $1,266.00 | $6,330.00 | $12,660.00 | Feb 1, 2027 |
| March 1997 | $63.30 | $94.95 | $126.60 | $253.20 | $633.00 | $1,266.00 | $6,330.00 | $12,660.00 | Mar 1, 2027 |
| April 1997 | $63.30 | $94.95 | $126.60 | $253.20 | $633.00 | $1,266.00 | $6,330.00 | $12,660.00 | Apr 1, 2027 |
| New EE rules from May 1, 1997 | |||||||||
| May 1997 | $64.92 | $97.38 | $129.84 | $259.68 | $649.20 | $1,298.40 | $6,492.00 | $12,984.00 | May 1, 2027 |
| June 1997 | $64.74 | $97.11 | $129.48 | $258.96 | $647.40 | $1,294.80 | $6,474.00 | $12,948.00 | Jun 1, 2027 |
| July 1997 | $64.56 | $96.84 | $129.12 | $258.24 | $645.60 | $1,291.20 | $6,456.00 | $12,912.00 | Jul 1, 2027 |
| August 1997 | $64.38 | $96.57 | $128.76 | $257.52 | $643.80 | $1,287.60 | $6,438.00 | $12,876.00 | Aug 1, 2027 |
| September 1997 | $64.20 | $96.30 | $128.40 | $256.80 | $642.00 | $1,284.00 | $6,420.00 | $12,840.00 | Sep 1, 2027 |
| October 1997 | $64.02 | $96.03 | $128.04 | $256.08 | $640.20 | $1,280.40 | $6,402.00 | $12,804.00 | Oct 1, 2027 |
| November 1997 | $64.50 | $96.75 | $129.00 | $258.00 | $645.00 | $1,290.00 | $6,450.00 | $12,900.00 | Nov 1, 2027 |
| December 1997 | $64.32 | $96.48 | $128.64 | $257.28 | $643.20 | $1,286.40 | $6,432.00 | $12,864.00 | Dec 1, 2027 |
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 Is a $50 or $100 Savings Bond From 1997 Worth?
A $50 savings bond from 1997 is worth $63.30 (January to April issues) or $64.02 to $64.92 (May to December issues) in November 2026. A $100 bond is worth $126.60, or $128.04 to $129.84, and May is the highest month.
When 1997 EE Bonds Stop Earning Interest in 2027
Every 1997 Series EE bond stops earning interest between January 1 and December 1, 2027, 30 years after its issue month. That is final maturity (31 CFR 351.5, in eCFR).
- January to April 1997 issues: stop January 1 to April 1, 2027
- May to December 1997 issues: stop May 1 to December 1, 2027
- After final maturity: value fixed, no deadline to cash (Executive Order 13968, 85 FR 83745)
No 1997 bond has stopped yet. The rules on when savings bonds stop earning interest differ by series.
Why January to April 1997 Bonds Follow Different Rules Than May to December 1997 Bonds
A May 1997 bond is worth more than an April 1997 bond because Treasury issued it under the rules for EE bonds issued May 1997 to April 2005.
January to April 1997 issues were the last under the May 1995 to April 1997 rules. In November 2026 a $100 April bond is worth $126.60 and a $100 May bond $129.84, which is $3.24 more. Table 2 compares the two rule sets.
Table 2: The two sets of rules behind 1997 EE bonds
| Attribute | January to April 1997 issues | May to December 1997 issues |
|---|---|---|
| Rules (TreasuryDirect page) | EE bonds issued May 1995 through April 1997 | EE bonds issued May 1997 through April 2005 |
| Price | Half of face | Half of face |
| How interest is set | 5 years: 85% of the 3-month average of 6-month Treasury securities rates; then 85% of the 6-month average of 5-year Treasury yields | 90% of the 6-month average of 5-year Treasury yields, reset May 1 and November 1, applied from each bond's next 6-month period |
| When interest is added | Every 6 months only | Monthly, compounded semiannually |
| Original maturity | 17 years (January to April 2014), worth at least face | 17 years (May to December 2014), worth at least double the price (face, for paper) |
| Extension | One, 13 years | To 30 years; "same method unless we announce a different method" |
| Final maturity (interest stops) | January 1 to April 1, 2027 | May 1 to December 1, 2027 |
| 3-month early-cash penalty (under 5 years) | Never applied | Applies to issues from May 1, 1997; no 1997 bond is under 5 years |
| Rate announced November 1, 2026, for 6-month periods starting on or after it | 3.80% for the rule set; no bond of this group starts such a period before final maturity | 4.02% |
| $100 bond, November 2026 | $126.60 | $128.04 to $129.84 |
| Regulation | 31 CFR 351.24 to 351.28 | 31 CFR 351.29 to 351.33 |
Sources: TreasuryDirect EE pages "May 1995 through April 1997" and "May 1997 through April 2005" (as of November 11, 2026); 31 CFR Part 351 (eCFR, current as of November 9, 2026); Savings Bonds Value Files, November 2026.
January to April 1997 Issues: Interest Added Every Six Months
January to April 1997 bonds earn interest that Treasury adds only every 6 months, so the value holds between credit dates.
The rate is 85% of 6-month Treasury securities averages for 5 years, then 85% of 5-year Treasury yields; original maturity came in January to April 2014. Treasury's EE page for these bonds says "we only add that interest to the bond's value 2 times a year."
May to December 1997 Issues: 90% of 5-Year Treasury Yields, Credited Monthly
May to December 1997 bonds earn 90% of the 6-month average of 5-year Treasury yields, reset each May 1 and November 1, credited monthly and compounded semiannually (31 CFR 351.13, 351.30 and, for extended maturity, 351.33). Each bond takes a new rate at the start of its next 6-month period.
Original maturity (May to December 2014) guaranteed at least double the price, which is face for paper (31 CFR 351.32(b)). The rate is 4.02% for 6-month periods starting on or after November 1, 2026 (Treasury's EE page). Every announced rate is in the history of savings bond interest rates by issue date.
Why November and December 1997 Issues Are Worth More Than September and October
November 1997 bonds are worth $129.00 per $100 in November 2026, more than August to October issues ($128.04 to $128.76), and December bonds ($128.64) are worth more than September and October issues.
December is below August ($128.76). Their 6-month periods start in other months, and a bond takes each announced rate at the start of its next period. From May to October, each month is $0.36 less per $100.
How 1997 Values Change From November 2026 to May 2027
May to December 1997 bonds rise each month from November 2026 to May 2027, and January to April 1997 bonds hold, then take one final step. A $100 May 1997 bond goes from $129.84 in November 2026 to $132.44 on May 1, 2027, its final value. Table 3 shows five issue months.
Table 3: A $100 1997 EE bond, November 2026 to May 2027 (bold: the final value)
| Issue month | Nov 2026 | Dec 2026 | Jan 2027 | Feb 2027 | Mar 2027 | Apr 2027 | May 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1997 | $126.60 | $126.60 | $128.64 | $128.64 | $128.64 | $128.64 | $128.64 |
| April 1997 | $126.60 | $126.60 | $126.60 | $126.60 | $126.60 | $128.64 | $128.64 |
| May 1997 | $129.84 | $130.28 | $130.72 | $131.12 | $131.56 | $132.00 | $132.44 |
| October 1997 | $128.04 | $128.40 | $128.76 | $129.12 | $129.48 | $129.84 | $130.28 |
| December 1997 | $128.64 | $129.00 | $129.44 | $129.84 | $130.28 | $130.72 | $131.16 |
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. Later months are Treasury's scheduled values in the same file. Rates for periods starting after April 2027 are not yet announced.
The Final Six-Month Step for January to April 1997 Bonds
A January to April 1997 bond is worth $126.60 per $100 until its final maturity date and $128.64 from that date (January 1, February 1, March 1 or April 1, 2027).
Under the 6-month credit rule, a bond cashed the month before gives up $2.04 per $100 ($20.40 per $1,000) of interest; that is a rule, not advice.
How to Find the Exact Value of Your 1997 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1997 EE bond by its face value and issue date (always the 1st of the month), not its serial number. Our savings bond calculator, built on Treasury's published value files, uses them.
- Check the series: EE.
- Read the issue date on a paper savings bond: the month and year.
- Read the face value printed on the bond.
- Find your row and face value column in Table 1.
- Check the as-of month: May to December values change monthly.
TreasuryDirect's savings bond calculator is Treasury's free tool. A $100 May 1997 bond is four $25 units at $32.46, or $129.84.
How 1997 Values Compare With 1996 and 1998 Issues
1997 values connect to their neighbors at two points. January to April 1997 issues equal December 1996 issues now ($126.60 per $100) and reach the November 1996 final value ($128.64). Table 4 shows 1998 issues ($126.16 to $128.28) just below May to December 1997.
Table 4: What a $100 EE bond issued November 1996 to December 1998 is worth in November 2026
| Issue months | $100 value | Status | Year page |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1996 | $128.64 | Stopped Nov 1, 2026 | 1996 |
| December 1996 | $126.60 | Earns until Dec 1, 2026, then $128.64 | 1996, above |
| January to April 1997 | $126.60 | Earns until Jan 1 to Apr 1, 2027, then $128.64 | This page |
| May to December 1997 | $128.04 to $129.84 | Earns until May 1 to Dec 1, 2027 | This page |
| January to December 1998 | $126.16 to $128.28 | Earns until January to December 2028 | 1998 |
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.
Cashing a 1997 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1997 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. A bank may cash a paper bond but need not (FS Publication 0022, Rev. October 2022), and paper bonds are cashed whole.
FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026, PDF from TreasuryDirect) needs no signature certification at $1,000 or less, such as one $500 bond ($633.00 to $649.20). Above $1,000, such as a $1,000 bond, you sign before a notary or certifying officer.
Mail it to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150; requests take 3 months or longer (TreasuryDirect, November 11, 2026). Details: cash by mail with FS Form 1522.
Tax Year 2027: When Interest on a 1997 Bond Is Reportable
Interest on a 1997 bond that is never cashed is reportable for tax year 2027, the year of its final maturity, unless reported every year (26 CFR 1.454-1(a)(1); IRS Publication 550).
Interest is the value minus the price: $78.64 on a $100 January 1997 bond ($128.64 minus $50). State and local income tax does not apply (31 U.S.C. 3124(a)); see federal tax on savings bond interest.
A payer reports interest of $10 or more in box 3 of Form 1099-INT for savings bonds.
Education costs can exclude interest under the education savings bond program (IRC 135, Form 8815) if the owner was 24 or older before issue; the phase-out for 2027 is $105,100 to $120,100 single and $157,600 to $187,600 joint (2026: $101,800 to $116,800 and $152,650 to $182,650). Ask a tax professional.
Lost, Found or Inherited 1997 Bonds, and 1997 HH Bonds
A lost 1997 bond is claimed with FS Form 1048, and from 2033 a claim needs the serial number. A claim filed 6 years or more after final maturity needs it (31 CFR 353.29(c); 2033 is our calculation). The FS Form 1048 claim for lost, stolen or destroyed savings bonds is Rev. March 2026.
A found or inherited bond goes to the surviving "OR" co-owner or POD (payable-on-death) beneficiary, else the estate (31 CFR 353.70). See savings bonds after death or found old savings bonds.
A 1997 bond paying interest every 6 months is Series HH (20-year life, stopped 2017, our calculation). Only Treasury cashes Series HH savings bonds.
Other Issue Years and Face Values
Value tables for other issue years and face values are listed below. A $100 bond from 1995 is worth $123.56 to $164.12 in November 2026.
- 1996 Series EE savings bond value
- 1998 Series EE savings bond value
- 1995 Series EE savings bond value
- $50 savings bond worth (all years)
- $100 savings bond worth (all years)
- $1,000 savings bond worth (all years)
- Banks that cash savings bonds
1997 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $100 savings bond from 1997 worth after 30 years?
A $100 savings bond from 1997 reaches 30 years in 2027: January to April issues end at $128.64, the May issue at $132.44 on May 1, 2027.
Do 1997 Series EE bonds expire after 30 years?
No: a 1997 EE bond stops earning at 30 years, in 2027, but never expires and can be cashed at any time (Executive Order 13968, 85 FR 83745).
Did 1997 EE bonds double in 20 years?
No: 1997 EE bonds reached original maturity after 17 years, in 2014, not 20. The paper guarantee was face value, twice the price; 20 years applies from June 2003 issues (31 CFR 351.29).
Is it worth keeping a 1997 EE bond?
A 1997 EE bond earns interest until its final maturity in 2027 and nothing after it, and it never expires. Timing rules are on when to cash savings bonds.
How much is a 1999 Series EE bond worth?
A $100 Series EE bond issued in 1999 is worth $124.32 to $126.24 in November 2026 and earns until 2029. See a 1999 Series EE savings bond.
How much is a $1,000 savings bond from 1997 worth?
A $1,000 savings bond from 1997 is worth $1,266.00 (January to April issues) or $1,280.40 to $1,298.40 (May to December) in November 2026. It cost $500; above $1,000, FS Form 1522 needs a certified signature.
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.