A $50 Series EE savings bond issued in 1998 is worth $63.08 to $64.14 in November 2026, and a $100 bond $126.16 to $128.28, depending on the issue month. Every 1998 bond still earns interest and stops between January 1 and December 1, 2028.
The values come from Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files for redemption month November 2026 and can change on the 1st of each month.
Values for November 2026
How Much Is a 1998 Series EE Savings Bond Worth in November 2026?
A 1998 paper Series EE savings bond is worth $63.08 (a $50 bond issued October 1998) to $12,828.00 (a $10,000 bond issued January 1998) in November 2026. Paper EE bonds sold for half of face value (the amount printed on the bond), so every 1998 bond is now worth more than face.
The rules of Series EE savings bonds cover every issue period; one rule set covers all of 1998.
Table 1: What a 1998 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 1998 | $64.14 | $96.21 | $128.28 | $256.56 | $641.40 | $1,282.80 | $6,414.00 | $12,828.00 | Jan 1, 2028 |
| February 1998 | $63.96 | $95.94 | $127.92 | $255.84 | $639.60 | $1,279.20 | $6,396.00 | $12,792.00 | Feb 1, 2028 |
| March 1998 | $63.78 | $95.67 | $127.56 | $255.12 | $637.80 | $1,275.60 | $6,378.00 | $12,756.00 | Mar 1, 2028 |
| April 1998 | $63.60 | $95.40 | $127.20 | $254.40 | $636.00 | $1,272.00 | $6,360.00 | $12,720.00 | Apr 1, 2028 |
| May 1998 | $63.96 | $95.94 | $127.92 | $255.84 | $639.60 | $1,279.20 | $6,396.00 | $12,792.00 | May 1, 2028 |
| June 1998 | $63.78 | $95.67 | $127.56 | $255.12 | $637.80 | $1,275.60 | $6,378.00 | $12,756.00 | Jun 1, 2028 |
| July 1998 | $63.60 | $95.40 | $127.20 | $254.40 | $636.00 | $1,272.00 | $6,360.00 | $12,720.00 | Jul 1, 2028 |
| August 1998 | $63.44 | $95.16 | $126.88 | $253.76 | $634.40 | $1,268.80 | $6,344.00 | $12,688.00 | Aug 1, 2028 |
| September 1998 | $63.26 | $94.89 | $126.52 | $253.04 | $632.60 | $1,265.20 | $6,326.00 | $12,652.00 | Sep 1, 2028 |
| October 1998 | $63.08 | $94.62 | $126.16 | $252.32 | $630.80 | $1,261.60 | $6,308.00 | $12,616.00 | Oct 1, 2028 |
| November 1998 | $63.48 | $95.22 | $126.96 | $253.92 | $634.80 | $1,269.60 | $6,348.00 | $12,696.00 | Nov 1, 2028 |
| December 1998 | $63.30 | $94.95 | $126.60 | $253.20 | $633.00 | $1,266.00 | $6,330.00 | $12,660.00 | Dec 1, 2028 |
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 1998 Worth?
A $50 savings bond from 1998 is worth $63.08 to $64.14 in November 2026, and a $100 bond $126.16 to $128.28. They cost $25 and $50, and a $100 January 1998 bond holds $78.28 of interest ($128.28 minus the $50 price).
When 1998 EE Bonds Stop Earning Interest in 2028
Every 1998 Series EE bond stops earning interest between January 1 and December 1, 2028, 30 years after its issue month. That date is final maturity (31 CFR 351.5, eCFR).
- January 1998 issues: stop January 1, 2028
- December 1998 issues: stop December 1, 2028
- After final maturity: value fixed, no deadline to cash (Executive Order 13968, 85 FR 83745)
The rules on when savings bonds stop earning interest differ by series.
Which EE Rules Apply to 1998 Bonds?
Every 1998 EE bond follows the rules Treasury set for EE bonds issued May 1997 through April 2005, so all 12 issue months share one method. Table 2 lists the terms.
Table 2: The EE rules behind every 1998 bond
| Attribute | 1998 Series EE bonds (all 12 issue months) |
|---|---|
| Rules (TreasuryDirect page) | EE bonds issued May 1997 through April 2005 |
| Price | Half of face ($25 for a $50 bond) |
| How interest is set (original maturity) | 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 | Monthly, compounded semiannually |
| Original maturity | 17 years (January to December 2015), worth at least double the price (face, for paper) |
| Extension | To 30 years; "we use the same method unless we announce a different method" (TreasuryDirect) |
| Final maturity (interest stops) | January 1 to December 1, 2028 |
| Minimum holding period | 6 months (issue dates on or before January 1, 2003); long past |
| 3-month early-cash penalty (under 5 years) | Applies to EE issued from May 1, 1997; no 1998 bond is under 5 years, and Treasury's values already include it |
| Rate for 6-month periods starting on or after November 1, 2026 | 4.02% |
| $100 bond, November 2026 | $126.16 to $128.28 |
| Regulation | 31 CFR 351.29 to 351.33 |
Sources: TreasuryDirect EE page "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.
Original Maturity at 17 Years, in 2015
1998 EE bonds reached original maturity after 17 years, between January and December 2015, when each was worth at least double its price (face, for paper; 31 CFR 351.29, 351.32(b)). The 20-year guarantee applies only to EE bonds issued June 2003 and later.
What Interest Rate Does a 1998 EE Bond Earn From November 2026?
A 1998 EE bond earns 4.02% for each 6-month period that starts on or after November 1, 2026, Treasury's rate for these bonds (TreasuryDirect, as of November 1, 2026). For the original maturity period the rate is 90% of the 6-month average of 5-year Treasury yields, reset each May 1 and November 1; TreasuryDirect says it uses the same method in the extended maturity period unless it announces a different one (31 CFR 351.13, 351.30). Every announced rate is in savings bond interest rates by issue date.
Why January 1998 Bonds Are Worth the Most and October 1998 Bonds the Least
January 1998 bonds are worth the most ($128.28 per $100) and October 1998 bonds the least ($126.16) in November 2026 because each issue month starts its 6-month periods in a different month and takes each announced rate at a different time (31 CFR 351.30). The two are $2.12 apart per $100.
From January to April, and from May to October, each later issue month is $0.36 less per $100 (July to August $0.32). May ($127.92) equals February, June equals March and July equals April. November ($126.96) sits above August to October, and December ($126.60) above September and October.
How 1998 Values Change From November 2026 to May 2027
Every 1998 EE bond gains value on the 1st of each month from November 2026 to May 2027 in Treasury's current value file.
A $100 January 1998 bond goes from $128.28 to $130.72 by May 2027, and an October 1998 bond from $126.16 to $128.36. The gain over six months is $2.20 to $2.56 per $100. Table 3 shows six issue months.
Table 3: A $100 1998 EE bond, November 2026 to May 2027
| Issue month | Nov 2026 | Dec 2026 | Jan 2027 | Feb 2027 | Mar 2027 | Apr 2027 | May 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1998 | $128.28 | $128.64 | $129.00 | $129.44 | $129.84 | $130.28 | $130.72 |
| April 1998 | $127.20 | $127.56 | $127.92 | $128.28 | $128.64 | $129.00 | $129.44 |
| May 1998 | $127.92 | $128.36 | $128.76 | $129.20 | $129.64 | $130.04 | $130.48 |
| October 1998 | $126.16 | $126.52 | $126.88 | $127.20 | $127.56 | $127.92 | $128.36 |
| November 1998 | $126.96 | $127.40 | $127.80 | $128.24 | $128.64 | $129.08 | $129.52 |
| December 1998 | $126.60 | $126.96 | $127.40 | $127.80 | $128.24 | $128.64 | $129.08 |
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.
How to Find the Exact Value of Your 1998 Savings Bond
Treasury prices a 1998 EE bond by its series, face value and issue month; the serial number is not needed. Our savings bond calculator, built on Treasury's published value files, uses those inputs.
- Check the series printed on the bond: EE, or I.
- Read the issue date on a paper savings bond: always the 1st of a month.
- Read the face value.
- Find the row and column in Table 1.
- Check the as-of month, because values change monthly.
TreasuryDirect's calculator is Treasury's free tool. Series I was offered from September 1, 1998 and sold at face value, so a $100 bond bought for $100 in late 1998 is an I bond, and Table 1 does not apply.
How 1998 Values Compare With 1997 and 1999 Issues
1998 values meet their neighbors at both ends of the year. January 1998 ($128.28 per $100) sits just below December 1997 ($128.64), and December 1998 ($126.60) sits just above January 1999 ($126.24). 1997 issues stop in 2027 and 1999 issues in 2029.
Table 4: What a $100 EE bond issued May 1997 to December 1999 is worth in November 2026
| Issue months | $100 value | Status | Year page |
|---|---|---|---|
| May to December 1997 | $128.04 to $129.84 | Earns until May 1 to Dec 1, 2027 | 1997 |
| December 1997 | $128.64 | Earns until Dec 1, 2027 | 1997, above |
| January 1998 | $128.28 | Earns until Jan 1, 2028 | This page |
| December 1998 | $126.60 | Earns until Dec 1, 2028 | This page |
| January to December 1999 | $124.32 to $126.24 | Earns until Jan to Dec 2029 | 1999 |
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 1998 Savings Bond and Reporting Its Interest
A 1998 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).
FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026, PDF from TreasuryDirect) needs no signature certification at $1,000 or less, such as one $500 bond ($630.80 to $641.40). Above $1,000, such as one $1,000 bond ($1,261.60 to $1,282.80), 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, as of November 11, 2026); see cash by mail with FS Form 1522.
Tax Year 2028: When Interest on a 1998 Bond Is Reportable
Interest on a 1998 bond that is never cashed is reportable for tax year 2028, the year of its final maturity, unless the owner reports it every year (26 CFR 1.454-1(a)(1); IRS Publication 550).
State and local income tax does not apply (31 U.S.C. 3124(a)). If the bond is cashed before 2028, the interest is reportable for the year it is cashed (26 CFR 1.454-1(a)(1)). See federal tax on savings bond interest; a tax professional decides individual cases.
Payers report interest of $10 or more in box 3 of Form 1099-INT for savings bonds. Education costs can exclude interest (IRC 135, Form 8815) if the owner was 24 or older before the issue date and is not married filing separately.
The 2026 phase-out is $101,800 to $116,800 single and $152,650 to $182,650 joint. See the education savings bond program.
Lost, Found or Inherited 1998 Bonds, and 1998 I and HH Bonds
A lost 1998 bond is claimed with FS Form 1048 (Revised March 2026), and from 2034 the claim needs the serial number. A claim filed 6 years or more after final maturity needs it (31 CFR 353.29(c); 2034 is our calculation). Use the FS Form 1048 claim for lost, stolen or destroyed savings bonds.
A bond passes to the surviving "OR" co-owner or POD (payable-on-death) beneficiary, else to the estate (31 CFR 353.70). See savings bonds after death, or found old savings bonds for a bond from a drawer.
A paper I bond issued September to December 1998 earns until September to December 2028 (our calculation from 30 years). Rules for Series I savings bonds differ. A 1998 bond that paid interest every 6 months is Series HH (20-year life, stopped in 2018, our calculation), and 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.
- 1997 Series EE savings bond value
- 1999 Series EE savings bond value
- 2000 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
1998 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a $100 savings bond from 1998 worth after 30 years?
A $100 savings bond from 1998 reaches 30 years in 2028, and Treasury's file does not list its final value. In November 2026 it is worth $126.16 to $128.28, and the January 1998 issue is scheduled at $130.72 in May 2027.
How much is a $500 savings bond from 1998 worth?
A $500 savings bond from 1998 is worth $630.80 to $641.40 in November 2026. It cost $250 and is not yet 30 years old. See 30-year-old $500 bonds of other years.
When did 1998 EE bonds mature, and did they double in 20 years?
1998 EE bonds reached original maturity after 17 years, in 2015, and final maturity comes after 30 years, in 2028. At 17 years each was worth at least twice its price (face, for paper); 20 years applies from June 2003 issues. See when savings bonds mature.
Is it worth keeping a 1998 EE bond after 20 years?
A 1998 EE bond earns interest every month until its final maturity in 2028 and nothing after it, and it never expires. The timing rules cover the holding periods and the early-cash penalty.
How much is a $1,000 savings bond from 1998 worth?
A $1,000 savings bond from 1998 is worth $1,261.60 to $1,282.80 in November 2026. It cost $500, and cashing one by mail needs signature certification.
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 the 1999 Series EE bond page.
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.