A $500 Series EE or Series E savings bond is worth $273.80 to $4,682.20 in November 2026, by series and issue month. Series EE bonds run from $273.80 to $1,674.00 and Series E bonds from $1,811.80 to $4,682.20. Series H, HH, A to D, F and J bonds of $500 pay face value.
These are Treasury's redemption values, the dollars paid today, from its Savings Bonds Value Files for November 2026. Values can change on the 1st of each month.
Values for November 2026
How Much Is a $500 Series EE Savings Bond Worth Today?
A $500 Series EE savings bond is worth $273.80 to $1,674.00 in November 2026, by issue month from January 1980 to December 2011. It cost $250, half of face value; May to October 1980 issues lead.
Is a $500 bond ever worth more than $1,000? Yes, in 158 issue months: every EE bond from January 1980 to February 1993. Table 1 marks them, and our savings bond calculator, built on Treasury's published value files, prices a single month.
Table 1: What a $500 Series EE savings bond is worth in November 2026, by issue year (lowest to highest issue month)
| Issue year | Value of a $500 bond, November 2026 | Earning interest? | One bond over $1,000? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $1,534.40 to $1,674.00* | No, stopped 2010 | Yes |
| 1981 | $1,469.00 to $1,534.40 | No, stopped 2011 | Yes |
| 1982 | $1,401.60 to $1,469.00 | No, stopped 2012 | Yes |
| 1983 | $1,153.20 to $1,401.60 | No, stopped 2013 | Yes |
| 1984 | $1,153.20 (every month) | No, stopped 2014 | Yes |
| 1985 | $1,153.20 (every month) | No, stopped 2015 | Yes |
| 1986 | $1,036.80 to $1,153.20 | No, stopped 2016 | Yes |
| 1987 | $1,036.80 (every month) | No, stopped 2017 | Yes |
| 1988 | $1,036.80 (every month) | No, stopped 2018 | Yes |
| 1989 | $1,036.80 (every month) | No, stopped 2019 | Yes |
| 1990 | $1,036.80 (every month) | No, stopped 2020 | Yes |
| 1991 | $1,036.80 (every month) | No, stopped 2021 | Yes |
| 1992 | $1,036.80 (every month) | No, stopped 2022 | Yes |
| 1993 | $820.60 to $1,036.80 | No, stopped 2023 | January and February issues |
| 1994 | $820.60 (every month) | No, stopped 2024 | No |
| 1995 | $617.80 to $820.60 | No, stopped 2025 | No |
| 1996 | $626.20 to $643.20 | No; December issue until Dec 1, 2026 | No |
| 1997 | $633.00 to $649.20 | Yes, until 2027 | No |
| 1998 | $630.80 to $641.40 | Yes, until 2028 | No |
| 1999 | $621.60 to $631.20 | Yes, until 2029 | No |
| 2000 | $615.20 to $623.80 | Yes, until 2030 | No |
| 2001 | $604.20 to $614.60 | Yes, until 2031 | No |
| 2002 | $590.60 to $603.40 | Yes, until 2032 | No |
| 2003 | $555.60 to $589.00 | Yes, until 2033 | No |
| 2004 | $535.00 to $554.00 | Yes, until 2034 | No |
| 2005 | $514.80 to $533.60 | Yes, until 2035 | No |
| 2006 | $509.00 to $530.00 | Yes, until 2036 | No |
| 2007 | $439.20 to $507.40 | Yes, until 2037 | No |
| 2008 | $315.00 to $438.20 | Yes, until 2038 | No |
| 2009 | $282.40 to $314.80 | Yes, until 2039 | No |
| 2010 | $275.40 to $314.80 | Yes, until 2040 | No |
| 2011 | $273.80 to $296.20 | Yes, until 2041 | No |
* The highest 1980 value, $1,674.00, is for May to October issues. The December 1996 bond is worth $633.00 now and $643.20 from December 1, 2026. Issues from May 2007 are below $500 (Table 2).
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 a $500 bond are the file's $25-unit value times 20. Rules for each issue period: Series EE savings bonds.
Why Is My $500 Savings Bond Worth Less Than $500?
A $500 EE bond from May 2007 to December 2011 is worth less than $500 because paper EE bonds sold for half of face. Treasury guarantees face value at original maturity, 20 years after issue (31 CFR 351.35(f)(1)). These 56 issue months are worth $273.80 to $482.20 in November 2026. The May 2007 bond, now $482.20, is scheduled at $500.00 in May 2027, so it has not lost value.
Table 2: $500 EE bonds worth less than $500 in November 2026, and when each reaches $500
| Issue months | Value, November 2026 | Reaches $500 |
|---|---|---|
| May to December 2007 | $439.20 to $482.20 | May to December 2027 |
| January to December 2008 | $315.00 to $438.20 | January to December 2028 |
| January to December 2009 | $282.40 to $314.80 | January to December 2029 |
| January to December 2010 | $275.40 to $314.80 | January to December 2030 |
| January to December 2011 | $273.80 to $296.20 | January to December 2031 |
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 a $500 bond are the file's $25-unit value times 20.
Which $500 EE Bonds Have Stopped Earning Interest
Every $500 EE bond issued January 1980 through November 1996 has stopped earning interest and keeps its final value. Final maturity, the date interest stops, comes 30 years after issue (31 CFR 351.5). In November 2026:
- January 1980 to November 1996 issues: stopped, worth $617.80 to $1,674.00.
- December 1996 issues: earning until December 1, 2026, then $643.20.
- January to April 1997 issues: earning until January to April 2027.
Later issues stop in the year Table 1 shows; see when savings bonds stop earning interest.
Why $500 EE Bonds Issued a Month Apart Have Different Values
Two $500 EE bonds issued a month apart can differ by more than $200 because each issue period has its own rules. April 1995 is worth $820.60 in November 2026, May 1995 $617.80.
The guaranteed minimum rate set plateaus: $1,153.20 (March 1983 to October 1986 issues), $1,036.80 (November 1986 to February 1993) and $820.60 (March 1993 to April 1995).
May 2003 is worth $587.80 and June 2003 $565.00: the face value guarantee runs 20 years from June 2003, not 17. April 2007 is worth $502.80 and May 2007 $482.20, because the fixed rate fell from 3.60% to 3.40% for May 2007 issues.
$500 Patriot Bonds (2001 to 2011)
A $500 Patriot Bond is a paper Series EE bond with a "Patriot Bond" inscription, issued December 2001 to December 2011. The $500 Patriot Bond value equals a plain EE bond's of the same month: $273.80 to $605.00 in November 2026 across 121 issue months.
How Much Is a $500 Series E Savings Bond Worth?
A $500 Series E savings bond is worth $1,811.80 to $4,682.20 in November 2026, and that value no longer changes. It cost $375.00, 75% of face (31 CFR 316.2(b)), and was one of five face values sold at the 1941 launch.
E bonds were issued May 1941 to June 1980; the last stopped earning in June 2010. Treasury pays one "at any time after two months from issue date" (31 CFR 315.35(c)).
Every $500 E bond is worth more than $1,000; Table 3 lists all 40 issue years.
Table 3: What a $500 Series E savings bond is worth in November 2026, by issue year (lowest to highest issue month; values are final)
| Issue year | Issue months | Value of a $500 bond, November 2026 | Stopped earning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | May to Dec | $1,811.80 to $1,887.00 | 1981 |
| 1942 | all | $1,887.00 to $1,999.00 | 1982 |
| 1943 | all | $1,999.00 to $2,101.80 | 1983 |
| 1944 | all | $2,101.80 to $2,209.40 | 1984 |
| 1945 | all | $2,209.40 to $2,345.60 | 1985 |
| 1946 | all | $2,345.60 to $2,467.60 | 1986 |
| 1947 | all | $2,467.60 to $2,628.20 | 1987 |
| 1948 | all | $2,621.80 to $2,733.80 | 1988 |
| 1949 | all | $2,733.80 to $2,941.20 | 1989 |
| 1950 | all | $2,941.20 to $3,085.20 | 1990 |
| 1951 | all | $3,252.00 to $3,413.00 | 1991 |
| 1952 | all | $3,413.20 to $3,562.80 | 1992 |
| 1953 | all | $3,267.60 to $3,562.80 | 1993 |
| 1954 | all | $3,377.20 to $3,550.60 | 1994 |
| 1955 | all | $3,550.60 to $3,735.80 | 1995 |
| 1956 | all | $3,735.80 to $3,991.20 | 1996 |
| 1957 | all | $3,619.40 to $4,101.60 | 1997 |
| 1958 | all | $3,662.40 to $3,786.80 | 1998 |
| 1959 | all | $3,720.20 to $3,830.60 | 1999 |
| 1960 | all | $3,770.00 to $3,943.60 | 2000 |
| 1961 | all | $3,943.60 to $4,135.00 | 2001 |
| 1962 | all | $4,135.00 to $4,304.40 | 2002 |
| 1963 | all | $4,304.40 to $4,491.00 | 2003 |
| 1964 | all | $4,491.00 to $4,682.20 | 2004 |
| 1965 | all | $2,562.40 to $4,682.20 | 2005 (Jan to Nov), 1995 (Dec) |
| 1966 | all | $2,438.80 to $2,562.60 | 1996 |
| 1967 | all | $2,517.20 to $2,625.60 | 1997 |
| 1968 | all | $2,625.60 to $2,745.60 | 1998 |
| 1969 | all | $2,668.40 to $2,772.00 | 1999 |
| 1970 | all | $2,740.00 to $2,800.20 | 2000 |
| 1971 | all | $2,521.20 to $2,539.00 | 2001 |
| 1972 | all | $2,517.60 to $2,566.60 | 2002 |
| 1973 | all | $2,569.60 to $2,635.20 | 2003 |
| 1974 | all | $2,569.60 to $2,631.80 | 2004 |
| 1975 | all | $2,631.40 to $2,695.00 | 2005 |
| 1976 | all | $2,695.20 to $2,760.80 | 2006 |
| 1977 | all | $2,561.80 to $2,794.00 | 2007 |
| 1978 | all | $2,133.40 to $2,569.00 | 2008 |
| 1979 | all | $2,165.60 to $2,212.40 | 2009 |
| 1980 | Jan to Jun | $2,212.40 to $2,235.00 | 2010 |
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 a $500 bond are the file's $25-unit value times 20. Life: 40 years through November 1965 issues, 30 years from December 1965 (31 CFR 316.8(b)). Series E rules: Series E savings bonds.
The Most Valuable $500 E Bonds and the 1965 Drop
The most valuable $500 E bonds are the December 1964 and January 1965 issues, at $4,682.20 each. November 1965 issues are worth $3,680.60 and December 1965 issues $2,562.40, because the bond's life shrank from 40 to 30 years (31 CFR 316.8(b)). The top 30-year E is December 1970, at $2,800.20.
$500 War Bonds From 1941 to 1945
A $500 war bond, a Series E sold as a Defense or War Savings Bond from May 1941 to December 1945, is worth $1,811.80 to $2,345.60 in November 2026.
December 1941 to August 1945 issues are worth $1,887.00 to $2,266.60, like any $500 E of that month. For war bonds worth now, Treasury pays no collector premium.
How Much Did a $500 Savings Bond Cost, and Which Series Came in $500?
A $500 savings bond cost $250 as a paper Series EE bond, $375.00 as a Series E bond and $500 as a paper Series I, H, HH or K bond. $500 is the only face value in every lettered series (A to D, E, EE, F, G, H, HH, I, J, K) and both retirement bonds. It is the smallest face of H, HH and K.
Series A to D cost 75% of face, F 74%, J 72% and G face. Treasury pays redemption value, not price; electronic bonds sell at face, from $25.
The table lists every savings bond series Treasury issued with a $500 face value.
Table 4: What a $500 savings bond cost, and which series came in $500
| Series | Issue dates | Price of a $500 bond | Worth in November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series EE (paper, including Patriot Bonds) | Jan 1980 to Dec 2011 | $250 (half of face) | $273.80 to $1,674.00 (Table 1) |
| Series E (including war bonds) | May 1941 to Jun 1980 | $375.00 (75% of face) | $1,811.80 to $4,682.20 (Table 3) |
| Series I savings bonds (paper) | Sep 1998 to Dec 2011 (note 1) | $500 (face) | By issue month; Nov 2001 issue: $1,569.80 |
| Series H savings bonds | Jun 1952 to Dec 1979 | $500 (face) | $500 (face) |
| Series HH savings bonds | Jan 1980 to Aug 2004 | $500 (face) | $500 (face) |
| Series A, B, C and D savings bonds | Mar 1935 to Apr 1941 | 75% of face | $500 (paid at face value) |
| Series F, G, J and K savings bonds | F, G 1941 to Apr 1952; J, K May 1952 to Apr 1957 | F 74%, J 72%; G, K face | $500; G and K add final interest (note 3) |
| Retirement plan bonds; Individual Retirement Bonds | Jan 1963 and Jan 1975 to Apr 1982 | $500 (face) | Not shown here |
Bank or mail: Series E, EE and I at a bank or by FS Form 1522; Series A to D, note 2; Series H, HH, F, G, J, K and retirement bonds by mail with FS Form 1522 only.
Note 1: sold over the counter and through payroll; whether tax-refund paper I bonds (2010 to 2024) came in $500 is not established in a primary source.
Note 2: 31 CFR 321.7(a) lets banks pay Series A to D, while TreasuryDirect lists them as cashed by mail with FS Form 1522. Note 3: Series G pays a final $1.25 per $100 of face and Series K $6.90 per $500.
Series HH was sold for cash until 1982, then only in exchange. Savings Notes (Freedom Shares) never came in $500; their largest face was $100. Sources: 31 CFR 351.40; 316.2(b); 359.25; 332; 352; 315.35(b), (d); 321.9(b); 341; 346; Value Files. All series: types of US savings bonds.
How to Find the Exact Value of Your $500 Savings Bond
Treasury values a $500 bond by series, face value and issue month, not serial number. Follow these steps.
- Read the series: E, EE or I.
- Read the issue month, upper right on Series E; ignore the validation date.
- Find the year in Table 1, Table 3 or Table 4.
- Price single months in our calculator.
- Check the value month: November 2026.
The issue date is the first day of the month of purchase; see how to read a paper savings bond. A $500 bond is twenty $25 units, the face unit Treasury's Value Files price ($12.50 principal per $25 of EE face, 31 CFR 351.16). Treasury's free Savings Bond Calculator also shows year-to-date interest.
What Happens to a $500 Bond's Value in the Coming Months
A $500 EE bond that still earns interest rises or holds on the 1st of each month; stopped EE bonds, E bonds, H bonds and HH bonds stay fixed.
In Table 5, December 1996 steps to $643.20 on December 1, 2026, and May 2007 reaches $500.00 in May 2027. Of 181 earning issue months, 19 hold at least once by May 2027.
Table 5: Six $500 EE bonds, November 2026 to May 2027
| Issue month | Nov 2026 | Dec 2026 | Jan 2027 | Feb 2027 | Mar 2027 | Apr 2027 | May 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1996 | $633.00 | $643.20 | $643.20 | $643.20 | $643.20 | $643.20 | $643.20 |
| January 1997 | $633.00 | $633.00 | $643.20 | $643.20 | $643.20 | $643.20 | $643.20 |
| May 1997 | $649.20 | $651.40 | $653.60 | $655.60 | $657.80 | $660.00 | $662.20 |
| January 2003 | $589.00 | $590.60 | $592.20 | $594.20 | $596.20 | $598.20 | $600.20 |
| May 2007 | $482.20 | $483.60 | $485.00 | $486.20 | $487.60 | $489.00 | $500.00 |
| December 2011 | $273.80 | $274.00 | $274.20 | $274.20 | $274.40 | $274.60 | $274.60 |
Future months are Treasury's scheduled values in the current value files; rates for periods starting after April 2027 are not yet announced. 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 a $500 bond are the file's $25-unit value times 20.
Cashing a $500 Savings Bond and the Tax on Its Interest
A $500 bond is cashed at a bank that redeems savings bonds or by mail with FS Form 1522, and E, EE and I interest is taxed federally, not by states. Compare the routes in how to cash savings bonds.
A bank accepts an ID document alone for payments of $1,000 or less (FS Publication 0022, revised October 2022). FS Form 1522 (revised April 2026; the form, PDF, TreasuryDirect) needs a notary or certifying officer when the request's total current value tops $1,000.
Table 6: One $500 bond and the $1,000 line, November 2026
The table shows which single $500 bonds cross the $1,000 line.
| One $500 bond | Value, November 2026 | By mail, FS Form 1522 | At a bank, ID document alone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any Series E (May 1941 to June 1980) | $1,811.80 to $4,682.20 | Certified signature | Above $1,000: not on ID alone |
| Series EE, January 1980 to February 1993 | $1,036.80 to $1,674.00 | Certified signature | Above $1,000: not on ID alone |
| Series EE, March 1993 to December 2011 | $273.80 to $820.60 | Signature plus ID copy | $1,000 or less: ID can be enough |
| Paper Series I | By issue month (Nov 2001 issue: $1,569.80) | Depends on value | Depends on value |
| Series H, HH, F, G, J or K | $500 face (G and K add final interest) | Signature plus ID copy | Banks may not pay these series |
Certified signature means a notary or certifying officer. FS Form 1522 tests the total current value of one request; FS Publication 0022 tests the payment in one transaction. Other bank routes: an account held 12 months, or identification by another person. Sources: FS Form 1522; FS Publication 0022; 31 CFR 321.7(a), 321.9(b); Value Files, November 2026.
Mail FS Form 1522 to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150; Treasury pays mailed requests by direct deposit only.
Interest is free of state and local income tax (31 U.S.C. 3124(a)). It is federally taxed in the year of cashing or final maturity, whichever is first, unless reported yearly (26 U.S.C. 454(a)); a bond past final maturity in an earlier year belongs to that year.
Form 1099-INT covers $10 or more. See are savings bonds taxable; a tax professional advises on returns.
Where to Cash a $500 Bond
Banks may pay $500 E, EE and paper I bonds, but H, HH, F, G, J and K bonds go to Treasury by mail.
Banks need not cash a bond; policies differ among banks that cash savings bonds. Treasury takes mail requests, so cash it by mail with FS Form 1522. A relative's bonds? See found old savings bonds.
Values for Other Face Values
Other face values and the rates behind them are listed below.
- How much a $25 savings bond is worth
- How much a $50 savings bond is worth
- How much a $75 savings bond is worth
- How much a $100 savings bond is worth
- How much a $200 savings bond is worth
- How much a $1,000 savings bond is worth
- Savings bond interest rates by issue date
Our calculator prices every other face value.
$500 Savings Bond FAQ
How much is a 30 year old $500 savings bond worth today?
A $500 EE bond that has reached 30 years is worth $617.80 to $1,674.00 in November 2026, its final value. The November 1996 issue, at $643.20, reached 30 years on November 1, 2026. Every $500 E bond is past 30 or 40 years, at $1,811.80 to $4,682.20; see when savings bonds stop earning interest.
How much is a $500 savings bond worth after 20 years?
A $500 EE bond issued June 2003 to November 2006, which has reached its 20-year guarantee date, is worth $509.40 to $565.00 in November 2026; older EE bonds are worth $565.00 to $1,674.00. The guarantee is face value at original maturity, not double.
Should I cash in $500 EE bonds now?
Every paper $500 EE bond can be cashed now, and a stopped one gains nothing by waiting. Each is past the 12-month minimum and 5 years, so no early-cashing penalty applies (31 CFR 351.6, 351.51(b)). No savings bond expires (Executive Order 13968). See when you can cash savings bonds.
What interest rate does a $500 savings bond earn?
A $500 EE bond issued May 1997 to April 2005 earns 4.02% for 6-month periods starting on or after November 1, 2026. December 1996 to April 1997 issues earn until 30 years. January 1980 to November 1996 EE, every E and every H and HH bond earn nothing. May 2005 and later EE earn a fixed rate through 20 years; Treasury has announced no rate for years 20 to 30 as of November 11, 2026. See savings bond interest rates by issue date.
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.