A savings bond earns the interest rate set by its series and issue date, not the rate Treasury announces for new bonds.
From November 1, 2026, new Series EE bonds earn 2.90% and new Series I bonds earn 5.51%, while the bonds you already own earn 0.00% to 7.75% a year in their 6-month periods starting November 2026 to April 2027, depending on when they were issued. A bond that has stopped earning interest earns 0.00%.
Treasury announces new rates on May 1 and November 1. ClaimMyBonds is a private, independent site that copies the rates Treasury publishes; it does not set them.
The tables below list every Series EE rate announced since May 1995, every Series I rate, and the guaranteed rates of earlier EE bonds. A rate becomes money through the redemption value, the cash Treasury pays for a bond, so check what your savings bond is worth today next.
Rates announced through November 1, 2026; values for November 2026
What Savings Bonds Earn From November 1, 2026, by Series and Issue Date
An existing Series EE bond earns 0.00% to 4.02% and an existing Series I bond earns 4.08% to 7.75% a year for its 6-month period starting November 2026 to April 2027, depending on the issue date. The issue date is the first day of the month Treasury received your payment (31 CFR 351.42).
Every Series E, H, HH, A to D, F, G, J and K bond and every Savings Note earns 0.00%, because those series have stopped earning interest.
The highest rate any existing EE or I bond earns in those periods is 7.75%, on I bonds issued May to October 2000; the highest for an EE bond is 4.02%. Table 1 groups the EE, I and older series bonds by series and issue date.
Table 1: What each group of savings bonds earns from November 1, 2026
| Bonds (issue dates) | How the rate is set | Rate from November 1, 2026 | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE, Jan 1980 to Apr 1995 | Higher of guaranteed or market rate | 0.00%, stopped by April 2025 | Series EE savings bonds |
| EE, May 1995 to Apr 1997 | Short-term, then long-term market rate | 3.80% announced; no bond earns it | None |
| EE, May 1997 to Apr 2005 | 90% of 5-year Treasury yields | 4.02% | None |
| EE, May 2005 to Nov 2006 | Fixed rate set at issue | Past 20 years; rate for years 20 to 30 not announced | None |
| EE, Dec 2006 to Oct 2026 | Fixed rate set at issue | Own fixed rate, 0.10% to 3.60% | None |
| New EE, Nov 2026 to Apr 2027 | Fixed rate set at issue | 2.90% | None |
| I, Sept 1998 to Oct 2026 | Fixed rate plus inflation rate | 4.08% to 7.75% | Series I savings bonds |
| New I, Nov 2026 to Apr 2027 | Fixed 1.40% plus inflation 2.04% | 5.51% | None |
| HH and older series | Various | 0.00% | Series HH savings bonds |
Annual rates for 6-month periods starting on or after November 1, 2026, as announced by Treasury. Sources: TreasuryDirect EE issue-period pages and I bonds interest rates page, checked November 11, 2026.
Treasury states every rate as an annual rate, and a bond applies it for one 6-month period at a time. A bond picks up a new rate only when its own next period starts.
New-Bond Rates Versus the Rates of Bonds You Already Own
The 2.90% EE rate and the 5.51% I rate apply only to bonds issued November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. An EE bond issued in October 2026 earns the 2.40% fixed rate set for May to October 2026 issues, and an I bond issued in October 2026 earns a 5.00% composite rate.
An older EE bond keeps its own fixed rate (a rate set at issue that never changes) or its group's variable rate (a rate Treasury resets every 6 months).
An older I bond keeps its own fixed rate and shares the 2.04% inflation rate announced November 1, 2026. An I bond with a 0.00% fixed rate earns 4.08% once its next period starts; one with a 1.40% fixed rate earns 5.51%.
Why No Bond Earns the 3.80% Rate Set for EE Bonds Issued May 1995 to April 1997
No EE bond earns the 3.80% rate announced for the May 1995 to April 1997 group, because each bond still earning reaches final maturity before its next period starts.
The 3.80% applies to 6-month periods starting on or after November 1, 2026, and the next period of every bond in this group begins on its final maturity date, when interest stops.
Issues from May 1995 to November 1996 have stopped earning. Issues from December 1996 to April 1997 reach final maturity, 30 years after issue, between December 1, 2026 and April 1, 2027 (31 CFR 351.5).
Interest on this group is added only every 6 months. A $100 paper EE bond issued December 1996 is worth $126.60 in November 2026 and $128.64 from December 1, 2026, a credit that reflects the 3.20% rate Treasury set on May 1, 2026.
How to Find the Interest Rate on Your Own Savings Bond
You find your bond's interest rate from 2 details printed on it, the series and the issue date, and the tables on this page. Follow these 5 steps.
- Read the series and the issue month on the bond, not the print date (see how to read a paper savings bond).
- Match the issue date to its group in Table 1.
- Look up the rate in the table for your group: Table 2 (EE issued May 2005 or later), Table 3 (EE May 1995 to April 2005), Table 4 (EE before May 1995) or Table 5 (I bonds).
- Read an I bond's composite rate in Table 5; Table 6 lists the inflation rates inside it.
- Check the rates shown in your TreasuryDirect account for electronic savings bonds.
TreasuryDirect's Savings Bond Calculator shows the current and past rates of a paper EE, I or E bond or a Savings Note, and it needs no serial number.
When a New Rate Reaches Your Bond: Its Own 6-Month Periods
A new rate reaches a bond only at the start of that bond's next 6-month period, counted from its issue month. The rule is in 31 CFR 359.15 for I bonds and in 31 CFR 351.13 and 351.30 for EE bonds issued May 1997 to April 2005.
An I bond issued in March has periods starting March 1 and September 1, so it earns the rate set May 1, 2026 until February 2027 and the November 2026 rate from March 1, 2027. An I bond issued in September has periods starting September 1 and March 1.
EE bonds issued May 2005 or later have no resets: each keeps the fixed rate of its issue period, listed in Table 2.
Series EE Fixed Rates Since May 2005
EE bonds issued May 2005 and later keep the fixed rate Treasury announced for their 6-month issue period. The rule is in 70 FR 17288 (April 5, 2005, effective May 1, 2005) and 31 CFR 351.34 and 351.35.
Table 2 lists all 44 rate periods: 3.70% (May 2006) is the highest, and 0.10% applies to every announcement from November 1, 2015 to May 1, 2022, 14 in a row (May 2015: 0.30%).
Six periods from May 2005 to November 2007 sat at 3.00% or more, and the 9 periods from November 2022 to November 2026 range from 2.10% to 2.90%.
Table 2: Series EE fixed rates by issue period, May 2005 to November 2026
| Year | Fixed rate, issues May to October | Fixed rate, issues November to April | Bond form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 3.50% | 3.20% | Paper and electronic |
| 2006 | 3.70% | 3.60% | Paper and electronic |
| 2007 | 3.40% | 3.00% | Paper and electronic |
| 2008 | 1.40% | 1.30% | Paper and electronic |
| 2009 | 0.70% | 1.20% | Paper and electronic |
| 2010 | 1.40% | 0.60% | Paper and electronic |
| 2011 | 1.10% | 0.60% | Paper and electronic |
| 2012 | 0.60% | 0.20% | Electronic only |
| 2013 | 0.20% | 0.10% | Electronic only |
| 2014 | 0.50% | 0.10% | Electronic only |
| 2015 | 0.30% | 0.10% | Electronic only |
| 2016 | 0.10% | 0.10% | Electronic only |
| 2017 | 0.10% | 0.10% | Electronic only |
| 2018 | 0.10% | 0.10% | Electronic only |
| 2019 | 0.10% | 0.10% | Electronic only |
| 2020 | 0.10% | 0.10% | Electronic only |
| 2021 | 0.10% | 0.10% | Electronic only |
| 2022 | 0.10% | 2.10% | Electronic only |
| 2023 | 2.50% | 2.70% | Electronic only |
| 2024 | 2.70% | 2.60% | Electronic only |
| 2025 | 2.70% | 2.50% | Electronic only |
| 2026 | 2.40% | 2.90% | Electronic only |
Source: TreasuryDirect, EE bonds issued May 2005 and later, rates announced through November 1, 2026.
Treasury credits the interest on these bonds monthly and compounds it semiannually. The page on Series EE savings bond rules by issue date adds maturity and value for each issue year.
Paper EE Bonds Issued May 2005 to December 2011: 0.60% to 3.70%
Paper EE bonds issued May 2005 to December 2011 carry 14 fixed rates from 0.60% to 3.70%. Electronic EE bonds of the same months carry the same rates, and from 2012 only electronic EE bonds were sold, with fixed rates from 0.10% to 2.90%.
The November 2011 rate (0.60%) covers paper issues of November and December 2011 and electronic issues to April 2012. Patriot Bonds issued May 2005 to December 2011 carry the same fixed rates as any EE bond of the same issue month.
Years 20 to 30: No Announced Rate Change for Bonds Past 20 Years
No rate for years 20 to 30 has been announced for EE bonds issued May 2005 and later, as of November 11, 2026. TreasuryDirect says Treasury "may change the interest rate or the way the EE bond earns interest for the last 10 years of the bond's 30-year life.
If we do that, we must do it before the bond is 20 years old." Its EE page for May 2005 and later shows no such announcement.
Bonds issued May 2005 to November 2006 are past 20 years. Treasury's Savings Bonds Value Files still add value to them: a $100 paper EE bond issued May 2005 is worth $105.36 in November 2026 and $107.20 in May 2027.
The TreasuryDirect page does not state which rate produces those values, so this page states none.
Interest on every EE bond stops at final maturity, 30 years after issue (31 CFR 351.5). The date by series is on when savings bonds stop earning interest.
Series EE Variable Rates for Bonds Issued May 1995 to April 2005
EE bonds issued May 1995 to April 2005 earn variable rates that Treasury resets every May 1 and November 1 from Treasury yields. A yield is the market interest rate on a Treasury security. Table 3 lists both groups, announcement by announcement, from 1995 to 2026.
To read it, take the rate announced for the 6-month period your bond is in. A bond issued May 1998 earns 4.02% for its period starting November 1, 2026, and earned 3.39% for the period that began May 1, 2026.
Table 3: Series EE variable rates, May 1995 to April 2005 issues, by announcement
| Year | May 1995 to Apr 1997 issues: May 1 rate | May 1995 to Apr 1997 issues: Nov 1 rate | May 1997 to Apr 2005 issues: May 1 rate | May 1997 to Apr 2005 issues: Nov 1 rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 5.25% | 4.75% | n/a | n/a |
| 1996 | 4.36% | 4.56% | n/a | n/a |
| 1997 | 4.63% | 4.53% | 5.68% | 5.59% |
| 1998 | 4.47% | 4.01% | 5.06% | 4.60% |
| 1999 | 3.91% | 4.35% | 4.31% | 5.19% |
| 2000 | 5.15% short / 5.41% long | 5.36% short / 5.23% long | 5.73% | 5.54% |
| 2001 | 3.77% short / 4.25% long | 3.84% | 4.50% | 4.07% |
| 2002 | 3.74% | 3.07% | 3.96% | 3.25% |
| 2003 | 2.51% | 2.47% | 2.66% | 2.61% |
| 2004 | 2.68% | 3.07% | 2.84% | 3.25% |
| 2005 | 3.23% | 3.41% | 3.42% | 3.61% |
| 2006 | 3.88% | 4.15% | 4.11% | 4.39% |
| 2007 | 3.92% | 3.88% | 4.15% | 4.11% |
| 2008 | 2.58% | 2.65% | 2.74% | 2.80% |
| 2009 | 1.55% | 2.06% | 1.64% | 2.19% |
| 2010 | 2.04% | 1.42% | 2.16% | 1.50% |
| 2011 | 1.67% | 1.12% | 1.77% | 1.19% |
| 2012 | 0.76% | 0.59% | 0.81% | 0.63% |
| 2013 | 0.65% | 1.12% | 0.68% | 1.19% |
| 2014 | 1.34% | 1.41% | 1.42% | 1.49% |
| 2015 | 1.27% | 1.31% | 1.35% | 1.39% |
| 2016 | 1.24% | 1.01% | 1.31% | 1.07% |
| 2017 | 1.59% | 1.56% | 1.68% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 2.06% | 2.41% | 2.18% | 2.56% |
| 2019 | 2.18% | 1.48% | 2.30% | 1.57% |
| 2020 | 1.02% | 0.26% | 1.08% | 0.28% |
| 2021 | 0.49% | 0.73% | 0.52% | 0.77% |
| 2022 | 1.51% | 2.82% | 1.60% | 2.99% |
| 2023 | 3.22% | 3.58% | 3.41% | 3.79% |
| 2024 | 3.60% | 3.41% | 3.81% | 3.62% |
| 2025 | 3.56% | 3.26% | 3.77% | 3.45% |
| 2026 | 3.20% | 3.80% | 3.39% | 4.02% |
Note: in the May 1995 to April 1997 columns, the 1995 to 1999 cells and the first figure in the 2000 and May 2001 cells are short-term rates (first 5 years of a bond); long-term rates apply from year 6. "n/a" means the group did not exist. Sources: TreasuryDirect pages for EE bonds issued May 1995 to April 1997 and May 1997 to April 2005, rates announced through November 1, 2026.
EE Bonds Issued May 1997 to April 2005: 90% of 5-Year Treasury Yields
EE bonds issued May 1997 to April 2005 earn 90% of the 6-month average of 5-year Treasury yields, 4.02% for 6-month periods starting on or after November 1, 2026.
The rule is 31 CFR 351.13 and 351.30. Treasury resets the rate each May 1 and November 1, and a bond applies it from its next 6-month period.
Original maturity was 17 years for bonds issued May 1, 1997 to May 1, 2003 and 20 years for June 1, 2003 to April 1, 2005 (31 CFR 351.29). The record runs from 5.68% (May 1997) to a high of 5.73% (May 2000) and a low of 0.28% (November 2020).
Interest accrues from the 4th month after issue, is credited monthly and is compounded semiannually. For the extended years TreasuryDirect says: "we use the same method unless we announce a different method." Final maturity for this group runs from May 2027 to April 2035.
EE Bonds Issued May 1995 to April 1997: Short-Term, Then Long-Term Rates
EE bonds issued May 1995 to April 1997 earned a short-term rate for 5 years, then a long-term rate, both set at 85% of Treasury yield averages.
Interest was added only every 6 months, and a bond cashed mid-period forfeited that period's interest. Original maturity was 17 years, followed by a 13-year extension to final maturity at 30 years (31 CFR 351.24).
Short-term rates were announced from May 1995 to May 2001, starting at 5.25%, and long-term rates from May 2000; one long-term rate applies from November 2001. The last bonds of this group stop earning by April 1, 2027.
A bond issued in 1997 can belong to either group. January to April 1997 issues follow this rule, and May 1997 issues follow the 90% rule, as the tables for the 1997 Series EE savings bond value show.
Series EE Rates Before May 1995: Guaranteed Rate or Market Rate
EE bonds issued January 1980 to April 1995 earned the higher of a guaranteed rate and a market rate, and every one of them stopped earning by April 2025. Table 4 lists the 6 guaranteed-rate groups with their maturities.
Stopped bonds keep their redemption value. A $100 paper EE bond issued January 1980 is worth $331.48 in November 2026, with no interest added since its final maturity in January 2010. A $100 bond issued April 1995 is worth $164.12 and stopped in April 2025.
Table 4: Guaranteed rates of Series EE bonds issued January 1980 to April 1995
| Issue dates | Guaranteed rate (compounded semiannually) | Original maturity | Final maturity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Oct 1980 | 7% | 11 years | Jan to Oct 2010 |
| Nov 1980 to Apr 1981 | 8% | 9 years | Nov 2010 to Apr 2011 |
| May 1981 to Oct 1982 | 9% | 8 years | May 2011 to Oct 2012 |
| Nov 1982 to Oct 1986 | 7.5% | 10 years | Nov 2012 to Oct 2016 |
| Nov 1986 to Feb 1993 | 6% | 12 years | Nov 2016 to Feb 2023 |
| Mar 1993 to Apr 1995 | 4% | 18 years | Mar 2023 to Apr 2025 |
Source: 31 CFR 351.19 and 351.20; TreasuryDirect, EE bonds 1980 through 1995.
The market rate was 85% of the 6-month averages of 5-year Treasury yields. In the extended maturity years, the guaranteed minimum was 6% for periods entered May 1, 1989 to February 1, 1993.
It was 4% (or the guarantee in effect at the start of the period) for periods entered on or after March 1, 1993 (31 CFR 351.21(a)).
The 5-Year Treasury Yield Column Is Not an EE Rate
The percentages in TreasuryDirect's pre-1995 market table are 5-year Treasury yields used as inputs, not EE rates. The 13.05% shown for November 1, 1982 is a yield: the EE market rate was 85% of the 6-month averages of those yields, rounded.
Sites that copy that table as "EE rates" overstate what the bonds earned.
Series I Rate History: Fixed Rates, Inflation Rates and Composite Rates
A Series I bond earns a composite rate built from a fixed rate set at issue and a semiannual inflation rate shared by every I bond, never below 0.00%.
The rules are 31 CFR 359.10, 359.13 and 359.14, and 73 FR 65543 (November 4, 2008). The formula and a worked example are on Series I savings bonds; this section keeps the record.
I Bond Fixed Rates by Issue Date, 1998 to 2026
I bond fixed rates ran from 3.60% (May 2000) to 0.00%, which applied to 16 of 58 issue periods; the rate for issues from November 1, 2026 is 1.40%. Of the 58 issue periods, 7 from September 1998 to May 2001 carry fixed rates of 3.00% or more, and none after 2002 exceeds 1.40%.
The longest run of 0.00% fixed rates is 6 periods, from November 2010 to May 2013. Table 5 gives each issue period's fixed rate and the composite rate it earns for the 6-month period starting November 2026 to April 2027.
Table 5: Series I fixed rates and composite rates by issue period, September 1998 to November 2026
| Year | Fixed rate, issues May to October | Composite from Nov 2026 | Fixed rate, issues November to April | Composite from Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 3.40% | 7.55% | 3.30% | 7.45% |
| 1999 | 3.30% | 7.45% | 3.40% | 7.55% |
| 2000 | 3.60% | 7.75% | 3.40% | 7.55% |
| 2001 | 3.00% | 7.14% | 2.00% | 6.12% |
| 2002 | 2.00% | 6.12% | 1.60% | 5.71% |
| 2003 | 1.10% | 5.20% | 1.10% | 5.20% |
| 2004 | 1.00% | 5.10% | 1.00% | 5.10% |
| 2005 | 1.20% | 5.30% | 1.00% | 5.10% |
| 2006 | 1.40% | 5.51% | 1.40% | 5.51% |
| 2007 | 1.30% | 5.41% | 1.20% | 5.30% |
| 2008 | 0.00% | 4.08% | 0.70% | 4.79% |
| 2009 | 0.10% | 4.18% | 0.30% | 4.39% |
| 2010 | 0.20% | 4.28% | 0.00% | 4.08% |
| 2011 | 0.00% | 4.08% | 0.00% | 4.08% |
| 2012 | 0.00% | 4.08% | 0.00% | 4.08% |
| 2013 | 0.00% | 4.08% | 0.20% | 4.28% |
| 2014 | 0.10% | 4.18% | 0.00% | 4.08% |
| 2015 | 0.00% | 4.08% | 0.10% | 4.18% |
| 2016 | 0.10% | 4.18% | 0.00% | 4.08% |
| 2017 | 0.00% | 4.08% | 0.10% | 4.18% |
| 2018 | 0.30% | 4.39% | 0.50% | 4.59% |
| 2019 | 0.50% | 4.59% | 0.20% | 4.28% |
| 2020 | 0.00% | 4.08% | 0.00% | 4.08% |
| 2021 | 0.00% | 4.08% | 0.00% | 4.08% |
| 2022 | 0.00% | 4.08% | 0.40% | 4.49% |
| 2023 | 0.90% | 5.00% | 1.30% | 5.41% |
| 2024 | 1.30% | 5.41% | 1.20% | 5.30% |
| 2025 | 1.10% | 5.20% | 0.90% | 5.00% |
| 2026 | 0.90% | 5.00% | 1.40% | 5.51% (new issues) |
Note: 1998 row: the May to October column holds September and October 1998 issues. Composite = the rate the bond earns for its 6-month period starting November 2026 to April 2027. Source: TreasuryDirect, I bonds interest rates, rates announced through November 1, 2026.
The fixed rate is not a guaranteed minimum: in the 6-month periods starting May 2009, even bonds with a 3.60% fixed rate earned 0.00%.
The 16 issue periods with a 0.00% fixed rate all earn the 4.08% composite rate, the lowest in Table 5. Gulf Coast Recovery Bonds, paper I bonds issued March 29, 2006 to September 30, 2007, carry the rates of their issue months.
Semiannual Inflation Rates, Including the Two Negative Rates
The semiannual inflation rate has been negative twice, -2.78% on May 1, 2009 and -0.80% on May 1, 2015, and its highest value was 4.81% on May 1, 2022.
Treasury sets it from the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), not seasonally adjusted (31 CFR 359.11). Only 3 of the 58 rates exceed 3.00%: 3.56% (November 2021), 4.81% (May 2022) and 3.24% (November 2022). Table 6 lists every inflation rate since 1998.
In the 6-month periods starting May to October 2009, every I bond issued September 1998 to October 2009 earned 0.00%, the floor, even bonds with a 3.60% fixed rate. The value of an I bond never falls from one month to the next (31 CFR 359.12).
Table 6: Series I semiannual inflation rates, September 1998 to November 2026
| Year | Inflation rate set May 1 | Inflation rate set Nov 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0.62% | 0.86% |
| 1999 | 0.86% | 1.76% |
| 2000 | 1.91% | 1.52% |
| 2001 | 1.44% | 1.19% |
| 2002 | 0.28% | 1.23% |
| 2003 | 1.77% | 0.54% |
| 2004 | 1.19% | 1.33% |
| 2005 | 1.79% | 2.85% |
| 2006 | 0.50% | 1.55% |
| 2007 | 1.21% | 1.53% |
| 2008 | 2.42% | 2.46% |
| 2009 | -2.78% | 1.53% |
| 2010 | 0.77% | 0.37% |
| 2011 | 2.30% | 1.53% |
| 2012 | 1.10% | 0.88% |
| 2013 | 0.59% | 0.59% |
| 2014 | 0.92% | 0.74% |
| 2015 | -0.80% | 0.77% |
| 2016 | 0.08% | 1.38% |
| 2017 | 0.98% | 1.24% |
| 2018 | 1.11% | 1.16% |
| 2019 | 0.70% | 1.01% |
| 2020 | 0.53% | 0.84% |
| 2021 | 1.77% | 3.56% |
| 2022 | 4.81% | 3.24% |
| 2023 | 1.69% | 1.97% |
| 2024 | 1.48% | 0.95% |
| 2025 | 1.43% | 1.56% |
| 2026 | 1.67% | 2.04% |
Note: 1998 row: the May column holds the rate set September 1, 1998. Source: TreasuryDirect, I bonds interest rates.
How Interest Rates Show Up in a Savings Bond's Value
A rate reaches the owner only through the redemption value, which Treasury publishes for each issue month in its Savings Bonds Value Files. Table 7 shows 4 example $100 paper EE bonds for November 2026 and May 2027, each with the rate rule that produces its value.
Table 7: Value of four $100 paper EE bonds, redemption months November 2026 and May 2027
| $100 paper EE issued | Rate rule | Value, Nov 2026 | Value, May 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 1996 | May 1995 to Apr 1997 group, 6-month credit | $126.60 | $128.64 (from Dec 1, 2026) (1) |
| May 1997 | 4.02% from Nov 2026 | $129.84 | $132.44 (2) |
| May 2005 | Fixed 3.50%; past 20 years | $105.36 | $107.20 (3) |
| May 2007 | Fixed 3.40% | $96.44 | $100.00 (4) |
Notes: (1) Final maturity December 1, 2026; interest stops. (2) Final maturity May 1, 2027. (3) The rate for years 20 to 30 is not announced. (4) $97.80 in April 2027; the 20-year adjustment brings the value to face in May 2027. Source: Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Savings Bonds Value Files (Fiscal Data, dataset 015-BFS-2014Q3-094, updated November 2, 2026).
Values change only on the 1st of a month, and they rise or hold. They include the 3-month interest penalty for bonds under 5 years old, which applies to EE bonds issued May 1997 or later (31 CFR 351.31, 351.51(b)); no paper EE bond is that young now.
For every issue month, see what a $100 savings bond is worth by issue year.
Low Fixed Rates and the 20-Year Face-Value Guarantee
A paper EE bond issued May 2005 or later with a low fixed rate still reaches face value at 20 years, through a one-time adjustment (31 CFR 351.35(f)(1)). Treasury makes the adjustment at original maturity. Face value is the amount printed on the bond, and a paper EE bond sold for half of it.
A $100 May 2007 bond (fixed 3.40%) is worth $96.44 in November 2026, $97.80 in April 2027 and $100.00 in May 2027, when it reaches 20 years. A $100 May 2009 bond (fixed 0.70%) gains $0.20, from $56.64 in November 2026 to $56.84 in May 2027, and reaches face in May 2029.
Paper EE bonds issued May 2007 to December 2011, 56 issue months in all, step up to face between May 2027 and December 2031. These bonds do not lose value.
The month-by-month table for one year is on 2007 Series EE savings bond value.
Interest Rates of Older Savings Bonds That No Longer Earn
Series E, H, HH, A to D, F, G, J and K bonds and Savings Notes earn no interest now; their rates matter only as history. Savings Notes (Freedom Shares) were sold from 1967 to 1970 together with Series E bonds. Table 8 lists the rates Treasury states for each series.
Table 8: Rates of older savings bonds as stated by Treasury
| Series | Issued | Rate stated by Treasury | Earning now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series A, B, C and D savings bonds | Mar 1935 to Apr 1941 | 2.9% to 10-year maturity | No |
| Series E savings bonds | May 1941 to June 1980 | 2.9% for 1941 terms | No, stopped by June 2010 |
| Series F savings bonds | 1941 to Apr 1952 | 2.53% | No |
| Series G | 1941 to Apr 1952 | 2.50%, paid by check every 6 months | No |
| Series J | May 1952 to Apr 1957 | 2.76% | No |
| Series K | May 1952 to Apr 1957 | 2.76%, paid by check every 6 months | No |
| Series H savings bonds | June 1952 to Dec 1979 | Interest every 6 months | No, stopped by Dec 2009 |
| Series HH | Jan 1980 to Aug 2004 | 1.50% last listed | No, stopped Aug 2024 |
| Savings Notes (Freedom Shares) | May 1967 to Oct 1970 | 4.74% at launch | No, final maturity May 1997 to Oct 2000 |
Every series: types of US savings bonds. Sources: TreasuryDirect historical bonds and HH rates pages; Treasury's history of savings bonds (PDF, TreasuryDirect).
TreasuryDirect still lists 1.50% for Series HH, but every HH bond stopped earning in August 2024, so that figure is the last listed rate and no HH bond pays it now. Series E bonds stopped earning by June 2010 (31 CFR 316.8(b)).
Savings Bond Interest Rate Questions
What is the average interest on a savings bond?
No single average exists: an I bond earns 4.08% to 7.75% in its 6-month periods starting November 2026 to April 2027, and an EE bond earns its own rate by issue date. An EE bond issued December 2006 to October 2026 earns a fixed 0.10% to 3.60%, a new EE bond earns 2.90%, and an EE bond issued May 1997 to April 2005 earns 4.02%. These are the savings bond yields in Tables 2, 3 and 5. Bonds past 30 years earn 0.00%.
Does the EE bond interest rate change?
It depends on the issue date. An EE bond issued May 2005 or later keeps its fixed rate; no change has been announced for years 20 to 30. An EE bond issued May 1995 to April 2005 gets a new rate every May 1 and November 1, from its next 6-month period. EE bonds issued before May 1995 have stopped earning.
Do you have to pay taxes on savings bonds when you cash them in?
Yes, the interest is subject to federal income tax in the year you cash the bond or it reaches final maturity, whichever comes first. You can instead report the interest each year (26 U.S.C. 454). State and local income tax does not apply (31 U.S.C. 3124). For a bond that reached final maturity in an earlier year, that earlier year is the year the rule names; ask a tax professional about your case. The rules are on taxes on savings bond interest.
Where is the I bond interest rate chart?
TreasuryDirect publishes the I bond rate chart as a PDF matrix of every issue period against every 6-month rate period. The rate chart PDF is on TreasuryDirect, and Tables 5 and 6 above hold the fixed and inflation rates. Fiscal Data publishes the same rates as a dataset, I Bonds Interest Rates, updated November 2, 2026.
Can a savings bond calculator show my bond's interest rate?
TreasuryDirect's Savings Bond Calculator shows a paper bond's current and past rates; our calculator shows value, interest earned and earning status, not rates. Our savings bond calculator is built on Treasury's published value files and prices paper EE and E bonds.
Can an I bond's interest rate be negative?
The inflation part can be negative, but the composite rate never goes below 0.00% (31 CFR 359.13). The inflation rate was -2.78% on May 1, 2009 and -0.80% on May 1, 2015.
Rates, Maturity and Value: Where Each Question Is Answered
Rates leave 3 questions open: when interest stops, how the 1995 rules differ, and when interest is credited.
- Final maturity by series: EE and I bonds stop earning 30 years after issue.
- Before and after the May 1995 rules: EE bonds issued May 1995 and later follow different rate rules.
- Credit dates, covered in when to cash savings bonds: EE bonds of May 1995 to April 1997 gain value only every 6 months.
Rates change on May 1 and November 1, and values change on the 1st of each month.
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.