EE/E Bonds

An Easy and Safe Way to Save for Your Future

EE Bonds are safe, low-risk savings products that pay interest based on current market yields on Treasury Securities for up to 30 years. EE Bonds are a safe and secure way to save for the future, whether to finance education, supplement retirement income, or give as a gift. EE Bonds can be purchased via TreasuryDirect or as paper bonds through most local financial institutions or through an employer's payroll deduction plan, if available.

*E Bonds are the predecessor to EE Bonds and are no longer issued by the U.S. Treasury.

EE Bonds Are Now Paperless

EE Bonds are available for purchase through a TreasuryDirect account. Now you can buy, manage, and redeem your EE Bonds safely and securely through your personal TreasuryDirect account.

A new program called SmartExchange^SM allows TreasuryDirect account owners who receive invitations to convert their Series E, EE and I paper Savings Bonds to electronic securities in a special Conversion Linked Account within their online account.

Key Facts:

Buying Electronic EE Bonds

• Sold at face value; i.e., you pay $50 for a $50 bond.
• Purchase in amounts of $25 or more, to the penny.
• $30,000 maximum purchase in one calendar year.
• Issued electronically to your designated account.

Buying Paper EE Bonds

• Sold at half their face value; i.e., you pay $25 for a $50 bond.
• Purchase in denominations of $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000.
• $30,000 maximum purchase in one calendar year.
• Issued as paper bond certificates.

If you redeem EE/E Bonds within the first 5 years, you'll forfeit the 3 most-recent months' interest; after 5 years, you won't be penalized.

Naming “Registrants” or “Owners”

When purchasing EE Bonds you must name a bond owner(s). By naming the registrant, you're giving them rights to manage the bond.

EE Bonds Bought Through TreasuryDirect May Be Registered as:

• Sole Ownership
  One name is on the EE bond, and only that person can cash it.
• Primary Ownership
  In TreasuryDirect, two names appear on the EE Bond, and the primary owner may cash it. The co-owner may only cash it if the primary owner grants the rights to do so. For paper EE Bonds co-ownership allows either co-owner to cash the bond without the other's knowledge and consent.
• Beneficiary
  Two names appear on the EE Bond: one is the owner; one is the beneficiary.