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Key Takeaways
A U.S. savings bond is a low-risk way to save money issued by the Treasury Department and backed by the U.S. government.
Savings bonds pay interest only when redeemed by the owner, and they earn interest for up to 30 years.
Electronic bonds can be redeemed on the TreasuryDirect website, while paper bonds can be redeemed at most bank or credit unions.
Savings bonds are a type of debt security issued by the U.S. government. Unlike typical bonds that pay interest regularly, a savings bond is a zero-coupon bond, meaning it only pays interest when redeemed by the owner. The bond is also non-transferable and thus cannot be sold to someone else, which sets it apart from more typical bonds.
If you are considering US savings bonds as part of a personal loan savings planThere are some important details you need to know about how the bonds work.
What is a savings bond?
Savings bonds are an easy way for individuals to lend money directly to the government and receive a return on their investment.
Bonds are sold at less than face value; for example, a $50 series EE bond might cost $25. Bonds earn interest, and your profits are compoundedmeaning interest is earned on interest.
U.S. savings bonds differ from traditional bonds in several important ways:
Traditional tie | Savings bond |
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Pays cash interest regularly | Pays out the accrued interest as soon as you pay it off |
Ripens on a specific date | Can be redeemed anytime after one year from date of issue |
Owner pays taxes on interest payments | The owner can report the interest on taxes when it is received, or he can choose to report it every year |
Usually subject to local, state and federal taxes | Subject to federal taxes only |
The buyer can purchase the bond at any time for any amount | The buyer is limited to $10,000 per bond series ($20,000 total) per year |
How savings bonds work
Savings bonds work by paying interest, and the earned interest connections. Although a savings bond accrues interest over time, it is not paid out until the bond is repaid.
U.S. Savings Bonds can only be redeemed by the owner and are not resellable. The bond can be redeemed directly with the government, or, in the case of a paper bond, with the government or a financial institution.
U.S. savings bonds can be purchased directly from the U.S. government at the Treasury Department TreasuryDirect website. Series EE and Series I bonds can be purchased in electronic form, while Series I paper bonds can only be purchased through December 31, 2024, with your IRS tax refund.
All electronic savings bonds can be purchased for any amount from $25 to $10,000, while paper bonds are limited to denominations of $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1,000. The maximum amount of paper bonds that can be purchased is $5,000 per year.
If a paper bail bond is lost, stolen, destroyed or otherwise mutilated, a replacement electronic bail bond can be requested.
Different types of savings bonds
US savings bonds come in three series, of which only two have yet been issued:
- Series E Bonds
- Series EE Bonds
- Series I Bonds
Are savings bonds worth it?
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How to cash in savings bonds
Both Series EE and Series I bonds can be redeemed once they are one year old. If you redeem either series earlier than five years, you will lose the last three months’ interest payments.
Both series of bonds yield interest for up to 30 years. The longer you hold the bond, the more interest accrues, but interest no longer accrues after the 30-year limit.
Paper bonds can be redeemed at most banking or credit unions, while electronic bonds can be redeemed on the TreasuryDirect website by logging into your account and following the bond redemption instructions. The cash value of the bond is credited to your account check or savings account within two business days of the redemption date.
A minimum of $25 is required to redeem an electronic bond. There is usually no limit for redeeming paper bonds, but the bank redeeming the bonds may limit the amount you can redeem at one time.
Savings bonds versus corporate bonds
While the government is issuing US savings bonds, corporate bonds are sold by companies looking to raise money to build their capital. The company offers fixed or variable interest rates that are paid at regular intervals until the bond’s maturity date.
Before investing in a corporate bond, check the bond’s rating with three rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings, Moody’s Investor Services, and Fitch Ratings. The highest quality bonds are given a Triple-A rating, while the lowest quality bonds are considered ‘junk bonds’.
Unlike savings bonds, you can sell corporate bonds to receive the money earlier than the maturity date, but you will lose some of the face value. With savings bonds you cannot sell the bond to another investor. But you can repay the bond for the face value and interest as early as one year after purchase.
Savings bond | Corporate bond | |
Interest | The returns are generally lower than those on corporate bonds, for example 3 to 4 percent. | The interest rate varies significantly depending on what the company has to offer. The returns can be between 4 and 6 percent. |
Accessibility | You can redeem a savings bond one year after purchasing the bond. If you pay off within the first five years, you will lose part of the interest. | To get the full face value of the bond, you must wait until the maturity date. You can sell the bond before maturity, but you will lose part of the face value. |
Safety | Backed by the US government | Issued by the company and sometimes backed by corporate collateral. Corporate bonds are riskier than US-backed savings bonds. |
Savings accounts versus savings bonds
Both savings bonds and many savings accounts are backed by the U.S. government, although there are some differences between the two when it comes to returns and accessibility to your money.
Savings accounts | Savings bonds | |
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Interest | Many high-yield savings accounts currently earn higher interest than savings bonds. | Series EE bonds currently earn less interest than many savings accounts, while Series I bonds provide returns that exceed those of competing savings accounts. |
Accessibility | As a rule, money can be withdrawn a maximum of six times a month without penalty. Some banks do not limit the number of times you can withdraw, giving you maximum accessibility. | A bond cannot be redeemed for at least one year, with a penalty for redeeming a bond before five years have passed. |
Safety | Backed by the US government | Backed by the US government |
You can use a savings account if you need to build up your savings but still need the ability to withdraw money at virtually any time, while you could use a savings bond to receive guaranteed returns as part of an investment strategy.
In short
Savings bonds are among the safest types of investmentsas safe as any government-backed type of investment, such as online high-yield savings accounts. Some factors to consider before investing in a savings bond include the interest rate offered and when you want to access the funds.
Another safe alternative to savings bonds and savings accounts is certificates of deposit. These sometimes earn higher rates and are usually offered by federally insured banks and credit unions.
– Freelance writer Sara George contributed to updating this article. Staff writer James Royal, Ph.D. contributed to earlier versions of this article.