How many years does it take for a $100 savings bond to mature?
Asked by: Prof. Reilly Cole III | Last update: February 11, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (72 votes)
A $100 savings bond (Series EE) takes up to 30 years to reach its final maturity, but it's guaranteed to double in value in 20 years, and you can cash it after one year (with a 3-month interest penalty if cashed before 5 years). The exact time depends on the bond's issue date and the interest rate it earns, with bonds bought today having a 20-year doubling guarantee and full maturity at 30 years.
How much is a $100 savings bond worth after 30 years?
A $100 Series EE savings bond issued in October 1994 would be worth approximately $164.12 after 30 years, with $114.12 of that being interest earned, as these bonds stop earning interest at 30 years and mature at their final value. The exact value depends on the bond's type (Series EE is common) and its specific issue date, so using the TreasuryDirect Savings Bond Calculator is the best way to check your specific bond's value.
Why is my $100 savings bond only worth $50?
Your $100 savings bond is likely worth $50 because it's a paper Series EE bond purchased years ago for half its face value, meaning you paid $50 for a bond that would grow to $100 over time, but it hasn't earned enough interest yet, or you cashed it out too early (before 5 years), losing the last three months' interest. The key is the original purchase price (often $50 for $100 face value) versus its current value, which increases with interest, but early redemption or holding past final maturity (30 years) affects the total.
How long should you keep a savings bond?
A savings bond can be redeemed anytime after at least one year; however, the longer a bond is held (up to 30 years), the more it earns. When a savings bond is redeemed after five years, the owner receives the original value plus all accrued interest.
What is the best time to cash out a savings bond?
Best to wait to cash them until they have reached full maturity. If they have, then there is no reason not to cash them in as they will not continue to earn interest. The ones I purchased for my kids were series EE bonds, which mature at 30 years.
How long does it take a $100 savings bond to mature?
Do banks still cash out savings bonds?
Yes, most banks still cash U.S. savings bonds (Series EE and I), but policies vary, with many requiring you to have an established account (often for 12+ months) and potentially limiting the amount you can cash at once due to increased fraud concerns, so it's crucial to check with your specific bank first. You can redeem eligible paper bonds (Series E, EE, I) at a financial institution, but other types (like H or HH) must be sent to TreasuryDirect.
Do you pay taxes on savings bonds when cashed?
In general, you must report the interest in income in the taxable year in which you redeemed the bonds to the extent you did not include the interest in income in a prior taxable year.
What happens to savings bonds that are never cashed?
Unclaimed savings bonds eventually become part of a state's general unclaimed property fund after a few years past maturity, allowing states, through programs like unclaimed.org, to use their established systems to find owners or heirs and return the funds, a process enhanced by recent legislation. While the U.S. Treasury holds these matured bonds and doesn't actively find owners, they now share data with states so they can list them, preventing the loss of value and potential theft, as bonds stop earning interest after maturity.
How much is a $50.00 savings bond worth?
A $50 savings bond's worth varies greatly by its series (EE, I, etc.) and issue date, but it will be worth more than $50, potentially doubling in value or more over time (like Series EE doubling in 20 years). To find the exact current value, use the official TreasuryDirect Savings Bond Calculator by entering the bond's series and issue date.
What does a $100 savings bond look like?
The $100 I Bond features a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. View the portraits and a brief biography of each honored American below. There are eight Americans featured on I Bonds.
What happens to savings bonds if the owner dies?
The bond becomes payable to the estate of the deceased and probate of the estate may be required. If there is a court appointed representative, the bonds will be payable to the estate and administered according to the decedent's Will. If there is no Will, the bonds will pass according to the state intestacy laws.
What does it mean to buy a bond at $100?
A bond quote supplies the price and other details of a bond. Bond quotes are expressed as a percentage of face (or par) value and converted to a point scale. Par value is the value of a bond when it's issued; for a $1,000 par value the quote will display as 100, or 100% of that par value.
Are savings bonds better than CDs?
Interest Rates and Returns: Bonds often have higher interest rates than CDs. Liquidity and Access to Funds: CDs typically incur penalties for early withdrawals, while bonds can be sold before maturity without penalty; however, you may incur a loss if the price of the bond is below the purchase price.
What is the dirty price of a bond?
Dirty price is the total amount paid for a bond at settlement. It equals the quoted clean price plus the accrued interest that has built up since the previous coupon date. Many bond markets quote prices on a clean basis to aid comparison, while the cash exchanged at settlement uses the dirty price.
How long does it take for a $100.00 bond to mature?
A $100 savings bond's final maturity is 30 years from its issue date, regardless of the specific type (like Series EE or I), though interest stops accruing then, meaning it won't grow further; for newer EE bonds, the value doubles in 20 years, but earning continues for another decade, all backed by the U.S. Treasury, according to TreasuryDirect.
Do 100 year bonds exist?
Although it is rare, companies and governments do issue bonds with a century-spanning term. For example, multi-billion dollar corporations such as the Walt Disney Company (DIS) and Coca-Cola (KO) have issued 100-year bonds in the past. 12 Countries such as Argentina, Austria, and Mexico have issued 100-year bonds, too.
How much is a 30 year old $100 savings bond worth today?
A $100 Series EE savings bond issued in October 1994 would be worth approximately $164.12 after 30 years, with $114.12 of that being interest earned, as these bonds stop earning interest at 30 years and mature at their final value. The exact value depends on the bond's type (Series EE is common) and its specific issue date, so using the TreasuryDirect Savings Bond Calculator is the best way to check your specific bond's value.
What's the best time to cash savings bonds?
The best time to cash savings bonds (Series EE and I bonds) is typically after 5 years to avoid the 3-month interest penalty, or at their full 30-year maturity for maximum earnings, but you should cash them as soon as they've matured (stopped earning interest) to prevent value loss from inflation, using the TreasuryDirect Savings Bond Calculator to check values and maturity dates. You can redeem them anytime after one year, but holding them longer generally yields more interest, up to the 30-year limit.
Should you cash in savings bonds after 30 years?
30 years: Once you're three decades past the purchase date, it's time to cash it in and do something else with the money. You aren't earning more interest at this point.
Do banks still cash in savings bonds?
Yes, most banks still cash U.S. savings bonds (Series EE and I), but policies vary, with many requiring you to have an established account (often for 12+ months) and potentially limiting the amount you can cash at once due to increased fraud concerns, so it's crucial to check with your specific bank first. You can redeem eligible paper bonds (Series E, EE, I) at a financial institution, but other types (like H or HH) must be sent to TreasuryDirect.
What does Warren Buffett say about bonds?
Warren Buffett favors short-term U.S. Treasury bills for Berkshire Hathaway's cash holdings, viewing them as safe, liquid assets, especially when interest rates are high, while famously recommending a simple 90% low-cost S&P 500 index fund and 10% short-term government bond allocation for individual investors seeking long-term growth with stability, using bonds as a low-risk parking spot. Berkshire holds massive amounts of T-bills (over $230B+), sometimes exceeding the Federal Reserve's holdings, allowing them to earn substantial income while waiting for better stock opportunities, reflecting his preference for capital preservation in uncertain markets.
Which bond is paying 7.5% interest?
A bond paying 7.5% interest offers attractive returns, often found in higher-risk corporate bonds (junk bonds) or specialized funds like senior loans, or as promotional rates for uninvested cash via brokerage platforms, with notable examples including recent Belong care home social bonds in the UK; however, such yields usually come with elevated risk, potentially lacking deposit insurance like FSCS, requiring careful evaluation of the issuer and your risk tolerance, unlike safer savings accounts.
Does it matter whose Social Security Number is on a savings bond?
The individual owns the U.S. Savings Bond if only their name appears on it. The Social Security Number shown on a bond is not proof of ownership. EXAMPLE: A U.S. Savings Bond title reads, “John Smith.” Only John Smith can cash that bond.
Can I cash a savings bond that is not in my name?
Note: Do not buy savings bonds from someone else or in an online auction site. You cannot cash them. You can only cash bonds that you own or co-own unless you have legal evidence or other documentation that we accept to show you are entitled to cash the bond.
Do people still buy savings bonds?
We currently sell 2 types of savings bond: Series EE and Series I. You can buy them for yourself, your child, or as a gift for someone else. This page focuses on buying for yourself or a child whose account is linked to yours.