Cash in These Savings Bonds That Have Stopped Earning Interest
Most savings bonds earn interest for 20 or 30 years. Here’s how to identify them so you can invest the money elsewhere.
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Newsletter sign up Newsletter

I have some old savings bonds my parents gave me shortly after I was born. How can I find out if they’ve stopped earning interest?
Most savings bonds earn interest for 20 or 30 years. After that, they should be cashed in so you can invest the money elsewhere. If you have old E bonds or H bonds, they’ve all stopped earning interest—the last E bonds were issued in 1980 and the last H bonds were issued in 1979. EE bonds earn interest for 30 years, so any of those bonds purchased from the time they were introduced in January 1980 through July 1986 have stopped earning interest. HH bonds earn interest for 20 years, so any of those bonds purchased from January 1980 through July 1996 have stopped earning interest. I bonds, which were introduced in 1998, earn interest for 30 years.
For a list of savings bonds that have stopped earning interest, see the list at TreasuryDirect.gov (opens in new tab). You can also use the Treasury Department’s Treasury Hunt tool (opens in new tab) to check on the status of Series E savings bonds issued in 1974 and later, and for all Series EE bonds. If you provide your Social Security number, the tool will let you know whether there are savings bonds issued in your name that are no longer earning interest. You’ll see instructions for cashing in the bond if it’s in your possession, or steps to take to file a claim if you have lost the bond.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
For more information about savings bonds, see Bond Basics: U.S. Savings Bonds. For more information about cashing in paper savings bonds or converting them to electronic form, see How to Cash In Savings Bonds.
As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.
-
-
Best 5-Year CD Rates for March 2023 as Rates Rise
Here are the best 5-year CD rates as the Fed continues its campaign to raise interest rates to try to combat inflation.
By Erin Bendig • Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Sink After Latest Fed Rate Hike
The major indexes sold off sharply Wednesday even amid signs the Fed's rate-hike campaign could be nearing an end.
By Karee Venema • Published
-
Credit Report Error? They All Matter
credit & debt Don't dismiss a minor error. It could be the sign of something more serious.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
-
Insurance for a Learning Driver
insurance Adding a teen driver to your plan will raise premiums, but there are things you can do to help reduce them.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
-
529 Plans Aren’t Just for Kids
529 Plans You don’t have to be college-age to use the money tax-free, but there are stipulations.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
-
When to Transfer Ownership of a Custodial Account
savings Before your child turns 18, you should check with your broker about the account's age of majority and termination.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
-
Borrowers Get More Time to Repay 401(k) Loans
retirement If you leave your job while you have an outstanding 401(k) loan, Uncle Sam now gives you extra time to repay it -- thanks to the new tax law.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
-
When It Pays to Buy Travel Insurance
Travel Investing in travel insurance can help recover some costs when your vacation gets ruined by a natural disaster, medical emergency or other catastrophe.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
-
It’s Not Too Late to Boost Retirement Savings for 2018
retirement Some retirement accounts will accept contributions for 2018 up until the April tax deadline.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published
-
What Travel Insurance Covers When Planes Are Grounded
Travel Your travel insurance might help with some costs if your trip was delayed because of the recent grounding of Boeing 737 Max planes.
By Kimberly Lankford • Published