You can buy savings bonds at most banks, but not all of them sell them, and the process is different from opening a savings account

Not every bank sells U.S. savings bonds. The ones that do handle the sale as a service, not as a product they profit from directly — the Treasury Department sets the terms, and your bank acts as an intermediary. You walk in with cash or a check, fill out a form, and the bank orders the bond from the Treasury on your behalf. The bond arrives in the mail or goes into an online account, depending on which type you buy and which bank you use.

The two types available are Series EE bonds (paper or digital) and Series I bonds (digital only as of 2012). Series EE bonds earn a fixed rate for 30 years. Series I bonds earn a fixed rate plus an inflation rate that adjusts every six months. Which one makes sense depends on whether you think inflation will be high or low over the time you hold the bond.

You cannot buy bonds online directly from the Treasury through a bank's website. You either buy them in person at a branch, or you set up an account on TreasuryDirect.gov and buy them there without a bank at all. This guide covers the in-person bank route.

Key Takeaways

  • Not all banks sell savings bonds, so call ahead to confirm your bank does before you visit a branch.
  • You need a valid government ID and a Social Security number or tax ID to buy a bond in person.
  • Series EE bonds cost $25 to $10,000 per purchase, and Series I bonds cost $25 to $5,000 per purchase, with a $10,000 annual limit per person per type.
  • Paper Series EE bonds arrive by mail in two to four weeks; digital bonds appear in your Treasury account within one business day.
  • You cannot cash in a bond for the first year, and if you cash it in before five years, you lose the last three months of interest.

Which banks sell savings bonds and how to confirm yours does

Large national banks like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Chase sell savings bonds at most branches. Credit unions and smaller regional banks often do not. The only way to know for certain is to call your bank's customer service line or visit a branch and ask.

When you call, ask specifically whether they sell Series EE and Series I bonds. Some banks sell one type but not the other. Ask also whether they sell paper bonds, digital bonds, or both. If your bank does not sell them, you have two options: go to a different bank that does, or open a free TreasuryDirect account online and buy directly from the Treasury without involving a bank at all.

What you need to bring to the bank

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. Bring your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you are buying a bond for a minor, you will need the child's Social Security number as well, and you will be listed as the owner or co-owner depending on how you structure it.

Bring the money to pay for the bond. You can pay with cash, a check, or a debit card, depending on what the bank accepts. The minimum purchase is $25 and the maximum is $10,000 per transaction for Series EE bonds, or $5,000 per transaction for Series I bonds. You can buy multiple bonds in one visit if you want.

Bring a form of contact information — a phone number and mailing address where the bank can reach you if there are questions. If you are buying a digital bond, you will also need an email address for your Treasury account.

The purchase process at the bank

Tell the teller you want to buy a U.S. savings bond. They will give you a form — usually the Treasury Form 8888 or a bank-specific form that collects the same information. Fill in your name, address, Social Security number, and the type and amount of bond you want to buy. If you want the bond registered to two people (joint ownership), both names go on the form.

Hand over your ID and the form, along with your payment. The teller will process the transaction and give you a receipt. For a paper Series EE bond, that receipt is your proof of purchase until the bond arrives by mail. For a digital bond, the teller will give you instructions for setting up or accessing your TreasuryDirect account, where the bond will appear within one business day.

Ask the teller for a receipt that shows the bond type, the amount, the issue date, and your confirmation number. Keep this receipt in a safe place. You will need it if you ever need to prove you own the bond or if you need to replace it.

How long it takes and where your bond goes

Paper Series EE bonds arrive by U.S. mail in two to four weeks. The bond certificate itself is what you receive — it shows the issue date, the amount, and your name. Store it somewhere safe, like a home safe or a safe deposit box. If it is lost or damaged, you can request a replacement from the Treasury, but you will need your receipt and proof of ownership.

Digital bonds appear in your TreasuryDirect account within one business day of purchase. You do not receive a physical certificate. Instead, you log into TreasuryDirect.gov with your username and password to see your bond balance, interest earned, and maturity date. Digital bonds are easier to track and harder to lose, but you have to remember your login credentials.

Annual purchase limits and how they work

You can buy up to $10,000 worth of Series EE bonds per calendar year, and up to $10,000 worth of Series I bonds per calendar year. These limits are per person, not per bank. If you buy $6,000 in Series EE bonds at Bank A in January, you can still buy $4,000 more at Bank B in December, but not $5,000.

The calendar year runs January 1 through December 31. The limit resets on January 1. If you reach your limit in November, you have to wait until January 1 to buy more. There is no way around this limit — it is set by the Treasury Department and applies whether you buy in person, online, or through any combination of methods.

If you are buying a bond for a minor, that minor has their own separate $10,000 annual limit. A parent can buy $10,000 in their own name and $10,000 in their child's name in the same year.

When you can cash in your bond and what happens if you do

You cannot cash in a savings bond during the first 12 months you own it. After one year, you can cash it in at any time, but if you do so before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of interest. This penalty applies to both Series EE and Series I bonds.

If you hold the bond for five years or longer, you get all the interest you earned with no penalty. Series EE bonds continue to earn interest for 30 years. Series I bonds continue to earn interest for 30 years as well. After 30 years, they stop earning interest, but they do not expire — you can still hold them or cash them in.

To cash in a bond, you take it to a bank (the same bank where you bought it, or any other bank that handles savings bonds) and ask to redeem it. For digital bonds, you log into TreasuryDirect and request the redemption online. The bank or Treasury will send you a check or deposit the money into your account, depending on how you request it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy savings bonds for someone else as a gift?

Yes. You can buy a bond and register it in someone else's name, or register it jointly in both your names. If you register it in someone else's name only, they own it and can cash it in without your permission once they reach the age of majority. If you register it jointly, either person can cash it in. Ask the bank which registration option you want before you fill out the form.

What is the difference between Series EE and Series I bonds?

Series EE bonds earn a fixed interest rate set by the Treasury every six months. Series I bonds earn a fixed rate plus an inflation rate that also adjusts every six months. If you expect inflation to be high, Series I bonds may earn more. If you expect it to be low or stable, Series EE bonds may be more predictable. Both are backed by the U.S. government and are considered very safe.

What if I lose my paper bond certificate?

Contact the Treasury Department with your receipt and proof of ownership. They can issue a replacement certificate, but the process takes several weeks. This is why keeping your receipt and storing the bond in a safe place is important. Digital bonds cannot be lost in this way because they exist only in your online account.

Can I buy savings bonds with a credit card at the bank?

Most banks do not accept credit cards for savings bond purchases. Cash, checks, and debit cards are the standard payment methods. Call your bank ahead of time to confirm what payment methods they accept.

Do I have to buy bonds at the same bank where I have my savings account?

No. You can buy bonds at any bank that sells them, regardless of whether you have an account there. However, some banks may require you to have an account with them to buy bonds. Call ahead to ask about their policy.