Savings Bond Maturity

Just as different savings bonds can be bought at different prices, they can also be bought for different lengths of time. This length of time is referred to as maturity. A bond with a maturity of thirty years will stop paying interest after thirty years and will be redeemable at that time.

It is important to determine the maturity of any U.S. savings bonds an investor may have so that he will always know which ones are no longer paying interest and need to be cashed in or swapped. There are now serviced offered directly by the United States Department of Treasury, for getting this information easily to help make quick decisions regarding a bond-holder's U.S. savings bonds.

U.S. savings bonds that have reached their maturity, are no longer earning interest, and should be cashed in or swapped are A, B, C, D, F, G, H, HH, J and K savings bonds, all savings notes issued between May 1967 and July 1971, E-series bonds that were issued before August 1974.

A few bonds may reach maturity at a certain time, but may continue to accrue interest for 30 years or more. When some bonds reach original maturity, they automatically enters one or more extension periods (usually ten years long). During these maturity extensions, bonds issued prior to May 1995 earn interest based on a guaranteed yield or a market-based yield. The applicable guaranteed interest is the one in effect at the time the bond enters the extension. Bonds issued after April 1995 have no guaranteed minimum interest rate; they will earn interest in accordance with the terms and conditions in effect at the time they enter the maturity extension.

To find out if a particular savings bond has matured, and is earning interest or not, a bond-holder can consult with a financial advisor at a bank or any financial institution. If an investor decides he wants to buy, sell or trade U.S. savings bonds, he can do so by using a U.S. Treasury Department website called Treasury Direct, or through a bank, broker, or other financial institution. An investor can also find out the maturity date of any bonds he already has through the same resources.