The Paper Savings Bond

March 12th, 2012 by

While paper savings bonds are no longer available as of 1/1/12, the savings bond certificate for paper savings bonds which have been issued in the past is full of interesting information including:

Face Value

In the Upper Left Hand Corner, there is an amount of money listed. This is known as the bond’s face value.

For I bonds, this amount is the same as the purchase price. For EE Series, the amount is half the face value of the bond. At the maturity date for EE Series paper bonds, the value of the bond is at a minimum equal to the face value. Since 2003, the maturity for EE Series bonds has been 20 years.  Between 1980 and 2003, the maturity dates have ranged between  8 and 18 years.  See below for maturity dates on EE Bonds.

Series & Issue Date

In the Upper Right Hand Corner, there is a Series Number and Issue Date. If the current date is more than 30 years after the issue date, your bond has stopped earning interest and you should redeem it. Using the Series and Issue date you can find out the current value of the bond using this site’s Savings bond Calculator.

Serial Number

In the Lower Right Hand Corner, there is a serial number. Should you wish to convert your paper bonds into electronic bonds, you will need to use this number.

To

In the center of the savings bond is the name of the owner. If you have inherited the saving bond and therefor are not the listed owner, you will need to fill out some paperwork. For instructions, click here. 

Issue Date

Original Term
1/80 – 10/80 11 years
11/80 – 4/81 9 years
5/81 – 10/82 8 years
11/82 – 10/86 10 years
11/86 – 2/93 12 years
3/93 – 4/95 18 years
5/95 – 5/03 17 years
6/03 – present 20 years
Please Share!

You May Also Like:

10 thoughts on “The Paper Savings Bond”

  1. Darlene Peterson Reply

    April 1, 2012

    What a shame that I cannot go to the bank and buy savings bonds for my grandchildren. I cannot imagine that it was costing so much to print the bonds that it would stop printing them. Not everyone has a computer to follow through on the “new way” to buy them. What a nuisance.

  2. sharon armstrong Reply

    April 8, 2012

    Been buying EE bonds for years for my great grand children. I buy approx. 14 a year for birthdays and Xmas gifts. Now I’m at a lost. Don’t understand how to do it on line so I guess my kids won’t be getting anymore and they are still little. This was my gift to them that they would receive long after I’m gone. Actually I’m mad.

  3. A. Holtzan Reply

    April 8, 2012

    I am lost because there are to be no more paper bonds. Please bring them back.
    It is much too complicated to buy bonds on line.

  4. May Reply

    April 9, 2012

    If my bond is in 2000, I can cash my bond in 2017 for full face value?

  5. Learn Bonds Reply

    April 10, 2012

    Thank you for the comment. In order to find out the value of your savings bond use the calculator located at the below link:

    http://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/tools/tools_savingsbondcalc.htm

    If you decide you want to cash in the bond, follow the instructions here:

    http://www.learnbonds.com/cash-in-savings-bonds/

    Thanks for reading, we love hearing from you!

    Marc

  6. tammy Reply

    April 25, 2012

    whatever became of the weekly reader savings bonds from back in 1965-1966?

    • Learn Bonds Reply

      April 25, 2012

      Hi Tammy,

      Thanks for the comment. Unfortunately we are not familiar with the weekly reader savings bonds could you shed a little more light on exactly what this is? Sorry I could not be of more help here.

      Thanks
      Marc

  7. Kathleen Wynne Reply

    May 1, 2012

    I still like buying paper I bonds – trying to do this on line is very difficult – why does our government fix things that aren’t broke and all the things that are broke are left alone?

  8. Evelia Martin Reply

    August 29, 2012

    I still prefer the paper bonds. One more thing, I used to buy them and pay it thru my credit card which is very convenient. Now, you can not do it. I am planning to buy for my grandkids but it gets complicated.

Leave a comment