Buy EE Savings Bonds
As of January 1, 2012, paper savings bonds are no longer sold at financial institutions. This action supports Treasury’s goal to increase the number of electronic transactions with citizens and businesses. See the press release.
The EE Savings Bond is a security that increases in value until it's cashed or reaches final maturity in 30 years. It is available in electronic format. You can buy electronic bonds through TreasuryDirect.
Purchase Price
- Electronic EE Bonds: Can be bought in increments of one penny for $25 or more. For example, you could buy a $50.23 bond.
Where to Buy
It's easier to buy electronic EE Bonds than ever before. You can purchase them through:
| TreasuryDirect |
This is the easiest, fastest way to buy Series EE bonds. The bonds are issued directly
to you in your TreasuryDirect account. No paper bonds are issued. You have access
to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. |
|---|---|
| TreasuryDirect Payroll Savings | You can set up an automatic purchase schedule for as little as $25. You can establish a Payroll Savings Plan – see Learn More about the Payroll Savings Plan for more information. |
Purchase Limit
The purchase limit for electronic EE Bonds is $10,000 for each calendar year. Check our informative investment article about purchase limits for savings bonds and marketable securities.
Register Your Bonds
- How you register an EE Bond determines who owns the bond and who can cash it. Learn how to register an EE or I Bond.
Identifying Information
Your Social Security number (SSN) is needed to buy a bond. For paper savings bonds, the bond owner will be asked to provide his or her Social Security number for tax purposes when they cash the bond.
The owner's Employer Identification Number is used for bonds bought for corporations, associations, public and private organizations, fiduciaries, and other entities as single owners.
On paper savings bonds, the first five digits of your Social Security number or Employer Identification number has been masked and replaced with asterisks beginning August 1, 2006. This is being done to protect your privacy and to prevent the information from being used for identity theft.
Gift bonds purchased in TreasuryDirect must have the recipient’s SSN and can be delivered or held in the Gift Box. When you buy savings bonds as gifts, you must hold them in your TreasuryDirect account for at least five business days before you can deliver them to the gift recipient. The five-day hold protects Treasury against loss by ensuring the ACH debit has been successfully completed before the funds can be moved.
Effective April 2009, individuals and various types of entities including trusts, estates, corporations, partnerships, etc. can have TreasuryDirect accounts and own electronic savings bonds. However, entities cannot buy gift savings bonds in TreasuryDirect.
Who Can Own EE Bonds
You can own EE Bonds if you have a Social Security number and you're a:
- United States resident, or a United States citizen who lives abroad.
- Civilian employee of the United States regardless of where you live.
- Minor (under age 18). Unlike other securities, minors may own U.S. Savings Bonds
Corporations, associations, public and private organizations, fiduciaries, and other entities were able to buy paper savings bonds as single owners when paper EE savings bonds were available for purchase.
Effective April 2009, individuals 18 or older and various types of entities including trusts, estates, corporations, partnerships, etc. can open TreasuryDirect accounts and purchase electronic savings bonds. See Learn More about Entity Accounts for full information on the new registration types. Gift bonds purchased for minor children may be delivered to the Minor linked account.
Chain Letters and Savings Bonds
Buying savings bonds as part of a chain letter or other pyramid scheme is prohibited.
