When Interest is Added to Your Bonds
The issue date of your EE Bond governs when interest is added to your bond. The easiest way to see when your bond will earn interest is to use our online Savings Bond Calculator.
Bonds Issued May 2005 and After
For Series EE Bonds issued May 2005 and after, interest is added every month. The bonds’ interest rate is fixed and compounded semiannually.
Bonds Issued May 1997 through April 2005
For Series EE Bonds issued May 1997 through April 2005, interest is added every month. The bonds' interest rate is compounded semiannually. The rate announced each May and November for these bonds is applied to a bond for the six-month earning period.
Bonds Issued before May 1997
For most bonds issued earlier than May 1, 1997, interest is added every six months. If you know the month and year when your bond was issued, the tables below will help you determine when interest is added to your bonds.
It's a good idea to cash a bond in a month in which interest is added to its value. For example, interest is added to a bond with an issue date of February 1990 every August 1 and February 1. If you cash this bond in July, you'll get the same amount as if you had cashed it the prior February; but if you wait until August 1 to cash the bond, you'll get another six months of interest.
NOTE: Series E Bonds issued May 1941 through November 1965 stopped earning interest 40 years from the date of issue. Series EE/E Bonds and savings notes issued December 1965 and later stop earning interest 30 years from the date of issue.
Series EE Bond Semiannual Interest Accrual Dates
Interest is added to the following bonds as shown below:
- Series EE Bonds issued before March 1993,
- Series EE Bonds issued May 1995 through April 1997, and
- Series EE Bonds issued from March 1993 through April 1995 that are more than 5-years-old*.
| If month of issue is: | Interest is added on 1st day of: |
|---|---|
| Jan or Jul | Jan and Jul |
| Feb or Aug | Feb and Aug |
| Mar or Sep | Mar and Sep |
| Apr or Oct | Apr and Oct |
| May or Nov | May and Nov |
| Jun or Dec | Jun and Dec |
*Please Note: Interest is added monthly the first five years for EE Bonds issued March 1993 through April 1995 and semiannually after that, unless monthly additions are needed to make sure the bonds earn at least 4%.
