Before you request payment
Check the amount above, confirm eligibility and look for any early redemption penalty. A value shown before the minimum holding period is an accounting amount, not available cash. The Savings Bond Checker identifies final maturity; this guide explains the process without recommending when you should redeem.
Where to cash paper savings bonds
Ask your bank whether it redeems savings bonds, its transaction limit and required identification. Acceptance varies. Bring the certificates and the documents the bank requests. Paper bonds are redeemed in full.
Use TreasuryDirect’s EE and I instructions for ordinary adult-owned holdings. For Series E, H or Savings Notes, consult the retired-series instructions; ownership and special circumstances can change the requirements.
Mail-in payment with FS Form 1522
Download the current FS Form 1522. Complete the request and send the bonds and supporting documents to the address on that form. For total redemption value of $1,000 or less, the form permits a signature with an accepted current ID copy; above $1,000, it requires signing before a notary or authorized certifying officer.
The form asks for payment and identity information. Supply it directly to Treasury as instructed. This site needs no serial number, ID upload or bank details. Keep the form’s current instructions with your request rather than using a postal address copied from an old article.
Redeem electronic EE or I bonds
In your TreasuryDirect account, open ManageDirect, choose Redeem securities, select the holding and review the payment destination before submitting. For a single partial redemption, redeem at least $25 and leave at least $25 in that security. Follow the official account instructions; this site cannot access your account.
Interest and tax records
Savings bond interest is subject to federal income tax and exempt from state and local income tax; read the IRS interest guidance and Treasury’s reporting instructions.
Lost, stolen or destroyed savings bonds
Treasury Hunt closed September 30, 2025. Treasury now directs claimants to its savings bond forms, including FS Form 1048 for missing paper bonds. Follow the instructions that match your situation and submit private details only to Treasury.
Official sources and FS Form 1522 (April 2026 revision) checked October 3, 2026. Verify the current instructions before submitting a request. For a list of holdings, return to the Savings Bond Calculator; the methodology explains value checks.
Questions about your bond
Can I cash savings bonds at any bank?
A bank’s redemption service can depend on its policies and your relationship with it. Contact the institution before visiting and ask which documents it expects. The calculator establishes neither ownership nor a bank’s willingness to pay. Follow the official mail-in procedure when that is the applicable route for your holding.
Can this website submit my redemption request?
Use this website to read a value and understand the published process. It has no payment or account connection and cannot submit a redemption request. Send forms and private supporting information directly through the official procedure. Use the homepage list to organize nonidentifying inputs and keep a CSV for your records.
Content updated 2026-10-03. Information only; not financial or tax advice.