To read a U.S. paper savings bond, find its series, denomination, issue date, serial number and registration on the certificate. Use the series, denomination and issue date in the U.S. Treasury’s Savings Bond Calculator for an estimate; the serial number is not required. The estimate does not establish who owns the bond or whether it can be cashed. First identify the issuer and type of security: savings bonds, older marketable Treasury securities, and corporate or municipal certificates do not all follow the same process.
How to identify a paper savings bond
For a U.S. savings bond, note the details printed on the certificate before using a calculator or contacting a bank. Treasury identifies the registration—such as the owner’s name and other identifying information—on the front of the bond.
- Series: printed in the upper-right area.
- Denomination: the bond’s face value.
- Issue date: printed near the series.
- Serial number: printed in the lower-right corner.
- Registration: the name and other identifying information printed on the front.
Keep the serial number in a private inventory. It can help distinguish bonds and may be useful if one is lost or destroyed, but do not publish it or other sensitive identifying details. Treasury’s bond-value guidance explains what information appears on a paper bond.
Make sure it is a savings bond before choosing a process
“Bond certificate” can refer to different kinds of securities. U.S. savings bonds such as Series EE and I are nonmarketable securities. Treasury bills, notes and bonds are marketable securities, and older paper Treasury marketable securities have separate handling instructions; Treasury says those old securities have already matured. A corporate or municipal certificate is not covered by Treasury’s savings-bond process. Contact its issuer or transfer agent before signing or mailing an original.
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If you are unsure what you have, identify the issuer and read the wording on the certificate before acting. Do not assume that a bank or Treasury form used for a savings bond is appropriate for another issuer’s certificate. Treasury distinguishes these security types in its savings-bond information and separate guidance for older marketable securities.
Estimate what a paper savings bond is worth
Use the official Treasury Savings Bond Calculator for paper Series EE, E and I savings bonds and savings notes. Enter the series, denomination and issue date. You do not need the serial number to calculate an estimate. The tool can show values and interest information for available dates; its result applies to the selected valuation date and can change as interest accrues or rate periods update.
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A calculator result is not proof that you own the bond, that a serial number is valid, or that the bond is eligible for redemption. Check the registration and current Treasury instructions before taking action. Treasury’s calculator guidance describes the tool and the details it uses.
How to cash a paper savings bond
An adult cashing their own paper bond in the United States can first ask a bank where they have an account whether it redeems savings bonds. Banks may set limits, require particular identification or documents, or decline to cash bonds. If the bank will not handle it, use Treasury’s current FS Form 1522 process.
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Ask your bank first
- Contact the bank where you have an account and ask whether it redeems savings bonds.
- Confirm how much bond value it will cash at one time and what identification or supporting documents it requires.
- Wait for the bank to explain its procedure before signing or endorsing the bond.
Use Treasury’s FS Form 1522 process
- Read the current FS Form 1522 and its instructions.
- Follow the form’s signature-certification instructions. Treasury says certification is required when the total bond value is more than $1,000.
- Send the completed form and paper bonds to the address printed on the form.
Requirements can depend on registration, ownership and circumstances, so do not guess which signatures or supporting documents are needed. Follow the current form rather than relying on a past mailing address or an assumed procedure. Treasury’s cashing instructions explain the available route.
Do you need to convert a paper EE or I bond before cashing it?
No. An eligible paper Series EE or I bond does not have to be converted to electronic form before it can be cashed. Conversion is an optional TreasuryDirect process for eligible bonds, not a prerequisite for redemption.
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Treasury says conversion preserves the bond’s ownership, maturity date, interest rate and interest-payment schedule. It requires a TreasuryDirect account and mailing the bonds according to the account instructions. Do not sign the back of a bond when preparing it for conversion. See Treasury’s paper-bond conversion instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if a bond is lost, damaged or inherited
Lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated savings bond
Treasury directs owners to its claim process, which usually involves FS Form 1048. The issue date and whatever identifying information you have affect how to proceed. An HH bond that has matured and stopped earning interest can only be redeemed, not replaced. If Treasury replaces or pays a bond and the original later turns up, the original no longer belongs to the claimant; return it as Treasury directs. Follow Treasury’s current claim instructions.
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Inherited savings bond
Options depend on the bond’s series, its registration and whether it is still earning interest. If you are listed as a co-owner or beneficiary, consult Treasury’s instructions for that exact situation. Possessing a deceased person’s certificate by itself does not establish entitlement; Treasury may require legal evidence, such as death documentation. Start with Treasury’s guidance for savings bonds after an owner’s death.
Old paper Treasury marketable security or coupon
Use Treasury’s separate process rather than the savings-bond calculator or redemption procedure. Treasury handles bearer and registered marketable securities differently. Its instructions for bearer securities call for insured registered mail, any coupons, and payment instructions. Verify the latest official directions before sending an original; see Treasury’s instructions for older securities.
Quick Recap
Choose the route that matches your situation
| What you have or need | What to do |
|---|---|
| Paper Series EE, E or I bond, or savings note; you want an estimate | Use Treasury’s Savings Bond Calculator with series, denomination and issue date. |
| Your own paper savings bond; you want to cash it | Ask your bank about its redemption policy and requirements, or follow the current FS Form 1522 instructions. |
| Eligible paper EE or I bond; you want an electronic holding rather than immediate cash | Consider TreasuryDirect conversion and follow its account instructions. Conversion is optional. |
| Savings bond that is lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated | Use Treasury’s claim process, usually FS Form 1048. |
| Inherited savings bond | Use Treasury’s inheritance guidance for the specific registration and series. |
| Old paper Treasury marketable security or coupon | Follow Treasury’s separate instructions for that security type. |
| Corporate or municipal bond certificate | Contact the issuer or transfer agent; Treasury’s savings-bond instructions do not establish the process. |
Protect the certificate and avoid common mistakes
- Keep a private record of the series, denomination, issue date, serial number and registration.
- Do not sign, endorse or mail an original until the relevant bank, form or issuer instructions tell you what to do.
- Do not treat the calculator’s estimated value as proof of ownership or eligibility to cash the bond.
- Ignore claims that a birth-certificate number unlocks savings bonds. Treasury says these claims are false; use official TreasuryDirect services and forms.
- For a certificate issued by a company or municipality, get instructions from its issuer or transfer agent rather than applying Treasury’s savings-bond steps.
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