Series EE Savings Bonds: 2.90% Rate, the 20-Year Doubling Guarantee and the Rules
Figures checked November 12, 2026 against primary sources
Series EE savings bonds issued from November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027 earn a fixed 2.90%. The rate is set when you buy and holds for the first 20 years. The Treasury also guarantees that an EE bond you buy now will be worth double what you paid at 20 years, which works out to about 3.53% a year if you hold that long (our arithmetic, shown below). Every rule and rate on this page is from TreasuryDirect, the Treasury's savings bond site.
Series EE Bonds at a Glance
| Feature | Series EE bond bought now |
|---|---|
| Rate | 2.90% fixed, for bonds issued Nov 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027 |
| Rate lasts | First 20 years; the Treasury may change it for the last 10 years |
| Guarantee | Worth double the purchase price at 20 years |
| Earns interest for | 30 years |
| Form | Electronic only, in a TreasuryDirect account |
| Minimum | $25, then any amount to the penny |
| Yearly limit | $10,000 per calendar year per Social Security Number |
| Earliest cashing | After 12 months; lose the last 3 months of interest if cashed before 5 years |
| Tax | Federal income tax yes; state and local income tax no |
The Current EE Bond Rate
EE bonds issued from November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027 earn 2.90%. The Treasury sets the EE rate each May 1 and November 1 for bonds sold in the next six months. It starts from market yields and adjusts them for features unique to savings bonds, such as being able to cash after one year and to put off tax until you cash.
Your bond keeps the rate in force on its issue date, so a bond bought earlier still earns its own rate. Recent EE rates from TreasuryDirect:
| Rate set on | Fixed rate for EE bonds issued in the next 6 months |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | 2.90% |
| May 1, 2026 | 2.40% |
| November 1, 2025 | 2.50% |
| May 1, 2025 | 2.70% |
| November 1, 2024 | 2.60% |
| May 1, 2024 | 2.70% |
| November 1, 2023 | 2.70% |
The full list back to May 2005 is on TreasuryDirect's EE bonds issued May 2005 and later page. The next rate is set May 1, 2027.
The 20-Year Doubling Guarantee
TreasuryDirect: "we guarantee that the bond will double in value in 20 years, even if we have to add money at 20 years to make that happen." If you keep the bond for 20 years, the Treasury makes a one-time adjustment, if needed, to bring it to double.
What that is worth as a yearly rate (our arithmetic). Doubling in 20 years equals about 3.53% a year compounded annually: 21/20 minus 1 = 0.0353. That is more than the 2.90% stated rate, but you get it only if you hold the full 20 years.
| Worked example (hypothetical, our arithmetic) | $1,000 EE bond bought at 2.90% |
|---|---|
| Value at 20 years from the 2.90% rate alone, compounded every 6 months | About $1,779 (1,000 × 1.014540) |
| Value at 20 years under the guarantee | $2,000 |
| One-time amount the Treasury adds at 20 years | About $221 |
The $1,779 is our approximation. The Treasury adds interest monthly and rounds, so the exact figure can differ slightly. The guarantee does not apply if you cash before 20 years: you get the 2.90% rate only, less 3 months of interest if you cash before 5 years.
After 20 years. The Treasury may change the rate or how the bond earns interest for its last 10 years, and must do so before the bond turns 20. If you do not want the new terms, you can cash the bond at 20 years, once it has at least doubled.
How EE Bonds Earn Interest
- Monthly, compounded every 6 months. EE bonds earn interest monthly. Every 6 months the rate is applied to a new principal: the old principal plus the interest of the last 6 months.
- Paid when you cash. You get all the money when you cash the bond. You do not receive interest payments along the way.
- 30 years. An EE bond earns interest for 30 years unless you cash it before then. Electronic EE bonds are paid out automatically when they mature. Paper EE bonds must be submitted to be cashed.
Buying EE Bonds: Minimum and Yearly Limit
- Electronic only. New EE bonds are sold only in TreasuryDirect, and you need an account there to buy and manage them.
- $25 minimum. Above $25 you can buy any amount to the penny; TreasuryDirect's example is an EE bond for $36.73. Electronic EE bonds sell at face value: $100 buys a $100 bond.
- $10,000 a year. You can buy up to $10,000 in EE bonds in a calendar year per Social Security Number. The limit applies to the first person named on the bond. The I bond limit is separate.
Old paper EE bonds. You may still own a paper EE bond issued between 1980 and 2012. Paper EE bonds were sold for half their face value: $50 bought a $100 paper bond. Paper EE bonds sold between 2001 and 2011 may say "Patriot Bond"; the same EE rules apply to them. Bonds issued before May 2005 may follow different interest rules; see TreasuryDirect's EE bonds page for the issue-date links.
What Is My EE Bond Worth?
- Electronic EE bond: log in to TreasuryDirect; the value is in your account.
- Paper EE bond: use the Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator.
For bonds under 5 years old, both show the value without the last 3 months of interest, because that is what you would get if you cashed now. We do not list bond values here; each value depends on the bond's issue date and rate.
Cashing EE Bonds
- After 12 months. You cannot cash an EE bond in its first year.
- Before 5 years, lose 3 months of interest. TreasuryDirect's example: cash after 18 months and you get the first 15 months of interest.
- Electronic bonds are cashed in your TreasuryDirect account. Paper bonds are cashed at a bank that agrees to do it or by mail to the Treasury. The steps are on TreasuryDirect's Cash in (redeem) an EE or I savings bond page.
Taxes on EE Bond Interest
- Federal income tax: yes. State and local income tax: no.
- Estate and gift taxes: federal estate, gift and excise taxes and state estate or inheritance taxes can apply.
- When: you choose to report the interest each year, or to wait and report it all when you get the money.
- Education: if you use the money for qualified higher education expenses, you may not have to pay tax on the interest. TreasuryDirect's tax information page covers the conditions.
EE Bonds vs I Bonds
| EE bonds | I bonds | |
|---|---|---|
| Rate for bonds bought Nov 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027 | 2.90%, stays the same at least 20 years | 5.51%, stays the same for 6 months |
| How the rate works | Fixed, known when you buy | A fixed rate plus an inflation rate reset every 6 months; never below zero |
| Guarantee | Double the purchase price at 20 years | Rate never falls below zero |
| Yearly limit | $10,000 electronic | $10,000 electronic |
| Cashing, penalty, taxes | Same for both: after 12 months; lose 3 months of interest before 5 years; federal tax, no state or local tax | |
Source: TreasuryDirect's Comparing EE and I bonds. For how the I bond rate is built and when to buy, see our I bonds guide.
Who EE Bonds Fit
- Savers who will hold 20 years. The doubling guarantee is the reason to own an EE bond. Held the full 20 years, the bond returns about 3.53% a year (our arithmetic), with no state or local income tax.
- Not for money you may need sooner. Cash before 20 years and you earn the stated 2.90% only, less 3 months of interest if before 5 years. Compare that with the rate on CDs or Treasury bills and notes for the same time frame.
- Not a hedge against inflation. The EE rate is fixed. I bonds carry an inflation rate; EE bonds do not.
Sources & Methodology
- TreasuryDirect: EE bonds (current rate, guarantee, electronic only, interest, 30-year life, cashing, taxes, minimum, yearly limit).
- TreasuryDirect: EE bonds issued May 2005 and later (rate history, how the rate is set, one-time adjustment, terms after 20 years, paper vs electronic price).
- TreasuryDirect: Comparing EE and I bonds.
Method notes. All facts were re-read from the TreasuryDirect pages above on November 12, 2026. The 3.53% yearly figure and the $1,000 worked example are our own arithmetic from the published rate and guarantee, labelled as such. The 2.90% rate applies only to EE bonds issued November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027; we will update the page when the May 1, 2027 rate is announced.
This article is for general information and is not financial or tax advice. The worked example is hypothetical and is not a forecast of what any bond will be worth. Wealthy Pot is not affiliated with the U.S. Treasury or TreasuryDirect. Rates and rules were checked against TreasuryDirect on 2026-11-12. Confirm current terms on TreasuryDirect before you buy.
FAQ
What is the Series EE bond rate now?
2.90% for EE bonds issued November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. The rate is fixed for the first 20 years of each bond.
How long does it take an EE bond to double?
20 years. The Treasury guarantees a bond bought now is worth double its price at 20 years and adds money at that point if needed.
How much can I put in EE bonds each year?
Up to $10,000 per calendar year per Social Security Number, with a $25 minimum per purchase. The I bond limit is separate.
Can I still buy paper EE bonds?
No. New EE bonds are electronic only, bought in a TreasuryDirect account. Paper EE bonds issued from 1980 to 2012 are still valid.
How do I find out what my EE bond is worth?
Electronic bonds: your TreasuryDirect account. Paper bonds: the Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator.
Are EE bonds better than I bonds?
Neither is better for everyone. EE bonds pay a fixed rate and double in 20 years. I bonds change rate every 6 months with inflation. For bonds bought November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, the stated rates are 2.90% (EE) and 5.51% (I).
Cite This Page
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"Series EE Savings Bonds: 2.90% Rate, the 20-Year Doubling Guarantee and the Rules." Wealthy Pot, 2026. https://wealthypot.com/series-ee-bonds/
