TreasuryDirect Account: How to Open One, What You Need and What It Holds
Figures checked November 12, 2026 against primary sources
A TreasuryDirect account is the U.S. Treasury's own online system for buying and holding savings bonds and other Treasury securities. Opening one costs nothing, and Treasury does not charge to manage what you hold. The minimum purchase is $25 for savings bonds and $100 for other securities. To apply you need a valid U.S. Social Security number, a U.S. address of record and a U.S. bank account that accepts ACH debits and credits. This page walks through who can open an account, the application, the password rules, accounts for children, and what happens if your bank details fail verification. For what I bonds pay and their yearly limit, see our I bonds guide.
Table of Contents
What a TreasuryDirect Account Is
TreasuryDirect is run by the Treasury Department. In one account you can buy and manage savings bonds, Treasury bills, Treasury notes, Treasury bonds, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) and Floating Rate Notes. Treasury says the system "is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
| Feature | What TreasuryDirect says |
|---|---|
| Cost to open or manage | "There's no charge to open an account or to manage your securities." |
| Minimum purchase, savings bonds | $25 |
| Minimum purchase, other securities | $100 |
| Form of securities | Electronic, not paper |
| How you pay | "You fund your TreasuryDirect account through your bank account." |
Everything you buy there is electronic. In Treasury's words: "Securities you buy in TreasuryDirect are electronic, not paper. If you hold savings bonds in paper form, you can convert them to electronic securities in TreasuryDirect." That conversion happens in a separate linked account, covered below.
Who Can Open an Account
When you submit the application, you certify that you are a U.S. person. The TreasuryDirect User Guide defines it this way: "You must be a U.S. citizen, resident, or individual who is at least 18 years old with a valid U.S. Social Security Number. You must also have a U.S. address of record and an account at a U.S. depository financial institution that will accept debits and credits using the Automated Clearing House method of payment."
In practice, that means three things to have ready, and you must be at least 18:
- A valid U.S. Social Security number
- A U.S. address of record
- An account at a U.S. bank or other depository institution that accepts ACH debits and credits
For a child under 18, a parent or the person who provides the child's chief support can set up a Minor linked account instead.
How to Open a TreasuryDirect Account
The application is online at treasurydirect.gov. The User Guide lists the parts of the individual application:
- Account Owner Information
- Contact Information
- Bank Information
- Submission: you certify that your taxpayer identification number is correct, that "You are NOT subject to backup withholding," and that you are a U.S. person as defined above.
Next you choose a password. TreasuryDirect requires "a minimum of twelve (12) characters without spaces." You also answer three security questions.
Linking and Changing Your Bank Account
You pay for purchases from your bank account. When you add a new bank account, an account verification service checks the details. If the check fails, you get two more tries. TreasuryDirect's help page explains what happens after that: "If the bank information is unable to be verified on the 3rd attempt, a hold will be placed on your bank account and you will receive an email which includes information and a link to the Bank Change Request form (FS Form 5512)."
Two points to note. The hold is on the bank account you entered, and the email gives you the link to the form. TreasuryDirect's page does not say how long the hold or the form takes, so check the bank details carefully before each attempt.
Some smaller bank changes can be made by phone. TreasuryDirect gives the number (844) 284-2676 (option 3, then option 3) for three cases: making a different existing bank account your Primary bank, making minor corrections to the name on the bank account, and changing the bank name.
Linked Accounts: Minor, Custom and Conversion
After your Primary account is open, you can add three kinds of linked account.
- Minor account: TreasuryDirect describes it as "a custodial account you may establish for a child under the age of 18 if you are a parent or person providing chief support of the child."
- Custom account
- Conversion account: for paper savings bonds you convert to electronic form.
Buying Bonds Once the Account Is Open
When you buy an electronic savings bond, you enter a purchase amount from $25.00 to $10,000.00, and TreasuryDirect notes that "Electronic savings bonds are always purchased at full face value." That range is what one purchase screen accepts. The yearly cap on how much you can buy is a separate rule, explained with the current rate in our I bonds guide.
For bills, notes, bonds, TIPS and Floating Rate Notes, the minimum is $100. Our guide to Treasury bonds, bills and notes explains how they differ, and Treasury bill rates shows what bills pay now.
Where to Get Help With Your Account
The TreasuryDirect Help Center has topics for setting up an account, "Forgot my password," "Forgot my account number," "Help with one-time passcodes" and "Redeeming a Paper Savings Bond." Sign in only on treasurydirect.gov itself. Wealthy Pot does not handle logins and never asks for your account number, password or passcodes.
Sources & Methodology
- What the system holds, availability, cost, minimums, electronic form and paper conversion, funding: TreasuryDirect, Open An Account. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2026.
- Eligibility, application sections, certifications, password and security questions, linked account types: TreasuryDirect User Guide, sections 002 to 009. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2026.
- Bank verification, phone number for bank changes, Minor accounts, purchase amounts: TreasuryDirect, How Do I...?. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2026.
- Help topics: TreasuryDirect Help Center. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2026.
Every rule on this page is taken from TreasuryDirect's own pages, read on Nov. 12, 2026. Treasury can change its screens and rules; if a step looks different, TreasuryDirect's site is the authority. This page is general information, not financial advice.
FAQ
Does it cost anything to open a TreasuryDirect account?
No. Treasury says "There's no charge to open an account or to manage your securities." You pay only for the securities you buy.
What do I need to open a TreasuryDirect account?
A valid U.S. Social Security number, a U.S. address of record and a U.S. bank account that accepts ACH debits and credits. You must be at least 18 to open your own account.
Can I open a TreasuryDirect account for my child?
Yes, as a Minor linked account inside your own individual account. It is for a child under 18, set up by a parent or the person providing the child's chief support.
Can I hold paper savings bonds in TreasuryDirect?
Not as paper. Securities in TreasuryDirect are electronic, but you can convert paper savings bonds to electronic ones in a Conversion linked account.
What happens if TreasuryDirect cannot verify my bank account?
You get three attempts in total when adding a new bank account. If the third fails, TreasuryDirect places a hold on that bank account and emails you a link to the Bank Change Request form (FS Form 5512).
How long does my password have to be?
At least 12 characters, with no spaces.
