Buying a US Savings Bond

Where can I buy Paper Savings Bonds?

You can purchase EE Savings Bonds or I Savings Bonds at a local bank, financial institution, your credit union, Payroll Savings Plan (must be offered by your employer) or via the Treasury Department's Easy Saver Plan. See the current savings bond rates for bonds available for purchase.

Buying Paper Bonds Online - discontinued

In 2002, the ability to purchase US Savings Bonds online with a credit card was discontinued by the Treasury Department. In order to purchase a Paper US Savings Bond as a gift or personal investment, you MUST go to a bank or financial institution like a credit union, and submit the proper forms to buy paper Savings Bonds. The government now promotes the ability to buy electronic Savings Bonds on its treasury direct website.

What Bond Types are Currently Available for Purchase?

US Savings Bonds currently available for purchase are the EE Savings Bond and the I Savings Bond. Not sure which US Savings Bond is the right choice for you? Read our information on the comparing EE Savings Bonds to I Savings Bonds.

Buying via Payroll Savings Plan

The Payroll Savings Plan, offered by the U.S. Treasury's Bureau of the Public Debt and administered by the Federal Reserve, provides an employee benefit for any size organization.

The Payroll Savings Plan allows employees to purchase Savings Bonds in ranging denominations for Series I bonds and Series EE bonds. The program can complement an existing investment plan, such as a 401K, or can serve as a stand-alone savings vehicle. The program is inexpensive and easy for an organization to administer.

More than 40,000 employers have incorporated the Payroll Savings Plan into their normal payroll procedures and have found the program requires little time and effort to maintain.

To initiate the program, each participating employee signs an authorization card designating the amount to be deducted each pay period for the purchase of Savings Bonds and providing bond ownership information. At the end of each pay period, Savings Bonds are purchased for employees who have accumulated the purchase price. The purchase price also can be accrued by the deduction of small amounts over time.

The order and payment are then submitted to the Federal Reserve, which processes the orders and issues the bonds. This process continues until an employee gives written notice to cancel the arrangement or leaves your employment.

How Do I enroll in the Payroll Savings Plan? You must first contact your company's Human Resources or Payroll department to see if your company participates in this plan. If they do, they will have the proper forms to sign you up.

If you are an Employer looking to start the Payroll Savings Plan - you can start by learning more at the Government's US Savings Bond Payroll Plan site at Treasury Direct.