Looking for where to buy savings bonds? Since 2012, these Treasury-issued securities are sold only one way electronically: directly through TreasuryDirect.gov, the official U.S. Department of the Treasury platform managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. Banks, brokerages, and retail stores no longer sell savings bonds at the counter. The only route to paper Series I savings bonds today is federal tax-refund purchase using IRS Form 8888. This guide explains exactly where to buy savings bonds in 2026, how Series I and Series EE differ, current annual limits, and how to avoid the scam sites impersonating the Treasury.
Quick Answer: Where to Buy Savings Bonds
Electronic Series I and Series EE savings bonds are available only at TreasuryDirect.gov, the U.S. Treasury’s direct-to-consumer portal. Paper Series I instruments can be purchased solely by allocating part of a federal income-tax refund via Form 8888, up to $5,000 per return. Banks stopped selling paper certificates on January 1, 2012, and no third-party retailer, broker, or Amazon listing sells legitimate Treasury securities. Annual electronic limits are $10,000 per Social Security Number for each series, resetting every calendar year. Every transaction clears as an ACH debit from a linked checking account, settles within one business day, and posts to the holder’s online ledger with a unique confirmation code.
Top 5 Ways to Buy Savings Bonds in 2026
Every legitimate purchase of U.S. savings bonds flows through the Treasury. These five approaches cover every buying scenario, from standard inflation-hedge investing to gifting and tax-refund paper purchases.
Best Overall: TreasuryDirect.gov (Electronic Series I and EE)
TreasuryDirect.gov is the only authorized seller of electronic savings bonds and the default answer to where to buy savings bonds. Open a free account with your Social Security Number, link a checking account, and purchase any amount from $25 to $10,000 per series per calendar year. Funds transfer by ACH, and the holdings are deposited into your online ledger within one business day. The platform also handles gift purchases, redemptions after the 12-month minimum hold, and ongoing rate updates published every May and November. Because the Bureau of the Fiscal Service administers the system, there are no brokerage fees, no advisor commissions, and no custodial charges assessed against the position at any point during the 30-year life of the instrument.
Best for Paper Bonds: IRS Form 8888 (Tax Refund Purchase)
Paper Series I certificates still exist, but the only way to acquire them is to file IRS Form 8888 with your federal tax return and direct up to $5,000 of the refund into paper I Bonds. The IRS mails the certificates in denominations of $50, $100, $200, $500, and $1,000. This $5,000 paper allocation is in addition to the $10,000 electronic I Bond limit, allowing a combined annual ceiling of $15,000 per taxpayer. Plan the refund size in advance to maximize the allocation. Married couples filing jointly can split the paper allocation across two names using part IV of the form, and the certificates typically arrive by mail within three weeks of refund issuance.
Best for Gifting: TreasuryDirect Gift Box
The TreasuryDirect Gift Box feature lets a buyer purchase a security in another person’s name and hold it until the recipient opens a TreasuryDirect account. Gifted holdings count toward the recipient’s annual limit (not the giver’s) once delivered, so a grandparent can stockpile multiple years of I Bonds for a newborn and deliver them in future years. The recipient must have a valid Social Security Number, and a printable gift certificate is available inside the platform for occasions such as birthdays, graduations, or bar mitzvahs.
Best for Kids: Custodial Minor Linked Account
Parents who want to buy savings bonds for a child should open a linked minor account inside their own TreasuryDirect login rather than using a Roth IRA or 529 plan, both of which have different tax treatments and contribution caps. The minor account holds the child’s Social Security Number and unlocks its own $10,000 electronic I Bond limit each year. Interest compounds tax-deferred for up to 30 years, and proceeds used for qualified higher-education expenses may be federally tax-free under the Education Savings Bond Program. The custodian retains control until the beneficiary turns 18, at which point the entire balance can be detached into a standalone TreasuryDirect profile without triggering a taxable event.
Best for Inflation Hedge: Series I Bonds Specifically
Series I Bonds combine a fixed rate with a semiannual inflation rate pegged to the CPI-U, making them the most direct consumer-grade inflation hedge the Treasury issues. New composite rates post every May 1 and November 1 on the TreasuryDirect rate page, and the current fixed component stays attached to the instrument for its full 30-year life. Holders who redeem within the first five years forfeit the most recent three months of interest; after year five, redemption is penalty-free. Buy through TreasuryDirect.gov only, and consider spreading purchases across both May and November windows so your laddered position always captures the highest composite rate on offer.
Where to Buy Savings Bonds Online
Online, there is exactly one authorized retailer for electronic U.S. savings bonds: TreasuryDirect.gov. No brokerage (Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, Robinhood) sells savings bonds, because the Treasury distributes them directly, cutting out middlemen and fees. Accounts opened on the platform also hold Treasury bills, notes, TIPS, and FRNs, giving investors a single government-issued hub for federal securities. Expect a one-time identity-verification step; funds settle via ACH from a linked checking or savings account, and all confirmations are delivered inside the secure messaging center.
Third-party sites that claim to sell “discounted” or “wholesale” savings bonds are impersonators. The Treasury has repeatedly warned against look-alike domains such as treasurydirectgov[dot]net and similar typosquats. Always confirm the URL begins with https://www.treasurydirect.gov/ and displays a padlock before entering a Social Security Number. If you need a portable cash instrument instead, see our guide on where to buy money orders for everyday payment alternatives.
Things to Avoid When Buying Savings Bonds
- Scam sites claiming to sell Treasury bonds: any domain other than treasurydirect.gov is illegitimate. Check the address bar character by character.
- Outdated advice saying banks still sell bonds: this has been false since 2012. Tellers cannot issue new Series I or Series EE certificates.
- Amazon, eBay, or marketplace listings: any listing advertising “U.S. savings bonds” on a retail marketplace is either a scam or a resale of redeemed paper certificates with no face value.
- Buying over the annual limit: the Treasury will reject the second transaction and refund the money, but the delay ties up cash and may miss a rate window.
- Redeeming within the first 12 months: electronic and paper I Bonds are locked for one full year with no exceptions outside federally declared disasters.
- Paying anyone a “processing fee”: TreasuryDirect charges zero fees for purchase, custody, or redemption.
Can I Still Buy Paper Bonds at a Bank?
No. On January 1, 2012, the U.S. Department of the Treasury discontinued over-the-counter paper savings bond sales at banks and credit unions as part of an all-electronic transition announced in 2011. The move saved an estimated $70 million in the first five years by eliminating printing, shipping, and teller-handling costs. Today the only remaining paper-bond channel is the IRS Form 8888 tax-refund allocation, capped at $5,000 per return. Banks will, however, still redeem mature paper certificates presented by the registered owner, subject to identity verification and the $1,000 cash limit for non-customers. Anyone holding older Series E or Series HH paper securities that have reached final maturity should convert them to cash promptly because those instruments no longer accrue interest, and large holdings may require an FS Form 1522 signature guarantee obtained at a local bank branch.
How to Buy Savings Bonds: Step-by-Step Guide
Electronic purchase through TreasuryDirect takes about 15 minutes for a first-time buyer. Have a Social Security Number, a U.S. driver’s license or state ID, a bank routing and account number, and a valid email address ready before starting.
- Open a TreasuryDirect account: visit treasurydirect.gov, click “Open an Account,” choose Individual, and complete the identity form.
- Link a bank account: enter your checking routing and account numbers; the Treasury uses this for every purchase and redemption.
- Choose your bond series: Series I for inflation protection, Series EE for a guaranteed double-by-year-20 floor rate.
- Enter the purchase amount: any value from $25 to the remaining annual allowance on your Social Security Number.
- Confirm the ACH debit: funds clear within one business day, and the new holding appears in “Current Holdings” immediately after settlement.
- Record redemption dates: minimum hold is 12 months; full five-year hold avoids the three-month interest penalty; 30-year final maturity.
Keep login credentials in a password manager, enable the optional OTP security token for accounts holding balances above $10,000, and verify each ACH confirmation inside the TreasuryDirect inbox rather than replying to any email. For a complementary guide to small-denomination payment tools, see our overview of where to buy Visa gift cards, which covers a very different product category but rounds out common “where to buy” questions about regulated financial instruments. Staying inside official federal channels protects both capital and taxpayer identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual limit on savings bonds?
Each Social Security Number can purchase up to $10,000 in electronic Series I savings bonds and another $10,000 in electronic Series EE bonds per calendar year through TreasuryDirect. An additional $5,000 in paper Series I bonds is available via IRS Form 8888 tax-refund allocation, bringing the combined annual I Bond ceiling to $15,000 per taxpayer.
How do Series I and Series EE differ?
Series I Bonds pay a composite rate that combines a fixed rate with a semiannual inflation adjustment tied to the CPI-U, protecting purchasing power. Series EE Bonds pay a lower fixed rate but carry a Treasury guarantee to double in value after 20 years, producing an effective minimum yield of about 3.5% when held the full term. Both require a 12-month minimum hold.
When can I cash in a savings bond?
You can redeem any U.S. savings bond after 12 months. Cashing before five years forfeits the last three months of interest. After five years, redemption is penalty-free, and the bond continues earning interest for up to 30 years before final maturity.
Can I buy savings bonds as a gift?
Yes. The TreasuryDirect Gift Box holds a purchased bond in escrow until the recipient opens a TreasuryDirect account with a valid Social Security Number. Gift bonds count toward the recipient’s annual purchase limit on the delivery date, not the giver’s.
When do savings bond rates update?
The Treasury publishes new Series I and Series EE rates twice a year, on May 1 and November 1. The I Bond inflation component resets every six months based on the most recent CPI-U data, while the fixed rate on any new bond is locked in for its full 30-year life.