Treasury Department announces new Series I bond rate of 4.28% for the next six months (2024)

FAQs

Treasury Department announces new Series I bond rate of 4.28% for the next six months? ›

The 4.28% composite rate for I bonds issued from May 2024 through October 2024 applies for the first six months after the issue date. The composite rate combines a 1.30% fixed rate of return with the 2.96% annualized rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

The current composite rate of 4.28% is only earned for the first 6 months of your I Bond. Your May 2024 I Bonds purchase will turn your $100 into $102.14 just 6 months later. This is a 4.28% annualized rate.

The composite rate for I bonds issued from May 2024 through October 2024 is 4.28%.

The fixed rate for I bonds is announced every six months: May 1 and Nov. 1. It applies to the I bonds issued for the next six months. The inflation rate, which is related to the consumer price index, usually changes every six months too.

May 1, 2024. Series EE savings bonds issued May 2024 through October 2024 will earn an annual fixed rate of 2.70% and Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 4.28%, a portion of which is indexed to inflation every six months. The EE bond fixed rate applies to a bond's 20-year original maturity.

6 Month Treasury Bill Rate is at 5.17%, compared to 5.16% the previous market day and 5.14% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 4.49%. The 6 Month Treasury Bill Rate is the yield received for investing in a US government issued treasury bill that has a maturity of 6 months.

Should I only buy bonds when interest rates are high? There are advantages to purchasing bonds after interest rates have risen. Along with generating a larger income stream, such bonds may be subject to less interest rate risk, as there may be a reduced chance of rates moving significantly higher from current levels.

The interest gets added to the bond's value

I bonds earn interest from the first day of the month you buy them. Twice a year, we add all the interest the bond earned in the previous 6 months to the main (principal) value of the bond. That gives the bond a new value (old value + interest earned).

How much is a $50 Patriot bond worth after 20 years? ›

After 20 years, the Patriot Bond is guaranteed to be worth at least face value. So a $50 Patriot Bond, which was bought for $25, will be worth at least $50 after 20 years. It can continue to accrue interest for as many as 10 more years after that.

Series EE savings bonds are a low-risk way to save money. They earn interest regularly for 30 years (or until you cash them if you do that before 30 years). For EE bonds you buy now, 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.

Bonds often offer higher interest rates than CDs, which may be appealing to those looking for a higher profit potential. Unlike CDs, where interest may accumulate and only be paid at maturity, bonds often provide ongoing interest payments, usually at monthly or quarterly intervals.

Key Points. Pros: I bonds come with a high interest rate during inflationary periods, they're low-risk, and they help protect against inflation. Cons: Rates are variable, there's a lockup period and early withdrawal penalty, and there's a limit to how much you can invest.

Bottom line. If inflation and investment safety are your chief concerns — TIPS and I-bonds deliver both. TIPS offer greater liquidity and the higher yearly limit allows you to stash far more cash in TIPS than I-bonds. If you're saving for education, I-bonds may be the way to go.

You can buy paper I bonds with your IRS tax refund. How does an I bond earn interest? I savings bonds earn interest monthly. Interest is compounded semiannually, meaning that every 6 months we apply the bond's interest rate to a new principal value.

You can cash in an I bond after a year, but if you withdraw sooner than five years, you'll pay a penalty of the last three months' interest. Because your rate changes every six months, it's smart to withdraw when your penalty will be based on a lower rate—and avoid cashing out when you'd be forfeiting a high rate.

Bonds pay a fixed rate of interest every six months until they mature. You can hold a bond until it matures or sell it before it matures.