Treasury Direct website issues- purchased IBonds

[Snydley]

Hi- I bought I Bonds in 2019, and it says by balance is 10,000. Did I not make any interest? Is it listed somewhere else? I hate that website.. TIA

[kork13]

Yeah, it's a terrible website.

You're probably just looking at the main account page after you first login? If you click on the blue link that says "SAVINGS BONDS" (next to where it says $10,000), it'll take you to a new page that lists your holdings all over again. That page should have a table under "Savings Bonds" that lists the purchased amount ($10,000) and the current value ($10,254 or whatever).

I'm bad at hanging images here, but hopefully that makes sense & helps you find your actual value.

[Drake3287]

Agree, I just looked at my account this morning and you need to click away to find your earned interest from your principle. Not an easy system to deal with, especially after reading that other post about being locked out.

[Snydley]

Thanks kork13- I see my 10K i bond bought in March 2019 is now worth 10,904- pretty good! I guess the interest rates are even better now and I should buy more?

[kork13]

Getting more certainly wouldn't hurt -- they're earning over 9% interest, risk-free, at least for the next 6 months.... Those high rates are going to persist as long as inflation remains high.

[QuarterMillionMan]

My I-bond issue date was 5-1-22, my $10,000 still only shows $10,000 after clicking away following kork's instructions I cannot find my interest earned. Maybe it is too early yet for my account to reflect my interest earned. Oh well, I'll check again later, I'm not too worried about it.

[kork13]

I mentioned the funky way they handle the early-withdraw penalty somewhere else... But in short, they don't pay interest for the first 3 months of a new I-bond. Then upon reaching 5 years, they pay back those 3 missing months. If you check after 1 Sep, you should see 1 month's interest reflected for August earnings.

[Like2Plan]

As Kork described:
I counted 3 pages for direct purchases (if you have converted bonds, it is slightly different).

1. Start on the home page under Current Holdings, click on the link for "SAVINGS BONDS".
2. At the bottom of the Current Holdings page is Savings Bonds: select "Series I Savings Bond" and submit.
3. This will lead you to the Current Holdings Summary Page (for I bonds) with all the particulars for your I bonds. As Kork explained, it won't start posting interest until after the 4th month from the issue date (assuming the bond is less than 5 years old and still subject to the 3 month interest penalty).

So as noted, bonds with an issue date of 4/1/2022 (or earlier) will show interest earned. May, Jun and Jul would be the 3 months penalty (note-an exception is necessary for redeeming earlier than 1 year). You would see Apr interest applied and posted Aug 1.
(Edited to correct the month of interest applied would actually be the first month: Apr with the next 3 months May, Jun and Jul as the 3 month penalty.)


So, previously discussed above--you should see some interest on your I bond (with an issue date of 5/1/2022) on Sep 1st.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Thanks L2P & Kork, you guys are good and know your stuff. I'll be patient and check again in September.

[QuarterMillionMan]

[QuarterMillionMan]

Nov 1 rates looks to be 6.48%.

[QuarterMillionMan]

This is the last week to lock in 9.62% for 6 months. Beginning November the rate drops to 6.48%.

[disneysteve]

This is the last week to lock in 9.62% for 6 months. Beginning November the rate drops to 6.48%.

At the same time, bond rates continue to rise. I bought a 19-month government agency bond today paying 5.18% (and a 5-year is at 5.67%) and that is state and local tax-free. So not a ton of difference between that and the new I bond rate and it's a whole lot easier to deal with my broker than with Treasury Direct. The agency bond is also totally liquid without the 1-year holding requirement or the interest penalty for early withdrawal up to 5 years.

And with the expected rate increase again in November, those bond rates will go even higher. 5 year bonds may well hit 6% at that point.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Question on the yearly max of $10,000 purchase of I-bonds. I bought $10,000 on 5/1/22. Can I buy another $10,000 today on 2/11/23. Or do I have to wait until 5/1/23 to buy another $10,000?

[disneysteve]

Question on the yearly max of $10,000 purchase of I-bonds. I bought $10,000 on 5/1/22. Can I buy another $10,000 today on 2/11/23. Or do I have to wait until 5/1/23 to buy another $10,000?

It's per calendar year so you can buy them now.