# Series I U.S. savings bonds are paying 7.12% \[update - now 6.89%\]\[Down to 5.27% Mar2023\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 28, 2021, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092 "2021-11-28T23:03:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/121 "2022-10-15T15:14:41Z")
The I bond rate combines two parts. A permanent interest rate at purchase time which is currently 0% and a rate based on the Consumer Price Index which changes based on inflation. Earlier I bonds may have had a healthy permanent interest rate. 2-3%. That combines with the current 9% CPI rate to give you an amazing 11% on older I bonds. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/122 "2022-10-15T18:57:51Z")
Has anyone run into these problems trying to buy bonds on the Treasury website: 1. your bank account routing number has 9 digits, but the application form only allows you to enter 8 2. the application form asks for the name on the bank account you’ll be paying from, but the form doesn’t have room for you to enter both names on a joint account ?? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/123 "2022-10-15T20:30:27Z")
IANABanker but 9 digits is the industry standard? Odd glitch or something else? Today I couldn’t access my history, link would go to redeem option. Odd. The name on your bank account doesn’t matter really Its how you register the bond in whose name(s) it belongs to. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/124 "2022-10-16T03:55:20Z")
The interest rate is 9.62% through October 28th, and then it will be re-evaluated. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/125 "2022-10-17T01:42:46Z")
I didn’t experience anything like that. Try a different browser maybe. Or disable any plugins in your current browser. I discovered that one was affecting me once. I didn’t bother figuring out which one. I just shut them all down. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/126 "2022-10-17T02:12:03Z")
I just created a TreasuryDirect account and bought the $10,000 maximum. The process was a little tedious and annoyingly, I couldn’t just cut-and-paste the password but instead had to type it in using an on-screen keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/127 "2022-10-17T02:46:02Z")
That’s another layer of security. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/128 "2022-10-17T11:08:01Z")
I realize that. It’s still a minor annoyance. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/129 "2022-10-17T11:35:41Z")
Back then, there weren’t any series I savings bonds, so it’s probably series E (or EE?). Anyway, it’s probably no longer earning interest, so you should cash it in. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/130 "2022-10-17T22:01:33Z")
Thanks for the timely reminder. Our CD’s are maturing and we were looking at interest rates. Hubs had horrible issues with the webpage because he couldn’t use the back button despite being warned in red letters not to do it. I had no problem creating my account and scheduling 10 daily purchases of a thousand each. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/131 "2022-10-19T02:38:36Z")
I went back to the Treasury site a couple days ago, and for some reason this time was able to enter the full bank account routing number along with both names (or close to it) on the account and successfully made a bond purchase. Thanks to me, America is further in debt. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/132 "2022-10-19T04:52:45Z")
I’m wondering if reports of problems with the webpage are because so many people are now buying bonds. We had forgotten all about savings bonds until the interest rate became high enough for people to take notice. CDs are paying less than 2% and stocks are falling faster than an out of favor oligarch. We both bought our yearly limit recently and shared our experiences with our friends. Some of them have already moved money that way as well. I’m guessing the website has been getting more traffic this month than it usually gets in a year and most of the visits involve setting up secure accounts which is going to take more bandwidth. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/133 "2022-10-19T15:16:55Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > CDs are paying less than 2% Capital One 1-yr CDs are currently at 3.25%. We have a lot of cash so are always looking for ways to get a bit more out of it and we’ve already maxed out the I-series bonds so now on to CDs. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/134 "2022-10-19T15:28:33Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Capital One 1-yr CDs are currently at 3.25%. Schwab is paying 4.35% on a 1 year CD ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/135 "2022-10-19T16:23:40Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Schwab is paying 4.35% on a 1 year CD WOW! Our CDs are maturing at the end of the month and we are looking for another home for our money. None of the banks out this way can touch that. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/136 "2022-10-19T16:25:39Z")
[ufbdirect.com](http://ufbdirect.com) has 3.11% regular savings accounts - not CDs. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/137 "2022-10-19T16:29:50Z")
Looking at Vanguard’s website, they also have brokered CDs in that range, with ones in the 13-18 month range at 4.45%. So my guess is that any broker can find you CDs with good rates. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/138 "2022-10-19T16:45:05Z")
Yes November 1 although there should be whisper numbers by now of what it will be. Note: I have $2500 in I-bonds as my saving account. ETA: Looks like the whisper number is 6.48% so if true that the rate will drop it is better to buy them by October 28th. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/139 "2022-10-27T04:56:48Z")
6.47 or 6.48% depending on the source. Not like it was before, but still better than random. [I Bonds' New Rate Isn't a Record, But They're Still a Great Investment - CNET](https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/investing/i-bonds-new-rate-wont-be-over-9-but-its-still-darn-good/#:~:text=I%20bonds)’%20variable%20rate%20for,an%20annual%20rate%20of%206.47%25. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092/140 "2022-11-02T13:18:14Z")
FYI, the new rate, for bonds issued through 30 April 2023, is 6.89%. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-i-u-s-savings-bonds-are-paying-7-12-update-now-6-89-down-to-5-27-mar2023/955092.md?page=8)