Series I Savings Bonds Pay 5.51% Through April 2027 at TreasuryDirect

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The U.S. Treasury has set the new Series I Savings Bond rate at 5.51% for bonds bought between November 1, 2026 and April 30, 2027. That is the combined rate for the first six months you hold the bond, and it includes a 1.40% fixed rate that stays with the bond for its whole 30-year life.

The deal

An I bond earns two rates added together. The fixed rate is set when you buy and never changes; for this window it is 1.40%. The inflation rate is reset every six months from the Consumer Price Index, and the current one is 4.08% annualized. Together they give the 5.51% figure Treasury published on November 1. After your first six months the inflation part moves with the next announcement, while the 1.40% fixed part stays locked in.

Why we like it

I bonds are backed by the U.S. government, there is no purchase fee, and the minimum is just $25 (you can buy any amount above that to the penny). Interest is exempt from state and local income tax, and you can choose to defer federal tax until you cash the bond. A 1.40% fixed rate is also on the higher end of what Treasury has offered in recent years, so a bond bought in this window keeps that floor even if inflation cools.

Buying an I bond on TreasuryDirect

Tap the SHOP HERE button above to open the I bonds page on TreasuryDirect. Create a free account (or log in), choose BuyDirect, pick Series I, enter the amount you want and the bank account to pay from. Electronic bonds are issued to your account; there is nothing to mail. Buy by April 30, 2027 to get the 1.40% fixed rate for this window.

Good to know

• You cannot cash an I bond in the first 12 months.
• Cash it before 5 years and you give up the last 3 months of interest; after 5 years there is no penalty.
• The bond earns interest for up to 30 years, and electronic bonds are paid out automatically at maturity.
• The annual limit is $10,000 in electronic bonds per Social Security Number; a new calendar year brings a fresh $10,000 limit.
• Federal income tax applies to the interest; state and local income tax does not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 5.51% rate locked in for the life of the bond?

No. Only the 1.40% fixed portion stays for the full 30 years. The 4.08% inflation portion applies to your first six months and is then replaced by whatever inflation rate Treasury announces next, so the combined rate goes up or down every six months.

How much can I buy?

Up to $10,000 in electronic I bonds per Social Security Number in a calendar year, starting from $25. Since the window runs November 2026 through April 2027, a purchase in December and another in January fall in two different calendar years, each with its own $10,000 limit.

When can I cash it in?

After 12 months. If you redeem before five years, you forfeit the most recent three months of interest. After five years you can cash the bond with no penalty, and it keeps earning for up to 30 years if you leave it alone.

Do I need to buy before a deadline?

The 1.40% fixed rate and the 5.51% starting rate apply to I bonds issued from November 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. Treasury announces new rates every May 1 and November 1, so a bond bought on or after May 1, 2027 gets the next window’s rates instead.

A government-backed savings bond with no fees and a locked-in fixed rate is a simple place for an emergency fund or a gift that grows. For more ways to stretch your money, browse our Finance Deals section.

Buy I bonds on TreasuryDirect →

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