Patriot Bonds: Everything You Need to Know

Patriot Bonds is an alternative name for Series EE savings bonds issued from December 2001 to December 2011. If you own a Patriot Bond, you likely want to know precisely what it is, how much it’s worth, and how to redeem it. Read on to get further information.

What exactly are Patriot Bonds?

After the September 11 attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., Patriot Bonds were issued for the first time. Through December 2011, the U.S. Department of the Treasury printed “Patriot Bond” on Series EE savings bonds. In 2012, the federal government ceased the issue of paper savings bonds, essentially stopping the issuance of Patriot Bonds.

Patriot Bonds and other Series EE savings bonds are essentially identical from the perspective of investors and savers. The written phrases on the paper bond were the distinguishing feature of a Patriot Bond. When the Treasury Department began selling Patriot Bonds, authorities said that the monies earned would be transferred into the government’s general budget and used for anti-terrorism operations.

Patriot Bonds were available in any amount between $25 and $10,000, and could be purchased for $1,776 or $54.40. The face value of the bond is double the amount paid, thus you would have spent just $50 for a $100 Patriot Bond with a face value of $200.

How to get money out of a Patriot Bond?

When you want to cash in your Patriot Bond, you can usually do so at a bank or credit union in your area. Some places, though, have stopped taking savings bonds, so be sure to check with your bank to make sure you can cash in the bond. Bring your Patriot Bond, your ID, and the information about your bank account to your bank, and you’ll be able to deposit the bond. A banker or teller can help you through the process, which is similar to depositing a check.

If your local bank or credit union won’t cash your Patriot Bond, you can send it directly to Treasury Direct. If you’re redeeming more than $1,000 worth of bonds, you’ll need to fill out FS Form 1522 and get your signature notarized. Send your bonds and the paperwork to Treasury Direct.

If you changed your Patriot Bond into an electronic bond, you can cash it by logging into your Treasury Direct account and clicking the link for cashing securities.

Note: A Series EE savings bond can’t be cashed in until a year after it was issued. If you cash one in before five years, you’ll also have to pay a fee of three months’ worth of interest. But because all Patriot Bonds were issued before 2012, this isn’t a problem for people who own them.

When you cash in your Patriot Bond, you’ll get a 1099-INT that tells you how much interest you’ve made on it. State and local taxes do not apply to the interest, but you will have to pay federal income tax on that amount.

Read more: 

Savings Bond 101: A Quick and Easy Guide to Savings Bond Investment

Bond Prices and Interest Rates: Their Relationship

Savings Bond: Cash In Instruction