29 Nov I own I Bonds. How can I see what interest I’ve earned?

Q. I purchased I bonds in December 2021 and January 2022. To date, no interest has been posted to the bonds. Why?
— Investor

A. We think you need to take a closer look at your online account.

First, let’s go over how these bonds work.

Series I Savings Bonds, also known as inflation bonds, have been around for many years, but little attention has been paid to them because inflation hasn’t been an issue for quite some time, said Claudia Mott, a certified financial planner with Epona Financial Solutions in Basking Ridge.

However, with inflation at current levels, interest in these bonds as savings vehicles has come to life, she said, noting the current interest rate is 6.89% and it was nearly 10% a short while ago.

The I Bond is a U.S. Government Bond, backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. I Savings Bonds can only be purchased and held directly with the U.S. Treasury at treasurydirect.gov

Mott said I Bonds are unique in that they have two components, one based on interest rates and the other on inflation.

Each person can only buy $10,000 a year and the interest rate and inflation rate readjust every six months. These are 30-year bonds, but only have to be held

for a year. But if you cash in a bond within five years, you will forfeit the last three months of interest, Mott said.

Interest on these bonds is compounded every six months.

“When looking at an online Treasury Direct account, the current holdings tab will show the amount of bonds that have been purchased,” she said. “The main page does not show the posted interest in the list of current holdings.”

But if you click on your holdings — you’ll see it’s highlighted blue — it will take you to a screen that shows you the current value, which will include the posted interest payment.”

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This story was originally published on Nov. 29, 2022.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.