Check that the EE bond has reached at least 12 months of age before cashing
Know that cashing before 5 years means losing the last 3 months of interest
Gather the bond owner’s identification and Social Security number
Confirm whether the bond is paper or electronic
For paper bonds, take them to a bank or credit union that cashes savings bonds
For paper bonds, sign the bond only if the financial institution instructs you to do so
For electronic bonds, log in to your TreasuryDirect account
Select the EE bond you want to cash
Choose the option to redeem or cash the bond
Provide the bank account where the funds should be deposited
For paper bonds, ask the bank about any limits or requirements before visiting
If the bond owner is deceased, follow Treasury rules for estate or beneficiary redemption
Keep a record of the redemption for tax purposes
Report the interest on your federal income tax return if required
Consider cashing only the bonds you need if you want to keep earning interest on the rest