When should I cash out my I bond?

Your own personal rate of return will depend on both when you purchased the I Bond, and when you cash out. Keep in mind that you don’t earn interest on your I Bonds until you complete the month, so cash out early in the month. If it’s near the end of the month, plan to cash out after the 1 st of next month so you get the interest you’ve earned.

What happens if you cash in I bonds before 5 years?

You can’t access the money for at least one year and there’s a penalty for redeeming I bonds within five years. If you cash in your I bonds before that five-year mark, you’ll lose the previous three months of interest.

When can I get my cash for a savings bond?

For other bonds: For these special situations, you want a different page. You can get your cash for an EE or I savings bond any time after you have owned it for 1 year. However, the longer you hold the bond, the more it earns for you (for up to 30 years for an EE or I bond).