Open an Account — TreasuryDirect (2024)

FAQs

How do I open an account with TreasuryDirect? ›

Open your Internet browser and type "www.treasurydirect.gov" in the address window. On the TreasuryDirect home page, in the upper right corner, select “Open an Account.” On the "TreasuryDirect - Open an Account" page, select "TreasuryDirect." Read the three steps on the “Open An Account >> Intro” page.

TreasuryDirect is free. There are no fees, no matter how much or how little you invest. You may hold both savings bonds and Treasury marketable securities in TreasuryDirect. Your securities in TreasuryDirect are electronic, so you don't have to worry about them getting lost, stolen, or damaged.

The trustee must set up a TreasuryDirect Trust account for the reissued bonds. Please note, the trustee who manages the trust account must have the authority to act alone on behalf of the trust.

You fund your TreasuryDirect account through your bank account or by payroll deduction. Securities you buy in TreasuryDirect are electronic, not paper. If you hold savings bonds in paper form, you can convert them to electronic securities in TreasuryDirect.

You just bought a security from the U.S. Treasury. Securities are generally issued to your account within two business days of the purchase date for savings bonds or within one week of the auction date for Bills, Notes, Bonds, FRNs, and TIPS.

After 20 years, the Patriot Bond is guaranteed to be worth at least face value. So a $50 Patriot Bond, which was bought for $25, will be worth at least $50 after 20 years. It can continue to accrue interest for as many as 10 more years after that.

Series EE savings bonds are a low-risk way to save money. They earn interest regularly for 30 years (or until you cash them if you do that before 30 years). For EE bonds you buy now, we guarantee that the bond will double in value in 20 years, even if we have to add money at 20 years to make that happen.

They're available to be cashed in after a single year, though there's a penalty for cashing them in within the first five years. Otherwise, you can keep savings bonds until they fully mature, which is generally 30 years. These days, you can only purchase electronic bonds, but you can still cash in paper bonds.

Securities purchased through TreasuryDirect cannot be sold in the secondary market before they mature. This lack of liquidity could be a disadvantage for investors who may need to access their investment capital before the securities' maturity.

If you're looking for a safe place to park your cash, you may want to consider T-bills or other government securities. Since your return will be lower than the return of riskier fixed-income and equity investments, using TreasuryDirect is smart, since it cuts out the middleman — and eliminates any commissions and fees.

What is the 45 day rule for TreasuryDirect? ›

TreasuryDirect requires Treasury Marketable Securities be held for 45 days following original issue before they may be externally transferred.

It takes just 3 steps to open a TreasuryDirect Account.

Provide personal information, including: Tax ID Number (SSN or EIN) E-mail Address. Bank Account and Routing Number.

TreasuryDirect Accounts. What is a TreasuryDirect Primary account? A TreasuryDirect Primary account is your personal account you open in TreasuryDirect. Once a Primary account is opened, you may establish Minor, Custom, and Conversion Linked accounts that are accessed only from your Primary account.

Once in your TreasuryDirect account, the bond will be registered in your name alone. You can then add either a secondary owner or beneficiary.

You may reach us at 844-284-2676. If you open an account and are asked to send us an Account Authorization form, you must submit the form before you can access your account. Don't forget to have your signature certified. You can make some bank changes online while logged in to your account.

You can call us from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, at 844-284-2676. The following transactions require at least 4 weeks of processing time and also require that the bonds and/or TreasuryDirect accounts are in your name.

Go to your TreasuryDirect account. Choose the Buy Direct tab. Follow the prompts to choose the security you want, specify the amount you want to buy, and fill in the information required.