Important Change to U.S. Savings Bonds

Paper Series EE and I savings bonds will no longer be sold through financial institutions or mail-in orders after December 31, 2011. But savings bonds aren't going away. You can purchase electronic savings bonds online through TreasuryDirect at www.treasurydirect.gov. Unlike paper savings bonds, electronic savings bonds aren't easily lost or misplaced. With TreasuryDirect, you can manage your savings securely online, anytime.

Existing paper bonds are still valid and will earn interest for 30 years from the issue date or until redeemed. You can continue to redeem savings bonds at most local financial institutions including Heritage Oaks Bank. You also can convert your paper savings bonds to electronic savings bonds in TreasuryDirect using a program called SmartExchange. There's no charge to convert paper bonds. No earned interest will be lost, and the bonds will keep their original issue dates and current interest rate terms.

TreasuryDirect is a secure web-based system through which you can buy, manage and redeem electronic savings bonds, convert paper savings bonds to electronic, purchase electronic savings bonds as gifts, purchase other Treasury securities, including bills, notes, bonds and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) and much more!