I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

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Topic Author
durazno

I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by durazno »

I'm thinking about buying 5-10k in I-Bonds before the end of the year to serve as part of my EF (I'm fine waiting a year before I can withdraw the money, I'll keep other money for emergencies this year). I read it's best to buy I-Bonds at the end of the month. I see you can take care of it online. How long does it take to actually purchase the bonds and transfer the funds? I assume the funds have to be transferred by 12/31 to meet the deadline for this year, right?

Thanks,
Iced Tea
armeliusc
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by armeliusc »

It is very quick process. Just go to http://treasurydirect.gov/, create an account, and transfer the money from your bank to buy I saving bonds. A couple days at the most.
Best,
AC
Grt2bOutdoors
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by Grt2bOutdoors »

Do you have a Treasury Direct account? If not, don't wait - set it up now!
The absolute last day to submit your order for purchase is the next to last business day before the actual purchase. This year 12/31 falls on a Monday - if you want to ensure your purchase goes through on Monday - I'd place the order no later than Thursday night of the preceding week with a schedule to purchase on 12/31.

This is not directed towards you (OP), but I don't understand why some folks like to procrastinate and wait till the absolute last day to submit the order. :confused
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
Topic Author
durazno

Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by durazno »

Grt2bOutdoors wrote:Do you have a Treasury Direct account? If not, don't wait - set it up now!
The absolute last day to submit your order for purchase is the next to last business day before the actual purchase. This year 12/31 falls on a Monday - if you want to ensure your purchase goes through on Monday - I'd place the order no later than Thursday night of the preceding week with a schedule to purchase on 12/31.

This is not directed towards you (OP), but I don't understand why some folks like to procrastinate and wait till the absolute last day to submit the order. :confused
Thanks for the help. Agreed, I wouldn't be doing it last minute if I had the chance but I've been waiting for a CD to mature. It just matured the other day so I'm still waiting for the money to come across!
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NAVigator
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by NAVigator »

icedtea wrote:Thanks for the help. Agreed, I wouldn't be doing it last minute if I had the chance but I've been waiting for a CD to mature. It just matured the other day so I'm still waiting for the money to come across!
Be aware when you deposit a large amount in your account, there may be a "hold" put on it at your bank or credit union. Mine was for seven business days.

Jerry
"I was born with nothing and I have most of it left."
Topic Author
durazno

Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by durazno »

NAVigator wrote:
icedtea wrote:Thanks for the help. Agreed, I wouldn't be doing it last minute if I had the chance but I've been waiting for a CD to mature. It just matured the other day so I'm still waiting for the money to come across!
Be aware when you deposit a large amount in your account, there may be a "hold" put on it at your bank or credit union. Mine was for seven business days.

Jerry
Yeah, that's happened before. I'll have to see what happens. Worst case scenario I just buy the bonds in late Jan. I don't intend to purchase more in the near term. I'm not aiming to accumulate I-Bonds beyond use in my EF at this time.

Iced Tea
Doctev
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by Doctev »

I recently opened a TD account and the account was placed on hold pending a TD authorization form. I had to take the form to a local bank and have it signed with a medallion stamp. Has anyone had to deal with this process, and if so how long did it take before you could make purchases?

Doctev
DickBenson
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by DickBenson »

icedtea wrote: Agreed, I wouldn't be doing it last minute if I had the chance but I've been waiting for a CD to mature. It just matured the other day so I'm still waiting for the money to come across!
Just to be sure, hope you understand that the account can be set up without having the money available. The bottleneck you are facing is the time needed to get the account in place. Would start that process immediately.

Dick
donall
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by donall »

Doctev wrote:I recently opened a TD account and the account was placed on hold pending a TD authorization form. I had to take the form to a local bank and have it signed with a medallion stamp. Has anyone had to deal with this process, and if so how long did it take before you could make purchases?

Doctev
Setting up the account takes a few minutes. After sending in the authorization form, it may take a few weeks (2-3 weeks) to have the account active to buy bonds or receive gifts. Keep checking your messages in the TD account...
dad2000
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by dad2000 »

There is a delay in setting up the bank account as I recall.

I think you can buy them as small as $25?

I would suggest buying a small one tonight just to get through the initial process.
Grt2bOutdoors
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by Grt2bOutdoors »

Doctev wrote:I recently opened a TD account and the account was placed on hold pending a TD authorization form. I had to take the form to a local bank and have it signed with a medallion stamp. Has anyone had to deal with this process, and if so how long did it take before you could make purchases?

Doctev

I went through that process when I switched banks, after mailing it in, it took about 8-10 business days, so 2 weeks sounds just about right.
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
canga
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by canga »

Grt2bOutdoors wrote:Do you have a Treasury Direct account? If not, don't wait - set it up now!
The absolute last day to submit your order for purchase is the next to last business day before the actual purchase. This year 12/31 falls on a Monday - if you want to ensure your purchase goes through on Monday - I'd place the order no later than Thursday night of the preceding week with a schedule to purchase on 12/31.

This is not directed towards you (OP), but I don't understand why some folks like to procrastinate and wait till the absolute last day to submit the order. :confused
I purchase I Bonds on the last business day of the month in order to get an interest credit for the whole month. Every little bit helps. Although my purchase will be January 31.
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SSSS
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by SSSS »

When you enter a requested purchase date, Treasury Direct will list what the actual purchase date will be, so you can revise the order if needed.
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hollowcave2
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by hollowcave2 »

At Treasury Direct, it takes 2 business days for the bonds to be assigned. Since 12/31 is a Monday, you need to place the order by Thursday 12/27.

I believe that you can also walk into a bank that has an agent that sells savings bonds and be able to get the bonds dated December on the last day, 12/31. But these would be paper bonds mailed to you.
linguini
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by linguini »

Just buy them whenever. Even if you buy the full $10k limit of them, the return on investment you'll get by waiting a few more days until the end of this month would amount to something like five dollars.
crowd79
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by crowd79 »

hollowcave2 wrote:At Treasury Direct, it takes 2 business days for the bonds to be assigned. Since 12/31 is a Monday, you need to place the order by Thursday 12/27.

I believe that you can also walk into a bank that has an agent that sells savings bonds and be able to get the bonds dated December on the last day, 12/31. But these would be paper bonds mailed to you.
Savings bonds are no longer sold by banks. They are only available from the Treasury Direct website in electronic form and in paper only by the "backdoor" method on your income tax return.
srinivas
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by srinivas »

icedtea wrote:How long does it take to actually purchase the bonds and transfer the funds?
I registered an account and submitted a purchase request for Series I Savings Bonds late last night at the Treasury Direct web site, and the bonds showed up in my account this morning. So, took less than 12 hours.

Only issue was that the account number for my wife's account didn't come through until several hours after registering online.
WHL
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by WHL »

I'm buying mine $192.30 a week which will put me a few cents under 10k by the end of the year. Still pondering if I want to make a huge purchase for the end of this year as I just started with these I-bonds two weeks ago.
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hollowcave2
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by hollowcave2 »

Savings bonds are no longer sold by banks. They are only available from the Treasury Direct website in electronic form and in paper only by the "backdoor" method on your income tax return.
Wow, you are absolutely right. This year flew by! I have to keep up with the times!

OK, so the last day to buy savings bonds issued this year is Thursday 12/27.

Thanks for keeping my brain up to date.

Steve
buzzlight
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by buzzlight »

Can we add more than one bank on treasury direct?
Grt2bOutdoors
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by Grt2bOutdoors »

buzzlight wrote:Can we add more than one bank on treasury direct?
No - one bank account per individual TD account. I tried the multiple bank account and it was a "no-go".
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
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Phineas J. Whoopee
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by Phineas J. Whoopee »

Grt2bOutdoors wrote:
buzzlight wrote:Can we add more than one bank on treasury direct?
No - one bank account per individual TD account. I tried the multiple bank account and it was a "no-go".
Hi Grt2bOutdoors,

By no means am I suggesting you didn't have that experience, but logging in today, Treasury Direct's website draws a distinction between a primary and other, non-primary accounts. I accessed the bank account addition form and it not only lets one say whether the new account is primary or not, it even has space for adding yet another account at the same time.

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/pdf/rs/PDF5512.pdf

Based on the form, at least, it appears to me there is a way to link more than one bank account, from today anyway.

PJW
buzzlight
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by buzzlight »

So is tonight last option to buy I bonds for 2012? Or will it be Ok to submit by 12/28 or 12/31?
My 50% are allotted worried about remaining 50%. Thanks for sharing your experience on this.
Grt2bOutdoors
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by Grt2bOutdoors »

buzzlight wrote:So is tonight last option to buy I bonds for 2012? Or will it be Ok to submit by 12/28 or 12/31?
My 50% are allotted worried about remaining 50%. Thanks for sharing your experience on this.
Log on to TD and see. 12/31 will definitely be too late.
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
Topic Author
durazno

Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by durazno »

Grt2bOutdoors wrote:
buzzlight wrote:So is tonight last option to buy I bonds for 2012? Or will it be Ok to submit by 12/28 or 12/31?
My 50% are allotted worried about remaining 50%. Thanks for sharing your experience on this.
Log on to TD and see. 12/31 will definitely be too late.
I bought mine this evening, as soon as I could. The site indicates a purchasing date of 12/28. I'm not sure if that means my bonds will be confirmed tomorrow but they should be in place by Monday. I'd go ahead and get moving.

Iced Tea
buzzlight
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by buzzlight »

Made the move, I got purchase date of 12/31.
Topic Author
durazno

Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by durazno »

buzzlight wrote:Made the move, I got purchase date of 12/31.
Sounds good. Does this date show up on your history tab on the TD web site?

My history tab says I have a 'Purchase Requested' dated 12/28. It's not crystal clear that this is the date the bond will be confirmed but hopefully we're in the clear.

Iced Tea
buzzlight
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by buzzlight »

No I don't see it in history. I think you will see the allotment on Monday and I will see on tue/wed for year 2012 i'll update this thread and never repeat this procrastination :(
aceoperations
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by aceoperations »

I just purchased some ibonds and the date on it was Dec 31 2012.

So I guess Dec 27th is the last day to buy for the year.
SS
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by SS »

I created new accounts and placed I Bond orders on Dec 22. The bonds were there on Dec 24. No holds on the bank transfers at all.
SS
Topic Author
durazno

Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by durazno »

I logged onto TD's web site and my purchase shows up under Current Holdings. All set in a day.

Iced Tea
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papito23
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by papito23 »

linguini wrote:Just buy them whenever. Even if you buy the full $10k limit of them, the return on investment you'll get by waiting a few more days until the end of this month would amount to something like five dollars.
Assuming the funds are coming from a high-yield online account (0.80%), we're talking less than a U.S. quarter per day. This is way, way down on the list of important investment decisions. It shouldn't even be on the I-bond wiki, IMO (some people will time it wrong, trying to get $0.21 of interest and losing 30x that.)
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Rainier
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by Rainier »

Placed an order on Wednesday night to buy the next day. The cash left my bank by the time I logged in Thursday morning.
buzzlight
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Re: I-Bonds: How long does it take to buy them?

Post by buzzlight »

buzzlight wrote:No I don't see it in history. I think you will see the allotment on Monday and I will see on tue/wed for year 2012 i'll update this thread and never repeat this procrastination :(
Phew! Allotment was completed when I logged in to my TD account today.
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