U.S. Postal Savings System – Postal Savings Bonds & Certificates

The US Postal Savings System was established in 1911. At inception, Postal Savings Certificates were issued in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100; later $200, $500, $1,000 & $2,500 were added. Interest was paid at the rate of 2% per annum. Certificates could be exchanged in increments of $20 for Postal Savings Bonds, which yielded 2.5 percent interest. Available in either registered or bearer form, they had a maturity date 20 years from issuance. Beginning in 1940, Postal Savings Stamps were also issued. Stamps were redeemable for Postal Savings Certificates or Series E Defense Savings Bonds, aka War Savings Bonds.

Deposits peaked at $3.4 billion in 1947; $37.4 billion in today’s dollars. Congress ultimately voted to end issuance of Postal Savings Bonds in favor of U.S. Savings Bonds. Upon program termination, over 400,000 U.S. Postal Savings System Certificates and U.S. Postal Savings Bonds went unredeemed.