The first and second tranche of savings bonds (electronic) in 2026 were officially launched from April 10 to 19, with major banks across the country - including the six major state-owned banks of industry, agriculture, China, construction, communications, and postal savings, as well as China Merchants Bank, etc.

As a result, as soon as it went on sale, it was "light in seconds"! Many investors complained on social platforms: "It's gone as soon as you click in!" "I grabbed it in a few minutes after it was launched, but I didn't grab it at all!" ”

Why are these treasury bonds so popular? When will you be able to buy it next time? How should ordinary investors participate? Jingtai will help you answer.

Why is this issue of savings bonds so popular?

There is only one main reason: there are too few safe and cost-effective financial options now.

The savings bonds (electronic) issued this time have two advantages: the interest rate is higher than that of bank time deposits; More flexible than large certificates of deposit (you can get interest every year without waiting until maturity).

Specifically:

3-year treasury bonds: 1.63% per annum, with a maximum issuance of 27 billion yuan;

5-year treasury bonds: 1.70% per annum, with a maximum issuance of 33 billion yuan.

Both installments will start accruing interest on April 10, with interest paid annually and the principal being returned at maturity in 2029 and 2031 respectively. In contrast, the current 3-year fixed deposit interest rate of banks is generally only 1% to 1.5%, and the interest cannot be taken until maturity. Although the interest rate of large certificates of deposit is slightly higher, they usually have to "lock up" funds for several years, and the flexibility is poor.

Therefore, treasury bonds have become the preferred choice for "making a little steady profit", and they are naturally shorted.

Can I buy it next time? When?

Yes! The Ministry of Finance has announced the next issuance plan: May 10: Issuance of certificate-based savings bonds (3-year and 5-year), one-time repayment of principal and interest at maturity; June 10: Issuance of electronic savings bonds (3-year and 5-year) with interest payments once a year, as this time.

Investors who want to buy can pay attention to the bank's notice in advance and set up reminders.

How do ordinary investors buy savings bonds?

Savings bonds are divided into two types: electronic and certificate, with slightly different purchase methods and rules.

1. Electronic treasury bonds (such as the two installments that were just sold out in April)

How to buy? Available through mobile banking, internet banking or bank counters.

How to pay interest? Pay interest once a year and repay the principal when due (for example, for a 3-year term, get interest once a year, and get the principal back + last interest in the 3rd year).

What to do for the first purchase? You need to use your ID card to open a "personal treasury bond account" in a bank (such as ICBC, CCB, China Merchants Bank and other underwriting banks). Note: The same bank can only open one Treasury account.

2. Treasury bonds

How to buy? Generally, you can only purchase at bank branches (a few banks may support other compliance channels).

How to pay interest? The principal and interest will be repaid in a lump sum when due, without compound interest (that is, the interest will not be regenerated interest).

What conditions do you need to meet to make a purchase? Minimum purchase amount: from 100 yuan, and must be an integer multiple of 100 yuan (such as 100 yuan, 500 yuan, 10,000 yuan, etc.).

Purchase limit: Each person can buy up to 1 million yuan per issue. For example, for treasury bonds issued in April, you can only buy a maximum of 1 million in a certain bank.

Can the treasury bonds be withdrawn in advance? How do you calculate interest and fees?

It can be redeemed in advance, but the conditions must be met, and the rules are different between electronic and voucher-based.

Electronic Treasury bonds (such as those issued on April 10)

Cannot be withdrawn in advance during the issuance period: During the sale period from April 10 to 19, it cannot be redeemed in advance.

You can pick it up after the issuance period: From April 20, if you need money urgently, you can go to the branch counter of the original bank to redeem it in advance.

You can take it out partially or in full: for example, if you buy 100,000 yuan, you can only take 50,000 yuan.

How to calculate interest? Calculated according to the early redemption rate set by the Ministry of Finance (usually lower than the holding maturity), not the original interest rate.

There is also a handling fee: generally charged at 1/1000 (0.1%) of the principal redeemed.

Arrive on the spot: If the procedures are okay, the bank will call you immediately.

Certificate-based treasury bonds

It can only be redeemed in full: it cannot only take part of it, but the entire treasury bond must be withdrawn. You also have to go to the bank counter to handle it.

Interest is also calculated according to the early redemption rule, and a handling fee may be charged. If you do not withdraw it in advance, you will get the principal and all interest back at once when it is due

Who is it suitable for? How to match?

When "capital preservation" becomes a luxury, treasury bonds become a financial refuge for ordinary people. It's not sexy, and it doesn't have the skyrocketing story of AI chips, but it pays on time and expires a lot every year - in uncertain times, this certainty is a luxury in itself. The next sale is June 10th, remember to set the alarm clock, this time, don't slow down.

Best for:

retirees, conservative investors; Families who want to make low-risk reserves for their children's education/pension; The "lying flat faction" who has spare money in their hands and does not want to toss the stock market and bond market.

Configuration recommendations:

It can be used as a "ballast stone" asset in addition to the family emergency fund, accounting for 10%-30% of the proposed proportion; If you pursue higher returns, you can use short-term bond funds and interbank certificate of deposit index funds (annualized 2%+, good liquidity); Don't all in Treasury bonds - although inflation is low, 1.7% cannot outperform CPI for a long time, and it needs to be matched with other assets.