To raise fiscal funds for national economic and social development projects, the Ministry of Finance initiated the issuance of the first and second series of electronic savings bonds on April 10th. The subscription period will last until April 19th. Inquiries at multiple banks revealed exceptionally high demand for this round of savings bonds, with many banks reporting that quotas were fully subscribed both at branch counters and through online channels. Numerous investors expressed on social media platforms that the bonds "sold out within a minute of going on sale" and were "extremely popular."
According to the announcement from the Ministry of Finance, both bond series are fixed-rate, fixed-term instruments. The first series has a term of 3 years with an annual coupon rate of 1.63% and a maximum issuance amount of 27 billion yuan. The second series has a term of 5 years, an annual coupon rate of 1.7%, and a maximum issuance amount of 33 billion yuan.
Both series will begin accruing interest from April 10, 2026. Interest will be paid annually on each April 10th thereafter. The principal of the first series will be repaid on April 10, 2029, and the principal of the second series will be repaid on April 10, 2031, with the final interest payment made on those respective dates.
The intense demand for this round of savings bonds is primarily due to their prominent overall advantages. Yu Xiaoming, a Senior Investment Advisor at Shaanxi Jufeng Investment, commented that the interest rates for the newly issued 3-year and 5-year savings bonds are higher than those for comparable bank time deposits. Additionally, features such as a low entry threshold of 100 yuan, annual interest payments, and the option for early redemption make them more flexible than large-denomination certificates of deposit (CDs). Backed by the national credit, they offer high security, making them a preferred choice for conservative capital allocation in the current low-interest-rate environment.
A staff member from a bank in Tianjin mentioned that the quotas for both their counter services and mobile banking channels were completely sold out. For those interested in purchasing electronic savings bonds in the future, using mobile banking for the "rush to buy" is generally more convenient and offers a higher chance of success.
When will the next savings bonds be issued? According to the Ministry of Finance's issuance schedule, savings bonds (certificate-style) with 3-year and 5-year terms will be issued on May 10th, featuring a lump-sum repayment of principal and interest at maturity. Subsequently, electronic savings bonds with 3-year and 5-year terms will be issued on June 10th, offering annual interest payments.
Yu Xiaoming advised investors to use long-term idle funds for allocating savings bonds and ideally hold them until maturity to avoid fees or interest losses associated with early redemption. Investors should also rationally select the term based on their personal financial plans, purchase through official bank channels, and avoid trusting third-party purchasing services. Furthermore, as savings bonds are conservative assets, they can be combined with other investment varieties to balance returns and liquidity.