FYI. For those of you that are using a credit card to buy US Savings Bonds online, note that the minimum holding period for US Savings Bonds, both EE and I, will increase from six months to one year, starting with bonds issues on/after February 1, 2003.
From the savingsbond.gov website:
"The minimum holding period for Series EE and Series I bonds has been extended from 6 months to 12 months, effective February 1, 2003. Bonds issued January 2003 and earlier will continue to have a 6-month minimum holding period."
http://www.savingsbonds.gov/sav/sbeeiholding.htm
See also an interesting article in the Washington Post about changes to savings bonds, including discussions on eliminating paper bonds.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Jan18.html