Savings Notes/Freedom Shares were a kind of promotion which were issued between May 1967 and October 1970. Introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson in February 21, 1967, SN/FS were offered to help serve the dual purpose of funding the rising costs of the Vietnam War (by increasing sales of U.S. Treasury) and helping citizens save their money and secure their future.
Issued on a discount of 81% of the face amount (for instance, a SN/FS with $100 face value was purchased for $81.00), Savings Notes/Freedom Shares were sold exclusively with Series E bonds and had an original maturity term of 4½ years. They were available in denominations from $25 all the way up to a $10,000 maximum size. These non-transferable, definitive security bonds reach their ultimate maturity after thirty years from the date issued.
Interest earned on savings note should be reported for Federal income tax purposes for the year in which the note gets redeemed, is disposed of, or reaches final maturity – whichever comes first. The note owner too can choose to report earned interest as it accrues annually; however, this decision must apply to all the accrual-type securities of the owner.
When the savings note is redeemed, interest on the same is paid as part of the current redemption value. Those savings notes which are unredeemed and/or un-matured accrue interest at the guaranteed minimum investment yield or a variable, market-based rate (like Series E and EE bonds) – whichever is higher. A savings note could be redeemable with a financial institution or The Federal Reserve Bank during any time.
