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Best Banks & Brokers to Buy US Treasury Bills

Buy treasury bills (t-bills) through reputable online banks & brokers; a simple, convenient way to invest with no fees and backed by the government.


How to buy treasury bills

You can buy T-Bills one of two ways:

  1. Through TreasuryDirect. Investors who purchase T-Bills through TreasuryDirect are required to hold the bill for at least 45 days before transferring or selling it.
  2. Through a bank or broker.

Best banks & brokers that offer access to treasury bills

1 - 4 of 4
Name Product Available asset types Stock trade fee Minimum Treasury Bills investment Signup bonus
Vanguard Personal Advisor
Stocks, Mutual funds, ETFs, Treasury Bills
$0
$1,000
N/A
Financial advice powered by relationships, not commissions.
JPMorgan Self-Directed Investing
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Treasury Bills
$0
$1,000
Get $50 - $700
when you open and fund an account with $10,000 - $250,000+
TD Ameritrade
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Currencies, CDs, Futures, Forex, Treasury Bills
$0
or $25 broker-assisted
$1,000
N/A
TD Ameritrade features $0 commission for online stock trades. Online options fees are $0.65/contract.
Interactive Brokers
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Forex, Treasury Bills
$0
$1,000
N/A
Winner of Finder’s Best Overall Stock Broker award.
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Other ways to buy treasury bills

Gain exposure to Treasury Bills through ETFs

In addition to purchasing T-Bills directly from the Treasury Department or via a bank or broker, it’s possible to gain exposure to the price and yield performance of T-Bills through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Some T-Bill ETFs include:

  • SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL)
  • SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF (BILS)

Best brokers that give you access to Treasury Bills through ETFs

Best for low fees

Finder Award

SoFi Invest


  • Trade stocks for $0 and no annual fee
  • Start trading with a $0 minimum deposit
  • Get up to $1,000 when you fund a new account within 30 days

Best for beginners

Finder Award

eToro


  • Trade stocks and ETFs for $0 and no annual fee
  • Minimum deposit of $10 required
  • Get $10 when you sign up and deposit $100

Promoted for options trading

tastytrade


  • $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs
  • $0 closing commissions on stock and ETF options
  • Get $100 - $2,000 when you open and fund an account with $5,000 to $100,000+

What are Treasury Bills?

The US government sells T-Bills to raise money to help fund its debt and its day-to-day operations. When you buy a T-Bill, you are giving the US government a short-term loan. In return, you receive an interest payment when the bill matures. A Treasury Bill (T-Bill) is a type of short-term US debt security with a maturity of one year or less. They’re one of five types of Treasury marketable securities, which are securities that can be transferred or sold before they reach the end of their term. The Treasury Department sells T-Bills in $100 increments with a maximum purchase of $10 million in noncompetitive bids.

T-Bills are widely regarded as a safe investment, as they’re backed by the full faith and credit of the US government.

Term options4, 8, 13, 17, 26 and 52 weeks
Interest rateFixed at auction
Interest paidAt maturity
Minimum purchase$100 to $1,000
Maximum purchase$10 million in noncompetitive bids
Taxes
  • Federal tax due on interest earned
  • No state or local taxes

Treasury Bills vs. bonds

Treasury Bills are a type of short-term debt security issued by the US government, while bonds are a long-term debt security issued by governments and corporations.

Pros and cons of treasury bills

Pros

  • Near zero-risk since T-Bills are backed by the US government
  • Low investment minimum of $100
  • Fixed interest rate means stable income
  • No state or local taxes on interest income
  • Purchase T-Bills through the Treasury Department or through a bank or broker

Cons

  • T-Bills pay no interest leading up to maturity, only at maturity
  • Fixed interest rate means interest rate risk, so their rate could fall out of favor during periods of rising interest rates

Bottom line

With a low risk of default, low investment minimum and short time horizon, T-Bills may be an appealing place to invest. In an environment where shorter-term yields are higher than longer-term yields, T-Bills may be even more attractive. But they don’t come without disadvantages. Periods of rising interest rates may make existing T-Bills less attractive, but this won’t matter if you plan to hold the bill until maturity.

Frequently asked questions about T-Bills

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