Treasury Bonds at E*Trade
Points to know:
• E*Trade gives investors access to U.S. Treasury securities as part of its investment lineup.
• Trading Treasury debt at E*Trade does not involve any commissions.
• In addition to individual Treasuries, E*Trade offers ETFs and mutual funds that invest in Treasury bonds.
Looking for an investment with minimal risk? U.S. Treasury securities fit that description well. E*Trade is one of the brokerages that makes a wide range of Treasuries available to investors. Below is a quick overview of what to expect:
Available Treasuries
Through an E*Trade brokerage account, you can buy Treasury bills, notes, and bonds issued by the U.S. government. The platform also supports TIPS, STRIPS, and FRNs (floating-rate notes). All you need is a regular brokerage account, which is free to open and does not carry a maintenance fee.
Treasury Education
Educational content on bonds at E*Trade is somewhat limited. To locate what’s available, move your cursor over the "Markets & Ideas" tab in the main navigation and select "Bonds and CDs." On the Bonds & CDs page, choose the "Tools and Resources" tab in the center of the screen. Scroll to the "Bond Resources" area to find a small set of articles that explain fixed-income fundamentals.
Finding Treasuries
When you’re ready to place a trade, go back to the "Bonds and CDs" section to view the bond yield grid. Certificates of deposit appear first, followed by two lines labeled "U.S. Treasuries" and "U.S. Treasury Zeroes." Different maturity ranges are shown across the columns. Click the purple link that corresponds to the Treasury type and maturity you want.
On the results page, you can organize bonds by coupon rate, time to maturity, issuer, or yield to worst. Each listing also shows market depth information, including current bid and ask prices and the quantities available.
Hovering over a bond name brings up a small info window with extra details. Selecting the link in that window opens a full page with further data points, including:
• Original size
• Delivery
• Coupon type
• ISIN
• Call status
• Moody’s rating
• Trade history
Examples of Treasury Bonds
Here are a few sample Treasury securities currently offered on E*Trade:
| Security | Maturity Date | Yield |
|---|
| T-note | 04/15/2027 | 4.278% |
| STRIP | 05/15/2045 | 5.101% |
| T-bond | 08/15/2054 | 4.846% |
How to Buy a Treasury Bond on E*Trade
Every bond shown in the search results includes a "Buy" option, which is also visible in the market-depth pop-up and on the individual bond information page. Clicking "Buy" opens the Treasury order screen. The form is straightforward to complete. Orders are placed as market orders with a "fill or kill" time-in-force. Enter the number of bonds, select "Preview," and submit the trade if the details look correct.
Treasury Funds
E*Trade account holders can also choose Treasury-focused mutual funds and ETFs. To locate these options, hover over "Markets & Ideas" and pick either "Mutual Funds" or "ETFs." Both areas include built-in screens for fixed-income funds. Under "Fund Category," you can narrow results further by using filters like "Long Government" or "Short-Term Inflation Protected."
Fees and Minimums
E*Trade does not apply trading commissions to Treasury securities. That said, the firm may serve as principal on some bond trades, which can result in built-in markups or markdowns.
A number of mutual funds available through E*Trade come with no minimum investment, making Treasury exposure accessible even for investors starting with smaller amounts.
Fixed-Income Desk
For help with Treasury trades or fixed-income questions, E*Trade’s fixed-income desk can be reached at 877-355-3237.
Charles Schwab as a Substitute
Charles Schwab is another solid choice for buying Treasuries. Similar to E*Trade, Schwab supports both self-directed brokerage accounts and managed portfolios that include fixed-income products. Treasury trades are commission-free, and Schwab’s yield grid works much like E*Trade’s. Clicking a yield reveals available Treasuries along with a clean, easy-to-use trade ticket.
Schwab also carries funds that invest in Treasury securities. Its ETF lineup is nearly the same as
E*Trade’s, while the mutual fund selection varies slightly, especially when it comes to no-load, no-transaction-fee
options. Schwab’s mutual fund screener, accessible under the "Research" tab, makes it possible to search for
government bond funds with no loads and no transaction fees.
| Fund | Effective Maturity | Return Since Inception |
|---|
| Eaton Vance Short Duration Inflation-Protected Income Fund (EARRX) | 2.16 years | 2.82% |
| American Century Government Bond Fund (CPTNX) | 7.15 years | 5.44% |
| PIMCO Long-Term U.S. Government Fund (PFGAX) | 20.45 years | 4.71% |
Free Charles Schwab Account
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Verdict
Both E*Trade and Schwab provide broad access to Treasury investments with minimal trading costs. Their no-commission models and intuitive platforms make them practical choices for investors at any experience level.
Updated on 2/5/2026.
Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience
as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing
expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found
managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.
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