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Best CD Rates for October 2024: Up to 5.50% By Sabrina Karl
Full Bio
Sabrina Karl has over two decades of experience writing about savings, CDs, and other banking topics. She is currently a staff writer at Investopedia and one of the country's top experts on how to earn as much as possible on the money you hold in the bank. She previously wrote for Bankrate.com, CreditCards.com, DepositAccounts.com, and RateSeeker. Learn about our editorial policies Updated October 08, 2024 Reviewed by Michael J Boyle
Reviewed by Michael J Boyle Full Bio Michael Boyle is an experienced financial professional with more than 10 years working with financial planning, derivatives, equities, fixed income, project management, and analytics. Learn about our Financial Review Board Fact checked by Michael Logan
Fact checked by Michael Logan Full Bio
Michael Logan is an experienced writer, producer, and editorial leader. As a journalist, he has extensively covered business and tech news in the U.S. and Asia. He has produced multimedia content that has garnered billions of views worldwide. Learn about our editorial policies
The best CD rate right now is 5.50% APY available from Nuvision Credit Union for an 8-month term. All CDs and rates in our rankings were collected, verified, and available to open as of Oct. 8, 2024.
Certificates of deposit (CDs) are fixed-interest accounts where you can deposit your money and then withdraw it later. Since 2019, we’ve been tracking the CD rates of more than 200 nationally available banks and credit unions every weekday, putting the results in our daily ranking of the highest CD yields across every major term. Though we focus on the highest returns available, we also provide you with details on each CD’s exact term, the minimum required deposit, and its early withdrawal penalty policy.
In the News
The Fed cut rates for the first time since 2020, reducing them by 50 basis points to a range of 4.75%–5.00% at its Sept. 18 meeting. The federal funds rate had been at a two-decade high after 11 increases from March 2022 through July 2023 in an effort to bring down inflation. Further cuts are expected, which means CD rates will decline after reaching heights not seen in more than 20 years.
Below are the top CD rates available from our partners, followed by the best CD rates that we’ve found from our research that are available to U.S. customers everywhere.
Open a New Account Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which we receive compensation. For more details, see our full advertiser disclosure. Institution Apy Min. To Earn Apy Highlights Open a New Account Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Dotdash receives compensation.
Best CD Rates Today
Ranked below are the top 15 or more APYs on nationally available CDs with minimum deposits of no more than $25,000. In the case of ties, we rank them first by the shortest available term, then by the lowest minimum deposit, and finally by the smallest early withdrawal penalty. If there's still a tie, we sort alphabetically by institution name. Numerous CDs are tied with a 5.00% APY; we've limited our rankings here based on tiebreakers.
| Institution | Rate (APY) | Term | Minimum Deposit | Early Withdrawal Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuvision Credit Union | 5.50% | 8 months | $1,000 | 3 months of interest |
| Newtek Bank | 5.05% | 6 months | $2,500 | 3 months of interest |
| Spectra Credit Union | 5.05% | 14 months | $10,000 | 3 months of interest |
| Dow Credit Union | 5.00% | 3 months | $500 | 3 months of interest |
| TotalBank | 5.00% | 3 months & 6 months | $25,000 | 1 month of interest |
| Vibrant Credit Union | 5.00% | 6 months | $5 | All earned interest |
| Heritage Bank | 5.00% | 6 months | $2,000 | 3 months of interest ($40 minimum) |
| Digital Federal Credit Union | 5.00% | 3–5 months | $25,000 | 2 months of interest |
| Mills42 Federal Credit Union | 5.00% | 5 months | $500 | 3 months of interest |
| Barclays | 5.00% | 6 months | Any amount | 3 months of interest |
| Valley Direct | 5.00% | 6 months | $500 | 3 months of interest |
| AmeriCU | 5.00% | 6 months | $500 | 4 months of interest |
| Allegacy Federal Credit Union | 5.00% | 8 months | $500 | 3 months of interest |
| Abound Credit Union | 5.00% | 10 months | $500 | 3 months of interest |
| Apple Federal Credit Union | 5.00% | 12 months | $500 | All earned interest up to 3 months |
Rankings by Term
Want to lock in a great CD rate for a longer term? We rank the top 15 or more APYs daily in every major CD term. You can find those here:
- Best 3-Month CD Rates
- Best 6-Month CD Rates
- Best 1-Year CD Rates
- Best 18-Month CD Rates
- Best 2-Year CD Rates
- Best 3-Year CD Rates
- Best 4-Year CD Rates
- Best 5-Year CD Rates
- Best 10-Year CD Rates
- Best Jumbo CD Rates
Nuvision Credit Union – 5.50% APY* (8 months)
- Minimum deposit: $1,000
- Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest
- Overview: Nuvision was established in 1935 as the credit union of Douglas Aircraft, and is headquartered in Huntington Beach, California. Anyone nationwide is eligible for membership through the American Consumer Council.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
*Maximum deposit is $5,000.
Pros
-
Highest APY available nationwide by a significant margin
-
Easy path to membership
Cons
-
$5,000 maximum deposit limits potential earnings
Newtek Bank – 5.05% APY (6 months)
- Minimum deposit: $2,500
- Early withdrawal penalty:
- Overview: Newtek Bank is a subsidiary of Newtek One (NASDAQ: NEWT), a financial company that dates back to 2000. Newtek Bank is headquartered in Miami.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Also offers savings accounts and business banking
Cons
-
Competitors have more affordable minimum deposits
Spectra Credit Union – 5.05% APY (14 months)
- Minimum deposit: $5,000
- Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest
- Overview: Anyone can join Spectra by signing up for a $15 lifetime membership in the nonprofit American Consumer Council and holding at least $5 in a savings account. Established in 1946, Spectra is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Easy path to membership
Cons
-
CD requires $5,000 to open
Dow Credit Union – 5.00% APY (3 months)
- Minimum deposit: $500
- Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest
- Overview: Based out of Midland, Michigan, anyone can join Dow Credit Union by making a $10 donation to the Midland Area Community Foundation scholarship fund during the membership application process. Dow Credit Union dates back to 1937 when it was founded to serve employees of Dow Chemical Company.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Low minimum deposit
-
Easy path to membership
Cons
-
No physical locations outside of Michigan
TotalBank – 5.00% APY (3 months & 6 months)
- Minimum deposit: $25,000
- Early withdrawal penalty: 1 month of interest
- Overview: TotalBank is an online-only operation of City National Bank of Florida, established in Miami in 1946.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Lenient early withdrawal penalty
Cons
-
Requires $25,000 minimum deposit
Vibrant Credit Union – 5.00% APY (6 months)
- Minimum deposit: $5
- Early withdrawal penalty: All earned interest
- Overview: Anyone can join Vibrant Credit Union through membership in the Illinois Consumer Council and by maintaining a balance of $5 in a savings account. Headquartered in Moline, Illinois, Vibrant dates back to 1935.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Only $5 required to open CD
Cons
-
Harsh early withdrawal penalty
Heritage Bank – 5.00% APY (6 months)
- Minimum deposit: $2,000
- Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest ($40 minimum)
- Overview: Heritage Bank was established in 1964 and operates seven branches in Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota, as well as serves online customers nationwide.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Accessible minimum deposit
Cons
-
No branches outside of three states
Digital Federal Credit Union – 5.00% APY (3–5 months)
- Minimum deposit: $25,000
- Early-withdrawal penalty: 2 months of interest
- Overview: Membership is available to anyone nationwide who joins Reach Out for Schools at a cost of $10 and maintains a $5 balance in a savings account. Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) was chartered in 1979. Its headquarters are in Massachusetts.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
Cons
Mills42 Federal Credit Union – 5.00% APY (5 months)
- Minimum deposit: $500
- Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest
- Overview: Chartered in 1958, Mills42 takes its name from the 42nd latitude line running through Lowell, Massachusetts, the credit union’s headquarters. Anyone nationwide is eligible for membership by first joining either Mothers Against Drunk Driving or the Tewksbury Historical Society.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Low minimum deposit
Cons
-
Only one physical location
Barclays – 5.00% APY (6 months)
- Minimum deposit: Any amount
- Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest
- Overview: Barclays is the online-only banking arm of the U.S. division of the well-known British bank established in 1690.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
No minimum amount to deposit
Cons
-
Limited offerings online
Valley Direct – 5.00% APY (6 months)
- Minimum deposit: $500
- Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest
- Overview: Valley Direct is an online division of Valley National Bank, which was established in 1927 and is headquartered in Passaic, New Jersey.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Low minimum deposit
Cons
-
No physical branches
AmeriCU – 5.00% APY (6 months)
- Minimum deposit: $500
- Early withdrawal penalty: 4 months of interest
- Overview: Anyone nationwide is eligible to join AmeriCU through membership in the American Consumer Council. AmeriCU originally was founded in 1950 as Griffiss Employees Credit Union at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York. It took its current name in 2000.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Low minimum deposit
Cons
-
Limited physical locations
Allegacy Federal Credit Union – 5.00% APY (8 months)
- Minimum deposit: $500
- Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest
- Overview: Membership is available to anyone nationwide who joins the American Consumer Council, which costs $8, and maintains a $5 balance in a savings account. Allegacy Federal Credit Union was founded in 1967 in North Carolina, where it is headquartered in Winston-Salem.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Low minimum deposit
Cons
-
Limited physical locations
Abound Credit Union – 5.00% APY (10 months)
- Minimum deposit: $500
- Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest
- Overview: Anyone can join Abound with a $10 one-time fee and $5 or more kept in a savings account. Abound originally was founded in 1950 as Fort Knox Civilian Employees Federal Credit Union.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Low minimum deposit
-
Easy path to membership
Cons
-
No physical branches outside of Kentucky
Apple Federal Credit Union – 5.00% APY (5 months & 12 months)
- Minimum deposit: $500
- Early withdrawal penalty: All earned interest up to 3 months
- Overview: Anyone can join Apple Federal by signing up for a $20 membership in the Northern Virginia Athletic Directors, Administrators, and Coaches Association, as well as keeping at least $5 in a savings account. Apple Federal was founded in 1956 in Virginia, where it operates more than 20 branches.
- Rate verified as of Oct. 8, 2024
Pros
-
Low minimum deposit
Cons
-
No branches outside Virginia
Why You Can Trust Our Expert Recommendations for the Best CD Rates
Investopedia collects thousands of CD rates from hundreds of banks and credit unions every weekday. When ranking CD rates, we look at factors like term, early withdrawal penalty, and minimum opening deposit. We also research banks and credit unions to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews to ensure our readers make the right decisions for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999 and has been helping readers find the best CD rates since 2019.
The CDs we recommend must be available nationwide and these certificates typically pay three to five times as much as the national average—or even more. To be eligible for our rankings, each CD's minimum opening deposit requirement cannot exceed $25,000 and must be offered by an FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union (which covers up to $250,000 per depositor).
CD Rates News
What Is a CD Rate?
A CD rate is an interest rate that shows what a bank or credit union will pay you for depositing your money with them for a certain time in a certificate of deposit (CD). For example, if the rate is 5.50% for a 1-year CD, the bank or credit union will pay you 5.50% in interest on your money for keeping it in the account, untouched, for 12 months. If you deposit $1,000 in that account and keep it there for 12 months, you will earn $55 at the end of the term.
Tip
The interest rate and the APY offered on a CD may be slightly different. An interest rate is the raw rate you earn on your money, while the annual percentage yield (APY) is the full amount of interest earned after compounding at the end of one year. APY is almost always slightly higher than the interest rate. For example, an interest rate on a 3-month CD could be 5.023% while the APY on that same CD is 5.15%.
How Much Does $10,000 Earn in a CD in One Year?
If you invest $10,000 in a CD for one year, you could earn $505—that's based on the best 1-year CD rate offered right now (5.05% APY). CD rates can change, so locking in a high interest rate today could guarantee you the maximum earnings, especially if CD rates drop by next year.
There are a few scenarios you may encounter or need to decide between when it comes to investing $10,000 in a CD. It'll depend on the rate and CD term you choose. Here are a few scenarios:
| Deposit Amount | APY | Term | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | 5.00% | 3 months | $122.72 |
| $10,000 | 5.00% | 1 year | $500 |
| $10,000 | 5.00% | 3 years | $1,576.25 |
How Does a CD Work?
A certificate of deposit (CD) is similar to a bank deposit account. The difference is what you're agreeing to when you sign on the dotted line (even if that signature is now digital).
A CD works by locking your deposit up for a set time. When time is up, the CD pays you the set interest rate you agreed to when you opened it. A CD locks you into four specific things:
- The interest rate: Most CDs pay a fixed interest rate. The bank cannot later change the rate and therefore reduce your earnings. On the flip side, a fixed interest rate may hurt you if rates later rise and you've lost your opportunity to take advantage of higher-paying CDs.
- The term: This is the length of time you agree to leave your money deposited to avoid any penalty (such as six months or 1 year, etc.) The term ends on the "maturity date," when you can withdraw your money penalty-free.
- The principal: Except for some specialty CDs that allow add-on deposits, this is the amount you agree to deposit into the CD, at the time of opening.
- The institution: The bank or credit union where you open your CD will determine aspects of the agreement, such as early withdrawal penalties and whether your CD will be automatically reinvested if you don’t provide other instructions at the time of maturity. Credit unions may also require you to open a high-yield savings account or money market account before you open a CD.
Once your CD is established and funded, the bank or credit union will set the terms and conditions like with most other deposit accounts. You'll get either monthly or quarterly statement periods, paper or electronic statements, and usually monthly or quarterly interest payments deposited to your CD balance, where the interest will compound. The money you put into a CD is insured like other deposit accounts—up to $250,000 per customer, per institution.
Why You Might Not Recognize the Banks and Credit Unions in Our CD Rankings
You typically won't see big names like Chase, Wells Fargo, PNC, Navy Federal, or Bank of America in our rankings of the best CD rates. We research their rates, but they don't make our list simply because they don't pay enough. Extremely large banks typically don't need to attract customers and deposits like smaller institutions do, so they don't need to use rates to win business. In fact, some of the biggest banks pay interest rates very close to zero, but it depends and can change from month to month. Our best CD rates are based on careful research, and we update this article every weekday to give you the best CD rates available nationwide.
Who Should Get a CD?
If you’re looking to save money for a certain amount of time and want to make sure you don’t touch it until you need it, you should get a CD. If you’re risk-averse and don’t want to invest money in the stock market because there’s no guarantee you’ll see a return, then you should consider a CD. CDs offer a fixed rate of return that guarantees you earnings when the term is over. And right now, CD rates are high—over 4% and 5% in many cases—so you can earn a decent amount on your deposit.
Fast Fact
When asked in September where they are investing their money, 13% of Investopedia readers said they are putting more into CDs, behind ETFs, individual stocks, index funds, and money market funds.
CDs Can Help You Beat Inflation
In August 2024, inflation was 2.5%, while the top rate offered across all CDs was 5.35%. CD rates reached historic highs in 2023 as a result of the Fed's rate-hike policy to cool inflation, which had reached 9.1% in June 2022. CDs can help you combat inflation by paying you interest on your money, even though you may be paying more for goods and services. This will not always be the case, though. Interest rates are often increased to help combat high inflation. When inflation drops back to the standard 2% mark the Fed aims for each year, then interest rates may also drop back from their highs.
Right now, the best CD rates are over 5.00%, which is much higher than what CD rates were just two years ago. Buying a CD now is a good idea since you'll be able to earn a higher interest rate than you might be able to earn in a year from now. Right now, you're guaranteed a high interest rate, even if the Fed decides to lower rates during the term of your CD. Waiting to buy a CD could mean earning a lower interest rate on a CD and losing out on higher guaranteed earnings. So if you are debating whether to buy a CD or not, don't wait.
Types of CDs
- Regular CDs: A regular CD is a CD with a fixed interest rate for a set period. Brick-and-mortar traditional banks, as well as online institutions and credit unions, offer these kinds of CDs. They may also be called traditional CDs.
- Variable-rate CDs: A variable-rate CD is one where the interest rate can change based on the prime rate, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Treasury bills, or a market index. The entire term for a variable-rate CD is still fixed, though, and does not change. These are sometimes called “flex” CDs.
- Jumbo CDs: A jumbo CD is a CD that requires a larger opening deposit, such as $50,000 or $100,000.
- No-penalty CDs: A no-penalty CD is exactly what it sounds like—you do not pay a fee for withdrawing your money early.
- Brokered CDs: A brokered CD is one that an investor can buy through a brokerage firm or from a sales representative other than a bank or credit union.
- Step-up CDs: A step-up CD allows you to increase your interest rate when you can. Your rate is not fixed for the entire term; you can capitalize on higher interest rates with a step-up CD. A step-up CD may also be called a bump-up CD.
- Promotional-rate CDs: This CD offers a promotional rate that may be higher than a regular CD rate and is only offered for a certain time period. You may be able to lock in a high rate by opening this kind of CD within a promotional period, like 30 days or before the end of the month.
Note
Online banks or credit unions tend to offer high CD rates because of the lower overhead costs. If you’re worried about opening an online bank account, just do your research to ensure the institution comes with FDIC or NCUA insurance. It may also be an online arm of a larger, brick-and-mortar institution, which could give you peace of mind. Big banks like Citibank, U.S. Bank, Bank of America, Chase, Capital One, Wells Fargo, American Express, and more offer CDs too, but they may not pay the highest CD rates. It’s important to shop around and consider all financial institutions before choosing a CD.
Pros and Cons of CDs
Pros
- Guaranteed yield for the CD’s full term: Most CDs are a fixed-rate product, so you’re guaranteed to earn the rate you lock in until the CD’s maturity date, no matter what the Federal Reserve does with the fed funds rate in the future.
- Higher interest rates than liquid accounts: Banks generally offer higher rates on CDs than on savings and money market accounts, in exchange for you keeping the money in the account and not touching it until you’re allowed to withdraw it.
- Fully predictable earnings and withdrawal date: Because you know the CD’s rate and term, you can calculate exactly how much you’ll earn and when you can withdraw the funds without penalty.
- Extremely safe, with almost no bank or market risk: When you open a CD at an FDIC bank or an NCUA credit union, up to $250,000 in deposits are federally protected against the institution’s failure. You’re also safe from the market volatility—and potential loss in value—that can occur with stock and bond investments.
- Can deter spending temptations: Withdrawing funds before your CD matures causes you to pay an early withdrawal penalty, which can help keep you from giving in to temptations to dip into your savings for an unplanned purchase. This means a CD could be good for building your emergency fund.
Cons
- Early withdrawal of the funds incurs a penalty: If you do need to withdraw your CD funds before maturity, the bank or credit union will impose an early withdrawal penalty. Typically, it’s calculated as a certain number of months of forfeited interest earnings.
- You can’t add to your deposit: With the rare exception of add-on CDs, you can only deposit funds into the certificate at the time of initial deposit. This means you miss out on compound interest since you’re not able to grow the account and apply the interest rate to your new balance every month like with a savings account.
- If CD rates rise, you may miss out on a higher yield: If you lock in your CD rate, but rates increase shortly after, you may wish you’d waited to score a higher return.
- If CD rates drop, you may wish you’d chosen a longer CD: Though you’ll still be well-served by any CD yield you have locked in before interest rates drop, you may wish you’d locked in a longer-term CD to extend that competitive yield for a longer period.
- Typically return less than stocks over long periods: Though stock investments involve more risk and less predictability, they may offer greater returns over long periods.
How to Choose the Best CD for You
When choosing a CD, consider the following factors:
- Your financial goals: Both short-term goals and long-term goals are important.
- How much money you have to deposit: CDs have minimums, so if you only have $500 to deposit, you'll need to find a CD with that minimum balance requirement.
- How long you can leave that money in the CD without touching it: This will help you determine the right term—whether that's a one-year CD or a three-year CD.
- Interest rates offered for your term and minimum deposit: The higher the rate, the more you will earn on your deposit during the CD term.
- CD type: Is it a bump-up CD or a regular CD? This will ensure you're choosing one that meets your needs and goals.
Once you choose a CD, open the account, and deposit your money to start earning interest.
Christine DiGangi, Investopedia Product Reviews Team
I had two short-term savings goals, so I looked for a 6-month and a 1-year CD with a high APY that I could ladder. I checked out a few of the options on our list and decided to go with CIT Bank and Bread Savings, because applying for the CDs online was really easy, and they offered mobile apps—I’m one of those people who checks their financial accounts frequently, if not daily. I’d keep accounts with both of them (assuming the rates are good when the two terms end).
What Do You Need to Open One of the Best CDs?
To open a CD, you’ll need some personal information including, but not limited to:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
For example, you may need to provide a copy of your license or ID if you don't have an account with that institution already.
When you have that info handy, fill out the application for your CD account:
- State how you'll fund the CD, whether via an electronic transfer or another method.
- Fund the CD.
- State how you want to receive the interest, all at the end or in monthly installments (if required).
Once you've done all that, you should officially have a CD in your name, though check with the institution to ensure you've taken all the right steps.
How to Build a CD Ladder
Smart CD investors have a specific tactic for hedging against rate changes over time and maximizing their return. It’s called a CD ladder and it enables you to access the higher rates typically offered on 5-year CDs, but with the twist that a portion of your money becomes available every year, rather than every five years. Here’s how to do it.
- Take the amount of money you want to invest in CDs and divide it by five.
- Put one-fifth of the funds into a top-earning 1-year CD, another fifth into a top 2-year CD, another into a 3-year CD, and so forth through a 5-year CD. Let’s say you have $25,000 available. That would give you five CDs of varying lengths, each with a value of $5,000.
- When the first CD matures in a year, you take the resulting funds and open a top-rate 5-year CD.
- One year later, your initial 2-year CD will mature, and you'll invest those funds into another 5-year CD.
- Continue doing this every year with whichever CD is maturing until you end up with a portfolio of five CDs all earning 5-year APYs, but with one of them maturing every 12 months, keeping your money a bit more accessible than if all of it were locked up for a full five years.
What Happens if I Withdraw From a CD Early?
If you withdraw money early from a CD, you’ll likely have to pay an early withdrawal penalty. This is usually a certain number of months’ worth of interest that you earned in the CD thus far. For example, if you had deposited $10,000 in a 12-month CD with a rate of 5.00%, and withdrew it early, you might have to pay three months’ worth of the interest you had earned. So instead of cashing out $500 at the end of the CD term, you’d walk away with less interest earned, the exact amount depending on how early you withdrew the money.
Now, not all CDs have early withdrawal penalties. Some no-penalty CDs are available and have more flexibility, However, they may also come with lower interest rates.
How Are CDs Taxed?
Just like how the interest you earn on any money you have in savings, money market, and checking accounts is taxable as interest income at both the state and federal levels, the interest you earn on your money in a CD is too.
Your CD earnings will be reported to the IRS in the year they were earned and posted to your account, so that's when they're taxable—even though you may not withdraw the funds for one or more years into the future.
For example, if you have $1,000 in a 1-year CD with a 5.00% interest rate, you'll earn $50 in interest. You owe taxes on that $50, but not on the $1,000 principal you deposited at the start of the term.
If you decide to add a CD to your IRA, you may not have to pay taxes until you’re ready to withdraw in retirement. You can add CDs in both traditional and Roth IRAs. With a Roth IRA, you are not penalized for withdrawing money from the account if it’s open for at least five years because it’s funded with after-tax dollars. However, if you want to withdraw money from your Roth IRA CD before it matures, you will be hit with a CD early withdrawal penalty. If your CD matures in a traditional IRA before your retirement age, then you may not be able to withdraw that money without first paying taxes and fees.
Alternatives to CDs
CDs vs. Traditional Savings Accounts
Traditional savings accounts tend to offer lower interest rates. Banks or credit unions with no high-yield savings account options may only offer traditional savings accounts that pay 0.01% to 0.10%. While the national average for savings rates is 0.46%, according to the FDIC, many banks pay much less. For example, Wells Fargo’s Way2Save account pays 0.01% APY and Chase offers just 0.01% with its Chase Savings account. When interest rates are high, the top CD rate can be up to 600x the rate you may earn on your money in a traditional savings account.
CDs vs. High-Yield Savings Accounts
If you just aren’t sold on committing your funds for a certain amount of time, or can’t afford to because you may need the money in the near term, a high-yield savings account may be a better option. You’ll be free to withdraw and deposit funds as you like, though some institutions will limit how many withdrawals you can make each month. Some savings accounts may also require a minimum balance.
CDs vs. Money Market Accounts
If you’re looking for other high-yield accounts, a money market account may serve your needs. Money market accounts offer the feature of allowing you to write checks on the account. Some money market accounts come with debit cards, but money market accounts tend to act more like savings accounts. They may also come with minimum deposit or balance requirements, and money market account rates can easily compete with savings account rates.
CDs vs. Bonds
If you’re interested in venturing out of the bank and into the world of bonds, you have numerous options. You could put cash savings into U.S. government I bonds, which are designed to track or beat the inflation rate. Or you could invest in U.S. Treasuries, in which you lend money to the U.S. government for a fixed amount of time. The Treasury notes with durations of four weeks to one year are called T-Bills.
Another option is corporate and municipal bonds. Though it’s difficult to research individual bonds on your own, you can easily invest in a bond mutual fund or bond exchange-traded fund which is diversified across a bundle of different bond issues. You can also enter and exit these funds at any time.
CDs vs. Brokerage Accounts
If you have a brokerage account, you can also hold savings in the brokerage’s cash reserve account or their money market fund (not to be confused with the money market accounts offered by banks). Just be sure to research what rate you’ll earn because in many cases, these brokerage cash accounts pay far less than what you can earn by keeping your money in an outside CD, savings account, or money market account. Some brokerages may also offer brokered CDs, another option if you’re already investing with a broker and want to open a CD.
CDs vs. Annuities
An annuity is a type of fixed-income investment provided by financial institutions. You can buy an annuity and pay it monthly or in a lump sum. Then, in the future, you receive fixed monthly payments. Annuities are insurance contracts that can guarantee income. While they are similar to a CD in that the income is guaranteed as long as you follow the rules of the contract, they are not as short-term as CDs may be. Annuities are most often used in retirement planning. CDs can also be used for retirement planning, but they are usually bought and held for terms of 6 months to 5 years rather than an annuity, which could be owned for 20 years or something similar. There may also be different withdrawal rules and limits and tax consequences with annuities.
CDs vs. Treasury Bills
Treasury bills are debt obligations backed by the U.S. government. They usually have maturities of one year or less. That timing is similar to CDs with shorter terms, but Treasury Bills may not offer the same level of return on the investment. Rates are comparable, ranging from 3.98% to 4.78% as of Sept. 26, 2024, but they can fluctuate daily.
CD rates can also change daily. The thing with T-bills is that you buy them at a discount and when they mature, you receive the full amount back, plus a little more. For example, you might buy a $1,000 T-bill for $950. When the bill matures, you will get $1,000, or $50 more than what you paid for it. This increase of $50 is the interest you earn. CDs are a little less complicated, where you put in a set amount, and then receive a fixed interest rate when it matures.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who Has the Highest CD Rate Right Now?
The highest-paying CD right now is from Nuvision Credit Union with a rate of 5.50% APY for an 8-month term. That could change, though, as interest rates fluctuate daily and institutions can offer CDs with high interest rates for as long or as short of a time as they want.
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Are CDs Safe?
CDs are safe because they are usually offered by banks or credit unions which are insured by the FDIC or NCUA. This means your money at a bank or credit union, across all of your accounts (CDs, savings, and checking, etc.) is insured for up to $250,000. CDs also come with virtually no risk since the interest rate is usually fixed; you'll know what to returns to expect before even opening the CD.
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How Have CD Rates Changed Over Time?
The top CD rates have changed over time, from around 1.35% in 2021, to over 5.50% by the start of 2024. This is because CD rates typically follow the trend of the fed funds rate. So when the fed funds rate is low, CD rates tend to be low. When the fed funds rate is high, CD rates tend to be high. To combat high inflation between 2021 and 2023, the Fed raised the fed funds rate. That in turn pushed CD rates higher to 6.00% by 2024.
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Why Are Interest Rates So High Right Now?
CD interest rates are high right now because they follow the fed funds rate, which is currently set at a target range of 4.75%-5.00%. This is down from the 5.25%–5.50% range it had been at from July 2023 until September 2024. Beginning in 2022, the Fed raised rates from near zero to its recent high to help combat high inflation. With inflation showing signs of cooling, the Fed began lowering rates in September.
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Are There Fees Associated With CDs?
There are not usually fees associated with the CD that you want to open. However, you may be required to open a savings account at the institution before you can open the CD there. This could require a deposit of $5 or more. Additionally, some credit unions ask new members to make a charitable donation in order to sign up for an account, and this could cost up to $40.
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How Long Can You Have Money in a CD?
CD terms often range from 3 months to 10 years, so you can have your money in a CD for generally any length of time in between. Some CDs have terms of 8 or 9 months, others have 15-month terms, and there are 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year, 5-year, 6-year, 7-year, 8-year, and 10-year terms—though the longer terms may be offered by fewer banks or credit unions.
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Is Now a Good Time to Buy a CD?
Putting money into a CD right now may be a smart move if you're looking to earn a high interest rate on money you don't need. CD rates are over 5.00% for many terms right now, and locking up your money for six, 12, or even 24 months could help you in the long run if CD rates decline in the next year or two. CD rates are higher in 2024 than they have been in 20 years. So yes, now is a good time to buy a CD.
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What Is Considered a Jumbo CD?
A CD with a minimum deposit requirement of $100,000 or more is usually considered a jumbo CD. While the required minimum deposit is higher than traditional CDs, the interest rates on jumbos are not always higher. That means you could earn a higher interest rate by depositing $100,000 in a traditional CD instead of a jumbo CD. Just shop around to learn which CD is best for your money and situation.
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Financial Institutions We Reviewed
We researched and reviewed more than 250 banks, credit unions, and financial institutions to find the best CD rates you see above on this list. While we write individual reviews for most, we do not always write reviews for those we would not recommend. Below are the banks, credit unions, and financial institutions we researched along with links to individual company reviews to help you learn more before making a decision:
1st Source Bank, 5star Bank, ableBanking, Abound Credit Union, Achieva Credit Union, Affinity Federal Credit Union, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, Air Force Federal Credit Union, Alabama Credit Union, Allegacy Federal Credit Union, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amerant Bank, American 1 Credit Union, American Express, American Heritage Credit Union, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Apple Federal Credit Union, Banco do Brasil Americas, Banesco USA, Bank of Baroda, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Texas Capital Bank, bankESB (Easthampton Savings Bank), BankUnitedDirect, Barclays, BBVA Bank, Bellco Credit Union, Blue Federal Credit Union, BMO, BMO Alto, BrioDirect, Cadets Federal Credit Union, California Coast Credit Union, Capital One, Capitol Federal Savings Bank, CD Bank, CFG Bank, Chase Bank, Chevron Federal Credit Union, CIBC (Agility Banking), CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens Access, Citizens Trust Bank, Colorado Federal Savings Bank, Bread Savings, Communitywide Federal Credit Union, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Corporate America Federal Credit Union (CAFCU), Credit Union of Denver, Credit Union of the Rockies, Digital, Federal Credit Union, Discover Bank, DollarSavingsDirect, Dover Federal Credit Union, Dow Credit Union, Evergreen Bank Group, RocklandTrust Bank, Elements Financial, EmigrantDirect.com, Liberty Federal Credit Union, Fidelity Investments, Financial Partners Credit Union, Financial Resources Federal Credit Union, First Financial Credit Union, First Financial Northwest Bank, First Internet Bank, First National Bank of America, First Technology Federal Credit Union, Fort Bragg Federal Credit Union, Garden Savings Federal Credit Union, Georgia Banking Company, Georgia's Own Credit Union, GreenState Credit Union, Greenwood Credit Union, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, GTE Financial, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, Hanscom Federal Credit Union, Heritage Bank, Hiway Federal Credit Union, Home Loan Investment Bank, Home Savings Bank, Hope Credit Union, HSBC Direct, Hughes Federal Credit Union, Hyperion Bank, Ideal Credit Union, iGObanking, Interior Federal Credit Union, Justice Federal Credit Union, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, KS State Bank, La Capitol Federal Credit Union, Lafayette Federal Credit Union, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Langley Federal Credit Union, Latino Community Credit Union, Limelight Bank, Live Oak Bank, Luther Burbank Savings, MYSB Direct, MAC Federal Credit Union, Main Street Bank, MainStreet Bank, MapleMark Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Market USA Federal Credit Union, Matadors Community Credit Union, MECU Credit Union, Merrick Bank, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, Mills42 Federal Credit Union, Mountain America Credit Union, MTC Federal Credit Union, MutualOne Bank, My Banking Direct, My eBanc, My Savings Direct, NASA Federal Credit Union, Nationwide by Axos Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, nbkc, NexBank, North Country Savings Bank, Northern Bank Direct, Northfield Bank, Northpointe Bank, Nuvision Federal Credit Union, Oklahoma Central Credit Union, One American Bank, OneUnited Bank, Pacific National Bank, Paramount Bank, PARDA Federal Credit Union, Partner Colorado Credit Union, Patelco Credit Union, Pen Air Federal Credit Union, PenFed Credit Union, People's Credit Union, First Service Credit Union, Pinnacle Federal Credit Union, Popular Direct, Premier America Credit Union, Presidential Bank, FSB, Prime Alliance Bank, PSECU (Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union), Quontic Bank, Quorum Federal Credit Union, Rising Bank, Merrimack Valley Credit Union, Salal Credit Union, Sallie Mae Bank, Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union, Signature Federal Credit Union, Spectrum Credit Union, SRP Federal Credit Union, State Bank of India Chicago, State Bank of India New York, State Bank of Texas, State Department Federal Credit Union, Summit Credit Union, Sun East Federal Credit Union, Superior Choice Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, Teachers Federal Credit Union, Technology Credit Union, The Federal Savings Bank, Third Federal Savings & Loan, EverBank, TotalBank, Transportation Federal Credit Union, TruStone Financial Credit Union, UNIFY Financial Credit Union, Expedition Credit Union, United States Senate Federal Credit Union, United Texas Bank, University Federal Credit Union, US Bank, USAlliance Financial, USPS Federal Credit Union, Velocity Credit Union, VeraBank, Vio Bank, Virtual Bank, WebBank, Webster Bank, Wells Fargo, Western Vista Credit Union, Wings Financial Credit Union, XCEL Federal Credit Union, BankPurely, Umbrella Bank, giantbank.com, CapEd Credit Union, Zeal Credit Union, Finworth, Coastal1 Credit Union, Service Credit Union, National Cooperative Bank, Premier Members Credit Union, Bank of America, Flagstar Bank, 1st MidAmerica Credit Union, INOVA Federal Credit Union, Genisys Credit Union, Ivy Bank, Heartland Credit Union, Luana Savings Bank, Spectra Credit Union, Workers Credit Union, Credit Human, EFCU Financial, Poppy Bank, Credit One Bank, Vibrant Credit Union, CFBank, Department of Commerce Federal Credit Union, Seattle Bank, Crescent Bank, Pima Federal Credit Union, Cross River Bank, USAA, Great River Federal Credit Union, Brilliant Bank, Merchants Bank of Indiana, LendingClub, Chartway Credit Union, First Central Savings Bank, AgFed Credit Union, North American Savings Bank, Pelican State Credit Union, First Community Credit Union, Bask Bank, Skyla Credit Union, SkyOne Federal Credit Union, 3Rivers Federal Credit Union, Utah First Credit Union, Pasadena Federal Credit Union, Magnifi Financial, AloStar, Primis Bank, Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union, Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union, Veridian Credit Union, Republic Bank, Salem Five Direct, All In Credit Union, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Federal Credit Union, Forbright Bank, Jovia Financial Credit Union, Sun Canyon Bank, Fortera Credit Union, Partners 1st Federal Credit Union, SouthEast Bank, American Bank, Newtek Bank, CBC Federal Credit Union, Vanguard, All America Bank, Amalgamated Bank, Citizens State Bank, AmBoy Direct, Republic Bank of Chicago, Oklahoma Community Credit Union, BluPeak Credit Union, Valley Direct, Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union, First Harvest Credit Union, Orion Federal Credit Union, Wellby Financial, FedChoice Federal Credit Union, CoVantage Credit Union, Choice First Bank, Sandia Area Federal Credit Union, OMB Bank, Minnequa Works Credit Union, Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Bank of South Texas, T Bank
How We Find the Best CD Rates
Every business day, Investopedia tracks the rate data of more than 200 banks and credit unions that offer CDs to customers nationwide and determines daily rankings of the top-paying certificates in every major term. To qualify for our lists, the institution must be federally insured (FDIC for banks, NCUA for credit unions), the CD’s minimum initial deposit must not exceed $25,000, and any specified maximum deposit cannot be under $5,000.
Banks must be available in at least 40 states. While some credit unions require you to donate to a specific charity or association to become a member if you don’t meet other eligibility criteria (e.g., you don’t live in a certain area or work in a certain kind of job), we exclude credit unions whose donation requirement is $40 or more. For more about how we choose the best rates, read our full methodology.
Your Guide to CDs
- What Is a Certificate of Deposit (CD)?
- What Is a Brokered CD?
- What Is a CD Ladder?
- Pros and Cons of CDs
- How to Invest With CDs
- How to Open a CD
- How to Close a CD
- CDs vs. Annuities
- CDs vs. Stocks
- CDs vs. Mutual Funds
- CDs for ETFs
- CDs vs. Savings Accounts
- Short-Term vs. Long-Term CDs
- CD Rates News
- Best 1-Year CD Rates
- Best Jumbo CD Rates
- Best 6-Month CD Rates
- Best 3-Month CD Rates
- Best Bank CD Rates
