- Feb 04, 2021 Here are the Best CD Interest Rates for February 2021. 5 year: Navy Federal Credit Union, APY: 1.01%, $1,000 Min. Deposit; 5 year: Suncoast Credit Union, APY: 0.95%, $500 Min.
- We may change the interest rate and APY at any time without prior notice. The minimum deposit required to open this CD/IRA is $2,500. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Withdrawal penalties are as follows. For a 6 month term, the penalty is 3 months' interest. For a term from 7-12 months, the penalty is 6 months' interest.
- We review more than 150 banks and credit unions each weekday to find the best certificates of deposit (CD) rates available nationwide. The top picks have the highest rates for a particular term based on annual percentage yield (APY) and are available to the public.
- Best Cd Interest Rates Fdic Insured
- Best Cd Interest Rates Near Me
- 12 Month Cd Rates
- Best Cd Interest Rates In Montana
Comparing the best CD rates—the annual percentage yield, or APY—is an excellent place to start when shopping for a certificate of deposit. But the best CDs are those that most closely align.
Advertiser Disclosure |Certificates of deposit, or CDs, are powerful, interest-bearing investments that reward investors for leaving cash untouched for a fixed period of time. A CD calculator can help you to know how much you can expect to make on your investment and how much to invest to reach your financial goal.
How to calculate CD earnings
Using a CD calculator is simple. Input the basic information about the CD option you're looking at, and click the calculate button. The information you'll need is your initial deposit size, how long the CD is invested for and the APY rate offered.
You can compare different scenarios by changing out these numbers to see the effects it will have on your total ending balance, interest earnings, total earnings and how that matches up against the current national average.
- Initial deposit: The amount of money you initially invest in your CD
- Period (months and years): The time period that your CD is for. This is the period of time you're expected to leave your funds untouched to get maximum gains.
- APY: The annual percentage yield (APY) is the percentage rate of return you'll see over the course of one year. APY, as opposed to the interest rate, does take into account the effects of compound interest.
- Total balance: The amount you should have available for withdrawal at the end of your CD investment term.
- Interest earnings: The portion of your earnings that come from interest
- Your earnings: The total earnings you'll see at the end of your CD term, including interest and the effects of compounding
- National average: The amount you would earn with a CD that mirrored the current national average rate of return
Why use a CD calculator
As long as you're getting a CD through a trusted banking partner that is FDIC insured or NCUA insured, the major difference between options will be the rate of return. CD calculators allow you to quickly determine how much you're going to make with a particular CD option. If you're looking to meet a particular savings goal, a CD calculator lets you quickly change period lengths, deposit amounts and APY rates to find the right option.
How to pick the best CD provider
The first thing you should look for when selecting a CD provider is whether it is FDIC- or NCUA-insured or not. You will want to stick to investing in financial institutions that have government backing of the funds.
From there, you'll want to look at the APY rates to see where you might get the best return. Remember, APY rates will vary based on the term of the CD and also may vary based on the amount of money you have invested. Always take the time to compare the best CD rates to make sure that you're locking your money into the right account.
Lastly, make sure you look at the early withdrawal penalties. Not all institutions assess the same penalties. Ideally, you'll keep the money in the CD until maturity, but it's good to know what will happen if you find a sudden need for the money.
What happens if you withdraw early
Unless you're taking advantage of a no-penalty CD like the ones offered through Ally Bank, you will incur an interest penalty if you withdraw your funds early. The idea of a CD is that the bank knows it can use your funds for different operations during the fixed period. When you withdraw early, the bank will assess a penalty because of this.
Different financial institutions will have different withdrawal penalties. For example, Alliant Credit Union will take back the interest earned up to 120 days for a CD that is open 18 to 23 months. Ally Bank will only take up to 60 days of interest for CDs 24 months or less. Keep in mind that the bank or credit union won't take any of your initial deposit as a penalty.
Advertiser Disclosure |If you’re looking to make the most of your savings, CDs (certificate of deposit accounts) regularly offer interest rates that are higher than the ones offered with traditional savings accounts.
In return for higher CD interest rates, the bank will expect you to deposit your money in an account for an extended period of time, which can span a few months to a few years. One thing to keep in mind about CDs is that you should only invest money that you won’t need for a while. Otherwise, you’ll risk paying a penalty for early withdrawal if you remove your funds from the CD before the term is up.
If you’re sure you can put money away for a longer period of time and you don’t want to pursue riskier investments, CDs might be worth a look. Interest rates vary for CDs across banks, so it’s best to compare the options available before you lock up your money.
Best CD rates of August 2020
- Sallie Mae: Current 1-year CD rate of 0.80% APY
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs: Current 1-year CD rate of 0.85% APY
- Ally: Current 1-year CD rate of 0.75% APY
- Discover: Current 1-year CD rate of 0.80% APY
- Alliant Credit Union: Current 1-year CD rate of 0.75% APY
- Synchrony: Current 1-year CD rate of 0.75% APY
- Capital One: Current 1-year yield of 0.50% APY
- TIAA Bank: Current 1-year CD rate of 0.60% APY
- Charles Schwab: Current 1-year CD rate of 0.15% APY
Ally – Current 1-year CD rate of 0.75% APY
Ally is one of the best online banks in the industry. In fact, Ally guarantees you’ll get the best rate on your CD with the Ally 10-day best rate guarantee. If Ally’s CD rate goes up within 10 days of closing on your CD, it will raise your rate to the higher one. Ally also offers a 0.05% loyalty reward if you renew your current CD. You can renew and choose any CD it offers. Ally also has no minimum balance requirements and it’s convenient to manage your account online.
Capital One – Current 1-year CD rate of 0.30% APY
It’s a common belief that Capital One only offers credit cards, but it has become a top contender in the CD market thanks to its awesome CD rates. With Capital One, there is no minimum deposit for 360 CDs and it’s FDIC insured. The 1-year interest rate for Capital One CD’s is 0.30%, and it increases with the 3-year and 5-year accounts. The highest interest rate you can earn on a CD through Capital One is 0.60%, which is offered on 5-year CDs.
Discover – Current 1-year CD rate of 0.60% APY
Discover may be known for cash-back credit cards, but it recently entered the CD market with competitive rates and top-notch customer service. There’s an app to monitor and access your account, and Discover is one of the only banks to offer CDs with a duration as short as 3 months. It does have an early withdrawal penalty, though, so if your CD term is less than 1 year, the penalty is worth 3 months of simple interest.
TIAA Bank – Current 1-year CD rate 0.60% APY
TIAA Bank offers a wide range of CDs, including its Yield Pledge CDs, which come with higher rates than the bank’s regular CDs. Yield Pledge CD rates are also often higher rates than the competitors, plus you can choose from terms that range from 3 months to 5 years with a $5,000 minimum deposit.
TIAA also offers a Bump Rate CD that starts at an incredibly high rate for a CD and gives you a one-time option to bump your rate during the term of your CD, so if the interest rate increases, you can take advantage of it. The Bump Rate CD is only available with a 3.5-year term, with rates starting at 0.75% APY.
On the downside, TIAA locations are limited. This bank only has brick-and-mortar locations in Florida.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs – Current 1-year CD rate of 0.85% APY
Marcus offers three no-penalty CD options and high yield CDs with nine different terms to choose from. Like TIAA, it offers a 10-day CD rate guarantee and no transaction fees. Marcus doesn’t have a mobile app or physical locations, though, so you’ll have to rely on either the Marcus website, the Goldman Sachs website or customer service for access to your accounts. It does offer CDs with a $500 minimum deposit and very competitive interest rates, though.
Charles Schwab – Current 1-year CD rate of 0.15% APY
Charles Schwab offers brokered CDs, which are sold by a broker rather than a bank. Different banks issue them, so you can choose a competitive rate and term length that’s best for you. It also allows you the opportunity to choose from variable or fixed-rate CDs. Some CDs require high minimum deposits, though, and instead of compounding interest, the interest is paid into your brokerage account at different intervals.
Instead of offering set terms, you can choose from a range of terms instead. For example, a 1-year CD falls into a 10-18 month range, which offers the same 0.15% APY rate for all CDs in that term range.
Best Cd Interest Rates Fdic Insured
Synchrony – Current 1-year CD rate 0.60% APY
Synchrony is an online bank that offers great savings opportunities on some of the highest-rate CDs available, and it offers a wide range of term options, too. It doesn’t charge a monthly service fee, but it does require a rather high $2,000 minimum deposit, even on basic CDs. The minimum deposit may pose a hardship for some, but with that higher deposit comes the opportunity to earn more interest.
With Synchrony, you can choose from terms as short as three months and as long as 60 months. Synchrony doesn’t have physical bank locations, but you can manage your CD through 24/7 digital banking.
Alliant Credit Union – Current 1-year CD rate 0.55% APY
Alliant Credit Union serves people who work for, or previously worked for, certain employers, including United Airlines. It also serves family members of existing Alliant members, along with people who live or work in certain communities in Illinois, members of select organizations, or anyone who makes a $5 donation to the nonprofit group Foster Care to Success. Alliant currently has more than 390,000 members across the U.S., as well as competitive CD rates. There’s a minimum deposit of $1,000, though, and an early withdrawal penalties. The best way to apply is online.
Compare Best CD Rates of September 2020
Rates as of 9/21/2020
National average CD rates
Best Cd Interest Rates Near Me
Rates data as of 9/18/2020 from the FDIC
What is a CD?
As we touched on above, a certificate of deposit, also known as a “share certificate” at credit unions, is a way to earn a high interest rate on your savings by leaving your money in the bank for a specific amount of time. In general, a CD is less liquid because you can’t access the money during the term you agreed to without penalty, so you earn a higher interest rate in return. CD terms can be as short as 3 months or as long as 5 years, or sometimes longer, and the general rule is that the longer the term you agree to, the better the interest rate.
CDs are a safer investment than other high yield investments, like money market accounts or the stock market, because the FDIC insures deposits at member banks and credit unions up to the maximum amount allowed by law. You won’t lose your money as the market fluctuates, nor will your interest rate decrease (unless you agreed to a variable interest rate), so you’ll have the peace of mind with a CD that your money is safely tucked away.
Because CD interest rates are higher than traditional savings accounts, they can be a great way to maximize the return on your money in more ways than one. As a rule, putting your money into a CD will boost both your interest rate and your annual percentage yield, which is the return that comes from compounding the interest over the course of the term.
Most banks and credit unions typically require you to hold a minimum balance in your savings account or face monthly charges, and these charges can offset any interest you may have earned. That’s quite different than the life of a CD. As long as you keep your money in your CD for the length of the term, you will likely not incur any monthly charges.
CDs vs money market accounts
In general, CDs offer the highest interest rates. However, they also require you to set aside your money for a predetermined period of time. Make an early withdrawal, and you may get hit with a penalty. Money Market accounts offer you more flexibility to withdraw money on short notice, similar to the flexibility provided by a savings account.
12 Month Cd Rates
With a money market account, you earn variable interest, but with a CD, you earn comparatively higher interest rates. Like savings accounts, money market accounts allow you to make up to six monthly withdrawals. Withdrawals during a CDs term will often result in a penalty.
CDs vs savings accounts
If your money is in a savings account, it’s available when you need it. Savings accounts are a useful way to stow money away for unexpected emergencies or large purchases. CDs, on the other hand, often charge a penalty if you want to withdraw your money before the agreed upon term is up. Your interest rate is most often higher and fixed for the length of the term, though, while interest rates on a savings account can, and do, fluctuate and are lower than CDs.
Traditional CDs vs IRA CDs
CDs and IRA CDs look similar on the surface, but if you dig a little deeper you’ll find subtle differences. An IRA CD is a CD that you buy with the funds you have in your retirement account and there are tax breaks on this type of CD. If you were to invest all the retirement funds in your IRA in a CD, then the IRA would become an IRA CD.
You can deposit as much as you like into a regular CD, provided that you’re following the terms of the CD and the bank. With an IRA CD, you are restricted as to how much you can invest. Both types of CDs may have early withdrawal penalties, but with an IRA CD, an early withdrawal will trigger taxes and penalties related to your retirement account. You can earn higher interest rates with an IRA CD, but the terms are usually longer than with CDs.
The impact of 0.10% on $1,000
Depending on what you’re looking for, you may end up considering several types of CDs, including IRA CDs held in a tax-advantaged account, jumbo CDs, which have a high minimum-balance requirement,or a liquid CD that allows you to take funds out without incurring a penalty. No matter which you choose, though, it’s important to understand the importance of APY on your CD. Let’s look at how a 0.1% change in the rate on your CD would impact the outcome over the term of the product. Assume your bank calculates and pays interest only once at the end of the year.
Calculating a 0.1% change on a $1,000 CD
| Term | Deposit | Earned APY 2.40% | Add 0.1% Change |
| 6 months | $1,000 | $11.93 | $12.42 |
| 12 months | $1,000 | $24.00 | $25.00 |
| 18 months | $1,000 | $36.22 | $37.73 |
| 60 months | $1,000 | $125.90 | $131.41 |
Best Cd Interest Rates In Montana
As you can see, the 0.1% adds up, especially over time. A 6-month CD with a $1,000 deposit can increase from $11.93 in interest to $12.42 in interest by the end of the term, and interest on a 60-month CD would increase from $125.90 to $131.41. Adding a 0.1% change may not seem like much, but with higher amounts and longer periods of time, it can really add up. Use this information to help you to decide if you want to lock your money away in a CD, which bank is right for you, how much you want to invest.