During that time, your deposit earns a fixed interest rate.

Usually, the longer the term, the higher the interest rate.

When the CD term is up, you receive your initial deposit back plus the interest earned.

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Unlike a savings account, CDs typically dont let you withdraw money whenever you want.

CD accounts require you to leave funds untouched for a fixed period or else face an early withdrawal penalty.

you could buy a certificate of deposit from a bank or credit union.

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No Interest Til Almost 2027?

Balance Transfer = Credit Card Cheat Code

Credit unions issue share certificates, which are thecredit unionequivalent of CDs.

CD vs. Savings Account: Which Is Better?

Ally Bank

But a traditional savings account doesnt earn much interest.

In fact, the national APY for savings accounts is just 0.33%.

CD rates range from 3.75% for a 6-month CD to 4.40% APY for an 18 month CD.

Synchrony Bank

The $500 minimum deposit requirement is lower than some other banks and credit unions.

The company offers two types of certificates of deposit: a high-yield CD and a no-penalty CD.

Term lengths for no-penalty CDs range from seven months to 13 months with 0.45% to 3.50% APY.

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Marcus by Goldman Sachs is also well-known for its high-yield savings accounts, which consistently offer above-average interest rates.

Discover, best known as a credit card company, boasts a strong selection of financial products including CDs.

Numerous CD terms makes it easy for consumers to explore CD laddering options.

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A CD ladder involves opening multiple CDs with staggered maturity dates.

Doing so lets you earn interest while providing easier access to your money.

Another perk: Discover offers CDs for individual retirement accounts (IRA CDs).

Like all CDs on this list, there are no monthly fees or opening fees.

Aside from CDs and credit cards, Discover also offers an online savings account and checking account.

Like many of their financial services, theres no minimum deposit requirement to open a bank CD.

That could be appealing as the Federal Reserve increases interest rates throughout 2023.

Ally also offers a no-penalty CD with an 11-month term and a 3.85% annual percentage yield.

There is no minimum deposit requirement, and the company also offers IRA CDs.

Another perk: You get the option of withdrawing the interest earned before the CDs maturity date without penalty.

Synchrony offers other useful tools for savers, including a money market account and a high-yield savings account.

However, it doesnt offer a checking account.

The company offers nine bank CD term lengths, from six months to five years.

APYs range from 3.30% to 4.40%.

Aside from CDs and credit cards, Capital One offers checking accounts and savings accounts.

In 2019, the credit union opened its services up to the general public.

PenFeds $1,000 minimum deposit requirement is pretty standard for money market certificates with high APYs.

Yields earned on credit union accounts are called dividends instead of interest.

Early withdrawal penalties can be steep.

The early withdrawal penalty for its 6-month certificates equals 90 days of dividends earned.

Interest for Bread Savings CDs is compounded daily and credited on a monthly basis.

Bread Savings also offers a high-yield savings account.

Once a bank CD matures, Quontic gives you a 10-day grace period to withdraw funds.

Otherwise, the online CD automatically renews.

Early withdrawal penalties vary by CD term.

What Are CD Rates?

A CDs rate is how much interest youll earn on your initial deposit.

A CD rate is expressed as anannual percentage yield(APY).

CDs earn higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts, and may earn more than ahigh-yield savings account.

Online banks and credit unions tend to offer the best CD rates.

Most CD rates are fixed: They wont go up or down after you open your account.

However, a credit union can restrict membership, so ensure to check eligibility requirements first.

The best CDs offer a competitive rate and APY.

They also feature reasonable minimum deposit requirements and attractive compounding schedules.

Are CD Rates Increasing in 2023?

CD rates are increasing as the Federal Reserve embarks on a series of interest rate hikes to fight inflation.

These federal actions are likely to result in the best CD interest rates weve seen in years.

One-year CD rates on this list averaged 1.38% in April 2022.

Now theyre averaging 4.25% in January 2023 three times higher less than one year later.

What Are The Different Types Of CDs?

Most CDs offer a fixed rate for a fixed duration but thats not always the case.

Here are a few specialty CDs with unique terms.

Terms usually require a higher opening deposit and earn a lower APY.

Most financial institutions still impose some restrictions on no-penalty CDs.

Youll likely earn a lower rate and need to put down a larger opening deposit.

Most financial institutions with bump-up CDs limit you to one or two rate increases per term.

Step-Up CDs

These CDs include predictable rate increases at specified times throughout the term of the CD.

Jumbo CDs

Jumbo CDs carry a high minimum balance requirement (think $100,000 and up).

Frequently Asked Questions

CDs are considered a low-risk investment.

Most CDs have no monthly fees or ongoing costs.

However, taking money out of your CD before the maturity date usually results in an early withdrawal penalty.

The amount you pay to buy a CD generally is not taxable, even when you cash it in.

This interest must be reported to the IRS as taxable income.

According to the IRS, interest is taxable in the year it is paid.

you’re free to see how much interest you earned that year in box 1.

An IRA CD is simply an individual retirement account full of certificates of deposit.

Many banks and credit unions offer IRA CDs.

You get the tax-advantages of an IRA along with the fixed term and rate of a certificate of deposit.

ACD ladderis a savings strategy where you stagger certificates of deposit with different maturity dates.

It can help you take advantage of higher rates on longer-term CDs while still keeping some liquidity short-term.

Heres an example of a CD ladder.

you could do the same when the two-year CD matures a year later.

Eventually, you will have five five-year certificates of deposit so one CD matures each year.

Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.