Finding the Best CD Rates
One way to save and grow your money is to use a certificate of deposit (CD) account. These low-risk banking products essentially lock your money up for a specific period of time in exchange for an interest rate. CDs are offered at many financial institutions, including banks and credit unions, with their APYs typically being some of the strongest. To help you sift through the many options, SmartAsset did the research and put together this list of the best CDs on the market right now.
| Bank | APY | Minimum Deposit | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
Live Oak Bank  Read More | 4.60% | $2,500 |
|
Capital One  Read More | 4.15% | $0 |
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Navy Federal Credit Union  Read More | 4.85% | $50 |
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Marcus by Goldman Sachs  Read More | 4.35% | $500 |
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TAB Bank  Read More | 4.00% | $1,000 |
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Synchrony  Read More | 4.30% | $0 |
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Bread Financial  Read More | 4.50% | $1,500 |
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Ally Bank  Read More | 3.30% | $0 |
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How We Determine the Best CD Accounts
SmartAsset analyzed more than 150 CD accounts to create this list. We determined the best CD options based on each of their current APYs and minimum deposits, as well as the customer service of the bank that offers them. Other factors we considered in our analysis were how many other products the bank offers and whether they allow CD laddering.
Best 1-Year CD Account: Live Oak Bank
Live Oak Bank, which has traditionally been known for its small business banking services, now offers some of the top CD rates on the market, in addition to a strong savings account. This is especially true when you look at how its one-year CD compares to other accounts on the market. Live Oak’s 1-year CD comes with a 4.60% APY provided you can meet its $2,500 minimum.
The bank also offers CDs with terms that range from six months to five years. Rates for these CDs range from 4.35% for a 6-month CD but down to 2.00% for a 5-year CD. So with a one-year CD, you’re already one of the best APYs that Live Oak Bank offers.
Live Oak Bank’s CDs come with a number of features to make opening and maintaining your account an easy process. There are no monthly maintenance fees with the account, so you’ll keep what you earn. In addition, the interest you earn is paid out monthly, and you’ll be able to manage your renewing preferences online easily.
Best 1-Year CD Account With No Minimum: Capital One
Capital One, one of the nation’s largest banks in terms of consumer deposits, now offers one of the best 1-year CD accounts on the market. Capital One comes in with a 4.15% APY with no minimum deposit requirement, which is a great option for a customer beginning their savings journey. As your 1-year CD with Capital One continues to grow, you won’t have to worry about market risk, as CDs aren’t overly attached to market volatility.
The bank offers additional flexibility for customers with CD terms that range from six months at a 3.30% APY to five years at a 4.10% APY. Capital One also features a 2-year CD that offers customers a 4.30% APY with no minimum deposit requirement as well.
Best 2-Year CD Account: Navy Federal Credit Union
Navy Federal Credit Union offers a range of certificate of deposit (CD) products, and its high balance CDs really stand out. Navy Federal offers 12-month CDs with an APY of 4.85% with a minimum deposit of just $50. If you open a 24-month CD with $20,000 or more, you’ll have access to a great APY of 4.20%. And if you open a 24-month CD with $100,000 or more, you will receive a slightly higher APY at 4.25%. This is obviously a very high balance, but even the lower balance CDs will still earn a strong rate. NFCU also has some solid offerings for longer-term CDs.
The catch is that not just anyone can open an account with Navy Federal. In order to be eligible, you’ll need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be an active or former military or national guard member
- Be a Department of Defense officer candidate, reservist or civilian
- Be an immediate family member of a current member
If you decide to open a CD account with Navy Federal, you’ll also have access to a wide range of other banking products, such as savings accounts and checking accounts. Navy Federal also offers mortgages, credit cards, personal loans, student loans, home equity loans, auto loans and more.
Best 2-Year CD/Savings Account Combination: Marcus by Goldman Sachs
If you’re looking to save more, Marcus by Goldman Sachs is one of the best banks to move your money to. The core of its high-interest accounts includes a great CD and savings account combination.
More specifically, Marcus’ 2-year CD has an APY of 4.35%, while its online high-yield savings account boasts an APY of 3.30%. There is no minimum deposit for the savings account, and the CDs call for only a $500 opening deposit.
Where Marcus struggles compared to some of its major competitors is in its customer service. While the bank recently introduced a mobile banking app for Apple and Android devices, its customer support is only available 14 hours a day during the week and 10 hours a day on the weekends. This could make for a frustrating experience if you need help immediately.
Best High-Balance 2-Year CD: TAB Bank
TAB Bank is known for its online banking services. However, it also currently boasts one of the highest APYs for a 2-year CD on the market at 4.00%. TAB Bank also features various interest payment methods, including via check, direct transfer or compounding.
A 2-year CD term is not the only term TAB Bank provides. The bank also has CD terms that range from six months to five years. Customers can start with a solid 3.35% APY at six months and reach a maximum of a 4.00% APY at the 60-month term. However, for customers to open an account at TAB Bank, the bank requires a $1,000 minimum deposit, which may be difficult for some to reach.
Best 3-Year CD Account: Synchrony
Synchrony, an online- and mobile-only bank, offers one of the best 3-year CD terms in the market in the form of a high APY and minimum deposit affordability. Synchrony’s 3-year CD presents a great 4.30% APY to help get first-time savers on the right track. For example, an account holder with $5,000 in savings in their initial deposit with a 4.30% APY would be able to earn an additional $673 over 36 months.
Synchrony doesn't require a minimum deposit. The bank offers flexible options outside of those in need of a 3-year CD. The bank has 16 different CD terms, one of which starts at three months with a 2.25% APY. Other terms range from six months at a 3.90% APY to five years with a 4.30% APY.
Best 5-Year CD Account: Bread Financial
Bread Financial has a premier 5-year CD account that features an incredibly strong 4.50% APY. To put this rate into perspective, if you deposited $10,000 in the account and left it there for five years, you’d walk away with nearly $2,462 in interest earned. This can happen not only because of the great rate, but also because Bread allows balances to compound daily.
If you’re looking to open a 5-year CD with Bread, the main stipulation you’ll encounter is a $1,500 minimum opening deposit. This may make the account inaccessible for some prospective account holders. However, in the grand scheme of things, many CDs have higher minimums than this.
Best Bump-Up CD: Ally Bank Raise Your Rate CD
Ally’s bump-up certificate of deposit is an account that functions like a normal CD, only it allows the account holder to increase their APY during the account’s term should rates rise. So if you own an Ally Raise Your Rate CD, and the interest rate that’s offered for your account goes up, you can initiate a rate increase to take advantage of that benefit. Note that you can only use this option once during the term of your CD, so if rates start to rise, you’ll need to decide the best time to pull the trigger.
This CD comes in two term length variations: 2-year and 4-year. In both cases, the starting APY is 3.30%. There are no minimum initial deposits for either account, meaning you can take advantage of them regardless of how much you have to invest. There is also a 0.05% APY loyalty reward waiting for any Ally customers that renew their CD to another Ally CD upon maturation.
Once your account’s term matures, you’ll have a 10-day window to withdraw your money. Otherwise, it will be reinvested into the same CD again.
Is a CD the Right Choice for You?
Certificates of deposit (CDs) are a worthwhile investment when market conditions are right. However, you must also be in a solid financial state if you're able to lock up your money for an extended period of time. CDs can be a safe way to grow money, but you must be comfortable not having access to the funds for the duration of the account's term. CDs are worth it when the following circumstances apply:
• Interests rates are high, and you don't expect them to rise significantly over the course of the CD's term.
• You have extra money sitting in a bank account.
• You already have a separate emergency fund in place.
• You are trying to save up for something big, like a home or car, and want to earn a good return without market risk.
• You are looking for ways to grow money without the temptation of spending it.
In low interest rate markets, CDs are less enticing because returns are often fairly miniscule. As interest rates rise however, CDs become a much more attractive method of investing money.
Another advantage of a CD is that your starting rate is guaranteed. Therefore, you cannot lose money with a CD (though you could lose accrued interest if you withdraw money early). This is as opposed to investing in equities and other securities, where you can end up losing your investment if things go poorly. CD deposits also have the backing of FDIC insurance, up to $250,000. So if your banking institution were to fail, you would still be covered.
CDs are a solid option if you have extra money sitting in your accounts, as long as said account is not your emergency fund. Excess cash that is either not accruing interest or accruing low interest could likely be better served in a CD. The fee associated with withdrawing from a CD before the maturity date also acts as a strong deterrent from spending the money you're saving. It makes CDs ideal for anyone trying to save up for something in the long-term.
What CD Term Should You Go With?
It’s important to create a clear set of savings goals when determining the correct CD term for your needs. Opening up a CD and having to withdraw from it early can mean you lose money, so don't open one unless you're sure you won't need the money until the term is up. The penalty can also be great enough where you could have ended up earning more in a liquid savings account, so don't discount the fact that maybe a CD is no the right option at all. You need to be honest about your finances and what your short- and long-term objectives are before committing to a term.
If your goal with a CD is just to grow money in a safe environment, then building a CD ladder with multiple accounts of varying lengths may be the optimal way to go. Laddering $10,000 across five accounts spanning one- to five-year terms can yield you about $1,200 after five years. In comparison, reinvesting $10,000 in a 1-year account for five years (which gives you the same liquidity as the ladder) would yield you about $300 less over the same time frame.
If you have a more focused goal in mind, like saving up for a car or home, you need to determine when you would like to make those purchases and pick the appropriate term. It’s a good idea to consider your job stability in your decision as well. Investing a significant amount of money in a 5-year CD could put you in a bind if you end up needing liquidity before the account matures.
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