April 26, 2024—Take Home More Than 4.85% – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

As of today, the best interest rates on CDs—certificates of deposit—pay up to 5.45%, based on certificate term lengths. Here’s an overview of how CD rates are changing, followed by a guide to the current top CD rates across different terms.

Related: Compare the Best CD Rates

Highest CD Rates Today

A CD is a savings account with a fixed interest rate and a maturity period, which is what makes them time deposit accounts. When you open a CD, you agree to lock up your deposit without touching it until the CD’s term is up, whether that’s in six months or five years. Your patience is rewarded with interest that’s usually better than what you’d earn from a regular savings account.

Withdraw money from a CD before “maturity”—when it reaches the end of its term—and you can be slapped with stiff penalties. For example, you can lose up to six months’ worth of interest if you make an early withdrawal from a one-year CD.

The longer the term, the harsher the early withdrawal penalty. It’s not unusual to lose one full year’s worth of interest or more if you break open a five-year CD too soon. Be absolutely certain you understand the penalty before you make your investment.

Today’s 3-Month CD Rates

For short-term savings goals, three-month CDs might make sense. The current average rate on a three-month CD sits at 1.25%, but the highest rate is 5.39%. Last week, three-month CDs were earning 1.25% on average.

Today’s 6-Month CD Rates

If you’re interested in a shorter-term CD, today’s best six-month CD rate is 5.45%. That’s down from 5.50% a week ago. The current average APY for a six-month CD is 1.77%, the same as last week at this time.

APY provides a more accurate portrait of the annual interest you’ll earn with a CD because it factors in compound interest. That’s the interest you earn not only on your deposit (or principal) but also on the interest itself.

Today’s 1-Year CD Rates

The highest interest rate currently being offered on a 12-month CD—one of the most popular CD terms—is 5.37%. If you find a one-year CD with a rate in that neighborhood, you’re getting a good deal. One week ago, the best rate was the same.

The average APY, or annual percentage yield, on a one-year CD is now 1.93%, up from 1.92% a week ago.

Today’s 2-Year CD Rates

If you can hold out for two years, 24-month CDs today are being offered at interest rates as high as 5.03%. The top rate last week at this time was a similar 5.03%. Two-year CDs now have an average APY of 1.69%. That’s the same as last week at this time.

Today’s 3-Year CD Rates

CDs with longer terms often have some of the most attractive interest rates and APYs—if you’re willing to keep your money locked up for years.

Within the last week, the highest rate on a three-year CD has been 4.85%, so you’ll want to shop around for that rate or something near it.

Today’s 5-Year CD Rates

On a five-year CD, the highest rate today is 4.60%, the same as one week ago. APYs are averaging 1.60%, the same as this time last week.

The longer the term, the harsher the early withdrawal penalty. It’s not unusual to lose one full year’s worth of interest or more if you break open a five-year CD too soon. Be absolutely certain you understand the penalty before you make your investment.

Today’s Jumbo CD Rates

The best rate on today’s jumbo CDs is 5.68% for a 6-month term. The average APY for this category of CD is currently 1.69%, compared to 1.69% last week.

Most jumbo CDs require a minimum deposit of $100,000—and some even require $250,000. However, there’s no universally agreed-upon definition regarding what qualifies as a “jumbo” CD. Some banks and credit unions slap the label “jumbo” on CDs you can open with $50,000, $25,000 or even less.

Other Top CD Rates By Term

Related: CD Interest Rates Forecast: How Good Will They Get?

How To Open a CD

To open a CD, you start by establishing an account with a bank and making a one-time, upfront payment, known as the principal. Many banks require you to deposit a minimum amount of money—which can be anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars—when opening a CD. At credit unions, CDs are often referred to as share certificates.

Once you have deposited your principal, the timer on your investment begins, and you will begin earning interest. The bank or credit union will provide you with monthly or quarterly statements reflecting how much interest you are accumulating.

Resist the urge to access your CD before the term ends because early withdrawal penalties can eat up your interest instantly. In some cases, you may even face stiff early-withdrawal penalties that eat into your principal

Build a CD Ladder

Want to earn higher yield, but wary of keeping your money chained up for years? A CD ladder can help you earn good returns and make your investment feel more liquid.

You build a ladder by investing your money in multiple CDs with terms of different lengths. You might buy a one-year CD, a two-year CD, a three-year CD, a four-year CD and a five-year CD. As each of the shorter-term CDs matures, you replace it with a new five-year CD.

Follow this course, and in a few years you’ll have one better-yielding five-year CD maturing each year. If you’re ever having a bad year, you could take some of the cash from the expiring CD and use it to pay bills instead of pouring it all into a fresh CD.

You’ve got to comparison shop to track down the best CD rates. Banks and credit unions compete by offering alluring yields to win your business, so shopping around is a must before you purchase any bank CD or credit union share certificate.

Methodology

Curinos determines the average rates for certificates of deposit (CDs) by focusing on specific CDs and excluding others. Certain types, such as promotional offers, relationship-based rates, private, youth, senior, student/minor, affinity, bump-up, no-penalty, callable, variable, step-up, auto transfer, club, gifts, grandfathered, internet-only and IRA CDs are not considered in the calculation.