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- Key Takeaways
- Rates as low as 4.50% and as high as 4.65% are guaranteed until Summer 2026
- All Institutions Federally Insured Are Equally Protection
- Consider Longer-Term CDs to Guarantee Your Rate in the Future
- Today's Best CDs Still Pay Historically High Returns
- Jumbo CDs surpass regular CDs by two terms
- Where will CD rates be heading in 2025
- Rankings of the best CDs and savings accounts every day
- You can also read about the importance of this in
- How to Find the Best CD Rates
Key Takeaways
- Three institutions offer the best CD rates in the country, ranging from 5- to 7-month terms.
- The earlier offer that promised 5.00% over 18 months is now expired. CD shoppers still have 7 options for certificates that guarantee 4.60% for 6 to 12 months.
- For a rate lock that lasts into 2026, both Abound Credit Union and Vibrant Credit Union are paying 4.60%—with durations of 10 months and 13 months, respectively.
- The leading 2-year rate in the country also fell yesterday—down from 4.50% to 4.30%, available from University Federal Credit Union.
- After keeping interest rates unchanged in March, the Fed has entered a “wait and see” mode in regards to rate cuts in 2025. In the current uncertain economy, you should grab the best CD rate while you can.
Below you'll find featured rates available from our partners, followed by details from our ranking of the best CDs available nationwide.
Rates as low as 4.50% and as high as 4.65% are guaranteed until Summer 2026
Your ability to score a 5.00% APY vanished with yesterday's rate updates. Mountain America Credit Union had been offering that rate on an 18-month certificate since Valentine's Day.
The best CD rate at the moment is 4.65%. You have three options for this APY. You can lock in 4.65% for terms of 5 to 7 months.
Thirty nationwide certificates pay at least 4.5%, and the longest term of these is 13 months. Vibrant Credit Union is offering this offer with a 4.60% rate. Abound Credit Union offers the same APY but for a shorter term of 10 months. Both of these will lock in your rate for the next year.
| CD Terms | Yesterday's Top National Rate | Today's Top National Rate | Day's Change (percentage points) | Top Rate Provider |
| 3 months | 4.50% | 4.50% | No change | Three institutions |
| 6 months | 4.65% | 4.65% | No change | Three institutions |
| 1 year | 4.60% | 4.60% | No change | Abound Credit Union and Vibrant Credit Union |
| 18 months | 4.50% | 4.50% | No change | Langley Federal Credit Union & XCEL Federal Credit Union |
| 2 Years | 4.30% | 4.30% | No change | University Federal Credit Union |
| 3 Years | 4.32% | 4.32% | No change | Genisys Credit Union |
| 4 Years | 4.40% | 4.40% | No change | Vibrant Credit Union |
| 5 years | 4.40% | 4.40% | No change | Transportation Federal Credit Union |
All Institutions Federally Insured Are Equally Protection
You are protected by the U.S. Government in the unlikely event that an institution fails. Not only that, but the coverage is identical—deposits are insured up to $250,000 per person and per institution—no matter the size of the bank or credit union.
Consider Longer-Term CDs to Guarantee Your Rate in the Future
University Federal Credit Union offers a rate lock for 2027 that pays 4.30% APR for 24 months. Skyla Credit Union’s 21 month CD paying 4.50% was taken off the market yesterday. Genisys Credit Union, which offers 4.32% for a 30-month term, is leading the 3-year market.
Vibrant Credit Union’s 4-year certificate offers 4.40% to CD buyers who want a more secure guarantee. Meanwhile, Transportation Federal Credit Union is also offering 4.40% APY, but on a slightly longer 5-year certificate—ensuring you’ll earn well above 4% all the way until 2030.
Given the possibility of Fed rate reductions in 2025 and 2020, multi-year CDs may be a smart investment right now. The central banks has lowered its federal funds rate by an entire percentage point and could continue to do so this year. The Fed’s interest rate reductions will lower bank APYs, but a CD rate that you secure today will remain yours until it matures.
Today's Best CDs Still Pay Historically High Returns
It's true that CD rates are no longer at their peak. But despite this pullback, CDs offer a fantastic return. The best CD rates in October 2023 were above 6%. However, the current leading rate is only 4.65%. Compare this to early 2022 before the Federal Reserve began its rapid-fire rate-hike campaign. The best CDs offered a range of 0.50% to 1.7% APY depending on the term.
Jumbo CDs surpass regular CDs by two terms
Jumbo CDs require much larger deposits and sometimes pay premium rates—but not always. In fact, in all but two of the terms we track, the best jumbo CD rate is lower or the same as the best standard CD rate. Lafayette Federal Credit Union offers 4.33% for a 2-year term compared to the top standard rate of 4.30%, while Hughes Federal Credit Union offers 4.34% for 3-year jumbo rates compared to 4.32%.
It is therefore wise to check both types when shopping for CDs. If the standard CD is your best deal, open it with a large deposit.
| CD Term | Today’s top National Bank Rate | Today’s top National Credit Union rate | Today’s National Jumbo Rate |
| 3 months | 4.50%* | 4.50%* | 4.11% |
| 6 months | 4.65%* | 4.65%* | 4.55% |
| 1 year | 4.50% | 4.60%* | 4.55% |
| 18 months | 4.35% | 4.50%* | 4.50%* |
| 2 Years | 4.25% | 4.30% | 4.33%* |
| 3 Years | 4.16% | 4.32% | 4.34%* |
| 4 Years | 4.15% | 4.40%* | 4.33% |
| 5 Years | 4.15% | 4.40%* | 4.33% |
Where will CD rates be heading in 2025
In December, the Federal Reserve announced its third rate cut in as many meetings. It was a reduction of a full percentage since September. But in January and march, the central bankers refused to further cut the benchmark interest rate.
The Fed’s three 2024 rate cuts represented a pivot from the central bank’s historic 2022–2023 rate-hike campaign, in which the committee aggressively raised interest rates to combat decades-high inflation. At its 2023 peak, the federal funds rate climbed to its highest level since 2001—and remained there for nearly 14 months.
Fed rate changes are important for savers because they reduce the rates that banks and credit unions will pay consumers to deposit their money. CD rates and saving account rates are affected by changes in the fed funds rates.
Time will tell what exactly will happen to the federal funds rate in 2025 and 2026—and economic policies from the new Trump administration have the potential to alter the Fed's course. But with three Fed rate cuts already in the books, today's CD rates could be the best you'll see for some time. Now is a good time to lock in a rate that fits your financial timeline.
Rankings of the best CDs and savings accounts every day
We update this ranking every day of the week to provide you with the best rates for deposits.
- Best 3-Month CD rates
- Best 6-Month CD rates
- Best 1-Year Cd Rates
- Best CD Rates for 18-Months
- Best 2-Year CD rates
- Best 3-Year Rates on CD
- Best 4-Year CD rates
- Best 5-Year CD rates
- Best High-Yield Savings accounts
- Best Money Market Accounts
You can also read about the importance of this in
Note that the "top rates" quoted here are the highest nationally available rates Investopedia has identified in its daily rate research on hundreds of banks and credit unions. This is different from the national average that includes all banks that offer a CD in that term. Many large banks pay a pittance of interest. The national averages will always be low, but the rates you can find by shopping around could be five, 10 or even 15 times more.
How to Find the Best CD Rates
Investopedia monitors the rates of more than 200 banks, credit unions and other institutions that offer CDs in the United States and determines the daily rankings of the highest-paying certificates for each 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 are required to be available in 40 states. While some credit unions ask you to donate money to a charity or organization to become a membership if you don’t meet the other eligibility criteria, (e.g. if you don’t live in certain areas or work in certain types of jobs), we exclude those credit unions who require a minimum donation of $40. Read our methodology to learn more about how we select the best rates.
Article Sources Investopedia requires that writers use primary sources in order to support their work. White papers, government data and original reporting are some of the sources. We also use original research from other reputable publications when appropriate. Learn more about our standards for producing accurate and unbiased content by visiting our Editorial Policy
Federal Reserve Board. "Open Market Operations."
Federal Reserve Board. "Federal Reserve Issues FOMC Statement, Jan. 29, 2025."
Federal Reserve Board. "Federal Reserve Issues FOMC Statement, March 19, 2025."
