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- Key Takeaways
- Rates as low as 4.50% and as high as 4.65% can be guaranteed as far as 2026
- All Institutions Federally Insured Are Equally Protection
- Consider CDs that are longer-term to secure your rate further into the future
- Today's Best CDs Still Pay Historically High Returns
- Jumbo CDs top regular CDs in two terms
- What will CD rates be in 2025?
- Daily Rankings for the Best CDs, Savings Accounts and Investments
- It is important to note that
- How to Find the Best CD Rates
Key Takeaways
- Two institutions offer the nation’s best CD rate of 4.65% for terms of 5 or 7.
- For a rate guaranteed to 2026, both Abound Credit Union and Vibrant Credit Union pay 4.60%—for 10 months or 13 months, respectively.
- There are 22 CDs that offer 4.50% or more APY for terms of up to 18 months.
- Want to lock your rate for longer? Vibrant Credit Union & Transportation Federal Credit Union offer the leading 4-year and 5 year guarantees of 4.40%.
- The Fed is “waiting and seeing” about rate cuts in 2025 after holding rates steady in March. 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% can be guaranteed as far as 2026
The nation's leading CD rate held its ground today at 4.65%, and you have your choice of two offers for that APY. You can secure this guaranteed return until the fall with terms of either 5 or 7 month.
Two top CDs will pay you 4.60% to extend your rate-lock until 2026. Abound Credit Union offers this rate for a duration of 10 months, while Vibrant Credit Union matches it for 13-months.
Total of 22 certificates across the country pay at least 4.5%, with 18-month certificates being the longest. This offer, from XCEL Federal Credit Union will guarantee your rate through October of next.
| 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 | INOVA Federal Credit Union & OMB |
| 1 year | 4.60% | 4.60% | No change | Abound Credit Union and Vibrant Credit Union |
| 18 months | 4.50% | 4.50% | No change | 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
Your deposits are insured by the federal government if the 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 CDs that are longer-term to secure your rate further into the future
University Federal Credit Union pays 4.30% for a rate lock that you can enjoy until 2027. Genisys Credit Union offers 4.32% over 30 months for a 3-year term.
Customers who are looking for a longer warranty may prefer the top 4-year or 5-year certificate. Vibrant Credit Union is paying 4.40% APY for 48 months, while Transportation Federal Credit Union promises that same rate for 60 months—ensuring you’d earn well above 4% all the way until 2030.
A multi-year CD is a smart investment right now, especially with the possibility of Fed rate reductions in 2025 or 2026. The central banks has already reduced the federal funds rate a full percentage points, and there may be more cuts this year. Bank APYs will fall if the Fed lowers interest rates, but you can enjoy a CD rate until it matures.
Today's Best CDs Still Pay Historically High Returns
It's true that CD rates are no longer at their peak. The best CDs are still offering a great return, despite the recent pullback. In October 2023, the best CD rates were over 6%. Today, the leading rate has dropped to 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% – 1.70% APY depending on the term.
Jumbo CDs top regular CDs in 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 a 2-year jumbo CD at 4.33%, compared to the standard CD rate of 4.30%. Hughes Federal Credit Union offers a 3-year CD at 4.34%, compared to 4.32%.
It is therefore wise to check both types when shopping for CDs. If your best option is to buy a standard CD, you can open it by paying a large deposit.
| CD Term | Today’s top National Bank rate | Today’s top National Credit Union rate | Today’s top 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 | 4.15% | 4.32% | 4.34%* |
| 4 Years | 4.15% | 4.40%* | 4.33% |
| 5 Years | 4.15% | 4.40%* | 4.33% |
What will CD rates be 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. In January and March, however, the central banks declined to further reduce the benchmark 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 movements are significant for savers as they lower the rates that credit unions and banks are willing to pay to consumers for their deposits. 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 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—making now a smart time to lock in the best rate that suits your personal timeline.
Daily Rankings for the Best CDs, Savings Accounts and Investments
We update this ranking every day of the week to provide you with the best rates for deposits.
- Best 3-Month Rates
- Best 6-Month CD rates
- Best 1-Year CD rates
- Best 18-Month CD rates
- Best 2-Year CD rates
- Best 3-Year CD rates
- Best 4-Year CD rates
- Best 5-Year Rates on CDs
- Best High-Yield Savings accounts
- Best Money Market Accounts
It is important to note that
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 do meet other eligibility requirements (e.g. if you live in an area or hold a certain type of job), 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. These include whitepapers, government data, original reports, and interviews with experts in the industry. We also use original research from other reputable publications when appropriate. Our website contains more information about the standards that we use to produce accurate, unbiased content. 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."
