Top CD Rates Today – March 21, 2025 – Lock in 4.50% to 5 % until Fall 2026

Key Takeaways

• Mountain America Credit Union still offers the nation’s leading 5.00% CD, with a guarantee of 18 months.
• There are 9 offers that offer 4.60% and higher for terms from 6 to 18 month.
• Skyla Credit Union’s top 2-year rate is 4.50%. Genisys Credit Union’s 3-year deal locks in 4.32%.
• Want to lock in a rate for a longer period of time? Consider a rate of 4.40% from Vibrant Credit Union or Transportation Federal Credit Union, both for 4 years.
• The Fed kept interest rates unchanged at its meeting yesterday, and has adopted a wait-and-see approach for future rate cuts. In an uncertain economy, you’d be wise to grab one of the best CD rates available today 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 ranging from 4.50% to 5.00% are guaranteed until September 2026

Mountain America Credit Union’s 18-month Certificate guarantees that you can lock in the 5.00% APY. Open this CD now to lock in your rate through fall 2026.

Four competing offers extend their rate promises into 2025. The runner-up is 4.65% APY. Two banks and 2 nationally available credit unions pay that rate over terms of 5-7 months.

Abound Credit Union has recently announced a 4.60% rate with a 10-month guarantee. Vibrant Credit Union offers the same APY over a period of 13 months. Both of these options guarantee your rate through 2026.

Skyla Credit Union offers a 21-month 4.50% offer that extends into the next year. This will lock in your return up until Christmas 2026.

All Institutions Insured by the Federal Government Are Equally Safe

You’re protected 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 Multi-year CDs for Locking Rates Further into the Future

Skyla Credit Union’s CD offers 4.50% over 21 months. Genisys Credit Union offers the best rate for a 3-year term at 4.32% per month.

This month, anyone looking for an even longer rate lock was rewarded with good news. The top 4-year CD rate increased from 4.35% to 4.4%. Vibrant Credit Union offers this new rate. 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.

The possibility of Fed rates being cut in 2025 or 2026 makes it a smart time to buy long-term CDs. The central bank has already lowered the federal fund rate by one percentage point. This year, there could be further cuts. Bank APYs will fall if the Fed lowers interest rates, but you can enjoy a CD’s 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. But despite this pullback, CDs offer a fantastic return. In October 2023, the best CD rates surpassed 6%. The leading rate is now at 5%. Compare that with early 2022, when the Federal Reserve started its campaign of rate hikes. The best CDs offered a range of 0.50% – 1.70% APY depending on the term.

Jumbo CDs top regular CDs over a 3-year period

Jumbo CDs require much larger deposits and sometimes pay premium rates—but not always. In fact the best jumbo CDs rates are lower than the standard CD rates for all but one term that we track. Hughes Federal Credit Union’s 3-year rate is 4.34% compared to the highest standard of 4.32%. When shopping for CDs, it’s a good idea to compare both types of offers. If the standard CD is your best option, you can open it using a jumbo deposit.

What will CD rates be in 2025?

In December, Federal Reserve announced the third rate reduction to the federal fund rate in as few meetings. This is a reduction of one full percentage point from 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 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.

Daily Rankings for the Best CDs, Savings Accounts and Investments

These rankings are updated every business day so that you can get the best possible deposit rates.

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 Rates on CD

Best 4-Year CD rates

Best 5-Year CD rates

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 don’t meet the other eligibility criteria, (e.g. if you live in a specific area or have a particular job), we exclude those credit unions that 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. Learn more about our standards for producing accurate and unbiased content by visiting our Editorial policy

1. Federal Reserve Board. "Open Market Operations."

2. Federal Reserve Board. "Federal Reserve Issues FOMC Statement, Jan. 29, 2025."

3. Federal Reserve Board. "Federal Reserve Issues FOMC Statement, March 19, 2025."