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- Key Takeaways
- Rates as high as 4.50% that you can guarantee until 2026
- All Institutions Insured by the Federal Government Are Equally Safe
- Consider CDs with a longer term to lock in your rate for the future
- Today's Best CDs Still Pay Historically High Returns
- Jumbo CDs top regular CDs in four terms
- Where will CD rates be heading in 2025
- Daily Rankings of Best CDs and Savings accounts
- You can also read about the importance of this in
- How to Find the Best CD Rates
Key Takeaways
- PenAir Credit Union has a new offer that promises 4.40% annual percentage yield (APY) for 21 months. This is a significant improvement over the previous leader, which was 4.28% APY.
- The best CD rates in the country dropped to 4.50% yesterday. You can lock in this rate for a range of terms, from 3 to 18 months with XCEL Federal Credit Union.
- Want to ensure your return for an even longer period of time? The top rates for certificates of 3 years to 5 years range between 4.28% and 4.32%.
- The Fed is currently in a “wait-and see” mode with regards to rate cuts in 2025. In today’s uncertain economic climate, it may be wise to lock in the top 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 as high as 4.50% that you can guarantee until 2026
On Friday, CD shoppers had two 4.60% options on the table—one for a 6-month term and another for 10 months. The longer CD disappeared from the market on the weekend. Yesterday, the 6-month option at 4.60% was no longer available.
Fortunately, the current highest rate is only a slight lower 4.50%. Not only that, you have 11 options for locking in this rate. The shortest offer is three months and can be obtained from two different institutions. The longest 4.50% rate guarantee lasts 18 months. The 18-month CD is available from XCEL Federal Credit Union and will guarantee your 4.50% rate until November 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 | PonceBank Direct and Nuvision Credit Union |
| 6 months | 4.50% | 4.50% | No change | Six institutions |
| 1 year | 4.50% | 4.50% | No change | Vibrant Credit Union Elements Financial |
| 18 Months | 4.50% | 4.50% | No change | XCEL Federal Credit Union |
| 2 years | 4.28% | 4.40% | + 0.12 | PenAir Credit Union |
| 3 Years | 4.32% | 4.32% | No change | Genisys Credit Union |
| 4 years | 4.28% | 4.28% | No change | Lafayette Federal Credit Union |
| 5 Years | 4.28% | 4.28% | No change | Lafayette Federal Credit Union |
All Institutions Insured by the Federal Government Are Equally Safe
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 CDs with a longer term to lock in your rate for the future
PenAir Credit Union offers a rate lock that will last until 2027. They pay 4.40% APY over 21 months. Want a longer term guarantee with a slightly lower rate of return? Genisys Credit Union offers 4.32% over 30 months.
Savings enthusiasts who wish to keep their money in a safe place for a longer period of time may be interested in the top-rated 4-year or 5-year certificate. Lafayette Federal Credit Union still offers a 4.28% 4-year rate, even though it dropped from 4.40% last week. Lafayette Federal Credit Union offers the same 4.28% annual percentage yield (APY) on all certificates, from 7 months to 5 years. This rate is guaranteed until 2030.
Multiyear CDs may be a smart investment right now, considering 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’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. Despite the drop in CD rates, the best CDs continue to offer a high return. In October 2023, the best CD rates surpassed 6%. The leading rate has dropped to 4.50%. 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 four terms
Jumbo CDs require much larger deposits and sometimes pay premium rates—but not always. In fact, in four of eight CD terms that we track, the best jumbo CD rate is the same as or lower than top standard rates.
Both the top standard CDs and the top jumbo CDs offer the same rate, 4.50% APY. Institutions are offering higher rates for jumbo CDs in the following terms.
- 6 months: My eBanc and Credit One Bank offer 4.55% for a 6–7 month jumbo CD vs. 4.50% for the highest standard rate.
- 3 years: Hughes Federal Credit Union offers the 3-year jumbo-CD at 4.34% compared to 4.32%, which is the highest standard rate.
- 4 years: Lafayette Federal Credit Union is offering 4.33% on a 4-year jumbo-CD compared to 4.28% at the highest standard interest rate.
- 5 years: GTE Financial and Lafayette Federal Credit Union both offer 4.33% on jumbo 5-year CDs, compared to 4.28% on the highest standard rate.
When shopping for CDs, it is wise to always compare both types. If the standard CD is your best option, open it with 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 | 4.50% | 4.50% | 4.55%* |
| 1 year | 4.40% | 4.50%* | 4.50%* |
| 18 Months | 4.35% | 4.50%* | 4.50%* |
| 2 years | 4.25% | 4.40%* | 4.33% |
| 3 Years | 4.15% | 4.32% | 4.34%* |
| 4 Years | 4.15% | 4.28% | 4.33%* |
| 5 Years | 4.15% | 4.28% | 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. 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 tariff activity from the Trump administration has the potential to alter the Fed’s course. But with more Fed rate cuts possibly arriving this year, 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 of Best CDs and Savings accounts
These rankings are updated every day so that you can get the best possible rates.
- Best 3-Month Rates
- Best 6-Month CD rates
- Best 1-Year CD rates
- Best CD Rates for 18-Months
- Best 2-Year Rates on CD
- Best 3-Year CD rates
- Best 4-Year 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 a much higher rate than the national average which includes all banks with a CD of that term. This includes many large banks who pay pittances in 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 tracks rates for more than 200 banks nationwide that offer CDs, and calculates daily rankings to determine the best-paying certificates by 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 must be located in at least forty states. Some credit unions may require you to donate to an association or charity to become a part of their organization if you do not meet other criteria (e.g. you do not live in a particular area or have a specific job). We exclude credit unions that require a donation of $40 or more. Read our methodology to learn more about how we select the best rates.
Article Sources Investopedia asks writers to use primary resources to support their writing. White papers, government data and original reporting are some of the sources. 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."
