Top CDs Today, 19 March 2025 – APY dips to best 3-month rate lock

Key Takeaways

• The top 3-month CD guarantee fell today. The best rate lock for this term is currently 4.50% and available from three institutions.
• Mountain America Credit Union is still offering the nation’s leading 5.00% CD. This CD guarantees this APY for a period of 18 months.
• Nine offers offer 4.60% or more for terms ranging between 6 and 18 months.
• Skyla Credit Union’s top 2-year rate is 4.50% while Credit Human offers a 3-year rate of 4.40%.
• Want a longer lock-in rate? 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 today, 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 of 4.50% – 5.00% that you can guarantee as long as September 2026

Mountain America Credit Union offers a 18-month certificate that guarantees a 5.00% annual percentage yield. Open this CD now to lock in your rate for almost fall 2026.

The second-best rate is 4,65% APY. This rate is offered by four competing offers, which extend their rate guarantee into later 2025. 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 also offers the same APY, but for 13 months. Both of these options will guarantee your rate until 2026.

Skyla Credit Union has extended its 21-month offer at 4.50% to next year, which will secure your return until nearly Christmas 2026.

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 multiyear CDs to Lock in Your Rates Further into the Future

Credit Human offers a variety of CDs that guarantee a return until at least the year 2027. You can lock-in a guaranteed 4.45% rate for any term you choose between 18-23 months. (You’ll need a period of at least 22 to extend into the calendar year 2027.) Or, you can opt for an 4.40% rate on any term that you choose between 24 to 35 months.

Anyone looking for a longer rate lock received some good news in the first week of this month. The leading 4-year CD rate was raised from 4.35% up to 4.40%. 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.

Given the possibility of Fed rate reductions in 2025 and 2020, it is probably a good idea to invest in long-term CDs. The central banks has lowered its federal funds rate to date by a full percentage, and there is a possibility that it will 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. The best CDs are still offering a great return, despite the decline. In October 2023, the best CD rates surpassed 6%. The leading rate is now at 5%. Compare this to early 2022 before the Federal Reserve began its rapid rate-hike campaign. The best CDs offered a range of 0.50% – 1.70% APY depending on the term.

Jumbo CDs are losing to regular CDs on every level

Jumbo CDs require much larger deposits and sometimes pay premium rates—but not always. In fact, we’ve found that the best jumbo CD rate is worse than the standard CD rate for every term. It’s a good idea to compare both types of CDs when shopping for one. If the standard CD offers a better rate, you can open it using a jumbo deposit.

What is the future of CD rates?

In December, Federal Reserve announced the third rate reduction to the federal fund rate in as few meetings. This is a full percentile point decrease since September. In both January and march, central bankers refused to lower the benchmark interest rate further.

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 for 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 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. It’s a great time to lock-in the best rate for your financial goals.

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 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 CDs

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 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 are usually quite low while the best rates are often five, ten, or even fifteen times higher.

How we 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 certain type of job), we exclude those credit unions that require a minimum donation of $40. To learn more about our methodology, please read the full article.

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."