Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Key Takeaways
- Today’s highest CD rate is 5.50% for a 6-month CD.
- CD rates from online banks are commonly twice as high as the national average rates.
- CD ladders let you leverage high rates without locking up all of your money long-term.
Today’s best interest rates on CDs—certificates of deposit—range as high as 5.50%, depending on the CD’s term. That’s far higher than CD rates were a few years ago. Here’s an overview of today’s best CD rates.
Related: Compare the Best CD Rates
Highest CD Rates Today
CD Rates Today
| Term | Highest APY | Average APY |
|---|---|---|
3 Months | 5.39% | 1.28% |
6 Months | 5.50% | 1.76% |
1-Year CD (12 M) | 5.37% | 1.92% |
2-Year CD (24 M) | 5.12% | 1.69% |
3-Year CD (36 M) | 5.00% | 1.60% |
5-Year CD (60 M) | 4.60% | 1.60% |
Jumbo CD | 5.68% | 1.69% |
Source: Curinos. Rates are based on a $25,000 minimum deposit. Data accurate as of April 5, 2024.
A CD is a savings account with a fixed interest rate and a maturity period, which is what makes them time deposit accounts. When you open a CD, you agree to lock up your deposit without touching it until the CD’s term is up, whether that’s in six months or five years. Your patience is rewarded with interest that’s usually better than what you’d earn from a regular savings account.
Withdraw money from a CD before “maturity”—when it reaches the end of its term—and you can be slapped with stiff penalties. For example, you can lose up to six months’ worth of interest if you make an early withdrawal from a one-year CD.
The longer the term, the harsher the early withdrawal penalty. It’s not unusual to lose one full year’s worth of interest or more if you break open a five-year CD too soon. Be absolutely certain you understand the penalty before you make your investment.
Today’s 3-Month CD Rates
For short-term savings goals, three-month CDs might make sense. The current average rate on a three-month CD sits at 1.28%, but the highest rate is 5.39%. Last week, three-month CDs were earning 1.28% on average.
Today’s 6-Month CD Rates
If you’d prefer a CD with a shorter term than one year, today’s best rate on a six-month CD is 5.50%. That compares with 5.50% a week ago. The current average APY for a six-month CD is 1.76%, compared to 1.75% last week at this time.
APY provides a more accurate depiction of the yearly interest you’ll earn with a CD because it factors in compound interest. That’s the interest you earn not only on your deposit (or principal) but also on the interest in the account.
Today’s 1-Year CD Rates
The highest interest rate currently being offered on a one-year CD—one of the most popular CD terms—is 5.37%. If you land a one-year CD with a rate in that neighborhood, you’ve found a good deal. One week ago, the best rate was the same.
The average APY, or annual percentage yield, on a one-year CD is now 1.92%, up from 1.91% a week ago.
Today’s 2-Year CD Rates
If you can hold out for two years, 24-month CDs today are being offered at interest rates as high as 5.12%. The top rate last week at this time was a similar 5.12%. Two-year CDs now have an average APY of 1.69%, an increase from 1.68% last week.
Today’s 3-Year CD Rates
CDs with longer terms tend to have some of the most attractive interest rates and APYs—if you’re willing to keep your money locked up for years.
Today’s highest rate on a three-year CD is 5.00%, so you’ll want to shop around for that rate or something near it. Last week at this time, the best rate on a three-year CD was also 5.00%.
Today’s 5-Year CD Rates
On a five-year CD, the highest rate today is 4.60%, the same as one week ago. APYs are averaging 1.60%, up from 1.59% at this time last week.
The longer the term, the harsher the early withdrawal penalty. It’s not unusual to lose one full year’s worth of interest or more if you break open a five-year CD too soon. Be absolutely certain you understand the penalty before you make your investment.
Today’s Jumbo CD Rates
The best rate on today’s jumbo CDs is 5.68% for a 6-month term. The average APY for this category of CD is currently 1.69%, compared to 1.66% last week.
Most jumbo CDs require a minimum deposit of $100,000—and some even require $250,000. However, there’s no universally agreed-upon definition regarding what qualifies as a “jumbo” CD. Some banks and credit unions slap the label “jumbo” on CDs you can open with $50,000, $25,000 or even less.
Other Top CD Rates By Term
- Best 4-Year CD Rates
- Best 10-Year CD Rates
- Best 18-Month CD Rates
- Best Jumbo CD Rates
- Best IRA CD Rates
- Best No-Penalty CD Rates
Related: CD Interest Rates Forecast: How Good Will They Get?
How CDs Work
CDs may seem a little exotic as bank accounts go, but how they work is actually pretty simple. You open the account with an amount of money, leave your deposit alone for a period of months or years, and let the compound interest work its magic.
Many CDs and their cousins, the share certificates offered by credit unions, require you to deposit hundreds, thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars to open your account. Other financial institutions have no minimum deposit requirement, meaning you could open the account with as little as a penny.
But banks and credit unions typically won’t allow you to add to your deposit once the term begins and the clock starts ticking. And they’re serious about not letting you crack open your CD or share certificate too soon. The early withdrawal penalties can be so tough they’ll eat into your principal, not just take back some of your interest.
Best CD Rates Offered by Banks in April 2024
When looking for the best CD rates, try shopping around with both banks and credit unions. If you don’t have a strong preference for one or the other, you’ll probably find yourself leaning toward the highest rates. Credit unions are often more competitive than banks when it comes to CDs, but it’s important to always check for yourself, as this won’t always be the case.
To give you just one example, PenFed Credit Union’s CD Rates currently range from 3.00% to 4.20% while U.S. Bank CD Rates currently range from 0.05% to 0.25%.
Other top CD rates by banks include:
- PNC Bank CD Rates
- Citibank CD Rates
- Wells Fargo CD Rates
- Truist CD rates
- Ally Bank CD Rates
- Capital One 360 CD rates
Methodology
Curinos determines the average rates for certificates of deposit (CDs) by focusing on specific CDs and excluding others. Certain types, such as promotional offers, relationship-based rates, private, youth, senior, student/minor, affinity, bump-up, no-penalty, callable, variable, step-up, auto transfer, club, gifts, grandfathered, internet-only and IRA CDs are not considered in the calculation.
