Stashing Cash in These Tariff Times? Here’s Where You Can Earn the Most

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In Uncertain Times, Cash Is King—But Be Sure You’re Earning a Solid Return

Given the stock market chaos unleashed by the Wednesday announcement of across-the-globe tariffs, holding a solid cash reserve is looking increasingly appealing. But whether you’re holding savings in the bank or are shifting funds from stocks into cash vehicles, it’s important you consider how much you can earn from different strategies.

For an attractive interest rate that involves virtually no risk, the options for safe cash investment come in three main flavors:

1. Bank and credit union products: Savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs)
2. Brokerage and robo-advisor products: Money market funds and cash management accounts
3. U.S. Treasury products: T-bills, notes, and bonds, in addition to I bonds

You can choose just one of these or mix and match products for different buckets of funds or timelines. In any case, you’ll want to understand what each product pays. Below, we lay out today’s top rates in every category and indicate the change from a week ago.

Today’s Best Rates on Cash

This week saw mixed rate movement from different cash instruments. The leading rates for high-yield savings, money market accounts, and all but two CD terms held steady at their previous levels. The best 18-month and 2-year CD returns, however, slipped. The top deposit rate in the nation is now 4.65%, which is available from two different institutions that top our ranking of the best nationwide CDs.

Yields on money market funds at the three major brokerages were generally flat, with Vanguard offering a top rate of 4.23%. Rates on brokerage cash management accounts, meanwhile, held their ground, ranging from 3.83% to 4.00%.

Cash interest rates showed the biggest changes among Treasurys. Although rates on the shortest T-bills saw little to no movement, Treasury lengths of 3 months and up saw rate drops ranging from 5 to 27 basis points. The lowest Treasury rate this week is 3.66%, for a 3-year note, while 20-year Treasury bonds continue to offer the highest return, at 4.44%.

In any case, returns in the 4% range are excellent, and the various options below are likely to be a good fit for almost anyone’s cash savings needs and timeline.

Understanding Your Different Cash Options

Bank and Credit Union Products

Savings Accounts

The most basic place to stash cash is a bank or credit union savings account—sometimes called a high-yield savings account—that lets you add and withdraw money as you please. But don’t assume your primary bank pays a competitive rate. Some banks pay virtually zero interest.

Fortunately, we make shopping for a high rate easy. Our daily ranking of the best high-yield savings accounts gives you 15 options paying 4.35% to 4.60% APY. Note, however, that savings account rates can change at any time.

Money Market Accounts

A money market account is a savings account that adds the ability to write paper checks. If this is a useful feature to you, shop our list of the best money market accounts.

If you don’t need paper check-writing, choose whichever account type—money market or savings—pays the better rate. The top money market account rate is currently 4.40% APY. Again, be aware that money market rates are variable, so they can be lowered without warning.

Certificates of Deposit

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a bank or credit union product with a fixed interest rate that promises a guaranteed return for a set period of time. Generally ranging from 3 months to 5 years, CDs offer a predictable return with a rate that cannot be changed for the duration of the term.

But be aware that it’s a commitment with teeth: If you cash in before maturity, your earnings will be dinged with an early withdrawal penalty. Our daily ranking of the best nationwide CDs currently includes options paying up to 4.65% APY.

Brokerage and Robo-Advisor Products

Money Market Funds

Unlike a money market account at a bank, money market funds are mutual funds invested in cash and offered by brokerage and robo-advisor firms. Their yields can fluctuate daily but currently range from 3.98% to 4.23% at the three biggest brokerages.

Cash Management Accounts

For uninvested cash held at a brokerage or robo-advisor, you can have the funds “swept” into a cash management account where it will earn a return. Unlike money market funds, cash management accounts offer a specific interest rate that the brokerage or robo-advisor can adjust whenever it likes. Currently, several popular brokers are paying 3.83% to 4.00% APY on their cash accounts.

U.S. Treasury Products

Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds

The U.S. Treasury offers a wide array of short—and long-term bond instruments. Treasury bills have the shortest duration, ranging from 4 to 52 weeks, while Treasury notes have a maturity of 2 to 5 years. The longest-term option is a Treasury bond, which has a 20- to 30-year maturity. Today’s rates on the various Treasury products range from 3.66% to 4.44%.

You can buy T-bills, notes, and bonds directly from TreasuryDirect or buy and sell them on the secondary market at brokerages and banks. Selling a Treasury product allows you to exit before the bond matures. However, you may pay a fee or commission for secondary market purchases and sales, while buying and redeeming at TreasuryDirect—the U.S. Treasury’s online platform for buying federal government securities—has no fees.

You can also buy Treasury ETFs, which trade on the market like a stock. Treasury ETFs have advantages and limitations, which you can read about here.

I Bonds

U.S. Treasury I bonds have a rate that’s adjusted every six months to align with inflation trends. You can redeem an I bond anytime after one year or hold it for as long as 30 years. Every six months you own the bond, your rate will change.

How We Find the Best Savings and CD Rates

Every business day, Investopedia tracks the rate data of more than 200 banks and credit unions that offer CDs and savings accounts to customers nationwide and determines daily rankings of the top-paying accounts. To qualify for our lists, the institution must be federally insured (FDIC for banks, NCUA for credit unions), and the account’s minimum initial deposit must not exceed $25,000. It also cannot specify a maximum deposit amount that’s below $5,000.

Banks must be available in at least 40 states to qualify as nationally available. And while some credit unions require you to donate to a specific charity or association to become a member if you don’t meet other eligibility criteria (e.g., you don’t live in a certain area or work in a certain kind of job), we exclude credit unions whose donation requirement is $40 or more. For more about how we choose the best rates, read our full methodology.