Key Takeaways
- Mountain America Credit Union continues to lead the nationwide CD market, offering a 5.00% APY that you can lock in for 18 months.
- Nine shorter CDs offer 4.60% to 4.73% on terms of 3 to 13 months.
- The best 2-year rate got a boost yesterday, when Skyla Credit Union unveiled a new 4.50% APY with a 21-month duration.
- Returns of 4.35% or better are available in every CD term, including top APYs of 4.40% in the 3-year term from Credit Human, or 4.35% to 4.40% for 4 or 5 years from Transportation Federal Credit Union.
- The Fed held interest rates steady in January and is expected to do so again this month. But multiple rate cuts could arrive later this year, so it’s a smart time to lock in one of today’s best CD rates 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.
Lock In Rates of 4.50% to 5.00% as Far Down the Road as December 2026
The national CD rate crown still belongs to Mountain America Credit Union, which is offering a 5.00% rate guarantee for 18 months. That could lock in your return until September of next year.
Other top-paying options include a 7-month CD paying 4.73%, available from Genisys Credit Union. Or you could opt for one of four CDs guaranteeing a rate of 4.65% for 5 to 7 months.
In the 1-year term, Abound Credit Union unveiled a 4.60% rate yesterday, for a 10-month term. Or you can secure that same rate for 13 months with Vibrant Credit Union. Both of these will guarantee your rate into 2026.
Stretching further into 2026 is another CD launched yesterday: Skyla Credit Union’s 21-month offer of 4.50%. Opening this CD would secure your rate until December 2026.
All Federally Insured Institutions Are Equally Protected
Your deposits at any FDIC bank or NCUA credit union are federally insured, meaning you’re protected by the U.S. government in the unlikely case that 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 Longer CDs To Secure Your Rate to 2027 or Beyond
Among CDs that will guarantee your return until 2027 or beyond, the top APYs on 3-year certificates reach up to 4.40%. That’s available from Credit Human with a take-your-pick term of 24-35 months.
For anyone who wants an even longer rate lock, the leading 4- to 5-year rates are available from Transportation Federal Credit Union—paying 4.35% for 4 years or 4.40% for 5 years. That would ensure you’re earning well above 4% all the way until 2030.
Mid- to long-term CDs are likely smart right now, given the possibility of Fed rate cuts in 2025 and 2026. The central bank has so far lowered the federal funds rate by a full percentage point, and this year could see one or more additional cuts. While any interest-rate reductions from the Fed will push bank APYs lower, a CD rate you secure now will be yours to enjoy 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 the pullback, the best CDs still offer a stellar return. October 2023 saw the best CD rates push above 6%, while the leading rate is currently down to 5%. Compare that to early 2022, before the Federal Reserve embarked on its fast-and-furious rate-hike campaign. The most you could earn from the very best CDs in the country then ranged from just 0.50% to 1.70% APY, depending on the term.
Jumbo CDs Lose Against Standard CDs in Every Term
Jumbo CDs require much larger deposits and sometimes pay premium rates—but not always. In fact, the best jumbo CD rates right now are worse than the best standard CD rates in every term we track. That means it’s smart to always check both types of offerings when CD shopping, and if your best rate option for your preferred deposit amount is a standard CD, simply open it with a jumbo-sized deposit.
Where Are CD Rates Headed in 2025?
In December, the Federal Reserve announced a third rate cut to the federal funds rate in as many meetings, reducing it a full percentage point since September. But in January, the central bankers announced a rate pause, keeping their benchmark rate where it is until at least their March meeting.
The Fed’s three 2024 rate cuts represent 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.
Inflation was higher than expected in January, and the Fed is now expected to moderate its pace in lowering interest rates. According to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, interest rate futures traders are currently pricing in more than a 90% probability that the Fed will hold interest rates steady at its next meeting.
Fed rate moves are significant to savers, as reductions to the fed funds rate push down the rates banks and credit unions are willing to pay consumers for their deposits. Both CD rates and savings account rates reflect changes to the fed funds rate.
Time will tell what exactly will happen to the federal funds rate in 2025 and 2026—and economic policies suggested by 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. That makes now a smart time to lock in the best rate that suits your financial timeline.
Daily Rankings of the Best CDs and Savings Accounts
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 much different than the national average, which includes all banks offering a CD with that term, including many large banks that pay a pittance in interest. Thus, the national averages are always quite low, while the top rates you can unearth by shopping around are often five, 10, or even 15 times higher.
How We Find the Best CD Rates
Every business day, Investopedia tracks the rate data of more than 200 banks and credit unions that offer CDs to customers nationwide and determines daily rankings of the top-paying certificates in every 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 must be available in at least 40 states. 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.
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