🏦 Editor’s Picks · CD Rates by What You Need
Best CD Rates of 2026
Marcus by Goldman Sachs for a trusted all-around pick. E*TRADE / Morgan Stanley for the highest 1-year rate. Bread Savings for short-term cash. We organized the best CD rates of 2026 by what actually matters to you — rate, flexibility, or term length — so you can pick the fit first, then the bank.
⚠️ Important Disclosures — Please Read Before Applying
Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. Norton Media Enterprise may earn a commission if you apply through these links, at no additional cost to you. Our rankings are based on independent research, FDIC/NCUA data, and editorial testing — never commission rates.
Non-Bank Status: Norton Media Enterprise is an independent research and review site. We are not a bank, credit union, lender, or financial institution. We do not hold deposits, make banking decisions, or guarantee account approval for any products listed.
Approval Responsibility: All account decisions are made solely by the issuing financial institution based on its own underwriting criteria.
FDIC / NCUA Insurance: Bank CDs are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category; credit union certificates are NCUA-insured to the same limit. Brokered CDs carry FDIC insurance at the issuing bank — verify coverage directly with your broker.
APY & Rate Variability: CD rates, minimums, and early withdrawal terms reflect the environment as of publication but change frequently and without notice — CD rates in particular can move week to week. Always verify current APYs, terms, and early withdrawal penalties directly with the issuing bank or credit union before opening an account.
Information Only Disclaimer: Content on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered professional financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. We are not licensed financial advisors. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
Methodology: Read our full methodology for how we research and rank financial products.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield CD
Good to Know: Backed by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, with a 9-month CD at 4.00% APY and 12-month at 3.90% APY per Marcus’s published rate sheet, a low $500 minimum, and a 10-Day CD Rate Guarantee (deposit within 10 days of opening and get the highest published rate for your term).
Heads Up: The 12-month rate trails some competitors by about 0.20 points; no physical branches, and standard CDs carry an early withdrawal penalty.
Bread Savings 6-Month CD
Good to Know: The 6-month CD pays 4.00% APY per Bread’s published rate sheet — among the highest short-term rates available nationally, from FDIC-insured Comenity Capital Bank, with daily compounding.
Heads Up: $1,500 minimum opening deposit is higher than Marcus’s $500; no no-penalty or bump-up CD variants offered.
E*TRADE / Morgan Stanley Private Bank 1-Year CD
Good to Know: The 12-month CD at 4.10% APY is among the highest 1-year rates from a major-brand bank, issued by FDIC-insured Morgan Stanley Private Bank with $0 minimum deposit and a 10-day rate-lock guarantee.
Heads Up: Early withdrawal penalty can run up to 15 months of interest on longer terms; long-term (3–5 year) rates trail competitors.
Discover Bank CD
Good to Know: CDs from 3 months to 10 years with competitive rates across the curve and no monthly fees, from FDIC-insured Discover Bank — now part of Capital One Financial following its 2025 acquisition.
Heads Up: $2,500 minimum opening deposit is higher than Marcus’s $500.
Synchrony Bank CD
Good to Know: CDs from 3 months to 5 years with no minimum opening deposit, from a long-tenured FDIC-insured online bank with a 15-day rate-guarantee window.
Heads Up: Confirm current rates directly with Synchrony, as they vary by term and change frequently.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs No-Penalty CD
Good to Know: Full withdrawal allowed 7 days after funding with no interest forfeited — the closest thing to free liquidity with a CD-style fixed rate. Three terms (7/11/13-month) at 3.90–3.95% APY, same $500 minimum as Marcus’s standard CDs.
Heads Up: Must withdraw the full balance (no partial withdrawals); rate runs slightly below standard CDs of similar term.
Ally Bank High Yield CD
Good to Know: A full curve of FDIC-insured CDs with $0 minimum, including the Raise Your Rate CD (2-year and 4-year terms with one or two rate-bump opportunities if rates rise).
Heads Up: Confirm current rates and bump-up eligibility windows directly with Ally.
Climate First Bank No-Penalty CD
Good to Know: A 6-month no-penalty CD at 4.07% APY — among the highest no-penalty CD rates available — from an FDIC-insured, mission-driven Florida community bank available online nationwide. $500 minimum.
Heads Up: A smaller community bank — confirm current rate and terms directly before opening.
Capital One 360 CD
Good to Know: 3.20–4.10% APY across terms from 6 months to 5 years, no monthly fee, no minimum opening deposit, from a top-10 U.S. bank.
Heads Up: Early withdrawal penalty is 3 months of interest for CDs 12 months or shorter, 6 months for longer terms; no partial withdrawals or additional funding after opening.
First National Bank of America CD
Good to Know: Rates run 3.60–4.20% APY across terms from 3 months to 10 years — an unusually long horizon versus most online banks’ 5-year cap — from a nationally chartered FDIC-insured bank.
Heads Up: $1,000 minimum opening deposit; rates may vary by region — verify the national rate directly on FNBA’s site before applying.
Schwab CD OneSource
Good to Know: The largest brokered-CD platform, aggregating FDIC-insured CDs from hundreds of issuing banks into one Schwab brokerage account, with secondary-market liquidity — you can sell before maturity instead of paying an early withdrawal penalty.
Heads Up: Requires a linked Schwab brokerage account; interest doesn’t compound (it’s paid to the brokerage account), and secondary-market trades carry a $1-per-$1,000 fee.
Alliant Credit Union Certificate
Good to Know: Competitive share certificates from 3 months to 5 years, NCUA-insured, with membership open nationwide via a $5 one-time donation to Foster Care for Success — one of the easiest credit union eligibility paths available.
Heads Up: No no-penalty or bump-up certificate variants; no physical branches.
Sallie Mae Bank CD
Good to Know: 11 different CD terms from 6 months to 5 years with rates up to 4.00% APY per the bank’s published rate sheet — unmatched term variety for buyers who want a specific length.
Heads Up: $2,500 minimum opening deposit is higher than most peers.
Not Sure Where to Start?
If you only read one section, make it this: Marcus by Goldman Sachs is the default pick for most households — a low $500 minimum, competitive rates across terms, brand trust, and a 10-Day Rate Guarantee. If you want the highest 1-year rate specifically, E*TRADE / Morgan Stanley Private Bank pays more with no minimum at all. If you might need the cash before maturity, put it in a no-penalty CD instead.
See Marcus’s High-Yield CDs →More CDs worth knowing about, grouped by institution type — we list these for full market coverage. Verify current APY, minimums, and early withdrawal terms directly with each bank or credit union before opening.
Chase CD
Good to Know: JPMorgan Chase’s CD rates are typically well below market per Chase’s published rates.
Heads Up: A strong choice only if you have an existing Chase Premier Plus or Private Client relationship that unlocks bonus rates — otherwise rates trail online competitors meaningfully.
Bank of America CD
Good to Know: BofA’s Featured CD rates can be competitive at select promotional terms, backed by the 2nd-largest U.S. bank.
Heads Up: Standard fixed-term CDs typically trail online competitors meaningfully — confirm which rate tier applies before opening.
Wells Fargo CD
Good to Know: Wells Fargo’s Special CD rates can reach competitive levels on promotional terms, with the largest branch network of the big banks.
Heads Up: Standard (non-promotional) rates are well below market — branch access is the main reason to choose Wells Fargo over an online bank.
Vanguard Brokered CDs
Good to Know: A brokered-CD inventory similar to Schwab’s, with a $1,000 minimum and access across many issuing banks in one account.
Heads Up: Confirm current rate inventory and secondary-market terms directly with Vanguard.
Fidelity CDs
Good to Know: Both brokered CDs and new-issue CDs at competitive rates, including fractional CDs with a $100 minimum — a strong choice for existing Fidelity brokerage customers.
Heads Up: Confirm current rate inventory directly with Fidelity, as brokered CD availability changes daily.
TAB Bank CD
Good to Know: An online-only bank with a competitive 1-year rate per the bank’s published rate sheet. $1,000 minimum.
Heads Up: Confirm the current rate directly with TAB Bank before opening.
Newtek Bank CD
Good to Know: An online bank offering a competitive 1-year CD rate. $2,500 minimum, FDIC-insured.
Heads Up: Confirm the current rate directly with Newtek Bank before opening.
Bask Bank CD
Good to Know: An online subsidiary of Texas Capital Bank with a competitive top-tier rate per the bank’s published rate sheet. $1,000 minimum, FDIC-insured.
Heads Up: Confirm the current top-tier rate directly with Bask Bank before opening.
CIBC Bank USA CD
Good to Know: CIBC Agility CDs offer competitive rates at competitive terms with a $1,000 minimum, FDIC-insured, backed by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
Heads Up: Confirm the current rate directly with CIBC before opening.
Popular Direct CD
Good to Know: The online deposit arm of Popular Inc., with competitive rates across 3-month to 5-year terms per the bank’s published rate sheet.
Heads Up: $10,000 minimum is geared toward serious savers — higher than most peers on this page.
LendingClub Bank CD
Good to Know: Competitive rates across multiple terms per the bank’s published rate sheet. $500 minimum, FDIC-insured.
Heads Up: Confirm current rates directly with LendingClub before opening.
Service Credit Union
Good to Know: NCUA-insured with competitive share certificate rates. Membership via a $5 deposit to a Primary Savings Account, with nationwide eligibility through the American Consumer Council. $500 minimum.
Heads Up: Confirm current certificate rates directly with Service Credit Union.
Connexus Credit Union
Good to Know: NCUA-insured with competitive long-term certificate rates, including a Bump-Up Certificate option that lets you raise your rate once per term. Broad-eligibility membership.
Heads Up: $5,000 minimum — higher than most credit union peers.
Navy Federal Credit Union
Good to Know: NCUA-insured with competitive rates and a slight bonus for $100,000+ deposits.
Heads Up: Membership is restricted to military, veterans, DoD employees, and their families.
Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed)
Good to Know: NCUA-insured with broad-eligibility membership and competitive Money Market Certificate rates across 6-month to 7-year terms. $1,000 minimum.
Heads Up: Confirm current certificate rates directly with PenFed.
6 Pro Tips for Choosing a CD in 2026
🪜 Build a CD Ladder, Not a Single Position
Split your CD cash across 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year, and 5-year CDs. One CD matures each year, giving you regular access plus the option to roll into new CDs at then-current rates. Hedges against being wrong about where rates head.
📅 Use the 10-Day Rate Guarantee
Marcus, E*TRADE, and Capital One all offer 10-day rate-lock guarantees: fund your CD within 10 days of opening and you get the higher of the application-date rate or settlement-date rate. Free upside if rates rise during your funding window.
🔓 Mix In a No-Penalty CD
Allocate 10–20% of your CD cash to a no-penalty CD (Marcus, Climate First, Ally). You get CD-level rates but can withdraw without losing interest if rates rise sharply or if you need the cash unexpectedly. Real liquidity insurance.
🔄 Don’t Auto-Renew Without Checking
Most CDs auto-renew at maturity into the same term at then-current rates — which may be lower than what you originally locked. Use the 10-day grace period after maturity to evaluate your options. Withdraw or change terms during this window without penalty.
🏦 Stay Under FDIC / NCUA Limits
Standard insurance is $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category. For households exceeding the limit, split deposits across multiple banks or use SoFi’s Insured Deposit Program ($3M) or Axos’s ($2.5M). Brokered CDs via Schwab give automatic multi-bank diversification.
📊 Tax-Advantage Long-Term CDs in IRAs
CD interest is taxed as ordinary income each year. For long-term CDs (3+ years), opening as an IRA CD (offered by Marcus, FNBA, Alliant) defers taxes until withdrawal. Especially valuable for buyers in higher tax brackets locking in 4%+ rates.
What is the best CD rate available in 2026?
Are CD rates going to keep falling in 2026?
How is a CD different from a high-yield savings account?
Are CDs safe?
What’s the difference between a brokered CD and a direct-from-bank CD?
What is a CD ladder and should I build one?
What happens when my CD matures?
How does NME choose its CD rankings?
Ready to Lock In the Best CD Rate for You?
Marcus for a trusted all-around pick, E*TRADE for the highest 1-year rate, Bread Savings for short-term cash, Schwab or Alliant for brokered and credit union flexibility. Every account above is FDIC- or NCUA-insured — verify current rates and terms directly with the bank before opening:
Shop Rate Leaders → Shop Flexible & No-Penalty CDs → Shop Long-Term & Specialty CDs →
