Top CD rates today: March 1, 2024 — 6 terms earn 5% APY or higher

Key takeaways

• Today's top CD rate remains 5.50% APY with a term of three months.

• Overall, top rates remained steady during the month of February.

• Top rates are more than triple the national averages.

• The most competitive APYs are often available at online-only banks.

Certificates of deposit (CDs) can be a stable way to invest money at a guaranteed rate of return. Unlike variable-rate savings accounts, a CD’s fixed rate enables you to determine how much interest it’ll have earned when its term ends. You won’t lose money on a CD, as long as it’s with a federally insured financial institution and you don’t withdraw the funds early and incur a penalty.

As we enter March, the highest annual percentage yield (APY) on an 18-month CD has dropped slightly from 5.15 percent to 5.13 percent. The overall top-earning CD has a three-month term and earns 5.5 percent APY. In February, the highest rates across terms didn’t change much: By the end of the month, top APYs on nine- and 12-month terms had inched down, while top APYs on three-, four- and five-year terms had nudged up.

Top rates for each term, and the corresponding national averages, are provided in the table below.

Today’s CD rates by term

Keep in mind: CDs typically charge an early withdrawal penalty, so only put money in a CD that you won’t need for the duration of the term.

Featured CD of the day

Connexus Credit Union currently offers a 17-month Special Certificate that earns an APY of 4.96 percent — and accounts with balances over $100,000 earn a higher APY of 5.01 percent. The credit union offers five additional certificate terms ranging from one year to five years. A minimum opening deposit of $5,000 is required. Also offered are checking and savings accounts, as well as a money market account.

CD rates from 2022 to 2024

National average CD yields rose steadily in 2023, as the Federal Reserve continued to hike interest rates at the fastest pace since the 1980s. In all, Fed officials increased rates 11 times between 2022 and 2023, bringing the federal funds rate to its current target range of 5.25-5.5 percent. Along with these rate hikes, average CD APYs rose to the highest they’d been in many years, with APYs on some competitive CDs climbing as high as 7 percent.

This year is expected to be a banner one for CD savers. Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate’s chief financial analyst, predicts two Fed rate cuts in 2024, yet he says CD yields will continue to top inflation. “Savers have another good year in which their returns will shine, with inflation expected to decline further,” he says.

McBride also stresses the importance of shopping around for the highest APY. “Top-yielding offers are still going to deliver a notable advantage [over lower-yielding ones],” he adds.

CD FAQs

• Although Federal Reserve rate cuts are widely expected in 2024, and banks may lower deposit account rates as a result, CD yields are expected to remain strong and outpace inflation. Overall, average yields remain higher than they’ve been in years, while the top APYs on many terms are more than triple the national averages.
  
  Opening a competitive CD now means you won’t be missing out on a high APY should rates start to fall later this year. Because a CD typically earns a fixed rate, you’ll continue to earn the same yield throughout its entire term, even if rates on new CDs start to drop.
  

• Before committing money to a CD, make sure you’re comfortable parting with the funds for the entire term; withdraw the funds early and you’ll likely be hit with an early withdrawal penalty. As such, a CD isn’t a good place for your emergency fund. Other factors to consider include:

  • Annual percentage yield, or APY: Not all banks are equal when it comes to APYs, so it pays to check out what various banks are offering. Online-only banks are known for paying high yields, so they’re a good place to start your search.

  • When you’ll need access to the money: CDs commonly come in terms between three months and five years, although you’ll sometimes be able to find terms as short as one month and as long as 10 years. Make sure you choose a term that corresponds with when you’ll want the money for a planned purchase or other investment.

  • Minimum deposit requirement: Some banks, such as Ally Bank and Synchrony Bank, don’t require any set minimum deposit, while others may require $1,000, $5,000 or even as much as $10,000. When shopping around, find a CD with a minimum deposit that aligns with your saving goals.

  • Federal deposit insurance: Before opening a CD, make sure the bank is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC). Likewise, if it’s a credit union, make sure it’s insured through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). This way, should the financial institution close its doors, your funds will be insured for up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank or credit union, for each account ownership category.

• Your money is protected in a CD when it’s with a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) or a credit union insured through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). When institutions are covered by this federal insurance, CDs and share certificates are each insured for up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank or credit union, for each account ownership category.
  
  CDs typically require that you lock in your money for a set term, and taking out the money before the term ends usually results in an early withdrawal penalty. This penalty causes you to lose some of your interest — and possibly also some of your principal, which is the money you originally deposited in the account.
  

Methodology

Bankrate calculates and reports the national average APYs for various CD terms. Factored into national average rates are the competitive APYs commonly offered by online banks, along with the very low rates often found at large brick-and-mortar banks.

In June 2023, Bankrate updated its methodology that determines the national average CD rates. For the process, more than 500 banks and credit unions are now surveyed each week to generate the national averages. Among these institutions are those that are broadly available and offer high yields, as well as some of the nation’s largest banks.