The 25 best CDs to invest in before 2024 (2024)

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MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money
The 25 best CDs to invest in before 2024 (2)

There's no shortage of high-rate interest-bearing accounts right now. After all, interest rates have skyrocketed over the last couple of years thanks to the Federal Reserve's recent rate hikes, which were done in a bid to temper inflation. And while those higher rates are detrimental to anyone who's borrowing money, they present a great opportunity for savers to earn big interest returns on their funds.

For example, many certificates of deposit (CDs) are offering rates well above 4.5% currently, which is significantly higher than the rates that were offered on CDs just a few years ago. And, if you do your homework, it may be possible to find even higher interest rates than that. Some CDs even offer rates as high as 7% right now.

But if you want to rake in these types of returns on your savings, it would be wise to lock in a rate on a CD before the new year rolls around. There are still lots of unknowns with the economy, and by putting your money into one of the CDs outlined below, you'll earn at the same top rate throughout the entire term.

Explore the top CD rates you could qualify for here.

The 25 best CDs to invest in before 2024

If you're looking for the best place to put your savings before the new year, it may be worth considering these CDs:

3-month CDs

  • Dow Credit Union — 5.65% APY: $500 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is three months of interest
  • TotalDirectBank — 5.66% APY: $25,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is one month of interest
  • Boeing Employees Credit Union — 5.60% APY: $500 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is one month of interest
  • BECU – 5.60% APY: $500 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is one month of interest
  • Signature Federal Credit Union — 5.55% APY: $500 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is one month of interest

Find out how today's high CD rates could benefit you here.

6-month CDs

  • West Town Bank & Trust – 5.88% APY: $10,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is three months of interest
  • TotalDirectBank — 5.76% APY: $25,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is one month of interest
  • BluPeak Credit Union — 5.75% APY: $250 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is three months of interest
  • Interior Federal Credit Union — 5.75% APY: $25,000 minimum opening deposit requirement via ACH; early withdrawal fee is one month of interest
  • INOVA Federal Credit Union — 5.75% APY: $200 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is three months of interest

1-year CDs

  • Limelight — 5.75% APY: $1,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is 90 days of interest
  • Popular Direct — 5.67% APY: $10,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is 270 days of simple interest
  • CIBC Bank USA — 5.66% APY: $1,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is 30 days of interest
  • Synchrony — 5.65% APY: This is a 14-month CD; $0 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is 90 days of simple interest at the current rate
  • Bask Bank — 5.60% APY: $1,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; penalty may be assessed for early withdrawal

3-year CDs

  • Workers Credit Union — 5.50% APY: $500 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is 50% of the interest that would have been earned
  • Luana Savings Bank — 5.32% APY: $2,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is six months of interest
  • SouthEast Bank — 5.25% APY: $1,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; penalty is charged for early withdrawal
  • U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union — 5.23% APY: $1,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is 120 days of interest
  • The Federal Savings Bank — 5.17% APY: $5,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is 365 days of interest

5-year CDs

  • BMO Alto — 5.25% APY: $1,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is 180 days of interest
  • Workers Credit Union — 5.25% APY: $500 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is 50% of the interest that would have been earned
  • The Federal Savings Bank — 5.12% APY: $5,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is 365 days of interest
  • Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union — 5.00% APY: $500 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is a minimum of six months of interest
  • First Harvest Credit Union — 4.89% APY: $1,000 minimum opening deposit requirement; early withdrawal fee is six months of interest

The bottom line

Thanks to today's high-rate environment, there are lots of good CD options to choose from. But if you want to reap the benefits of putting your money into a CD with a top rate, you may want to make that move before the new year. By locking in a rate on a CD today, you'll continue to earn the same rate throughout the life of your CD, no matter what happens with the overall rate environment.

Angelica Leicht

Angelica Leicht is senior editor for CBS' Moneywatch: Managing Your Money, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications.

The 25 best CDs to invest in before 2024 (2024)

FAQs

How high will CD rates go in 2024? ›

Key takeaways. The national average rate for one-year CD rates will be at 1.15 percent APY by the end of 2024, McBride forecasts, while predicting top-yielding one-year CDs to pay a significantly higher rate of 4.25 percent APY at that time.

Why should you open a CD before 2024? ›

Interest rates are likely going to change in 2024, with many predicting a rate reduction of 75 basis points. CD rates are still high, but they could drop significantly by the end of the coming year. If you have some savings to spare, now might be the best time to lock in to a high CD rate.

Who has the highest paying CD right now? ›

Best 1-Year CD Rates
  • First Internet Bank – 5.26% APY.
  • Abound Credit Union – 5.25% APY.
  • Mountain America Credit Union – 5.25% APY.
  • KS State Bank – 5.25% APY.
  • Forbright Bank – 5.25% APY.
  • Seattle Bank – 5.25% APY.
  • Bread Savings – 5.25% APY.
  • Utah First Credit Union – 5.25% APY.

How high will CD rates go in 2025? ›

"Shorter CD rates won't collapse and will still offer far higher yields than the ones we experienced in 2021 and prior years," Krumpelman says. "Even in 2025, we expect short CDs to pay more than 3%."

Can you get 6% on a CD? ›

You can find 6% CD rates at a few financial institutions, but chances are those rates are only available on CDs with maturities of 12 months or less. Financial institutions offer high rates to compete for business, but they don't want to pay customers ultra-high rates over many years.

Are CD rates expected to go down in 2024? ›

"CD rates will most likely drop and drop substantially in 2024," says Robert Johnson, professor of finance at Heider College of Business at Creighton University. "The biggest reason is the likelihood of Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year."

Is it smart to put money in a CD now? ›

With savings accounts offering record-high returns today over 5%, now's the time to take advantage before those rates go down. And with a CD specifically, savers can lock in today's high rate despite any future cuts from the Fed.

Is it worth putting money in a CD right now? ›

If you don't need access to your money right away, a CD might be a good savings tool for you in 2024 while average interest rates remain high. CD interest rates are high in 2024 — higher nationally, on average, than they've been in more than a decade, according to Forbes Advisor.

Is it a good time to buy CDs right now? ›

If you're in a position to save in today's higher interest rate environment, investments like CDs could help accelerate your savings. CD rates have skyrocketed since 2022: 1-year CD rates have increased more than twelve-fold, with 3-year and 5-year CDs up nearly six-fold and five-fold, respectively.

Where can I get 7% interest on my money? ›

7% Interest Savings Accounts: What You Need To Know
  • As of May 2024, no banks are offering 7% interest rates on savings accounts.
  • Two credit unions have high-interest checking accounts: Landmark Credit Union Premium Checking with 7.50% APY and OnPath Credit Union High Yield Checking with 7.00% APY.

What bank is paying 5% on CDs? ›

Highest current CD rates (overall)
Institution nameAPYTerm length
Morgan Stanley5.05%2 years
Raymond James Bank5.05%2 years
LendingClub Bank5.00%18 months
My eBanc5.00%18 months
31 more rows

Is a 12 month CD worth it? ›

Pros. Offers higher interest rates than some other CD terms. A one-year CD typically offers a higher interest rate than shorter-term CDs, such as three-month CDs and six-month CDs. Offers higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts.

How to avoid tax on CD interest? ›

How to avoid taxes on CD interest. One way to postpone being taxed on CDs is to put them in a tax-deferred individual retirement account (IRA) or 401(k). As long as money placed in a traditional IRA is below the annual contribution limit, interest you earn may be tax deductible.

What is considered a good 6 month CD rate right now? ›

Compare the Best 6-Month CDs
InstitutionRate (APY)Early Withdrawal Penalty
DR Bank5.50%6 months of interest
Vibrant Credit Union5.50%All earned interest
NASA Federal Credit Union5.50%All earned interest up to 6 months
MutualOne Bank5.40%3 months of interest
13 more rows

What is the best CD rate at Chase bank? ›

Chase's best certificate of deposit (CD) rates are for featured CDs with relationship rates, which have an annual percentage yield (APY) ranging from 3.00% to 4.75% APY. You can earn higher relationship rates with a linked Chase checking account, otherwise you'll get the same low 0.01% APY for every CD term.

What is the interest rate forecast for 2024 2025? ›

In its April Mortgage Finance Forecast, the Mortgage Bankers Association predicts that mortgage rates will fall from 6.8% in the first quarter of 2024 to 6.4% by the fourth quarter. The industry group expects rates will fall below the 6% threshold in the fourth quarter of 2025.

What is the interest rate forecast for 2024? ›

Thirty-year mortgage rates nudged up to more than 7% in April 2024, as the Fed has held rates higher for longer. That's still down from recent peak levels of almost 8% last October. But mortgage rates have been on a generally increasing trend since early 2022 and for most of 2024.

Should I lock in a CD now or wait? ›

Why it's probably time to buy a CD. Rates will remain high for a bit longer, but it's unclear how long. The Fed has indicated that a rate cut may still be coming in 2024, which means it's unlikely that CD rates will continue to climb. Waiting to open a CD could mean missing out on some stellar rates.

How much will interest rates drop in 2024? ›

The general consensus among industry professionals is that mortgage rates will slowly decline in the last quarter of 2024. The projected declines have shrunk, though, in recent months. At the start of the year, for instance, Fannie Mae predicted rates would drop to 5.8%.

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