Wealthy PotBest CD Rates
A side-by-side look at the best high-yield CD (certificate of deposit) rates in 2026. A CD locks a fixed APY for a fixed term in exchange for an early-withdrawal penalty. Sort by the term you care about, 6-month, 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year, and always confirm the live rate before you open.
Last updated: September 2026
A CD pays a guaranteed, fixed rate for a set term and is FDIC-insured, making it a low-risk home for money you won't need until the term ends. The trade-off is liquidity: withdraw early and you usually forfeit some interest (unless it's a no-penalty CD). The table below compares 10 banks across four common terms. CD APYs reprice with the Fed and by promotion — the figures here are dated and re-checked regularly, but confirm the current rate on the bank’s official page. Nothing here is financial advice.
Compare CD rates by term
| Bank | 6-mo | 1-yr | 3-yr | 5-yr | Min | No-penalty CD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BarclaysTop rate | 4.00% | 4.25% | 2.50% | 4.25% | $0 | No |
| Marcus by Goldman SachsTop rateNo-penalty | 3.95% | 3.90% | 4.35% | 4.35% | $500 | Yes |
| Synchrony BankTop rateNo-penalty | 4.10% | 4.10% | 4.30% | 4.35% | $0 | Yes |
| CIT BankNo-penalty | 3.75% | 4.00% | — | — | $1,000 | Yes |
| Capital One | 3.30% | 4.00% | 3.50% | 3.60% | $0 | No |
| Ally BankNo-penalty | 3.50% | 4.00% | 3.60% | 4.00% | $0 | Yes |
| Bread SavingsTop rate | 4.00% | 4.15% | 4.25% | 4.25% | $1,500 | No |
| Sallie Mae BankTop rate | 3.20% | 4.20% | 4.40% | 4.40% | $2,500 | No |
| American Express | — | 3.50% | 2.25% | 3.00% | $0 | No |
| BMO Alto | 2.50% | 2.50% | 2.80% | 3.00% | $0 | No |
No banks match those filters.
How to choose a CD
- Match the term to your goal. Only lock money you won't need until the term ends. Sort the table by your term, short-term (6-month, 1-year) rates are often highest right now.
- Might need the money early? Choose a no-penalty CD (Marcus, Synchrony, Ally, and CIT offer 11-month versions) so you can withdraw without forfeiting interest.
- Check the early-withdrawal penalty. It varies a lot, from ~60 days of interest (Ally) to 365 days on longer terms (Bread). A lower penalty means more flexibility.
- Don't ignore the minimum. Some banks (Barclays, Ally, Capital One) have no minimum; others need $500–$2,500.
- Consider a CD ladder to balance rate and access, splitting money across several terms so one CD matures each year.
Want a liquid rate instead of a locked term? See our best high-yield savings accounts. Building an emergency fund? A no-penalty CD can be one piece, see where to store your emergency fund.
CD terms explained
The APY is the yearly rate you earn. The term is how long your money is locked (e.g., 12 months). The early-withdrawal penalty is the interest you forfeit if you break the CD early. A no-penalty CD waives that penalty (usually for a slightly lower rate). At maturity you can withdraw or let it roll into a new CD, watch the renewal terms so you don't get auto-renewed at a lower rate.
How we compare
We track each bank's APY at 6-month, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year terms, the minimum deposit, the early-withdrawal penalty, whether a no-penalty CD is offered, and FDIC status. CD APYs reprice often; figures are dated and re-checked regularly against each bank's official page. Some banks run limited-time promotional CDs at higher rates than shown. Some links may be affiliate links; that never changes which banks we include or how we rank them. Nothing here is financial advice.