Banking
CD Rates Today: National Averages and Best Offers (2026)
CD rates today track Treasury yields of the same maturity. The 1-year Treasury currently sits at 4.39%, and the best 1-year CD offer we have verified pays 4.25%. Anything meaningfully below the Treasury line is a bank funding itself cheaply at your expense.
| Series | Latest | Prior | Year over year | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-month Treasury (CD 3-month proxy) | 4.11% | 4.11% | +0.05 pts | 2026-09-15 |
| 6-month Treasury (CD 6-month proxy) | 4.17% | 4.18% | +0.36 pts | 2026-09-15 |
| 1-year Treasury (CD 1-year proxy) | 4.39% | 4.37% | +0.75 pts | 2026-09-15 |
Sources: U.S. Treasury via FRED; U.S. Treasury via FRED; U.S. Treasury via FRED.
Where CD pricing is heading
Treasury yields by maturity — the best free leading indicator of CD offers.
Sources: U.S. Treasury via FRED; U.S. Treasury via FRED; U.S. Treasury via FRED. Latest observation 2026-09-15.
Best CD and savings offers we track
Advertised rates from major US banks, with the national savings average for context.
| Bank | Savings APY | 1-year CD | Monthly fee | Minimum | Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.00% | 4.00% | No monthly fee | $0 | Review | |
| 3.40% | 3.90% | No monthly fee | $0 | Review | |
| Not verified — check synchrony.com | Not verified | No monthly fee | $0 | Review | |
| Not verified — check discover.com | Not verified | No monthly fee | $0 | Review | |
| Not verified — check americanexpress.com | Not verified | No monthly fee | $0 | Review | |
| Not verified — check capitalone.com | Not verified | No monthly fee | $0 | Review | |
| Not verified — check chase.com | Not verified | $12.00/mo | $0 | Review | |
| Not verified — check bankofamerica.com | Not verified | $12.00/mo | $0 | Review | |
| 3.65% | 4.25% | — | — | Review | |
| Not verified — check salliemae.com | 4.20% | — | — | Review | |
| National average | 0.38% | 4.39% | Varies | Varies | — |
Bank APYs are verified by hand against each bank’s own rate page and carry their own verification date; a yield older than 30 days is hidden rather than shown. The national average row comes from FDIC and Treasury data and is dated separately.
How to choose a CD term
- Under 12 months. Use for money with a known spend date. If the date can move, a savings account usually nets more after the early-withdrawal penalty.
- 1 to 2 years. The sweet spot when the Fed is expected to cut: you lock today's rate while variable savings drift down.
- 3 to 5 years. Only for cash you are certain you will not touch. Over that horizon, invested money has historically beaten CDs by a wide margin.
- Ladder instead of guessing. Split the balance across five maturities so one rung matures every year and you never bet the whole amount on a single rate call.
Locking cash away for years is a planning decision
A vetted fiduciary advisor can tell you how much should sit in CDs versus invested, and how a ladder fits your tax picture.
Get matched with an advisorEditorial disclosure — Some companies listed here are commercial brands. We select them editorially from public regulatory data and are never paid for placement or ranking. Read our full disclosure.
Methodology
Treasury yields come from the Federal Reserve H.15 release via FRED, refreshed on a schedule. They are used as a benchmark for CD pricing of the same maturity, not as CD offers themselves.
Bank APYs are recorded from each bank's own published rate sheet. CD rates are fixed once opened, but new-account offers change frequently — confirm before applying.
The national savings average is the FDIC published rate for savings deposits under $100,000.
Sources: Federal Reserve H.15 via FRED; FDIC national rates. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CD?
A certificate of deposit is a deposit account that pays a fixed rate for a fixed term — typically 3 months to 5 years. You agree not to touch the money for the term; in exchange the rate is locked, even if market rates fall.
What happens if I withdraw from a CD early?
Most banks charge a penalty of three to twelve months of interest, depending on the term. On short CDs that penalty can exceed the interest you have earned, leaving you with less than you deposited.
What is a CD ladder?
You split your money across CDs of different maturities — for example 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. One matures every year, so you get regular access to cash while most of the balance still earns long-term rates.
Are CD rates going up or down?
CD pricing tracks Treasury yields of the same maturity. The chart on this page shows the 3-month, 6-month and 1-year Treasury trend from the Federal Reserve, which is the best free leading indicator of where CD offers move next.