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Key Takeaways
- The Fed is expected to lower interest rates sometime this year, with more cuts likely in 2026—which will cause CD and savings rates to fall.
- While savings account rates can change anytime, a CD locks in your APY until the term ends.
- Right now, 13 top nationwide CDs pay at least 4.50% APY, locked in until 2026—or even into spring 2027.
- Below, we highlight the top APYs for every CD term from 6 months to 2 years.
- Prefer flexibility? The best high-yield savings accounts currently pay up to 5.00% APY.
The full article continues below these offers from our partners.
Why Locking In a CD Now Is a Smart Move
After an aggressive rate-hike campaign in 2022 and 2023—followed by three rate cuts in late 2024—the Federal Reserve has so far held interest rates steady this year. Despite four 2025 meetings, the central bank has yet to make another move. And as a result, the nation’s top CD rates have leveled off, holding roughly steady in the lower to mid-4% range.
But more Fed rate cuts appear to be on the 2025 horizon, and CD rate cuts will likely start happening before they arrive. If you find a rate and term you like, it may be smart to grab it while it’s still available.
While Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated a cautious, wait-and-see approach in his testimony to Congress today, the central bank’s latest forecast still points to rate cuts totaling 0.50 percentage points by year’s end, with another quarter-point cut expected in 2026.
This matters to savers, as banks and credit unions will begin lowering their savings and certificate of deposit (CD) rates once they’re confident a Fed rate cut is on the way. But CDs have a key advantage over savings accounts: The rate you lock in when you open the CD is yours to keep for the full term—letting you enjoy that high return no matter how soon or how far the Fed lowers rates.
As for when the first 2025 rate cut might arrive, markets suggest it may still be a few months away. According to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, there’s only a 19% chance the Fed will cut rates at its late July meeting. But by the following meeting on Sept. 16–17, the odds jump to about 85% for a rate cut of at least a quarter percentage point.
Warning
As always, we caution against relying too heavily on long-term rate predictions, as the Fed bases each decision on the most current economic data. This is particularly true right now, given the potential impact of President Donald Trump’s evolving tariff policy on inflation and jobs.
Today’s Best CDs With Rate Guarantees Until 2026–2027
The top nationwide CD rate right now is 4.55%, available for a 1-year term from T Bank. It’s followed by runner-up Rising Bank, which is paying 4.51% for 6 months. Then another 11 CDs follow closely at 4.50%, with terms ranging from just 6 months up to 21 months. The shortest of these will guarantee your rate until nearly 2026, while the longest can lock it in through spring 2027.
Below we highlight the top offers across terms. But you can find more options by clicking on the CD term links in the table.
| Best 6-Month CDs | APY | Term | Minimum | Maturity |
| Rising Bank | 4.51% | 6 months | $1,000 | Late Dec 2025 |
| SouthEast Bank | 4.50% | 6 months | $1,000 | Late Dec 2025 |
| Liberty Federal Credit Union | 4.50% | 6 months | $1,000 | Late Dec 2025 |
| Communitywide Federal Credit Union | 4.50% | 6 months | $1,000 | Late Dec 2025 |
| Newtek Bank | 4.50% | 6 months | $2,500 | Late Dec 2025 |
| ableBanking | 4.50% | 6 months | $5,000 | Late Dec 2025 |
| Paramount Bank | 4.50% | 7 months | $1,000 | Jan 2026 |
| Presidential Bank | 4.50% | 7 months | $1,000 | Jan 2026 |
| Partners 1st Federal Credit Union | 4.50% | 9 months | $500 | Mar 2026 |
| Northern Bank Direct | 4.50% | 9 months | $500 | Mar 2026 |
| Best 1-Year CDs | ||||
| T Bank | 4.55% | 12 months | $500 | Jun 2026 |
| Abound Credit Union | 4.50% | 10 months | $500 | Apr 2026 |
| Pelican State Credit Union | 4.49% | 12 months | $500 | Jun 2026 |
| Rising Bank | 4.45% | 12 months | $1,000 | Jun 2026 |
| Best 18-Month CDs | ||||
| Brilliant Bank | 4.30% | 15 months | $1,000 | Sep 2026 |
| Sallie Mae Bank | 4.30% | 15 months | $2,500 | Sep 2026 |
| Best 2-Year CDs | ||||
| PenAir Credit Union | 4.50% | 21 months | $500 | Mar 2027 |
| USAlliance Financial | 4.35% | 24 months | $500 | Jun 2027 |
| Pelican State Credit Union | 4.33% | 24 months | $500 | Jun 2027 |
Tip
Whatever CD you choose, don’t wait too long. While a July Fed rate cut isn’t especially likely, it’s possible—and top CD offers can disappear from the market overnight. So once you find a CD that fits your financial timeline and offers a top nationwide rate, it’s smart to lock in.
Want Flexibility? Earn Up to 5.00% With a Top Savings Account
If you can’t commit savings to a CD, you can still capitalize on today’s historically attractive rates by shopping around for a top savings account. Our daily ranking of the best high-yield savings account rates reaches up to 5.00% APY, with 19 offers paying 4.30% or more.
Just keep in mind that banks can lower your savings account rate at any time—and they don’t even have to warn you. So if you can allocate even a portion of your savings to a top-paying CD, you’ll be able to lock in a higher return that lasts further down the road.
Daily Rankings of the Best CDs and Savings Accounts
We update these rankings every business day to give you the best deposit rates available:
How We Find the Best Savings and CD Rates
Every business day, Investopedia tracks the rate data of more than 200 banks and credit unions that offer CDs and savings accounts to customers nationwide and determines daily rankings of the top-paying accounts. To qualify for our lists, the institution must be federally insured (FDIC for banks, NCUA for credit unions), and the account’s minimum initial deposit must not exceed $25,000.
Banks must be available in at least 40 states. And while some credit unions require you to donate to a specific charity or association to become a member if you don’t meet other eligibility criteria (e.g., you don’t live in a certain area or work in a certain kind of job), we exclude credit unions whose donation requirement is $40 or more. For more about how we choose the best rates, read our full methodology.