Certificates of deposit lock a fixed APY for a set term. Right now, short and mid-terms pay the most.
| Institution | APY | Term | Min. deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Credit Union | 5.00% | 10 mo | $5,000 |
| Dakota Community Bank | 5.00% | 36 / 60 mo | $500 |
| Raymond James Bank | 4.95% | 48 mo | $1,000 |
| Tower Federal Credit Union | 4.70% | 24 mo | $500 |
| Quorum Federal Credit Union | 4.50% | 12 mo | $100 |
| HAB Bank | 4.50% | 3 / 6 mo | $1,500 |
| Bread Savings | 4.40% | 18 mo | $1,500 |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 4.35% | 24 mo | $500 |
| CFG Bank | 4.30% | 12 mo | $500 |
| Accordia Bank | 4.25% | 12 mo | $1,000 |
| TAB Bank | 4.20% | 60 mo | $1,000 |
Instead of locking everything into one term, split your cash across 4–5 CDs with staggered maturities (e.g. 1 through 5 years). As each rung matures, roll it into a new long-term CD. You get regular liquidity plus the higher yields of longer terms — and if rates rise, new rungs capture them.
You won't need the money before maturity and you want to lock today's rate against future cuts.
You need flexibility. HYSAs let you withdraw anytime, and their rates float upward when the Fed hikes.
Sources: Bankrate CD-rate tables (as of 9/29/2026); WSJ Buyside CD tables (Sept 28–30, 2026); FDIC averages via WSJ.