Six business CDs worth considering in 2026. Top-APY picks (Live Oak, Amex, First Internet Bank). Traditional bank options with branch access (Capital One, US Bank). No-fee community bank (NBKC). Verify current rates at each bank before opening.
A business CD locks your cash reserve for a fixed term in exchange for a guaranteed APY — typically higher than a business savings account for terms of 6 months or longer, and immune to mid-term Fed rate cuts once opened. Live Oak Bank is the top-APY business CD pick for most SMBs. First Internet Bank is a strong alternative for businesses comparing short-term rates. American Express National Bank offers competitive APY from a well-known institution. Capital One and US Bank suit businesses that value traditional bank relationships. NBKC rounds out the list for businesses that want a community bank option. APYs shown were verified at each bank's own disclosure page on June 3, 2026 — confirm rates before opening.
| # | Card | ClearValue Rating | Highlight | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Bank Business CD Live Oak Bank | 4.1 / 5 | ~5.10% 1-year cd apy | Apply → |
| 2 | American Express Business CD American Express National Bank | 4.2 / 5 | ~5.00% 1-year cd apy | Apply → |
| 3 | Capital One Business CD Capital One, N.A. | 3.9 / 5 | Competitive — verify current rate 1-year cd apy | Apply → |
| 4 | US Bank Business CD U.S. Bank National Association | 4.1 / 5 | Tiered — verify current tiers cd apy | Apply → |
| 5 | First Internet Bank Business CD First Internet Bank of Indiana | 4.1 / 5 | ~5.00% 1-year cd apy | Apply → |
| 6 | NBKC Business CD nbkc bank | 3.8 / 5 | Competitive — verify current rate cd apy | Apply → |
A business CD locks your cash reserve for a fixed term in exchange for a guaranteed APY — typically higher than a business savings account for terms of 6 months or longer, and immune to mid-term Fed rate cuts once opened.
June 2026 update: Top business CD APYs at online banks remain in the 4.80%–5.10%+ range for 1-year terms. If the Fed cuts rates, new CD rates will fall — but CDs already funded are locked at the rate you opened with. This makes funding a CD now meaningful if you expect rate cuts later in 2026. Verify current rates at each bank before opening. Every bank on this list is FDIC-insured — verify at fdic.gov.
Three questions sharpen the choice:
1. How long can you lock the money? If you might need the funds within 6 months, a business savings account or no-penalty CD is safer. For 12–24 month reserves, a standard CD typically pays more.
2. How important is brand recognition vs. APY? Live Oak and First Internet Bank consistently publish top-tier business CD APYs. If you prefer a nationally known name, Amex and Capital One are data-supported alternatives with slightly lower APYs.
3. Do you need branch access? Only Capital One and US Bank offer physical branches among the picks on this list. All others are online-only.
If you have a larger cash reserve (e.g., $100K), splitting it across CDs at different maturities (6-month, 1-year, 18-month, 2-year) creates a rolling ladder. Each CD matures on a schedule, giving you periodic access to a portion while keeping the rest earning a term premium. Live Oak, Amex, and First Internet Bank all offer multiple term options to support this strategy.
CDs pay more when you can commit to the term. Savings accounts pay less but keep your funds accessible. Many SMBs use both: savings account for the first 3–6 months of reserve buffer, CDs for fixed-term reserves they are confident they will not need before maturity.
A certificate of deposit (CD) locks your deposit for a defined term — typically 3 months to 5 years — in exchange for a fixed APY that is locked at opening. A business savings account keeps your funds accessible (subject to any bank-imposed transaction limits) at a variable APY that can change with market conditions. CDs generally pay higher APY than savings accounts for comparable terms, but charge an early-withdrawal penalty if you access funds before maturity. CDs are best for cash reserves you are confident you will not need until the term ends.
Yes — CDs at FDIC-member banks are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category. For businesses with more than $250K in CDs, distributing across multiple FDIC-insured institutions maintains full coverage. Verify FDIC status at fdic.gov or the FDIC BankFind Suite at banks.data.fdic.gov. Source: FDIC at fdic.gov.
Nothing — that is the primary advantage of a CD. The APY is locked at opening for the full term, regardless of what the Federal Reserve does with its target rate. If rates fall after you fund a CD, your locked-in APY outperforms the market. If rates rise, you are locked at the original rate until maturity (unless the bank offers a bump-up option). This is why timing your CD opening relative to the Fed rate environment matters for longer-term commitments.
Early-withdrawal penalties vary by bank and by term length — longer terms carry larger penalties. Common structures: short-term CDs (3–12 months) may charge 90 days of interest; medium-term CDs (1–3 years) may charge 180 days; long-term CDs (3–5 years) may charge 360 days or more. The exact penalty is disclosed in the bank's CD terms at account opening per CFPB Regulation DD. Always review the penalty structure before funding — the penalty can exceed accrued interest on recently opened CDs, meaning you could receive less than your principal. Source: CFPB Truth in Savings Act at consumerfinance.gov.
Yes, and CD laddering is a common SMB cash management strategy. You split your reserve across CDs maturing at staggered intervals (e.g., 3-month, 6-month, 1-year, 2-year), so that a portion of your reserve comes due every few months. This gives you periodic access to maturing funds while keeping most of the reserve earning a term premium. Laddering also averages your APY across multiple rate environments, reducing the risk of locking all funds at a low rate just before rates rise.
No. ClearValue Lending is a small business funding platform — not a bank, CD issuer, lender, or financial advisor. This guide presents publicly available editorial information about business CD accounts. All CDs are issued and operated by their respective banks. APYs, terms, early-withdrawal penalties, and eligibility are determined solely by each bank and may change — verify current terms at each bank's official website before opening.
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Every pick gets a 1–5 ClearValue Rating computed from four weighted factors: Editorial confidence (30%), Cost (25%), Value (25%), and Accessibility (20%).
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