CDs trade liquidity for a guaranteed, locked-in APY — useful when you believe rates are at or near peak and want to lock before they fall. FDIC-insured. No market risk. Here are the 4 best CDs worth comparing in 2026.
Competitive APY across 6-72 month terms with no minimum deposit requirement. Goldman Sachs Bank USA backing. 10-day rate guarantee — if rates rise within 10 days of opening, you get the higher rate. Strong option for locking mid-to-long term.
Flexible terms (3-60 months) with a 'Raise Your Rate CD' option on 2-year and 4-year terms — lets you bump to a higher rate once if rates rise. Unusually low early withdrawal penalty vs competitors.
Broad term range (3-120 months) with competitive APYs and $2,500 minimum. 30-day no-penalty CD option available for short-term needs. Discover Bank FDIC-insured.
Consistently among the highest CD APYs available with no minimum deposit requirement on most terms. Good option for rate-maximizing savers without large minimums.
CDs win when: (a) you don't need the money for a defined period, (b) you believe interest rates are at or near peak and will fall — locking in the current rate before the Fed cuts rates. HYSAs win when: (a) you need flexibility to access funds, (b) rates are rising and you want to capture higher rates as they go up. In a falling-rate environment, locking a CD secures the current rate.
Varies by term and institution. Common structures: 90 days of interest for terms under 1 year; 150 days for 1-3 year terms; 6-12 months of interest for terms above 3 years. Ally's penalty is lower than typical — 60 days for most terms. Discover offers a no-penalty CD option specifically for customers who want HYSA-like flexibility with CD-like rate.
CD laddering (dividing savings across multiple CDs with staggered maturity dates) balances the rate lock-in benefit with liquidity. Example: split $20,000 into 4 $5,000 CDs at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. As each matures, reinvest or access as needed. Useful when rates are uncertain — you avoid locking all funds in at the wrong term. The FDIC has guidance on CD features at fdic.gov. The Federal Reserve publishes current rate data at federalreserve.gov. See our full guide (/blog/best-high-yield-savings-accounts-2026) and (/blog/best-personal-loans-2026). Reviewed by Brian's ClearValue Lending Team. Updated May 2026.