Best Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
A CD trades flexibility for certainty — you fix a rate for a set term, and in return you cannot touch the money without a penalty. We rank by APY for the term, then weigh the early-withdrawal penalty, because that is what bites if your plans change.
The best certificates of deposit (cds) in 2026 is the Bread Savings CD, which tops our ranking with a money8020 score of 99/100. We track 9 certificates of deposit (cds), 9 with rates checked against the provider and a regulator. All 9 are ranked and compared below.
Which term locks the best fixed rate without a brutal early-withdrawal penalty?
Top 3 in this category.
Bread Savings CD
A 4.00% 1-year APY from Bread Savings, sourced from our NerdWallet data partnership.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield CD
A 3.90% 1-year APY from Marcus by Goldman Sachs, sourced from our NerdWallet data partnership.
Capital One 360 1-Year CD
A 3.90% APY on a 12-month CD with no minimum deposit, from Capital One, N.A.
All 9, ranked.
Compare the numbers.
Click a column header to sort.
| Product | APY | Annual fee | Score | Tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bread Savings CD Bread Savings (Comenity Capital Bank) | 4.00% | — | 99 | Essential | View |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield CD Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.90% | — | 99 | Essential | View |
| Capital One 360 1-Year CD Capital One | 3.90% | — | 94 | Essential | View |
| Sallie Mae 18-Month CD Sallie Mae Bank | 4.00% | — | 93 | Essential | View |
| E*TRADE Certificate of Deposit Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. | 4.10% | — | 92 | Essential | View |
| TAB Bank CD TAB Bank (Transportation Alliance Bank) | 4.00% | — | 90 | Essential | View |
| Popular Direct CD Popular Bank | 4.11% | — | 85 | Strong | View |
| Newtek Bank 6-Month CD Newtek Bank, N.A. | 4.00% | — | 82 | Strong | View |
| OMB Bank 3-Month CD OMB Bank | 4.05% | — | 81 | Strong | View |
Run the numbers
Estimate what this could mean for you.
How to choose the best certificates of deposit (cds)
To choose a CD, match the term to when you'll need the money, compare APYs across terms, check the minimum deposit, and read the early-withdrawal penalty and renewal terms before locking in.
- The APY for the term you want
- The minimum deposit to open
- The early-withdrawal penalty
- Whether the CD auto-renews at maturity
- FDIC insurance on the bank
Frequently asked questions about certificates of deposit (cds)
When does a CD beat a high-yield savings account?
When you are confident you will not need the money before the term ends and you want to lock today's rate against future cuts. If rates fall, your CD keeps paying its fixed APY while savings rates drift down. If you might need access, savings wins.
What is a CD ladder?
A ladder splits your money across several CDs with staggered terms — say 1, 2, and 3 years — so a portion matures each year. You get higher long-term rates while keeping regular access to part of your cash as each rung matures.