CD Statistics 2026: 16 Facts From the Fed and the FDIC
Certificate of deposit ownership jumped to 10.7% of U.S. families in 2025. Sixteen CD statistics from the Federal Reserve SCF and FDIC national rates, covering ownership, balances and deposit APYs.
Certificate of deposit ownership nearly doubled between the last two Federal Reserve wealth surveys. In 2025, 10.7% of U.S. families held a CD, up from 6.5% in 2022, according to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances. At the same time, the FDIC’s national average 12-month CD rate was only 1.73% in September 2026. Here are 16 statistics that connect who owns CDs with what banks actually pay.
Data as of October 12, 2026. Ownership and balance figures come from the Federal Reserve Board’s Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2022 to 2025 (SCF; report published October 2026; dollar amounts in 2025 dollars). Deposit rates come from the FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps for September 2026 (published September 21, 2026). Where we subtract or compare published figures, we say so. Bank CD APYs for new accounts can change. This page is general information, not financial advice.
Key takeaways
- Ownership: 10.7% of families held a CD in 2025, up from 6.5% in 2022 (Fed SCF).
- Median balance: $35,000 conditional median among CD owners in 2025, up 23% from 2022.
- National 12-month APY: the FDIC’s average 12-month CD rate was 1.73% in September 2026.
- Rate cap: the September 2026 national rate cap on a 12-month CD was 5.74%.
- Short end is weak: the national average 1-month CD rate was only 0.23%.
CD ownership and national rates at a glance
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Families owning a CD (2025) | 10.7% | Fed SCF 2025 |
| Families owning a CD (2022) | 6.5% | Fed SCF 2022 |
| Conditional median CD balance (2025) | $35,000 | Fed SCF 2025 |
| Conditional mean CD balance (2025) | $112,700 | Fed SCF 2025 |
| National average 6-month CD APY | 1.41% | FDIC, Sep 2026 |
| National average 12-month CD APY | 1.73% | FDIC, Sep 2026 |
| National average 60-month CD APY | 1.38% | FDIC, Sep 2026 |
| National rate cap, 12-month CD | 5.74% | FDIC, Sep 2026 |
Who owns certificates of deposit
1. CD ownership jumped to 10.7% of families
In the 2025 SCF, 10.7% of families owned certificates of deposit, up from 6.5% in 2022. The Fed report states that this large increase likely reflects the increased returns to holding such an asset in 2025 compared with 2022.
2. Median CD balances rose 23%
Among families that owned CDs, the conditional median balance rose from $28,500 in 2022 to $35,000 in 2025 (2025 dollars), a 23% increase. The conditional mean rose more modestly, from $108,600 to $112,700 (4%).
3. The mean is more than three times the median
The $112,700 conditional mean versus the $35,000 median shows that a smaller group of families holds large CD balances. The Fed notes that large differences between median and mean values reflect a disproportionate share of financial assets held by some families.
4. CDs are still a minority product
Even after the jump, nearly 9 in 10 families did not hold a CD in 2025 (100% minus 10.7%). Transaction accounts remained nearly universal at 98.7% ownership.
5. Retirement accounts remain far more common
Retirement accounts were held by 54.9% of families in 2025, versus 10.7% for CDs. CDs compete with other cash and fixed-income choices, not with every long-term savings vehicle.
What the FDIC says banks pay on CDs
6. The national 12-month CD average was 1.73%
In the FDIC’s September 2026 national rates table (as of September 21, 2026), the deposit-weighted national average for a 12-month CD was 1.73%. That average spans banks and credit unions and mixes large banks that pay little with smaller institutions that pay more.
7. The 6-month national average was 1.41%
The national average 6-month CD rate was 1.41% in the same September 2026 release. That is 0.32 points below the 12-month average (our arithmetic).
8. Longer terms do not always pay more on the national average
| CD term | National deposit rate (Sep 2026) | National rate cap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 0.23% | 5.37% |
| 3 month | 1.13% | 5.44% |
| 6 month | 1.41% | 5.54% |
| 12 month | 1.73% | 5.74% |
| 24 month | 1.61% | 5.96% |
| 36 month | 1.36% | 6.03% |
| 48 month | 1.28% | 6.03% |
| 60 month | 1.38% | 6.14% |
Source: FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps, September 2026.
The national average peaks at 12 months (1.73%) and then falls for longer terms. That pattern is why many savers compare specific online banks instead of relying on the average alone. See our best CDs of 2026 for issuer-checked options.
9. The 1-month national average was only 0.23%
Very short CDs barely beat many interest-checking averages at the national level. The September 2026 1-month national rate was 0.23%, versus 0.07% for interest checking and 0.37% for savings on the same FDIC table.
10. Rate caps sit several points above national averages
For a 12-month CD, the September 2026 national rate cap was 5.74%, which is 4.01 points above the 1.73% national average (our arithmetic). Caps matter mainly for less than well capitalized institutions under FDIC rules; they also show how far the average sits below competitive offers.
11. The 60-month cap was 6.14%
The longest on-tenor term on the FDIC table, 60 months, had a national average of 1.38% and a rate cap of 6.14% in September 2026.
12. October 2026 FDIC figures were not out yet
FRED series for FDIC national rate caps show the next monthly release scheduled around mid-October 2026. As of October 12, 2026, September 2026 remained the latest full FDIC national rates table we used.
Putting CD rates next to other cash yields
13. National savings paid 0.37%
The same September 2026 FDIC table lists a national average savings rate of 0.37% and a money market rate of 0.63%. A CD locks a term; savings and money market rates are variable. Compare liquidity needs before you pick a product. Our savings account statistics 2026 covers the household side of cash savings.
14. Online banks often clear the national average by a wide margin
Issuer pages we have checked in October 2026 for banks such as Capital One, Marcus, Amex and Synchrony show 12-month or specialty CD APYs several points above the 1.73% national average. See Capital One 360 CD rates, Marcus CD rates, Amex CD rates and Synchrony CD and savings rates for dated issuer tables.
15. Early withdrawal penalties erase rate advantages if you break the term
Bank CD pages typically charge months of interest for early withdrawal. If you may need the money before maturity, a high-yield savings account or a no-penalty CD (when an issuer offers one with a verifiable rate) can be the better fit. This is not financial advice.
16. FDIC coverage is still $250,000 per depositor category
Standard FDIC deposit insurance remains $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category. Confirm the issuing bank in FDIC BankFind before you open a large CD.
How to put these numbers to work
- If you need a fixed APY and a known maturity date, start with issuer rate tables we verified the same week, not the national average alone.
- If you need liquidity, compare a CD ladder against a high-yield savings account using current issuer pages.
- Size deposits with the $250,000 FDIC limit per ownership category in mind.
- Read the early withdrawal penalty before you lock a long term.
Methodology and sources
- Federal Reserve Board, Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2022 to 2025 (SCF), October 2026, Table 3 (certificates of deposit ownership and balances).
- FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps, September 2026 (published September 21, 2026).
- Related Money 8020 pages for navigation only: best CDs 2026, Capital One / Marcus / Amex / Synchrony rate guides, savings account statistics 2026, how APY works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average CD interest rate in 2026?
The FDIC's national average 12-month CD rate was 1.73% in its September 2026 update, based on deposit-weighted data as of the end of the prior month. Longer and shorter terms ranged from 0.23% (1 month) to 1.73% (12 months) on the national average table. Top online banks often pay several points above those averages, so compare specific banks.
What share of families own a CD?
In the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, 10.7% of families owned certificates of deposit, up from 6.5% in 2022. The Fed notes the jump likely reflects higher returns available on CDs in 2025 than in 2022.
What is the median CD balance?
Among families that owned CDs in the 2025 SCF, the conditional median balance was $35,000 (2025 dollars), up 23% from $28,500 in 2022. The conditional mean was $112,700, up 4% from $108,600.
How do FDIC national CD rates compare with rate caps?
For each CD term, the FDIC publishes a national deposit rate and a national rate cap. In September 2026 the 12-month national rate was 1.73% and the rate cap was 5.74%. Less than well capitalized banks face limits tied to those caps.
Are CDs FDIC insured?
Bank CDs at FDIC-insured institutions are covered up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category. Confirm the bank's active FDIC certificate in BankFind before you open. Credit union share certificates are covered by NCUA instead.
Why did CD ownership rise between 2022 and 2025?
The Federal Reserve's SCF report states that the share of families with certificates of deposit jumped from 6.5% to 10.7%, and that this large increase likely reflects the increased returns to holding such an asset in 2025 compared with 2022.