Compare the best 5-year CD rates

What’s changed in 2021?
Due to these drops, our best list has changed and we added removed Axos Bank’s five year CD and Barclays’s 5-year CDs and added Quontic Bank. We added Bread Savings to our best list due to its high APY and daily customer service hours.

A closer look at the best 5-year CDs

Aside from interest rate, consider a few other features, benefits and drawbacks of these 5-year CDs.

Quontic Bank CD

Finder rating 5 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site on Quontic Bank's secure site Read review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • High interest rate. A Quontic Bank 5 year CD comes with a 2.86% APY, one of the highest interest rates on a 5 year CD we have seen.
  • Low minimum deposit. You only need $500 to open a CD.
  • Interest compounds daily. Quontic Bank compounds your interest daily, growing your nest egg faster.

  Cons

  • Heavy early withdrawal penalty. You'll pay two years worth of interest if you withdraw from your account before maturity.

• More details

  6-month APY	1.26%
  1-year APY	2.01%
  2-year APY	2.51%
  3-year APY	2.81%
  5-year APY	2.86%

Pros

• High interest rate. A Quontic Bank 5 year CD comes with a 2.86% APY, one of the highest interest rates on a 5 year CD we have seen.
• Low minimum deposit. You only need $500 to open a CD.
• Interest compounds daily. Quontic Bank compounds your interest daily, growing your nest egg faster.

Cons

• Heavy early withdrawal penalty. You'll pay two years worth of interest if you withdraw from your account before maturity.

• More details

  6-month APY	1.26%
  1-year APY	2.01%
  2-year APY	2.51%
  3-year APY	2.81%
  5-year APY	2.86%

1-year APY	2.01%
3-year APY	2.81%
5-year APY	2.86%
Minimum deposit to open	$500

Go to site on Quontic Bank's secure site Read review

CIT Bank Term CDs

Go to site on CIT Bank's secure site Read review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Strong rates. While the national rate for a 5 year CD hovers around 0.27%, you will get 0.5% APY on a CIT Bank 5 year CD.
  • Interest compounded daily. Your First National Bank of America CDs interest is compounded daily, which means your money grows faster.

  Cons

  • Limited customer support options. Since CIT bank is fully online, the only way to contact customer service is by phone and email.
  • High minimum deposit. While $1,000 is the going opening deposit for many national banks, other online banks and credit unions have lower minimum deposit requirements.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.10%
  6-month APY	0.30%
  9-month APY	0.15%
  1-year APY	0.30%
  13-month APY	0.30%
  18-month APY	0.30%
  2-year APY	0.40%
  30-month APY	0.35%
  3-year APY	0.40%
  4-year APY	0.50%
  5-year APY	0.50%

Pros

• Strong rates. While the national rate for a 5 year CD hovers around 0.27%, you will get 0.5% APY on a CIT Bank 5 year CD.
• Interest compounded daily. Your First National Bank of America CDs interest is compounded daily, which means your money grows faster.

Cons

• Limited customer support options. Since CIT bank is fully online, the only way to contact customer service is by phone and email.
• High minimum deposit. While $1,000 is the going opening deposit for many national banks, other online banks and credit unions have lower minimum deposit requirements.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.10%
  6-month APY	0.30%
  9-month APY	0.15%
  1-year APY	0.30%
  13-month APY	0.30%
  18-month APY	0.30%
  2-year APY	0.40%
  30-month APY	0.35%
  3-year APY	0.40%
  4-year APY	0.50%
  5-year APY	0.50%

1-year APY	0.30%
3-year APY	0.40%
5-year APY	0.50%
Minimum deposit to open	$1,000

Go to site on CIT Bank's secure site Read review

Discover CDs

Finder rating 3.8 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site on Discover's secure site Read review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Impressive interest rate. Discover pays 2.90% APY for its 5 year CDs higher than many of its competitors.
  • Multiple funding options. When you open an account, you can fund your CD by initiating an online transfer from another bank account, phone transfer or mailed check.

  Cons

  • High minimum deposit. Unlike most CDs that have a $500 or $1,000 opening deposit, Discover requires a steep $2,500 to open an account.
  • Slightly shorter grace period. While most banks have a 10 day grace period after maturity for you to make changes to your CD, Discover only gives you nine days to take action before it automatically renews.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.50%
  6-month APY	0.75%
  9-month APY	1.00%
  1-year APY	1.90%
  18-month APY	2.00%
  2-year APY	2.25%
  30-month APY	2.25%
  3-year APY	2.50%
  4-year APY	2.50%
  5-year APY	2.90%
  7-year APY	2.90%
  10-year APY	2.90%

Pros

• Impressive interest rate. Discover pays 2.90% APY for its 5 year CDs higher than many of its competitors.
• Multiple funding options. When you open an account, you can fund your CD by initiating an online transfer from another bank account, phone transfer or mailed check.

Cons

• High minimum deposit. Unlike most CDs that have a $500 or $1,000 opening deposit, Discover requires a steep $2,500 to open an account.
• Slightly shorter grace period. While most banks have a 10 day grace period after maturity for you to make changes to your CD, Discover only gives you nine days to take action before it automatically renews.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.50%
  6-month APY	0.75%
  9-month APY	1.00%
  1-year APY	1.90%
  18-month APY	2.00%
  2-year APY	2.25%
  30-month APY	2.25%
  3-year APY	2.50%
  4-year APY	2.50%
  5-year APY	2.90%
  7-year APY	2.90%
  10-year APY	2.90%

1-year APY	1.90%
3-year APY	2.50%
5-year APY	2.90%
Minimum deposit to open	$2,500

Go to site on Discover's secure site Read review

First National Bank of America Online CD

Finder rating 4.5 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Competitive rates. Enjoy a generous 3% APY on a 5 year First National Bank CD, one of the highest we have seen.

  Cons

  • Relatively high minimum. You will need to set aside at least $1,000 to get started.
  • No interest disbursements. All earned interest is added back to the principal balance. First National Bank doesnt offer to pay out your interest to a bank account.
  • Interest compounds quarterly. Unlike some banks that compound interest daily or monthly, which helps your money grow faster, First National Bank compounds your interest every three months.

• More details

  1-year APY	1.90%
  2-year APY	2.35%
  3-year APY	2.70%
  4-year APY	2.80%
  5-year APY	3.00%
  7-year APY	3.10%

Pros

• Competitive rates. Enjoy a generous 3% APY on a 5 year First National Bank CD, one of the highest we have seen.

Cons

• Relatively high minimum. You will need to set aside at least $1,000 to get started.
• No interest disbursements. All earned interest is added back to the principal balance. First National Bank doesnt offer to pay out your interest to a bank account.
• Interest compounds quarterly. Unlike some banks that compound interest daily or monthly, which helps your money grow faster, First National Bank compounds your interest every three months.

• More details

  1-year APY	1.90%
  2-year APY	2.35%
  3-year APY	2.70%
  4-year APY	2.80%
  5-year APY	3.00%
  7-year APY	3.10%

1-year APY	1.90%
3-year APY	2.70%
5-year APY	3.00%
Minimum deposit to open	$1,000

Read Review

First Internet Bank CDs

Finder rating 4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Solid APY. First Internet Bank offers one of the highest interest rates on a 5 year CD that we have seen so far.
  • Interest disbursements. If you dont want to reinvest your interest, you can withdraw it by requesting a mailed check or paying $20 for a wire transfer.

  Cons

  • Steep early withdrawal penalties. Expect to pay 360 days worth of interest if you need to withdraw your principal early.
  • No in person customer service. First Internet Bank is an online only bank, so you wont get any face to face support if you have questions about your CD account.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.35%
  6-month APY	0.70%
  1-year APY	1.76%
  18-month APY	1.81%
  2-year APY	2.12%
  3-year APY	2.32%
  4-year APY	2.53%
  5-year APY	2.73%

Pros

• Solid APY. First Internet Bank offers one of the highest interest rates on a 5 year CD that we have seen so far.
• Interest disbursements. If you dont want to reinvest your interest, you can withdraw it by requesting a mailed check or paying $20 for a wire transfer.

Cons

• Steep early withdrawal penalties. Expect to pay 360 days worth of interest if you need to withdraw your principal early.
• No in person customer service. First Internet Bank is an online only bank, so you wont get any face to face support if you have questions about your CD account.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.35%
  6-month APY	0.70%
  1-year APY	1.76%
  18-month APY	1.81%
  2-year APY	2.12%
  3-year APY	2.32%
  4-year APY	2.53%
  5-year APY	2.73%

1-year APY	1.76%
3-year APY	2.32%
5-year APY	2.73%
Minimum deposit to open	$1,000

Read Review

Synchrony Bank CDs

Finder rating 3.8 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No minimum deposit. There is no minimum opening deposit requirement on a Synchrony Bank CD.
  • 15 day best rate guarantee. Within 15 days of account opening, Synchrony will increase your interest rate if the APY is higher on the day you fund your account.
  • Partial withdrawals. Unlike most banks that only permit complete withdrawals, Synchrony Bank lets you take out what you need. But partial withdrawals are still subject to an early withdrawal penalty.

  Cons

  • No branches. Synchrony Bank operates online exclusively, so youll need to chat or call its customer service team if you need to service your account.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.50%
  6-month APY	0.75%
  9-month APY	1.00%
  11-month APY	0.90%
  1-year APY	1.50%
  13-month APY	1.50%
  15-month APY	1.50%
  18-month APY	1.75%
  2-year APY	1.90%
  3-year APY	2.30%
  4-year APY	2.30%
  5-year APY	2.60%

Pros

• No minimum deposit. There is no minimum opening deposit requirement on a Synchrony Bank CD.
• 15 day best rate guarantee. Within 15 days of account opening, Synchrony will increase your interest rate if the APY is higher on the day you fund your account.
• Partial withdrawals. Unlike most banks that only permit complete withdrawals, Synchrony Bank lets you take out what you need. But partial withdrawals are still subject to an early withdrawal penalty.

Cons

• No branches. Synchrony Bank operates online exclusively, so youll need to chat or call its customer service team if you need to service your account.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.50%
  6-month APY	0.75%
  9-month APY	1.00%
  11-month APY	0.90%
  1-year APY	1.50%
  13-month APY	1.50%
  15-month APY	1.50%
  18-month APY	1.75%
  2-year APY	1.90%
  3-year APY	2.30%
  4-year APY	2.30%
  5-year APY	2.60%

1-year APY	1.50%
3-year APY	2.30%
5-year APY	2.60%
Minimum deposit to open	$0

Read Review

Ally High Yield CDs

Finder rating 3.3 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • 10 day best rate guarantee. If you open and fund your account within 10 days and the interest rate increases during that time, Ally will increase your rate.
  • No minimum deposit. You can fund your CD account with as much, or as little, as you want.
  • Loyalty reward. Renew your CD with Ally and get a 0.05% interest boost.

  Cons

  • Interest postings. Unlike most CDs that credit your interest at the end of the month, Ally doesnt post it until the end of the year.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.15%
  6-month APY	0.25%
  9-month APY	0.30%
  1-year APY	0.55%
  18-month APY	0.60%
  3-year APY	0.65%
  5-year APY	0.80%

Pros

• 10 day best rate guarantee. If you open and fund your account within 10 days and the interest rate increases during that time, Ally will increase your rate.
• No minimum deposit. You can fund your CD account with as much, or as little, as you want.
• Loyalty reward. Renew your CD with Ally and get a 0.05% interest boost.

Cons

• Interest postings. Unlike most CDs that credit your interest at the end of the month, Ally doesnt post it until the end of the year.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.15%
  6-month APY	0.25%
  9-month APY	0.30%
  1-year APY	0.55%
  18-month APY	0.60%
  3-year APY	0.65%
  5-year APY	0.80%

1-year APY	0.55%
3-year APY	0.65%
5-year APY	0.80%
Minimum deposit to open	$0.01

Read Review

Capital One 360 CD

Finder rating 3.7 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No minimum balance. Open a CD account with whatever amount works best for you.
  • 10 day CD rate lock guarantee. If you fund your CD within 10 days, Capital One will apply the highest interest rate during this time.
  • Low early withdrawal penalty. For Capital One 360s 5 year CDs, you will pay six months worth of interest if you redeem your account before the term is finished.

  Cons

  • Statement fees. You will pay $5 for each paper statement you request.

• More details

  6-month APY	0.60%
  9-month APY	0.65%
  1-year APY	1.25%
  18-month APY	1.25%
  2-year APY	1.70%
  30-month APY	1.70%
  3-year APY	1.90%
  4-year APY	1.90%
  5-year APY	2.25%

Pros

• No minimum balance. Open a CD account with whatever amount works best for you.
• 10 day CD rate lock guarantee. If you fund your CD within 10 days, Capital One will apply the highest interest rate during this time.
• Low early withdrawal penalty. For Capital One 360s 5 year CDs, you will pay six months worth of interest if you redeem your account before the term is finished.

Cons

• Statement fees. You will pay $5 for each paper statement you request.

• More details

  6-month APY	0.60%
  9-month APY	0.65%
  1-year APY	1.25%
  18-month APY	1.25%
  2-year APY	1.70%
  30-month APY	1.70%
  3-year APY	1.90%
  4-year APY	1.90%
  5-year APY	2.25%

1-year APY	1.25%
3-year APY	1.90%
5-year APY	2.25%
Minimum deposit to open	$0

Read Review

Prime Alliance Bank CD

Finder rating 4.1 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Competitive interest rates. You will get a healthy 2.53% APY on a 5 year Prime Alliance Bank CD.
  • Low early withdrawal penalties. You will only pay three months worth of interest if you withdraw your CD principal before the term is up.
  • Low minimum deposit. While some banks require an opening deposit of $1,000 or more, you can open a Prime Alliance CD account with only $500.

  Cons

  • Interest postings. Prime Alliance CD interest posts quarterly instead of daily or monthly.
  • Funding requires micro-deposits. After you input your external bank account information to fund your account, you will need to wait up to two business days for Prime Alliance Bank to verify two micro deposits before it can fund and open your account, which requires an additional two business days.

• More details

  6-month APY	1.10%
  1-year APY	1.31%
  18-month APY	1.31%
  2-year APY	2.02%
  3-year APY	2.23%
  4-year APY	2.33%
  5-year APY	2.53%

Pros

• Competitive interest rates. You will get a healthy 2.53% APY on a 5 year Prime Alliance Bank CD.
• Low early withdrawal penalties. You will only pay three months worth of interest if you withdraw your CD principal before the term is up.
• Low minimum deposit. While some banks require an opening deposit of $1,000 or more, you can open a Prime Alliance CD account with only $500.

Cons

• Interest postings. Prime Alliance CD interest posts quarterly instead of daily or monthly.
• Funding requires micro-deposits. After you input your external bank account information to fund your account, you will need to wait up to two business days for Prime Alliance Bank to verify two micro deposits before it can fund and open your account, which requires an additional two business days.

• More details

  6-month APY	1.10%
  1-year APY	1.31%
  18-month APY	1.31%
  2-year APY	2.02%
  3-year APY	2.23%
  4-year APY	2.33%
  5-year APY	2.53%

1-year APY	1.31%
3-year APY	2.23%
5-year APY	2.53%
Minimum deposit to open	$500

Read Review

Alliant Credit Union CD

Finder rating 4 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Attractive rates. Get 2.25% APY on a 5 year CD.
  • Multiple funding options. You can fund your Alliant Credit Union CD by initiating a transfer from another bank account or depositing cash at a local branch.
  • Around the clock phone support. Contact customer service by phone whenever you need.

  Cons

  • Requires membership. You must qualify for Alliant membership before you can open an account.
  • 7 day grace period. New CDs have a 7 day grace period where you cant earn dividends.
  • Limited branches. Although you can call customer service any time of day, Alliant only has two branch locations in Chicago if you want in person support.

• More details

  1-year APY	1.25%
  13-month APY	1.25%
  15-month APY	1.25%
  18-month APY	1.75%
  2-year APY	1.60%
  28-month APY	1.60%
  30-month APY	1.60%
  3-year APY	1.80%
  4-year APY	2.00%
  5-year APY	2.25%

Pros

• Attractive rates. Get 2.25% APY on a 5 year CD.
• Multiple funding options. You can fund your Alliant Credit Union CD by initiating a transfer from another bank account or depositing cash at a local branch.
• Around the clock phone support. Contact customer service by phone whenever you need.

Cons

• Requires membership. You must qualify for Alliant membership before you can open an account.
• 7 day grace period. New CDs have a 7 day grace period where you cant earn dividends.
• Limited branches. Although you can call customer service any time of day, Alliant only has two branch locations in Chicago if you want in person support.

• More details

  1-year APY	1.25%
  13-month APY	1.25%
  15-month APY	1.25%
  18-month APY	1.75%
  2-year APY	1.60%
  28-month APY	1.60%
  30-month APY	1.60%
  3-year APY	1.80%
  4-year APY	2.00%
  5-year APY	2.25%

1-year APY	1.25%
3-year APY	1.80%
5-year APY	2.25%
Minimum deposit to open	$1,000

Read Review

Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-yield CDs

Finder rating 3.6 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • 10 day CD rate guarantee. Open and deposit your CD account within the first 10 days, and if the rate goes up, you will automatically get the higher APY.
  • Low minimum balance. Sign up for a Marcus CD account with as little as $500.
  • Optional monthly interest disbursement. You can choose to transfer your monthly earned interest to a linked bank account if you dont want it added back to the principal.

  Cons

  • High early withdrawal penalty. While its not the harshest early withdrawal fee we have seen, you will pay 365 days worth of interest if you need your cash before your CD is mature.

• More details

  6-month APY	0.15%
  9-month APY	0.25%
  1-year APY	0.55%
  18-month APY	0.55%
  2-year APY	0.55%
  3-year APY	0.55%
  4-year APY	0.55%
  5-year APY	0.60%

Pros

• 10 day CD rate guarantee. Open and deposit your CD account within the first 10 days, and if the rate goes up, you will automatically get the higher APY.
• Low minimum balance. Sign up for a Marcus CD account with as little as $500.
• Optional monthly interest disbursement. You can choose to transfer your monthly earned interest to a linked bank account if you dont want it added back to the principal.

Cons

• High early withdrawal penalty. While its not the harshest early withdrawal fee we have seen, you will pay 365 days worth of interest if you need your cash before your CD is mature.

• More details

  6-month APY	0.15%
  9-month APY	0.25%
  1-year APY	0.55%
  18-month APY	0.55%
  2-year APY	0.55%
  3-year APY	0.55%
  4-year APY	0.55%
  5-year APY	0.60%

1-year APY	0.55%
3-year APY	0.55%
5-year APY	0.60%
Minimum deposit to open	$500

Read Review

Vio Bank High Yield Online CDs

Finder rating 3.4 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Attractive APY. You will earn 0.5% APY on a 5 year Vio Bank High Yield Online CDs.
  • Interest compounded daily. Vio Bank grows your money faster by compounding your interest daily rather than monthly or quarterly.
  • Low minimum opening deposit. Open a Vio Bank CD account with as little as $500.

  Cons

  • Severe early withdrawal penalty. While you get 0.5% in interest, withdrawing any part of your principal before maturity incurs a penalty of 3%, plus a $25 fee.

• More details

  6-month APY	0.15%
  9-month APY	0.20%
  1-year APY	0.15%
  18-month APY	0.20%
  2-year APY	0.25%
  3-year APY	0.30%
  4-year APY	0.40%
  5-year APY	0.50%
  7-year APY	0.60%
  10-year APY	0.70%

Pros

• Attractive APY. You will earn 0.5% APY on a 5 year Vio Bank High Yield Online CDs.
• Interest compounded daily. Vio Bank grows your money faster by compounding your interest daily rather than monthly or quarterly.
• Low minimum opening deposit. Open a Vio Bank CD account with as little as $500.

Cons

• Severe early withdrawal penalty. While you get 0.5% in interest, withdrawing any part of your principal before maturity incurs a penalty of 3%, plus a $25 fee.

• More details

  6-month APY	0.15%
  9-month APY	0.20%
  1-year APY	0.15%
  18-month APY	0.20%
  2-year APY	0.25%
  3-year APY	0.30%
  4-year APY	0.40%
  5-year APY	0.50%
  7-year APY	0.60%
  10-year APY	0.70%

1-year APY	0.15%
3-year APY	0.30%
5-year APY	0.50%
Minimum deposit to open	$500

Read Review

Alternative 5-year CD options

Looking for a credit union with high 5-year CD rates? These accounts have noteworthy APYs but didn’t make our list due to membership requirements. Depending on your financial situation, these runner-ups may be just what you’re looking for.

Pen Air FCU CDs

Finder rating 4 / 5 ★★★★★

Read Review

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Solid APY. You don't have to meet certain requirements to earn up to 0.8% APY on your total account balance.
  • Penalty-free interest withdrawals. While you can't touch your principal balance for five years, you can withdraw your interest at any time for free.
  • Membership discounts. Pen Air members get access to special discounts for TurboTax, Sprint, TruStage Auto Insurance and more.

  Cons

  • Limited customer service. The only way to reach customer service is by phone, US mail or by visiting a local branch.
  • Early withdrawal penalty. Expect to pay a penalty equal to 180 days of interest if you need to access your funds early.
  • Membership requirements. Pen Air is primarily open to active duty, civil service employees and retired military and their families. But anyone can become a member when they join the Friends of the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.20%
  6-month APY	0.30%
  1-year APY	0.50%
  15-month APY	0.50%
  18-month APY	0.60%
  2-year APY	0.65%
  3-year APY	0.70%
  4-year APY	0.75%
  5-year APY	0.80%

Pros

• Solid APY. You don't have to meet certain requirements to earn up to 0.8% APY on your total account balance.
• Penalty-free interest withdrawals. While you can't touch your principal balance for five years, you can withdraw your interest at any time for free.
• Membership discounts. Pen Air members get access to special discounts for TurboTax, Sprint, TruStage Auto Insurance and more.

Cons

• Limited customer service. The only way to reach customer service is by phone, US mail or by visiting a local branch.
• Early withdrawal penalty. Expect to pay a penalty equal to 180 days of interest if you need to access your funds early.
• Membership requirements. Pen Air is primarily open to active duty, civil service employees and retired military and their families. But anyone can become a member when they join the Friends of the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.20%
  6-month APY	0.30%
  1-year APY	0.50%
  15-month APY	0.50%
  18-month APY	0.60%
  2-year APY	0.65%
  3-year APY	0.70%
  4-year APY	0.75%
  5-year APY	0.80%

1-year APY	0.50%
3-year APY	0.70%
5-year APY	0.80%
Minimum deposit to open	$500

Read Review

Hiway Federal Credit Union CD

Finder rating 4.3 / 5 ★★★★★

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• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Tiered APYs. Earn 1.05% APY on balances up to $9,999, 1.15% APY on balances up to $24,999 and 1.15% on balances over $25,000.
  • Accessible interest. Withdraw your CD's interest at any time without penalty.
  • $500 minimum deposit. Most 5-year CD's require higher minimum deposits.

  Cons

  • Early withdrawal penalty. You'll pay a fee equal to 365 days' interest if you withdraw your money before the five-year mark.
  • Membership requirements. Hiway primarily serves those who live, work, worship or attend school in select areas of Minnesota. But anyone can become a member when they join the Association of the US Army.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.35%
  6-month APY	0.25%
  1-year APY	0.45%
  3-year APY	0.75%
  4-year APY	1.10%
  5-year APY	1.15%

Pros

• Tiered APYs. Earn 1.05% APY on balances up to $9,999, 1.15% APY on balances up to $24,999 and 1.15% on balances over $25,000.
• Accessible interest. Withdraw your CD's interest at any time without penalty.
• $500 minimum deposit. Most 5-year CD's require higher minimum deposits.

Cons

• Early withdrawal penalty. You'll pay a fee equal to 365 days' interest if you withdraw your money before the five-year mark.
• Membership requirements. Hiway primarily serves those who live, work, worship or attend school in select areas of Minnesota. But anyone can become a member when they join the Association of the US Army.

• More details

  3-month APY	0.35%
  6-month APY	0.25%
  1-year APY	0.45%
  3-year APY	0.75%
  4-year APY	1.10%
  5-year APY	1.15%

1-year APY	0.45%
3-year APY	0.75%
5-year APY	1.15%
Minimum deposit to open	$500

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State Department Federal Credit Union CD

Finder rating 2.5 / 5 ★★★★★

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• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No service fees. You won't pay anything to open or maintain this account.
  • Relatively low deposit. $500 is quite low considering some institutions have required minimum deposits of $10,000 or more.

  Cons

  • High early withdrawal penalty. You'll lose 360 days of interest if you need to access your money before it matures.
  • Members only. As with all credit unions, you must be an existing member to open this account. If you fall outside its regular field of membership, you join when you become an American Consumer Council member, which has a $15 one-time fee.

• More details

  6-month APY	1.00%
  1-year APY	1.26%
  2-year APY	1.76%
  3-year APY	1.86%
  4-year APY	2.02%
  5-year APY	2.17%

Pros

• No service fees. You won't pay anything to open or maintain this account.
• Relatively low deposit. $500 is quite low considering some institutions have required minimum deposits of $10,000 or more.

Cons

• High early withdrawal penalty. You'll lose 360 days of interest if you need to access your money before it matures.
• Members only. As with all credit unions, you must be an existing member to open this account. If you fall outside its regular field of membership, you join when you become an American Consumer Council member, which has a $15 one-time fee.

• More details

  6-month APY	1.00%
  1-year APY	1.26%
  2-year APY	1.76%
  3-year APY	1.86%
  4-year APY	2.02%
  5-year APY	2.17%

1-year APY	1.26%
3-year APY	1.86%
5-year APY	2.17%
Minimum deposit to open	$500

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Bread Savings CDs

Finder rating 3.8 / 5 ★★★★★

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• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Incredible APY. The interest rate on Bread Savings's 5-year CD is 3.35%, which beats most other banks.
  • Customer support hours. You can reach a support specialist on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. CT and on weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT.

  Cons

  • Initial deposit. You'll need $1,500 or more to open this account, which is more than what other bank's require for 5-year CDs.
  • Only ACH transfers are free. You can cash out your mature Bread Savings CD for free via an ACH transfer, but if you want a paper check or a wire transfer, you'll pay $15 or .

• More details

  1-year APY	2.50%
  2-year APY	3.00%
  3-year APY	3.25%
  4-year APY	3.30%
  5-year APY	3.35%

Pros

• Incredible APY. The interest rate on Bread Savings's 5-year CD is 3.35%, which beats most other banks.
• Customer support hours. You can reach a support specialist on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. CT and on weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT.

Cons

• Initial deposit. You'll need $1,500 or more to open this account, which is more than what other bank's require for 5-year CDs.
• Only ACH transfers are free. You can cash out your mature Bread Savings CD for free via an ACH transfer, but if you want a paper check or a wire transfer, you'll pay $15 or .

• More details

  1-year APY	2.50%
  2-year APY	3.00%
  3-year APY	3.25%
  4-year APY	3.30%
  5-year APY	3.35%

1-year APY	2.50%
3-year APY	3.25%
5-year APY	3.35%
Minimum deposit to open	$1,500

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Read up on how to compare long-term vs. short-term CD rates

How do 5-year certificates of deposit work?

Five-year certificates of deposit, or CDs, offer the security of a fixed interest rate and provide guaranteed returns on your investment. Also referred to as 60-month or long-term CDs, these accounts offer protection against any interest rate cuts that may occur.

Unlike a savings account, CDs are set up so that it is impossible to access the funds in your account without incurring high fees. This removes the temptation to dip into your savings on a whim, instead providing an incentive for you to invest your money for the full five-year term.

How does interest work on a 5-year CD?

With a certificate of deposit, you invest your money for a set period — in this case five years — and earn a fixed interest rate during that time. Interest can be paid monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, yearly or when the deposit matures. The interest rate is guaranteed not to change for the life of the deposit.

The interest rate on a CD remains the same until your account matures, which means you are protected against interest rate falls but you can’t take advantage of any rises that may occur. So if you think interest rates are unlikely to increase at any time in the next five years, investing in a five-year CD could be a good idea. Once the deposit matures at the end of the five-year period, you can either withdraw your funds or roll them over into a new CD.

What are the pros and cons of 5-year CDs?

The pros

• High, fixed-rate APYs. You’ll earn more interest in your money with a 5-year CD. Plus, your rate is locked in for the life of your CD, so it won’t change if your bank lowers its rates.

• Guaranteed returns. When you invest your money in a CD, you know exactly how much interest you’ll earn.

• Spending control. With a long-term CD, your money will be locked away to help you curb impulse purchasing.

The cons

• Rates won’t rise. If rates go up while your funds are locked away in a CD, you won’t be able to invest your funds at a higher rate until your deposit matures.
• Money locked away. Unless you have a no-penalty CD, it’s difficult to access your money while it’s invested in a CD. You’ll have to wait for five years before you’re able to withdraw. It can be challenging if an emergency pops up.
• Penalty fees. If you need access to your money earlier than expected, you’ll have to pay a penalty fee — and at some banks, you could end up walking away with less than you started with.

Why is it important to find the best rate?

Even a seemingly small difference in interest rates can make a large difference to what you earn — especially if you’re investing for five years. Take a look at the following fictional example:

Bottom line

A five-year certificate of deposit provides a safe and reliable long-term investment option if you know you can wait to access your money for five years. If you need your investment to double as an emergency fund, a high-interest savings account might be a better fit.

Frequently asked questions

Can you add money to a CD?

No. You can only deposit money when you first open the account — you can’t add to it once the account is open.

How can I figure out how much I’ll earn?

You can use our CD calculator to see how much your savings will grow.

Should I get a CD or a savings account?

That depends on what you’re looking for. If you need access to your money in an emergency and/or you want to add to it gradually, a savings account is your best option. If you can keep your hands off your funds for a set period, a CD will earn you the highest interest rate.

If you can’t decide, you can always open one of each.