Sallie Mae CD rates: Lower your opening deposit with Raisin

Our take: Sallie Mae vs. Raisin

Raisin‘s array of Sallie Mae CDs offers a few distinct advantages over opening a CD with Sallie Mae directly. The first is the type of CDs: Raisin offers no-penalty CD options on Sallie Mae‘s 10- and 14-month CDs. This means that if you were to withdraw your money before it reaches maturity, you won’t pay a withdrawal penalty fee. If you want a no-penalty CD, you won’t find any if you open a CD directly with Sallie Mae.

The other advantage to Raisin‘s Sallie Mae CDs is the lack of a minimum deposit. You can open a Raisin Sallie Mae CD for just $1. Accounts opened with Sallie Mae directly require a minimum deposit of $2,500, which is rather high when it comes to CDs. This makes Raisin‘s options a great entry point for growing money with a CD without committing to the higher minimum deposit.

With Raisin you also get term lengths that you won’t find at most banks. You can choose from 10- or 14-month CDs. These terms offer strong rates as well, with comparable or even greater rates you’d get with the closest available term offered through Sallie Mae‘s site. On the other hand, you get more term options if you open a CD directly through Sallie Mae.

Pros

• You only need $1 to open a Sallie Mae CDs through Raisin.
• Get stronger than average APYs on shorter terms.
• Get access to no-penalty CD options on 10- and 14-month terms.

Cons

• Only four term options to choose from through Raisin.

Overview of Sallie Mae CD rates

Sallie Mae‘s CD rates are compounded daily and credited to your account on the last day of each month. Like most CDs, it features an early withdrawal penalty should you withdraw your funds prior to maturity unless you choose one of its no-penalty CD options through Raisin.

CD rates through Raisin

CD term	APY	Minimum deposit
10-month no-penalty CD	5.00%	$1
14-month no-penalty CD	5.05%	$1
10-month CD	5.00%	$1
14-month CD	5.05%	$1

CD rates directly through Sallie Mae

CD term	APY	Minimum deposit
6-month CD	4.95%	$2,500
9-month CD	5.10%	$2,500
11-month CD	5.15%	$2,500
12-month CD	5.25%	$2,500
13-month CD	5.25%	$2,500
15-month CD	5.30%	$2,500
18-month CD	5.30%	$2,500
24-month CD	4.65%	$2,500
30-month CD	4.00%	$2,500
36-month CD	4.00%	$2,500
60-month CD	4.00%	$2,500

Compare Sallie Mae with other CDs

Narrow down top CDs by APY and minimum opening requirements to find the best CD for your financial needs. Then select Compare on up to four products to see their benefits side by side.

What is Raisin?

Raisin is an online platform that offers select banking products from existing banks. The products offered are typically different from the ones you’d find by signing up through the bank itself, with better rates, fewer fees or other perks you wouldn’t find otherwise. Raisin offers exclusive savings accounts, money market savings accounts and CDs.

Who is Sallie Mae CDs through Raisin best for?

Thanks to higher than standard APYs and negligible minimum deposits, all types of consumers looking to save and grow their wealth will find Raisin‘s Sallie Mae CDs a useful tool. In fact, most of the rates on Raisin‘s Sallie Mae CDs are stronger or comparable than what you’d find when opening an account through Sallie Mae directly. Plus you’ll get a lower minimum deposit.

The only tradeoff is you have just four term lengths to choose from rather than Sallie Mae‘s 11 terms. And if you want longer term CDs, you might look elsewhere or to Sallie Mae itself.

How to apply for Sallie Mae CDs through Raisin

You can sign up for these unique Sallie Mae CDs through Raisin directly.

1. Select Apply now.
2. Scroll through the CD list and select the Sallie Mae product you want. Click Save now.
3. Fill out the requested information to open an account and complete your application.

More about Sallie Bank’s CDs: Deposits, fees and details

What it is	Sallie Mae CDs through Raisin	CDs directly through Sallie Mae
Minimum deposit	$1	$2,500
Total term options	4 terms	11 terms
Early withdrawal penalties	Penalty equal to 180 days’ simple interest. No penalty on its 10- and 14-month no-penalty CDs.	Terms of 12 months or less: 90 days’ simple interest. Terms 12+ months: 180 days’ simple interest.
Grace period	7 days	10 days
Cashout and rollover details	At maturity, you have a 7-day grace period to renew to a new term. There’s no grace period if you withdraw and don’t renew for a new term.	You may withdraw as a check or transfer funds to a checking or savings account. At maturity, you have a 10-day grace period to withdraw funds from your account without penalty. You can prevent renewal by withdrawing the funds in your CD at maturity or within the grace period.

Customer experience

Customers generally like the rates and products offered by Raisin, but find the customer and account servicing a bit more challenging than opening a product directly through a bank. They argue this is because Raisin works as the intermediary between you and your account, and customers are unable to service their account with the associated bank directly.

If you open a CD through Raisin, you won’t be able to use Sallie Mae‘s customer service.

There are three ways you can reach Raisin:

• Send a direct message on their website.
• Call 844-994-3276 or 646-933-7700.
• Email support.us@raisin.com.