Certificates of deposit (CDs) can be valuable options for savers looking to earn good returns on funds they don’t need presently. CD rates held mostly steady over the past week, according to data from Curinos, as the Federal Reserve put a pause on its effort to curb inflation by raising short-term rates.
Three-month CD rates
Rates on three-month CDs have remained the same from a week ago. The national average rate was 1.22% as of January 11, 2024, the latest data available, the same as the previous week and up three basis points from a month prior.
The current national high for a three-month CD is 5.83%, which would earn more than $355 in interest with a $25,000 deposit.
Six-month CD rates
When you opt for leading six-month CDs, you get a winning combination: solid interest rates and a commitment that’s only short-term.
The national average APY for six-month CDs is 1.68%, up slightly from 1.66% last week and 1.63% one month ago.
The current top national rate for a 6-month CD is 5.84%, according to the data available from Curinos’ database. But you may be able to find better deals by shopping around.
You’d earn almost $720 in interest if you put $25,000 in a six-month CD with a rate of 5.84%.
One-year CD rates
If you’re willing to lock away your savings for 12 months, you can grab even better rates. One-year CDs can give you returns as high as, or even higher than, longer-term options.
Rates on 12-month CDs are increasing. The national average APY is 1.88%, up one basis point from last week
The current national high for a 12-month CD is 5.87%, which would earn around $1,460 in interest with a $25,000 deposit.
Two-year CD rates
Interest rates on CDs with longer terms have remained stable.
The nationwide average APY stands at 1.66%, the same as last week , although up one basis point from one month ago.
The current national high for a 24-month CD is 5.35%. By locking in a rate close to this high, you’ll make the most of your returns on this longer-term investment.
If you invest $25,000 in a 24-month CD at the high rate of 5.35%, you’d earn around $2,750 in interest.
Three-year CD rates
The national average APY for a three-year CD stands at 1.58%, which is flat to where it stood last week and up from 1.57% a month ago.
The highest rate was 5.10%, which would net almost $4,023 in interest if you invested $25,000.
Methodology
To establish average certificate of deposit (CD) rates, Curinos focused on CDs intended for personal use. CDs that fall into specific categories are excluded, including promotional offers, relationship-based rates, private, youth, senior, student/minor, affinity, bump-up, no-penalty, callable, variable, step-up, auto transfer, club, gifts, grandfathered, internet-only and IRA CDs. The average CD rates quoted above are based on a $25,000 deposit.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Generally, the earnings you make from your CDs are considered taxable income by the IRS. If you earn $10 or more, the financial institution should send you (and the IRS) a yearly 1099-INT form reporting your interest earnings. Even if you don’t receive a form, you’re still required to report the income.
For earnings of at least $1,500, you’ll need to itemize your interest income sources on Schedule B of the 1040 form. The silver lining is that there are some exceptions, but they mainly apply to government-issued investment vehicles.
The tax amount you pay depends on your specific marginal tax bracket.
Interest income from treasury bills, notes, and bonds, like I bonds, is exempt from state and local income taxes.
CD rates change on a regular basis, but the higher the better. As of January 11, 2024, the national average interest rate for a 12-month CD sat at 1.88 % APY, according to data from Curinos. But you can find plenty of banks advertising APYs well above this average, especially if you take a look at the top contenders in our ranking of the best CD rates.
A basis point is the term used to describe one hundredth of one percentage point. Therefore, if the yield on a CD increased from 1.50% to 1.60%, it increased by 10 basis points.
