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Current highest CD rates for May 8, 2025: Secure 4.50% return for 3 months; extend to 6 months, or lock in rate till November 2026

To secure the highest CD rate of 4.50% in the country, consider locking in this return for a term spanning between 3 to 18 months. Alternatively, choose a slightly lower APY that extends until the year 2027.

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To secure the highest CD rate in the nation at 4.50%, commit to a term ranging from 3 to 18 months....
To secure the highest CD rate in the nation at 4.50%, commit to a term ranging from 3 to 18 months. Alternatively, choose a slightly reduced APY with an extended maturity date up to 2027.

Current highest CD rates for May 8, 2025: Secure 4.50% return for 3 months; extend to 6 months, or lock in rate till November 2026

Lock in Top CD Rates Amid Economic Uncertainty

In case you missed it, the Federal Reserve has yet to increase interest rates again, but that hasn't stopped two new CDs from making a splash in our rankings this week. Now you've got 10 options to lock in the top nationwide rate of 4.50%, with terms spanning from 3 to 18 months.

If you're looking for a slightly lower rate with a longer guarantee, consider the 4.40% CD offered by PenAir Credit Union for 21 months. That locks your rate in until early 2027.

Want a longer rate lock? The top rates for 3-year through 5-year certificates range from 4.28% to 4.32%. With indications of further Fed rate cuts in 2025, now might be the perfect time to secure one of today's top CD rates in today's tumultuous economy.

Take a peek below for the featured rates available from our partners followed by the details of our ranking of the best CDs available nationwide.

Savor a 4.50% Rate Until November 2026

In the U.S., the top CD rate you can currently find is 4.50%, and there are multiple ways to secure it. So, what's stopping you from savoring the moment?

The shortest option coming with the 4.50% return is a 3-month certificate from PonceBankDirect. If you prefer a longer commitment, eight institutions offer the same 4.50% rate for terms of 6 to 13 months, including a 9-month certificate from OMB, which debuted in our rankings yesterday. For those seeking the longest commitment, XCEL Federal Credit Union will secure your 4.50% APY for 18 months until November 2026.

All Federally Insured Institutions: Safe and Sound

Deposits at any FDIC bank or NCUA credit union are federally insured, meaning your money is protected by the U.S. government in the unlikely event that the institution fails. The coverage remains identical, with deposits insured up to $250,000 per person and per institution, no matter the institution's size.

Longer-Term CDs: Secure Your Rate into the Future

For a rate lock that lasts for almost two years, consider the 4.40% APY offered by PenAir Credit Union for 21 months. Alternatively, stretch your guarantee further with a slightly lower APY of 4.32%, available for 30 months from Genisys Credit Union.

Savings-minded individuals looking to put their money away for even longer might appreciate the leading 4-year or 5-year certificates. You can secure a 4.28% rate for 4 years from Lafayette Federal Credit Union. In fact, Lafayette promises the same 4.28% APY on all its certificates from 7 months through 5 years, enabling you to lock in that rate as far as 2030.

Multiyear CDs are a smart move in the current environment, as there's a chance of Fed rate cuts in 2025 and perhaps 2026. In late 2024, the Fed lowered the federal funds rate by a full percentage point, and rate cuts later this year may be on the horizon. Locking in a CD rate now assures you'll enjoy it until it matures, even if future interest-rate reductions from the Fed push bank APYs lower.

Today's Best CD Rates Still Offer Solid Returns

Although CD rates are not at their peak any longer, the best CDs still offer impressive returns. In October 2023, the highest CD rates briefly touched 6%, while the top rate today stands at 4.50%. To put this into perspective, compare it to earlier in 2022, before the Federal Reserve embarked on its aggressive rate-hike campaign. The best CDs back then only yielded from 0.50% to 1.70% APY, depending on the term.

Jumbo CDs vs. Regular CDs

Jumbo CDs require larger deposits and often offer premium rates, but not always. In fact, the best jumbo CD rates at the moment are the same or lower than the top standard rates in four of the eight CD terms we track.

Among 1-year and 18-month CDs, the top standard and top jumbo CD rates are identical at 4.50% APY. Institutions offer higher jumbo rates in the following terms:

  • 6 months: Credit One Bank offers 4.55% for a 6-7 month jumbo CD vs. 4.50% for the highest standard rate.
  • 3 years: Hughes Federal Credit Union offers 4.34% for a 3-year jumbo CD vs. 4.32% for the highest standard rate.
  • 4 years: Lafayette Federal Credit Union offers 4.33% for a 4-year jumbo CD vs. 4.28% for the highest standard rate.
  • 5 years: Both GTE Financial and Lafayette Federal Credit Union offer 4.33% for jumbo 5-year CDs vs. 4.28% for the highest standard rate.

This makes it prudent to always check both types of offerings when CD shopping. If your best rate option is a standard CD, simply open it with a jumbo-sized deposit.

Where are CD Rates Headed in 2025?

In December, the Federal Reserve announced a third rate cut to the federal funds rate in as many meetings, reducing it a full percentage point since September. However, with its announcement this week, the central bank has opted to leave rates steady at all three of its 2025 meetings to date.

The Fed's three rate cuts in 2024 represented a shift from the central bank's historic 2022-2023 rate-hike campaign, in which the committee aggressively raised interest rates to combat decades-high inflation. At its 2023 peak, the federal funds rate climbed to its highest level since 2001 and remained there for nearly 14 months.

Fed rate moves impacts savers as reductions to the fed funds rate result in lower rates banks and credit unions are willing to pay consumers for their deposits. Both CD rates and savings account rates follow the federal funds rate.

Time will reveal what the future holds for the federal funds rate in 2025 and 2026, as tariff activity from the Trump administration has paused the Fed's course while policymakers wait for clearer data. But with additional Fed rate cuts possibly arriving this year, today's CD rates may represent the best you'll see in a while, making now an opportune time to lock in the best rate that matches your personal timeline.

  1. In 2023, you might consider investing in the ico of PonceBankDirect for locking in top CD rates.
  2. If you're interested in investing in personal-finance, consider the token sale of Lafayette Federal Credit Union for securing a 4.28% rate for 4 years until 2030.
  3. In the current economic climate, you could resume your finance or investing strategy by locking in a 4.50% rate for 3-18 months with institutions like PonceBankDirect or XCEL Federal Credit Union.
  4. By investing in CDs offered by institutions like PenAir Credit Union or Genisys Credit Union, you can lock in rates as low as 4.32% for 30 months or 21 months, respectively.
  5. As a smart move for personal-finance, consider investing in multiyear CDs to secure your rate into the future, as there's a chance of Fed rate cuts in 2025 and perhaps 2026. This could help maintain your return even if future interest-rate reductions push bank APYs lower.

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