You can get 6% on a CD by becoming a member of a credit union offering a certificate with this rate.
There aren't any traditional banks offering a 7% interest savings account in the U.S., but you will find some credit unions that offer checking accounts and certificates with rates near or above 7.00% APY. It's important to note that savings account rates are variable and can change at any time.
As of writing, no U.S.-based banks are offering a 7.00% APY on a savings account. For high-yield savings accounts — top, competitive rates are more in the 5.00% APY range. However, Landmark Credit Union currently offers a Premium Checking account with a 7.50% APY on balances of up to $500.
Why it's probably time to buy a CD. It's unlikely that CD rates will continue to climb any higher. Now, you can lock in high rates on both short-term and long-term CDs. Waiting to open a CD could mean missing out on some stellar rates.
The national average rate for one-year CD rates started out at 1.07 percent in 2023, and it rose to 1.73 percent by the end of the year. At the start of 2023, the national average rate paid by five-year CDs was 1.16 percent, and it climbed to 1.43 percent by year's end.
The average yield on a one-year CD in December 2023 was 1.86%, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), while a 60-month CD was 1.40%. While those rates aren't exactly robust, they're well above recent levels.
CD rate forecast: 2024
The Fed kept its rate the same after its first meeting of 2024 on Jan. 30-31. Projections suggest that we may see no rate increases in 2024, and that the Fed might start dropping its rate as soon as March, according to the CME FedWatch Tool on Jan. 31.
Jumbo CDs work the same way as regular CDs but with larger minimum deposit amounts. Jumbo CDs are often purchased by institutional investors with large sums of money to manage and need to put money into safe investments like CDs to protect their investors against risks.
Before opening a jumbo CD account — and locking up at least $100,000 for an extended period of time — take into consideration when you'll need access to your cash.
Finally, don't be afraid to negotiate with your current bank or credit union for a better CD interest rate. They may be willing to offer you a higher rate to keep your business, especially if you have a good credit score, a long-standing relationship with them or a large sum of money to deposit.
You'll earn $850.50 for a total of $15,850.50 after one year when you open a $15,000 1-year CD with Popular Direct when calculating the returns at current rates. A 1-year CD at LendingClub Bank or CIBC Bank USA will produce $847.50 or $843.00 in returns, respectively. Lock in strong returns with a one-year CD today.
You must report interest earned on a CD as taxable interest on Form 1040.The bank issuing the CD will send you an annual information return, Form 1099-INT and/or Form 1099-OID, that reports the taxable interest income for the year in Box 1. The interest amount should be reported on line 2 b on your Form 1040.
Inflation Risk
If inflation is rising, it could outpace the rate of return you're earning on your CDs, especially in a low interest rate environment. This means even though your savings is growing, it won't stretch as far when it's time to spend it.
The bottom line
In today's financial climate, where uncertainty looms and market conditions can change rapidly, putting $5,000 in a 6-month CD is a smart move for many investors. The higher interest rates, liquidity, low risk, diversification benefits and predictable returns make it a compelling option.
Lock in that rate before interest rates fall
The main reason CDs are paying so generously right now is that the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates numerous times since early 2022 to cool inflation. Of course, an unwanted side effect of those rate hikes is higher borrowing rates for loans and credit cards.
Among scheduled private sector banks, DCB Bank and RBL Bank offer the best FD interest rates of up to 8.00% p.a. Among scheduled public sector banks, the highest FD rate is offered by the Punjab & Sind Bank of up to 7.40% p.a. for a tenure of 444 days.
If you're looking for a safe way to earn interest on your savings, a certificate of deposit, or CD, is worth considering. CDs tend to offer higher interest rates than savings accounts. And today's best CD rates are far higher than the national averages. CDs may not always be worth it though.