Can you earn a 7% CD interest rate? The truth behind high CD rates (2024)

FAQs

Can you earn a 7% CD interest rate? The truth behind high CD rates? ›

Right now, there aren't any financial institutions offering 7% interest on a CD. Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, a local financial institution in Michigan, previously offered a 7.19% APY on a 7-month CD special, but that offer has ended. There are a few financial institutions with CDs paying 6% APY or more, though.

Can You Get a 7% CD Account? There was a lot of excitement in August 2023 about a few credit unions offering 7% APYs on certificates. But those rates were offered for a limited time only and are no longer available. However, the nation's best CD rates are still well above 5%, with some pushing toward 6%.

You can find 6% CD rates at a few financial institutions, but chances are those rates are only available on CDs with maturities of 12 months or less. Financial institutions offer high rates to compete for business, but they don't want to pay customers ultra-high rates over many years.

But sometimes breaking this rule pays off. Getting a CD when rates are low and breaking it when rates are high might be an opportunity to benefit from a higher-rate CD and earn you more than you would gain otherwise. NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team.

Key takeaways. The national average rate for one-year CD rates will be at 1.15 percent APY by the end of 2024, McBride forecasts, while predicting top-yielding one-year CDs to pay a significantly higher rate of 4.25 percent APY at that time.

Right now, there aren't any financial institutions offering 7% interest on a CD. Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, a local financial institution in Michigan, previously offered a 7.19% APY on a 7-month CD special, but that offer has ended. There are a few financial institutions with CDs paying 6% APY or more, though.

Unlike traditional or high-yield savings accounts, which have variable APYs, most CDs lock your money into a fixed interest rate the day you open the account. That's why if you suspect that interest rates will soon drop, it can be a good idea to put money in a CD to preserve the high APY you would earn.

Long-term CD rates might have peaked in October 2023

Since March 2022, the central bank has raised the federal funds rate 11 times — with several of the hikes being more aggressive at 50 and 75 basis points higher. But with inflation finally cooling, there's at least one future rate cut in the cards by the Fed.

When should you break a CD early? ›

It's generally best to keep your deposit in your CD until its maturity date to avoid penalties. But there are scenarios when withdrawing your CD early may make sense, including when interest rates are rising or when you need to pay off high-interest debt.

Can You Lose Money on a CD? The risk of having a CD is very low. Unlike how the stock market or a Roth IRA can lose money, you typically cannot lose money in a CD. There is actually no risk the account owner incurs unless you withdraw money before the account reaches maturity.

Banks and credit unions often charge an early withdrawal penalty for taking funds from a CD ahead of its maturity date. This penalty can be a flat fee or a percentage of the interest earned. In some cases, it could even be all the interest earned, negating your efforts to use a CD for savings.

CDs generally offer terms in increments of three months up to one year and then switch to two-, three-, and five-year terms, during which your money remains untouched in the account. There are also CDs with 10-year terms.

What Is the Minimum Deposit for a CD? Minimum deposits vary based on account and financial institution, but a required deposit of around $500 to $1,000 is typical when opening a CD. However, it is possible to find CDs with no minimum deposit requirement.