1-Year CD Rates from Online Banks 2023
Certificates of deposit (CD) rates from online banks are often above average if you are willing to open and manage your account using the Internet. Most online banks offer an online application and money can be transferred to fund the CD via an electronic transfer, check, wire, or credit card. You can view a financial snapshot of any online bank by clicking on its name and then the Financial Details tab.
Highest One-Year Online CD Rates - January 28, 2023
1 Year CD National Average: 0.43% ?
BANK | APY? | MIN? | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sponsored | Advertiser Disclosure | |||
![]() |
4.15% | $2,500 |
Learn More
on the Discover Bank website |
|
Guaranteed returns. No account fees. Member FDIC. |
||||
|
5.00% | $1,000 |
Learn More
|
|
|
4.85% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
BK15328 | Aug 20, 2022 Great experience with Ivy Bank! They are constantly updating their rate to stay competitive. Since I've opened my account they've increased my rate 4 or 5 times. It's easy to apply and open and have had no... Read More |
||||
Restrictions |
4.76% | $5,000 | Learn More | |
Okeefjj | Sep 22, 2022 Super easy to join. Happy to receive 3.51% on a 12 month CD! |
||||
|
4.76% | $5,000 | Learn More | |
13-Month CD |
||||
brad | Jan 9, 2023 I apply for CD but got turned down due to inaccurate information. I called them and they said to use a different email address. The application did not work at all. It is not easy to open an application a... |
||||
|
4.75% | $500 | Learn More | |
rffleck | Jan 11, 2023 Applied online for CD Jan 2023. 2 days later still no contact. Called 45 min for rep. Rep said process takes 10-14 days no interest until funded. Read More |
||||
|
4.75% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
Early Withdrawal Penalty is 180 days interest. |
||||
Jim Plew | Apr 22, 2015 Hello, I am interested in a line of credit against my home. I have a high interest credit card that I want to move to this credit. I have a wells fargo mortgage which is only a few years old which I do no... |
||||
|
4.75% | $5,000 | Learn More | |
Early Withdrawal Penalty is 3 Months' Interest. |
||||
jp2 | Jul 1, 2022 not really an onllne bank. compare this interface that gives you no information with that of any other bank (I cannot even confirm the rate). cannot switch in and out of cds or np cds. just not an online b... Read More |
||||
|
4.75% | $10,000 | Learn More | |
Early Withdrawal Penalty is 270 days interest. |
||||
Not a pleasant group of people to do business with | Jan 4, 2023 No, they are not. Read More |
||||
|
4.65% | $25,000 | Learn More | |
IrishinTX | Jan 19, 2023 People read what you are looking at . . . this section is for CD's not money market accounts. Two different investments types, CD covered by insurance and money markets are not. Know what you are doing a... |
||||
|
4.60% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
Az1 | Aug 26, 2022 Too slow to raise rates. Read More |
||||
|
4.52% | $500 | Learn More | |
Richard | Jul 1, 2022 Very easy opening process and wonderful staff. |
||||
|
4.50% | $1,500 | Learn More | |
Early withdrawal penalty is 180 days interest. |
||||
chanse | Dec 21, 2022 Easy to open, took maybe 15 minutes for a joint account. Easy to access, easy to transfer $ in and out. Don't know why the negative reviewers experiences were so different, but maybe it's not the bank???... Read More |
||||
|
4.45% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
BET | Oct 30, 2022 very easy process, no probs at all Read More |
||||
Restrictions |
4.45% | $100,000 | Learn More | |
donbilla | Jan 28, 2023 Wake up guys they now have a special that is special Check it out! |
||||
|
4.34% | $2,500 | Learn More | |
JC | Jun 1, 2021 Update: STAY AWAY FROM THIS BANK! They have no clue how to run an online bank. This bank is not ready for prime time. Nothing but problems. Customer service is dismal at best. |
||||
|
4.30% | $2,000 | Learn More | |
jp76 | Jun 13, 2022 3 days for an ach is not market when most banks on this list do it instantly. even frigging rising bank. customer service is beyond dreadful. Read More |
||||
Restrictions |
4.25% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
Early Withdrawal Penalty is all interest earned. |
||||
Michael | Nov 11, 2022 I have been with PenFed for a number of years, and have gotten good products. Employees have been helpful. However, beware of titling for accounts with trusts. You will not be able to distinguish betw... |
||||
|
4.25% | $5,000 | Learn More | |
Dr. Bill N | Jan 18, 2023 The website is constantly down. I'll move all my accounts to a less recognized name with a better rate as that gives me fewer surprises like this. Read More |
||||
|
4.25% | $25,000 | Learn More | |
AllyAccountOwner | Jan 7, 2023 After being a customer for 12 plus years, I attempted to open and Estate account. Ally declined my application saying they could not verify me even though I am a long time customer with six figures in a... Read More |
||||
|
4.15% | $0 | Learn More | |
FlyingFin | Jan 22, 2023 Terrible bank, got their high interest IRA savings with no annual fee, then Capital One decides to get out of iRA business and transfers the IRA savings account to another bank who charges an annual fee t... Read More |
||||
Restrictions |
4.14% | $500 | Learn More | |
member | Dec 14, 2022 Agree with Jaben to stay away from docfcu. They don't appreciate loyal members and easily turn down any requests after a delayed response. I have closed my accounts and moved my funds to better institutio... |
||||
|
4.10% | $1,500 | Learn More | |
Dkplan | Dec 27, 2022 They gave a hard time with their cashier's check. They returned my deposited check that was emitted by them. Could you believe? |
||||
|
4.00% | $500 | Learn More | |
JessicaT | Jan 16, 2023 I will play my part and give my business to a small, family-owned company over a behemoth every time that I am given the chance with most products but Vio is a complete shitshow and has sent me back to All... Read More |
||||
|
4.00% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
TRU | Jan 9, 2023 TIAA stole money from university professors and staff and mismanaged assets so badly that a generation of people in academia were denied a comfortable retirement. Read More |
||||
|
4.00% | $2,500 | Learn More | |
overdrawn | Nov 12, 2022 I was shopping for deposit rates in August, and NerdWallet, a site I had previously trusted, had it on their list. I was unaware they took deposits. They are the only bank that ever duplicated a transactio... |
||||
|
4.00% | $25,000 | Learn More | |
Warning: Early Withdrawal Penalty is 2% of the account balance. |
||||
Al | Apr 12, 2021 Frustrating. The initial application form is a breeze. Then the problems start. Many hoops to jump through. |
||||
|
3.90% | $25,000 | Learn More | |
SheKnows | Oct 3, 2022 The rate is not always competitive (but I am checking now on October 3, 2022 and it is above Ally, Barclays, Marcus, Synchrony). I still give CIBC an A+. It is all about transfers. Theirs are easy, reliabl... Read More |
||||
|
3.87% | $10,000 | Learn More | |
Early Withdrawal Penalty is 1% of principal. |
||||
carscoupons@comcast.net | Sep 6, 2019 Went to bank yesterday this is not a good rate. Needs to be updated. Read More |
||||
Restrictions |
3.75% | $500 |
Learn More
|
|
|
3.50% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
Early Withdrawal Penalty is 180 days interest. |
||||
george | Dec 21, 2022 Warning, Dollar Savings Direct, My savings direct both play game, interest rate are good, but once you deposit its very difficult to get money out(withdraw), think twice before you put money in,you also lo... Read More |
||||
|
3.25% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
Early Withdrawal Penalty is all interest earned. |
||||
Jeffinnh | Mar 30, 2021 These guys are the best local bank. Very responsive. |
||||
|
3.05% | $25,000 | Learn More | |
Early withdrawal penalty is 6 months interest. |
||||
james | Aug 31, 2022 you can view but you wont get in. application can't go through, they can't help even you called, Bank just make show they exit. Read More |
||||
|
3.00% | $2,500 | Learn More | |
judy | Jul 7, 2022 Insbank 1 yr is 1.5 % 18month is 1.6% 7-7-2022 |
||||
|
3.00% | $10,000 | Learn More | |
LarryMass | Dec 8, 2020 Everyone here in Boston raves about Salem Five but it is shithole operation filled with nasty entitled people. As for this online savings product, the fees are ridiculous, the transfer charges are obnoxiou... Read More |
||||
|
2.00% | $0 | Learn More | |
Chris | Aug 31, 2022 never had a problem moving money in/out. After trying a couple banks with higher rates but less service will be moving my money back here. Read More |
||||
|
1.65% | $1,000 |
Learn More
|
|
|
0.75% | $500 | Learn More | |
Savvysaver | Nov 9, 2020 Here's what you will need: To be a resident of New Jersey or select Eastern Pennsylvania counties (the zip code provided in your application will receive an error stating "Zip code is not valid for this ap... |
||||
|
0.60% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
Iman | Mar 4, 2021 They are liers. Please don't open their credit cards to avoid being taking advantage of!!! I hope they bankrupt SOOOOOON. Read More |
||||
|
0.50% | $500 | Learn More | |
Warning: Early Withdrawal Penalty is 12 Months of Interest |
||||
Jason | Jun 20, 2018 Their website says the offer is going away tomorrow at 9AM EST. Hurry! Read More |
||||
|
0.45% | $500 | Learn More | |
Thomas DeMauro | Aug 28, 2022 Rates are totally uncompetitive now. |
||||
Restrictions |
0.40% | $500 |
Learn More
|
|
|
0.40% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
opal@8 | Dec 13, 2019 yes good |
||||
|
0.35% | $5,000 |
Learn More
|
|
|
0.30% | $500 |
Learn More
|
|
|
0.30% | $1,000 |
Learn More
|
|
|
0.30% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
RTN1949 | Jun 2, 2022 I've been a customer since CIT emerged from the financial crisis as a real competitor in this space (14 years or so). Zero complaints about anything over this time ... until today. Now they are offering a... Read More |
||||
|
0.30% | $25,000 | Learn More | |
aprz | Jul 3, 2019 Just set up an account. Don't know long term yet, however they were (Kelsey) a dream to work with. |
||||
|
0.25% | $2,500 | Learn More | |
dbestway@gmail.com | Aug 13, 2019 I filled out the application 10 days ago answering all questions and sent a file with a copy of my drivers license to Western Bank. I received an email saying that a banker would call me within one busines... |
||||
|
0.25% | $10,000 | Learn More | |
Early Withdrawal Penalty is 181 days interest. |
||||
UtahJazz1 | Jun 10, 2022 This bank hasn't raised their rates! Maybe I was sleeping but I need to get out of here fast. Read More |
||||
|
0.20% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
JR48 | Dec 21, 2022 Stay away from this bait and switch bank that uses teaser rates. They lowered my interest rate twice in the first 2 months of opening my account. They said they had the right to change their rate at any ti... Read More |
||||
|
0.20% | $50,000 | Learn More | |
Zman111 | Jun 26, 2022 ACH transfers are not allowed. Called and was told that I had to set up wire transfers (and pay fees) or I could come in to the bank and get a bank check. Read More |
||||
|
0.15% | $500 | Learn More | |
Afeica | Aug 7, 2020 Had a car loan with them. Paid it off because I was selling the vehicle. They told me it would take 10 business days to clear the transaction (it was immediate via electronic) and was out of my account th... Read More |
||||
|
0.15% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
$1,000 minimum deposit to open an account. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Account fees may reduce your earnings. |
||||
nonsense | May 21, 2021 avoid this Read More |
||||
Restrictions |
0.15% | $100,000 |
Learn More
|
|
Restrictions |
0.10% | $500 |
Learn More
|
|
Restrictions |
0.10% | $500 |
Learn More
|
|
|
0.05% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
Dudley | Apr 18, 2018 Worst experience of my life. Did not fund and gave $25 to my own charity. Read More |
||||
|
0.05% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
Diane Bailey | Dec 20, 2022 Excellent customer service. Professional, informative and courteous. Read More |
||||
|
0.03% | $1,000 | Learn More | |
RYAN S | Nov 28, 2022 While USAA was at one point a great option for all your banking needs, the service has deteriorated so much that I'm currently in the process of changing banks after more than 2 decades. The final straw w... Read More |
Summary: Today's Highest Online CD Rates - January 2023
Bank Institution | Product Term | Interest Rate (APY) |
---|---|---|
Ivy Bank, a division of Cambridge Savings Bank | 1-Year | 4.85% APY with $1,000 minimum |
Connexus | 1-Year | 4.76% APY with $5,000 minimum |
Popular Direct | 1-Year | 4.75% APY with $10,000 minimum |
Popular Direct | 3-Year | 4.60% APY with $10,000 minimum |
M.Y. Safra Bank | 3-Year | 4.51% APY with $500 minimum |
Bread Savings, a division of Comenity Capital Bank | 3-Year | 4.50% APY with $1,500 minimum |
Popular Direct | 5-Year | 4.55% APY with $10,000 minimum |
M.Y. Safra Bank | 5-Year | 4.51% APY with $500 minimum |
Bread Savings, a division of Comenity Capital Bank | 5-Year | 4.50% APY with $1,500 minimum |
PRODUCT INFORMATION
One-Year CD - Online Banks 2023
Certificates of Deposit (CDs) are offered by most banks in a variety of maturity dates. The 1-year rates in the table above are listed in descending order based on Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) which is the rate of return that you will earn, when adjusted for compounding, over a 12 month period, and the way in which banks are required by US banking regulations to advertise their CD rates.
A certificate of deposit represents a time commitment between a depositor (someone who has money to put in the bank) and a bank. The depositor agrees to leave a specified amount of money in the bank for a set period of time. The bank agrees to keep the money safe and to provide a fixed rate of return.
A 1-year CD has a very brief time commitment and can also generate a rate of return above the prevailing savings rate. Therefore, many people use 1-year CDs to slightly augment their rates of return over savings with only slightly more risk than they would have if they were entirely in savings accounts and money market accounts.
FDIC Insurance
Provided the bank is FDIC-insured and the deposit amount is within FDIC limits, the principal is also secured by an agency of the United States federal government against loss. Further information about FDIC insurance is found in this article and if you have specific questions about your own circumstances you should use the FDIC’s Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator.
CD Risk
The principal of a CD is safe and insured as long as the deposit amount is FDIC limits. Interest that accrues and is paid or deposited to the principal also is safe as long as the total balance remains within FDIC limits.
A CD however bears two significant risks:
-
Liquidity risk
If you think you may need access to your principal during the period of the time commitment for a major purchase or an unforeseen expense, CDs are generally not a good place to store money. The terms of most CDs outline the penalty that will be assessed in order to access your capital. This penalty is usually assessed in terms of time periods. For example, a common penalty on a 1-year CD is 3 months, although you should always check this carefully in the terms and conditions before opening a CD as it could be longer. Banks and credit unions are not obliged to offer an early withdrawal penalty, and may change or remove or even refuse to honor the early withdrawal penalty in their paperwork. For further details, please read this article. BestCashCow never recommends a strategy involving the purchase of a CD when you have a high likelihood that you will need your capital. Inflation risk
Since CDs are considered a very safe investment when you stay within FDIC and NCUA-limits, they often do not pay much over the anticipated rate of inflation, and can often pay under this rate. Were interest rates to rise (or the inflation rates to rise), the real or inflation -adjusted value of your CD can drop over time, especially when you factor in the tax consequences of ownership of a CD. In the event of rates rising, you may be able to use the early withdrawal penalty to get your principal but for the reasons mentioned above, BestCashCow does not recommend relying on such a strategy.
Be sure to think about how CDs fit into your overall portfolio objectives.
CD Laddering
An effective strategy used by many to bolster their savings strategy is to own CDs with various maturities. In other words, a depositor with $400,000 and put $100,000 in a 3 month CD, $100,000 in a 6 month CD, $100,000 in a 9 month CD and $100,000 in a one-year CD, then your liquidity risk in highly diminished because you are always near maturity on one of your CDs. (Note that no more than 2 of these CDs should be at the same bank in order to avoid exceeding FDIC limits).
The reality is that we are in a very low interest rate environment, and any CD with a maturity of less than 1 year is going to pay below, perhaps well below, the prevailing rates in the leading online savings accounts or at brick-and-mortar banks. Therefore, the strategy outlined above would be largely absurd in the current environment.
A laddering strategy that would make more sense for the same depositor who might otherwise hold $400,000 in cash would be to put $100,000 in a one year CD every three months. Liquidity risk in the same way is diminished as the depositor is never more than 3 months from maturity, yet the depositor is picking up some small improvement over the best savings rates than where all of his money to be in cash.
Laddering strategies can also involve longer term CDs, but one that involves terms as little as 1 year can improve on the savings rates with minimal impairment to your liquidity.
More information on CD laddering is available in this article.
How Interest is Paid
The method of distributing the interest earned on a CD varies by bank. Some banks pay interest monthly, other semi-annually, and others at the maturity of the CD. In general, online banks pay the interest electronically either by adding it to the principal balance or with an ACH transfer back to the depositor's primary linked checking account. Other online banks may pay via a check in the mail.
Interest Rate
Currently, the most competitive banks offer 1-year rates that are slightly above the top online savings and money market rates. Depositors need to decide if they want the fixed rate of the CD or the flexibility of the savings account (savings accounts do not come with any term time requirements).
In a rising rate environment, it is generally better to keep money flexible and liquid and put it into either short term CDs or savings or money market accounts. In a falling rate environment, it is generally better to lock the rate using a CD or some other fixed rate investment. In a stable rate environment, you may be able to collect a small premium in exchange for your loss of liquidity.
Online banks generally offer CDs available to residents of any of the 50 states. The CD must be opened online and funded either by online transfer or by mail.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
What are CD rates?
CD rates are the fix rate that the bank pays a depositor for entering a CD for the entire term of a CD. They are expressed in annual percentage yield (“APY”) terms, so that they are standardized. $100,000 invested in a one year CD at 1% will be worth $101,000 at maturity in exactly 1 year. $100,000 invested in a two-year CD at 1.50% will be worth $101,500 in exactly 1 year and worth $103,022.50 at maturity (assuming the interest is not paid out before maturity, but is added to the principal). Please see BestCashCow’s Savings & CD Calculator to better understand the magic of compounded interest over time.
Do CDs Pay Interest Monthly or Yearly?
When opening a CD, it is important to consider how interest is credited or paid. Interest can be credited to the CD monthly, quarterly or annually. For those CDs of one year or less, interest may be credited only at maturity.
When interest is paid, the CD holder may have arranged for the interest to be mailed to them as a check. The other option is for the interest to be added to the principal of the CD.
Regardless of how and when interest is paid, it is required to be expressed (standardized) by all banks in the form of an annual percentage yield (“APY”) rate.
How Is Interest on CDs Taxed?
Interest on CDs is taxed as ordinary income. Your bank will provide you with a 1099-INT detailing the interest that you must report on your tax return at the end of each year. Regardless of whether interest is paid in the form of a check or added to principal, CD holders need to report the interest in the year in which it is paid. Purchasing a Certificate of Deposit of one-year or less that pays a single lump sum interest payment at maturity may defer tax on interest until the following year, but otherwise holders of CDs should generally expect to pay ordinary taxes on interest earned in every year in which they hold a CD. Further detail is found in IRS Publication 550 (page 5).
Why Are CD Rates So Low?
CD rates on terms of 1 and 2 years were very constantly low for many years from 2009 to 2015 as the Fed Funds rate was held at zero following the great recession. Rates on longer term CDs were occasionally more interesting during this period (depending more heavily on the level and direction of the US Treasury Bond).
The US Federal Reserve’s action towards normalizing interest rates has been painfully slow (resulting from Brexit, European financial instability, etc.), and CD rates have remained at levels that are very low by historical norms. However, we have seen CD rates rise in 2016 and 2017 as the Federal Reserve has begun to slowly raise the Fed Funds rate.
Are CD rates going up or down? When are they expected to rise?
If the Federal Reserve accelerates its plan to raise the Fed Funds rate or if global economic developments were to cause US treasury rates to rise, we would quickly see higher CD rates. However, the global economic environment is uncertain with European long-term interest rates being negative. Should the US also enter a recession and the US 10-year Treasury rate fall still further, it is possible that CD rates could fall further.
What is a good rate for a CD?
BestCashCow lists the best CD rates available from online banks above, and the best rates from local banks and credit unions. A good rate is the best rate that you can find at an FDIC or NCUA-insured institution, provided that it compensates you adequately over the best savings rates for the liquidity that you are giving up. Only you can determine based on your own personal circumstances whether that is a good CD rate for you. BestCashCow’s Savings & CD Calculator can help you to understand how much more interest a CD can generate over a savings account.
Is there an advantage to a 12-Month Certificate of Deposit over Online Savings Accounts?
At any moment in time, there is ordinarily a premium to an online 12-month CD rate over an online savings rate. The table below demonstrates the spread between the two over the last several years. Whether it makes sense for you to take advantage of these higher rates in the 12-month rate depends on your own need for liquidity and your view on whether and how fast savings rates will rise.
What are the advantages of online one-year CDs?
- Funds deposited in FDIC banks and within insurance limits are protected by the full faith and credit of the United States government.
- CDs provide a predictable, set rate of return.
- The CD can be opened from the comfort of your house.
- The CDs are generally available to any resident of the United States.
What are the disadvantages of one year CDs?
- One year CDs pay interest rates that are just above the leading rates offered on online and branch-based savings and money market accounts. There is a very slight premium for having the money locked up for one year. Your own circumstances and tax rate will help you to determine if that premium provides adequate compensation to you for your loss of liquidity.
- The deposited money is committed for one year.
- The account must be opened online and all inquiries must be conducted online or via the phone.
- Depending on the bank, the opening and funding process can take several days to weeks although the bank generally locks the rate once the application has been received and approved.
All banks listed on BestCashCow are FDIC insured; BestCashCow.com strongly recommends that you stay within FDIC insurance limits and that if you are unsure of how the limits affect you, please visit the FDIC website.
To understand all of the income generating options available to a saver, please view the Income Generating Investments Comparison Chart.