CD Rates Today: November 19, 2025 – Take Home Up To 4.94%

A CD is a specific type of savings account (known as a time deposit account) that comes with a fixed interest rate and a maturity period. CDs, depending on the yield, typically offer better yields than high-yield savings accounts. The tradeoff is that you can’t access your cash until the CD matures; otherwise, you’ll owe a withdrawal fee. The longer the term, the harsher the early withdrawal penalty. It’s not unusual to lose one full year’s worth of interest or more if you break open a five-year CD too soon. Be certain you understand the penalty before you make your investment.

The best interest rates on CDs—certificates of deposit—pay up to 4.94% today, based on certificate term lengths. Here’s an overview of how CD rates are changing, followed by a guide to the current top CD rates across different terms.

Highest CD Rates Today by Term

Below is a quick look at today’s top CD rates by term to help you compare and find the best option for your savings goals. 

• 3-month CD rates: These are a good option for short-term savings goals. The current average annual percentage yield (APY) on a three-month CD sits at 1.29%, but the highest rate is 4.38%. The average rate is unchanged from a week ago. 
• 6-month CD rates: If you’re interested in a short-term CD with high yields, consider a six-month CD. The best rate today is 4.94%. The current average APY for a six-month CD is 1.79%, about the same as last week. 
• 1-year CD rates: The highest interest rate currently available on a 12-month CD—one of the most popular CD terms—is 4.84%. If you find a rate in that vicinity, you’re getting a good deal. That rate hasn’t changed much since last week. The average APY on a one-year CD is now 1.79%, unchanged from a week ago. 
• 2-year CD rates: If you can hold out for two years, 2-year CDs today are being offered at interest rates as high as 4.25%. The top rate last week was 4.28%. The average APY for this CD term is 1.61%, flat to last week’s average. 
• 3-year CD rates: Today, the highest rate on a three-year CD stands at 4.14%, so you’ll want to shop around for that rate or something near it. The average APY is 1.55%. 
• 5-year CD rates: On a five-year CD, the highest rate today is 4.12%. APYs are averaging 1.57%, similar to last week. 
• Jumbo CD rates: The best rate today on jumbo CDs is 4.94% for a 6-month term. As with non-jumbo, various term lengths are available. The average APY for the 6-month CD is currently 1.83%. Most jumbo CDs require a minimum deposit of $100,000—and some even require $250,000. However, there’s no universally agreed-upon definition regarding what qualifies as a “jumbo” CD. Some banks and credit unions slap the label “jumbo” on CDs you can open with $50,000, $25,000 or even less.

Here’s a look at this week’s most competitive rates on certificates of deposit.

Check out other top CD rate pages offering competitive APYs:

Average CD Rates

Latest CD Rates News

The federal funds rate is one of the key drivers of the interest rates banks offer on CDs. This rate represents the interest banks charge each other for overnight loans, and it is influenced by the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decisions. 

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets eight times a year to review and adjust the target range for the federal funds rate. At each meeting, the committee chooses to maintain, raise or lower the rate. These changes affect the short-term interest rates financial institutions offer, including those on CDs. As a result, it’s necessary to follow the FOMC’s decisions to anticipate where CD rates are heading. 

The FOMC kept the federal funds rate unchanged this year until its September 18 meeting, when it lowered the rate by 25 basis points, or one-quarter of a percent. The committee reduced the rate again by the same amount at its October 30 meeting, bringing it to its current range of 3.75% to 4.00%, the lowest level in three years. 

The FOMC’s next meeting is scheduled for December 9–10. While it’s uncertain whether another rate cut will occur at that time, the Fed may opt to lower the rate again in response to a slowing labor market and rising unemployment. 

Read more: CD Interest Rates Forecast: Will CD Rates Go Up In 2025?

Is Now a Good Time To Buy a CD?

Although the federal funds rate has declined this year and average CD rates have followed suit, CD rates remain higher than they were a decade ago. 

With top rates still above 4.00% APY, now may be a good time to lock in a high rate before another potential rate cut in December or early 2026. Many of the best CD rates also continue to outpace inflation, with the Consumer Price Index rising 3.00% over the past 12 months, as of September 2025. 

When you open a CD, you agree to keep your money locked in for a set term. Withdrawing early typically results in a penalty, but you’re guaranteed the return promised at the time of deposit, even if your bank later lowers its rates. 

For savers who can afford to set aside funds for a few months or more, CDs offer a more stable return than high-yield savings accounts, whose variable rates can drop immediately after an FOMC decision. 

Ultimately, whether to invest in a CD depends on your financial situation. Now may be an opportune time to secure one of the highest available rates, as rates are more likely to hold steady or decline rather than rise. However, if you carry high-interest debt, it’s usually wiser to pay that off first, since the interest you’re paying likely outweighs the APY you’d earn from a CD.

How CDs Work

CDs are a relatively simple savings tool: You open an account with a deposit (your principal), let your money sit for a predetermined period of months or years while you enjoy the magic of compounding interest.

Many CDs (as well as share certificates offered by credit unions) require a minimum deposit (typically less than $10,000 unless it’s a jumbo CD) to open your account. Some financial institutions allow you to fund an account with as little as a penny.

But banks and credit unions typically won’t allow you to add to your deposit once the term begins and the clock starts ticking. And they’re serious about not letting you crack open your CD or share certificate too soon. Early withdrawal penalties can be so tough that they’ll eat into your principal, not just take back some of your interest.

Methodology

Curinos determines the average rates for certificates of deposit (CDs) by focusing on specific CDs and excluding others. Certain types, such as 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 are not considered in the calculation. 

Forbes Advisor’s best CD rates by institution ranks the highest currently available APYs in our database of CD offerings. Rates are updated weekly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)