What is a CD? How a certificate of deposit can help you earn more over time

A cheerful young woman with curly hair at home saving coins into her piggy bank. — CDs often offer higher interest rates than savings accounts.
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A certificate of deposit (CD) is a type of deposit account that offers a fixed interest rate.
To earn that rate, you'll need to keep your funds in the account for a certain period of time.
But if you withdraw funds before the end of the CD's term, you'll have to pay an early-withdrawal penalty.
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If you've got some extra cash and you're wondering where to park it, you've probably looked at savings accounts. You might have even thought about investing it if you're trying to make the most of your money. If that's the case, you might want to consider a certificate of deposit (CD).

With a CD, you can earn a little more without the risk that comes with putting your hard-earned savings into the stock market. That being said, there are some terms you should be aware of. Here's what you need to know.

What is a certificate of deposit?

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a type of savings account that can offer higher interest rates in exchange for keeping your money in the account for a set period of time. For example, if you put your money in a two-year CD, you typically can't withdraw any of it (at least without incurring a penalty) for two years. When it comes time to withdraw, though, your balance will have increased thanks to the account's fixed interest rate.

There's no fee to open or maintain a CD, although there's usually a minimum deposit amount. Not every financial institution offers CDs, but you'll find them at many traditional banks, online banks, and credit unions.

Understanding how CDs work

When you open a CD and deposit your funds, you're agreeing to keep them there for the full term, which can range from a few months to five years – or more. Typically, the longer the term, the higher the interest rate you'll earn. Your money is insured by the FDIC (typically up to $250,000), so there's no risk of losing it like there is with investing.

Let's say you come into a windfall and now have an additional $25,000. You already have some money in your savings account in case of emergency, and you're only earning a 0.01% APY on that account. You want to earn more on your money, but you don't want to invest that money in it, because you know you'll want to cash some of it out in a few years. So instead, you put it in a three-year CD that offers a 1.50% APY. Three years later, your CD is worth $26,141.96.

But what if you need to close a CD early? In that case, you'll typically have to pay an early-withdrawal penalty. The penalty is usually a portion of the interest earned, so closing a three-year CD early means you might have to pay 12 months worth of interest. In the example above, that would amount to $93.23.

How can I avoid the early-withdrawal penalty on a CD?

If you want to avoid charges for accessing your money early, you can opt for a no-penalty CD. Just keep in mind that these types of CDs generally have lower interest rates and will have to remove all your funds rather than whatever portion you need. But if you have a regular CD, there are still circumstances where you may be able to avoid the early-withdrawal penalty when you're in need of cash.

Withdraw the interest you've accumulated. Only some banks let you do this.
Start a CD ladder, which involves opening multiple, staggered CDs. For example, one that matures in one year, one that matures in two years, one that matures in three years, and so on.
File for a penalty waiver in the case of death, disability, or legal incompetence.
Contact your bank for information about fee waivers in the case of other extenuating circumstances.

Types of CDs

There are several different types of CDs to meet different financial needs. Here are a few:

Traditional CD: This is your standard CD with a fixed term and interest rate.

High-yield CD: These CDs offer higher-than-average interest rates.

Jumbo CD: These CDs have high minimum deposit requirements (often $100,000+) but also offer higher interest rates.

IRA CD: This is a CD you buy with your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). You can put a variety of different investments in an IRA, including stocks, bonds, and CDs.

No-penalty CD: These CDs don't charge a penalty fee for early withdrawals, but they typically have lower interest rates.

How are CD rates determined?

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), a committee within the Federal Reserve, sets the target interest rate (known as the federal funds rate) eight times each year. While the interest rates on consumer financial products like savings accounts, credit cards, and loans aren't equal to the federal funds rate, they're often tied (and influenced) by it. This means that CD rates typically rise and fall with the federal funds rate.

While the federal interest rate sets a benchmark for CD interest rates as a whole, individual CD products can have different interest rates depending on the following factors:

Length of CD term
Your deposit amount
Type of CD
The financial institution

Pros and cons of CDs

While CDs can be the ideal blend of safety and returns, they do have their drawbacks. Weighing the pros and cons will help you figure out whether a CD is right for you.

Pros	Cons
Earns interest over time Guarantees fixed returns Choose from a wide variety of terms Often offers a higher rate than savings accounts Insured by the FDIC, so it's a safe place to store your money	Accessing your money isn't easy and comes with penalties Interest rate might not outpace inflation Return isn't high enough to help you build wealth for long-term goals

Opening a CD can be a great way to earn a little extra on your savings, but don't expect to see huge returns. A CD might be great for short-term savings you want to keep safe, but it's not a good idea for long-term savings goals like retirement.

CD vs. money market account

A money market account is another savings product that tends to offer higher interest rates, but there are some key differences between CDs and money market accounts to know before choosing between the two.

Certificate of deposits	Money market accounts
APYs offered are generally better Money must remain in account for a set period of time No additional perks available	APYs aren't as robust Funds can be accessed only six time per month (although there are exceptions to this) Checking account-like perks offered

The financial takeaway

A CD is worth considering for anyone with a little extra savings they don't plan on spending any time soon. These accounts strike a good balance between returns and safety, allowing you to earn more on your money without taking on any risk.

But if you choose to go with a CD, just make sure you can keep your money parked for the full term of the CD you choose. If you end up paying an early-withdrawal penalty, the extra interest you earn with a CD isn't usually worth it. Consider your options and whether or not you'll need that money in the near future before stashing it in a CD.

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