Best 1-Year CD Rates of June 2024: Up to 6.00% APY

Best 1-Year CD Rates

One-year CDs are safe investments for funds you’ll need in the medium term. They allow you to lock your interest rate in for a full year even if rates in the market drop during that time.

To bring you the best CD rates from across the country, we compiled data from the research firm Curinos, which analyzes information from over 3,600 banks each day. We’ve also thoroughly researched more than 100 banks, credit unions and fintech companies to find those with the best ratings, highest APYs and lowest minimum deposit requirements for CDs. Learn more about our rating methodology.

Our picks for the best one-year CD rates are:

• Synchrony Bank (4.80% APY)
• Ally Bank (4.50% APY)
• Marcus by Goldman Sachs (5.15% APY)
• Quontic Bank (4.50% APY)
• BMO Alto (5.05% APY)

We also opened our own CD accounts at 10 of our top recommended banks and credit unions to bring you first-person data not found anywhere else and customer service insights only available to clients.

Whether you’re looking for the top one-year CD rates in the U.S. or a great deal with a top bank, we’ve got you covered. Our picks below for the best one-year CD rates have APYs well above the national average.

Synchrony

4.6

1-Year APY 4.80% 18-Month APY 4.50% Minimum Deposit Requirement $0

Our Experience Opening a Synchrony Bank CD

We opened a nine-month CD with Synchrony Bank with $100 in February 2024 to provide first-hand research on the company. We felt Synchrony Bank was transparent about rates, and its interface was easy to use.

• Clearly communicates CD APYs and information about account balance tiers
• Seamlessly integrates accounts and allows you to set up recurring deposits
• Application considers those with hearing or speech disabilities, letting you indicate if you don’t have a phone number

Source: Synchrony.com via MarketWatch Guides user testing.

But we did find some shortfalls in Synchrony’s customer service and financial tools.

• Went through seven voice prompts on a call before we were connected to a customer service agent
• Couldn’t connect our budgeting software via Plaid, though we were able to do so manually.

Why We Like Synchrony Bank

We like that Synchrony Bank’s one-year CD doesn’t require a minimum opening deposit. It also allows you to open a standard CD or a tax-advantaged CD for retirement (a traditional individual retirement account or a Roth IRA). We also like the 15-day rate guarantee on standard CDs.

Although this online bank charges up to 90 days of interest for early withdrawals of your deposit, interest-only withdrawals are penalty-free. Since Synchrony offers many other CD terms, you can also open your one-year CD as a part of a CD ladder, which combines CDs with different term lengths.

With Synchrony’s mobile app, you can check your CD balance and chat with customer service. The bank’s user interface offers a clean dashboard that makes it easy to link outside accounts and initiate transfers. However, we found it very difficult to get through to the telephone help offered during business hours.

Rate History for Synchrony’s 1-Year CD

Synchrony’s 1-year CD earns 4.80% APY, which is steady from the rate at the same time last week. Over the last quarter, Synchrony’s 1-year CD APY has changed 1 time.

Date	Synchrony 1-Year CD APY	National Average 1-Year CD APY
Today (June 30, 2024)	4.80%	2.62%
Last Week	4.80%	2.61%
Last Month	4.80%	2.58%

Pros and Cons

Pros Transparent about CD rates and required balance tiers Offers some of the highest CD rates available No minimum deposit requirements on CDs Has a no-penalty CD and a bump-up CD Cons Difficult to reach a customer service agent, according to our experience No physical branch locations No checking account option

Ally

4.6

1-Year APY 4.50% 18-Month APY 4.25% Minimum Deposit Requirement $0

Our Experience Opening an Ally Bank CD

We opened a three-month Ally CD with $300 to test the ins and outs of the process. Ally offered excellent communication throughout the application process, as well as loyalty perks.

• FAQ articles available within the application to answer any questions as we set our account up
• Home screen displays the customer service chat link and phone number with expected wait times
• Loyalty bonus gets you a higher APY when you renew a CD

However, there were some negative aspects of opening an Ally Bank CD:

• The only provider on our list that required us to upload our Social Security card instead of just providing the number
• Application takes five to seven business days to review after you provide all documents

Source: Ally.com via MarketWatch Guides user testing

 

Why We Like Ally Bank

We like Ally for its clear application process and its transparency. We also like its competitive CD rates and the fact that it doesn’t have a minimum deposit requirement. Along with its standard high-yield and Raise Your Rate CDs, Ally offers IRA CDs with three plan options: self-employed, traditional and Roth.

The non-IRA CD has a 10-day rate guarantee when you open the account and at renewal, and you can automatically earn a loyalty reward of an additional 0.05% APY when you renew your CD. If you get the IRA CD, Ally gives you 90 days to deposit money and get the best rate, and its 10-day rate guarantee applies for renewals. Plus, CDs of two years or less have an early withdrawal penalty of 60 days’ interest, which is on the lower end.

Ally’s website and mobile app are great for seeing your CD balance grow and making any changes when the CD matures. The digital bank offers 24/7 phone and online chat support, too.

Rate History for Ally’s 1-Year CD

Ally’s 1-year CD earns 4.50% APY, which is steady from the rate at the same time last week. Over the last quarter, Ally’s 1-year CD APY has changed 1 time.

Date	Ally 1-Year CD APY	National Average 1-Year CD APY
Today (June 30, 2024)	4.50%	2.62%
Last Week	4.50%	2.61%
Last Month	4.50%	2.58%

Pros & Cons

Pros 10-day rate guarantees No minimum deposit or balance required Loyalty reward of 0.05% APY when you renew a non-IRA CD Traditional and Roth IRA CDs available Cons No in-person customer support Slow approval process on new CD applications

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

4.5

1-Year APY 5.15% Minimum Deposit Requirement $500.00

Our Experience Opening a Marcus by Goldman Sachs CD

We opened a 14-month promotional Marcus CD with $500 so we could report on the application and customer service experience. We liked the bank’s user-friendly account setup.

• Unlike many CDs, allows you to make additional deposits up to 30 days after opening the account
• Tips and FAQs explaining instructions and terminology on each page of the application
• Gives you the option to open multiple CDs and savings accounts at once
• Lets you convert an individual account to a joint one within three business days of opening an account

However, some parts of applying for a Marcus CD and funding it were disappointing:

• Application repeatedly prompted us to link our external account via a third-party provider even as we were manually filling in our bank account information
• Promotional CD term we chose wasn’t advertised on the main product page

Source: Marcus.com via MarketWatch Guides user testing

Why We Like Marcus

It was easy to apply for a Marcus by Goldman Sachs CD, taking us just nine steps. We really like its competitive APYs on its one-year and no-penalty CDs. You’ll get the best available APY if you make your deposit within 10 days of opening your account.

We were able to add a second external account to make an additional deposit over the phone a few weeks after opening our account. The bank offers 24/7 live chat and phone support and a mobile app for monitoring your CD and tracking your financial goals.

You can withdraw interest from your CD, but if you withdraw principal, Marcus charges an early withdrawal penalty of 90 days’ interest for CD terms up to one year.

Rate History for Marcus by Goldman Sach’s 1-Year CD

Marcus by Goldman Sach’s 1-year CD earns 5.15% APY, which is up from the rate at the same time last week. Over the last quarter, Marcus’ 1-year CD APY has changed 3 times.

Date	Marcus 1-Year CD APY	National Average 1-Year CD APY
Today (June 30, 2024)	5.15%	2.62%
Last Week	5.00%	2.61%
Last Month	5.00%	2.58%

Pros & Cons

Pros High APY Competitive no-penalty CD (seven-, 11- and 13-month terms) 10-day rate guarantee Can add additional funds within 30 days Cons $500 minimum deposit and balance required Early withdrawal penalty of 90 days’ interest No in-person customer support

Quontic

4.5

One-Year APY 4.50% Minimum Deposit Requirement $500

Our Experience Opening a Quontic Bank CD

Three MarketWatch Guides researchers tried to open a Quontic Bank CD with $500 in February 2024. Two of them had Quontic Bank reject their applications. In both cases, Quontic provided an email that stated the bank couldn’t verify each applicant’s device, address, phone number or public records.

A Quontic phone representative said this is a common problem because the company uses a third-party provider to verify accounts. Two common reasons for denials are recent moves (both researchers had moved recently) and issues related to virtual private network (VPN) use. If your application is rejected, you can call Quontic’s U.S.–based customer service representatives to ask them to release your application so you can apply again.

For our application that was accepted, we found the process to be short and smooth.

• Just nine seamless steps to apply for and fund a CD when setting up funding with a third-party provider
• Starts earning interest as soon as you initiate the transfer
• User-friendly dashboard provides your complete credit report

Knowledgeable U.S.-based customer service connects you directly to a person once you enter your phone number — no prompts required

Why We Like Quontic Bank

Quontic, an online bank, impressed us with its accessible and knowledgeable customer support and how easy it was for our researcher who was approved to set up an account. The bank’s traditional one-year CD requires a $500 minimum deposit.

Like many of its competitors, Quontic allows you to make interest-only withdrawals. However, removing principal from the one-year CD comes with an early withdrawal penalty equal to one year of interest.

Quontic’s mobile app has tools for checking your credit and monitoring your CD, and you can view your Quontic accounts alongside your accounts at other banks.

Rate History for Quontic’s 1-Year CD

Quontic’s 1-year CD earns 4.50% APY, which is steady from the rate at the same time last week. Over the last quarter, Quontic’s 1-year CD APY has changed 1 time.

Date	Quontic 1-Year CD APY	National Average 1-Year CD APY
Today (June 30, 2024)	4.50%	2.62%
Last Week	4.50%	2.61%
Last Month	4.50%	2.58%

Pros & Cons

Pros Penalty-free interest withdrawals 10-day grace period for account funding Mobile app with financial tools Cons $500 minimum deposit required Early withdrawal penalty of one year of interest for one-year CDs

BMO Alto

4.3

1-Year APY 5.05% Minimum Deposit Requirement $0

Our Experience Opening a BMO Alto CD

We opened a BMO Alto CD with $2,500 to bring you insight into the customer experience. We were impressed overall with BMO Alto’s application process, which only took nine steps to complete, and with its website.

• Option to save and retrieve your application later
• Simple, intuitive menus and interfaces to find statements and notices
• Gives you the higher APY on your CD if the rate increases after you open your account but before you fund it
• Website clearly shows the CD’s maturity date when we’re logged in, which isn’t the case with some other banks we opened accounts with
•  Let us update account options online instead of requiring us to call

There were several parts of the technical experience that could use improvement.

• Account automatically logged us out twice even though we were actively using the site
• Site asked for our location during the application process
• Technical errors when we linked our bank accounts

Source: Alto.bmo.com via MarketWatch Guides user testing

 

Why We Like BMO Alto

We like how easy it was to open an account with BMO Alto. There’s no minimum deposit or balance required to get the CD or earn the competitive APY, but you must fund the CD within 10 days of account opening.

BMO Alto doesn’t allow you to withdraw money or close your account until 15 days after funding your one-year CD. For CD terms of one year or more, an early withdrawal penalty of 180 days of interest applies for taking principal out of the account. 

One thing we don’t love about BMO Alto is that it doesn’t have a mobile app or online customer support. To manage your CD, you’ll need to use the bank’s website or call for customer service.

Rate History for BMO Alto’s 1-Year CD

BMO Alto’s 1-year CD earns 5.05% APY, which is steady from the rate at the same time last week. Over the last quarter, BMO Alto’s 1-year CD APY has changed 1 time.

Date	BMO Alto 1-Year CD APY	National Average 1-Year CD APY
Today (June 30, 2024)	5.05%	2.62%
Last Week	5.05%	2.61%
Last Month	5.05%	2.58%

Pros & Cons

Pros Competitive one-year CD rate 10-day grace period for account funding No minimum deposit or balance requirement Ideal for a CD ladder Cons Early withdrawal penalty of 180 days of interest for one-year CDs No mobile app Phone-only support

Rates accurate as of June 30, 2024

Highest 1-Year CD Rates Today

The table below includes the highest 1-year certificate of deposit (CD) rates available today.

Is Now the Right Time To Open a 1-Year CD?

Our recent MarketWatch Guides team CD survey shows that a one-year CD is the most common term length used by consumers. Its short-term commitment coupled with recent high interest rates make it an attractive low-risk investment option – 55% of survey respondents with a one-year CD reported earning an APY above 4%.

While CD rates have dropped slightly in 2024, they’re still at some of their highest levels in more than 15 years. Our experts predict rates will fall later in the year. However, the Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that no changes are in the immediate future.

Ask an Expert

Lawrence Sprung

Author of “Financial Planning Made Personal” and Founder of Mitlin Financial

“Short-term and longer-term CD rates should see little to no change. … If you feel rates are going to be heading lower in the near to mid-term it may make sense to lock in for today’s rates for longer. With the Fed decision [Wednesday], you have a little while to make this assessment for your situation.”

Below is a glance at average CD rates trends over the past decade.

“For those considering CDs as an investment, the window to secure a good rate might be narrowing,” said Taylor Kovar, CFP, CEO and founder of 11 Financial. "Securing a CD sooner rather than later could lock in higher returns before rates drop.”

“If you've been eyeing CDs as an investment, you still have some wiggle room to snag decent rates, but don't dilly-dally too long. Since CD rates are expected to keep slipping in 2024, it's wise to lock in a rate sooner rather than later to avoid losing out on better deals.”

- Shawn Carpenter, CEO of Stock Alarm

How Do 1-Year CDs Work?

With a one-year CD, you usually make a single opening deposit that you’ll keep in the account until the maturity date. In exchange, the bank guarantees a certain fixed interest rate for the term.

"In an environment where interest rates are dropping, a long-term CD will offer the benefit of continuing to pay the higher interest rate that you are locked into," said Renee Stene, financial advisor and founder at Weddington Advisors.

CD rates are influenced by several factors. Rates on financial products including CDs usually move in response to the federal funds rate, which is set by the Federal Reserve. The federal funds rate is an interest rate banks use to lend money to each other overnight.

CD rates are also highly dependent on inflation and market competition from other banks. When inflation is high, CD rates tend to be higher. When inflation drops, CD rates usually decrease. Online banks that are trying to attract customers often offer much higher APYs than big national and regional banks that already have large customer bases.

Over the past year, one-year CD rates offered by some of the top online banks and credit unions we tracked have remained steadily around 4.5% to 5%.

One-year CDs typically offer higher interest rates than three- and six-month CDs because you’re allowing your money to be tied up for a longer amount of time.

If you’re considering a one-year CD, think about whether the maturity date aligns with your savings goals. In our latest  CD survey, the number one reason people took out a CD was to take advantage of high interest rates, and the next was to save for long-term goals. 

While over 37% of survey respondents used CDs to save for retirement, the financial experts we spoke to recommend that CDs are better used as a safe investment for short- and medium-term needs like a home, trip or wedding.

Types of CDs

CDs come in a variety of product types to suit different savings goals and risk tolerances. Some of the most common types of CDs are outlined below.

Alternatives to 1-Year CDs

While a CD is a reliable way to earn money on cash investments, there are several alternatives that offer more liquidity.

Bonds

Bonds often have similar yields to CDs, so they’re a common alternative. CDs are considered a slightly safer investment, but bonds are more liquid than CDs. If you need to access the funds in a bond, you can resell it.

But if interest rates have dropped, you may not get the same rate you opened the bond with, and it may lose value. Bonds repay your interest at fixed intervals and are usually sold in increments of $1,000.

High-Yield Savings Accounts (HYSAs)

High-yield savings accounts have similar interest rates as CDs with the added benefit that you can take your money out any time you need it, unlike CDs, which usually charge a penalty for early withdrawal. However, if market rates go down, your HYSA interest rate could also drop. With a CD, your rate is locked in until the CD’s maturity date.

Money Market Accounts (MMAs)

Money market accounts are hybrids of checking and savings accounts. They generally earn more interest than a regular savings account but less than an HYSA. The benefit is that you often have checks or a debit card for your account, making it easier to use it to pay bills. You might choose an MMA over a CD if you want to earn interest on your money but prefer to be able to spend money from your account.

Other Types of CDs

• 3-month cd rates
• 6-month cd rates
• 3-year cd rates
• 5-year cd rates
• jumbo cd rates
• ira cd rates

1-Year CD Rates: FAQs

Methodology

Our team researched more than 100 of the country’s largest and most prominent financial institutions, collecting information on each provider’s account options, fees, rates, terms and customer experience. We then scored each firm based on the data points and metrics that matter most to potential customers. Read our full methodology.

For our list of the best one-year CD rates, we selected the highest-scoring financial institutions in our review of CDs. These banks and credit unions provide CD products available to customers throughout the U.S. and earn high scores for offering low or no minimum opening deposit and competitive yields on one-year terms.

We opened 10 CD accounts with the necessary minimum deposits. We then measured the speed and thoroughness of the account-opening process, ease of use of the account website, speed of our deposit to fund the account, rewards and features available to account holders and our experience with customer service chat and phone options.

• Savings and money market accounts (35% of total score): The best scores go to banks, loans and fintech companies with high interest rates and low or no fees or minimum opening deposits.
• Checking accounts (30% of total score): High marks are given to those with multiple accounts and minimal fees, plus benefits such as reward programs and mobile check deposit.
• Certificates of deposit (20% of total score): Top-rated financial institutions have low or no minimum opening deposits, as well as a variety of term options and specialty CDs for flexibility.
• Banking experience and access (15% of total score): Providers that excel in this category have large branch and ATM networks and multiple checking and savings accounts, and they earn more points for offering CDs and money market accounts.

*Data accurate at time of publication

**Rates accurate as of June 30, 2024

***Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Great Valley Advisor Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Weddington Advisors and Great Valley Advisor Group are separate entities from LPL Financial.

Certificates of deposit are FDIC insured and offer a fixed rate of return if held to maturity. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. The purchase of certain securities may be required to effect some of the strategies. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal.