13 Best 1-Year CD Rates for January 2026 (Up to 4.10%)
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
APY research methodology: Annual percentage yields, meaning the rates of return, are current on this page as of the publication date. Each weekday, we review account rates to make sure we have the most up-to-date APYs.
See the full list at a glance
Summary of best 1-year CD rates
Our list features banks and credit unions that NerdWallet has reviewed with nationally available one-year CD rates. Regular CD rates were considered, not promotional or relationship-based rates.
Alliant Credit Union: 4.00% APY.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs: 4.00% APY.
Sallie Mae: 4.00% APY.
Newtek Bank: 4.00% APY.
E*TRADE: 4.10% APY.
Live Oak Bank: 4.00% APY.
Popular Direct: 4.00% APY.
TAB Bank: 3.90% APY.
My Banking Direct: 3.90% APY.
Capital One: 3.90% APY.
Discover® Bank: 3.90% APY.
Ally Bank: 3.85% APY.
Bask Bank: 3.75% APY.
| Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Minimum deposit | APY | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Alliant Credit Union Certificate Learn moreon partner's site at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA | 4.1/5 | $1,000 Federally insured by NCUA | APY 4.00% | Learn moreon partner's site at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA |
5.0/5 | $500 Member FDIC | APY 4.00% | ||
4.5/5 | $0 Member FDIC | APY 4.10% | ||
3.0/5 | $1,000 Member FDIC | APY 3.75% | ||
4.2/5 | $1,000 Member FDIC | APY 3.90% | ||
3.3/5 | $2,500 Member FDIC | APY 4.00% | ||
4.6/5 | $2,500 Member FDIC | APY 4.00% | ||
4.0/5 | $2,500 Member FDIC | APY 4.00% | ||
2.7/5 | $2,500 Member FDIC | APY 3.90% | ||
5.0/5 | $0 Member FDIC | APY 3.85% | ||
4.5/5 | $0 Member FDIC | APY 3.90% | ||
4.5/5 | $0 Member FDIC | APY 3.90% | ||
4.5/5 | $10,000 Member FDIC | APY 4.00% |
- Learn moreon partner's siteat Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUANerdWallet rating4.1/5Learn moreon partner's siteat Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Federally insured by NCUA
APY
4.00%
Our Take
Why We Like ItThe online-focused Alliant Credit Union, founded in 1935, has strong rates and a lower opening minimum than some competitors. Membership is open nationwide to anyone who agrees to be an advocate of the Alliant Credit Union Foundation, which involves the credit union making a $5 contribution on your behalf. Other credit unions generally have stricter membership requirements.
- NerdWallet rating5.0/5
Minimum deposit
$500
Member FDIC
APY
4.00%
Our Take
Why We Like ItThe online-only bank Marcus by Goldman Sachs – begun in 2016 by the Wall Street banking giant – has a competitive one-year APY and a low minimum opening requirement of $500. Some banks have minimums of $1,000 or $10,000.
- NerdWallet rating4.5/5
Minimum deposit
$0
Member FDIC
APY
4.10%
Our Take
Why We Like ItE*TRADE, known for its investing platform, also offers bank CDs including a high-yield one-year term. There’s no minimum deposit required. E*TRADE is a division of Morgan Stanley Private Bank.
- NerdWallet rating3.0/5
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Member FDIC
APY
3.75%
Our Take
Why We Like ItStarted in 1999, Bask Bank is the online-only bank division of Texas Capital Bank. Its one-year CD has a competitive rate and a somewhat low minimum of $1,000. The range of CD terms at Bask focuses on shorter terms with the longest being two-year CDs, while many banks offer CD terms as long as five years.
- NerdWallet rating4.2/5
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Member FDIC
APY
3.90%
Our Take
Why We Like ItTAB Bank, started in 1998, is an online bank and its name stands for Transportation Alliance Bank. TAB Bank offers a competitive yield on its one-year CD and a somewhat low minimum of $1,000 to open.
- NerdWallet rating3.3/5
Minimum deposit
$2,500
Member FDIC
APY
4.00%
Our Take
Why We Like ItLive Oak Bank offers some online CDs with strong rates, though there's a somewhat high minimum requirement of $2,500.
- NerdWallet rating4.6/5
Minimum deposit
$2,500
Member FDIC
APY
4.00%
Our Take
Why We Like ItSallie Mae was originally a government student loan servicer, but since 2014, Sallie Mae Bank has been a consumer bank and a popular student loan provider. It offers a strong rate on its one-year CDs. There's a higher opening minimum than at some online banks, but Sallie Mae offers many term options, from six months to five years.
- NerdWallet rating4.0/5
Minimum deposit
$2,500
Member FDIC
APY
4.00%
Our Take
Why We Like ItNewtek Bank is an online bank, headquartered in Miami, that has strong CD rates. That includes its one-year term. The opening minimum of $2,500 is somewhat higher than what other online banks require.
- NerdWallet rating2.7/5
Minimum deposit
$2,500
Member FDIC
APY
3.90%
Our Take
Why We Like ItMy Banking Direct, an online bank division of Flagstar Bank, has a competitive one-year CD with a somewhat high minimum deposit of $2,500.
- NerdWallet rating5.0/5
Minimum deposit
$0
Member FDIC
APY
3.85%
Our Take
Why We Like ItThe online bank Ally has a one-year CD with a solid rate and no minimum deposit requirement. Its range of terms is slightly wider than the typical online bank and the bank also offers specialty CDs, including no-penalty and bump-up CDs.
- NerdWallet rating4.5/5
Minimum deposit
$0
Member FDIC
APY
3.90%
Our Take
Why We Like ItThe online banking giant Capital One has a competitive one-year CD rate and no minimum to open. Its range of terms is standard: six months up to five years.
- NerdWallet rating4.5/5
Minimum deposit
$0
Member FDIC
APY
3.90%
Our Take
Why We Like ItDiscover® Bank, a division of Capital One, offers a solid one-year CD rate and has no minimum deposit to open. The bank offers many different terms, ranging from three months to 10 years.
Discover says: "All information about Discover® CDs has been collected independently by NerdWallet. Discover® CDs are no longer available through NerdWallet."
- NerdWallet rating4.5/5
Minimum deposit
$10,000
Member FDIC
APY
4.00%
Our Take
Why We Like ItFounded in 1893, Popular Bank is the parent of online bank Popular Direct. Popular Direct’s CDs have a hefty opening minimum of $10,000, but its one-year rate is strong.
💬 Our Nerds say:
“One-year CDs remain highly competitive. Their best rates surpass three- and five-year CD rates. And, compared to high-yield savings accounts, one-year rates remain higher.
“Because of one-year CDs’ popularity, you can be more choosy about the institution you want to leave your money with. Personally, I like to have a high-yield savings account at the same place I have a CD to make the transfer out of the CD easy once the CD matures.”
— Spencer Tierney,
NerdWallet senior writer covering consumer banking
What is a one-year CD?
A one-year CD is a type of savings account that keeps a fixed sum inaccessible for 12 months and locks in the APY (your rate of return). Money in a CD is federally insured just like it is in other bank accounts. If you pull the money out early, you'll typically have to pay an early withdrawal penalty. A regular savings account, on the other hand, has a variable rate, meaning the interest rate can change over time but you can pull your money out at any time.
Best 1-year CD rates for January 2026
Bask Bank: 3.75% APY, $1,000 minimum to open.
TAB Bank: 3.90% APY, $1,000 minimum to open.
Live Oak Bank: 4.00% APY, $2,500 minimum deposit.
E*TRADE: 4.10% APY, no minimum deposit.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs: 4.00% APY, $500 minimum deposit.
Sallie Mae Bank: 4.00% APY, $2,500 minimum deposit.
Alliant Credit Union: 4.00% APY, $1,000 minimum deposit.
Newtek Bank: 4.00% APY, $2,500 minimum deposit.
My Banking Direct: 3.90% APY, $2,500 minimum deposit.
Ally Bank: 3.85% APY, no minimum deposit.
Capital One: 3.90% APY, no minimum deposit.
Discover® Bank: 3.90% APY, no minimum deposit.
Popular Direct: 4.00% APY, $10,000 minimum deposit.
1-year CD trends
NerdWallet picks’ average:
3.96% APY
National average:
1.63%
How to find the best one-year CD for you
Compare these four factors:
APY: This is the annual percentage yield, which is your rate of return that includes having interest compounded. Try out different rates on our CD calculator.
Minimum deposit: This is the lowest amount you need to open a CD, but you generally don’t want to use the minimum as a guide for the right amount to save in a CD. Learn more about how much money to put into CDs.
Early withdrawal penalty: It’s good to know the cost of the worst-case scenario where you break the seal on your CD early. See what typical penalties cost.
What else you want from that institution: Do you want a checking or savings account at the same place you get a CD? Not all banks offer all these types of accounts. Are you focusing on CDs where you bank or where you’re an investor? CDs at banks (and share certificates at credit unions) can be easier to manage, unless you’re familiar with the ins and outs of a brokerage account and want brokered CDs.
Alternatives to one-year CDs
Here’s a list of other short-term savings options:
High-yield savings accounts: Solid returns above 4%, federally insured bank accounts. Rates can change at any time, though.
Other short-term high-yield CDs: The best three-month and six-month CDs have strong rates and can help you build a short CD ladder, which can be made of CDs with terms of three months, six months, nine months and one year. For this short ladder, a CD matures every three months, at which time you can either cash out or reinvest in a new one-year CD as the longest term of the ladder.
No-penalty CDs: These specialty CDs usually have terms around one year and let you withdraw the full amount early at no cost. Rates can be lower than high-yield CDs, though.
See more short-term investment options.
Last updated on December 23, 2025
Methodology
On a monthly basis, we compare rates at 50 financial institutions, pulled from our full list, that we’ve seen to be consistently competitive and available nationwide. On a quarterly basis, we analyze our full list. We exclude brokered CDs, since those accounts work differently from standard bank CDs. Higher rates might be available elsewhere.
Financial institutions and financial service providers researched include the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.
The full list of financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm, All America Bank, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, American Express National Bank, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Associated Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Barclays, Bask Bank, BMO, BMO Alto, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings®, BrioDirect, Capital One, CFG Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Bank, Climate First Bank, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Customers Bank, Discover® Bank, E*TRADE, EverBank, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First Internet Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, FNBO Direct, Forbright Bank, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Hope Credit Union, HSBC Bank, Huntington Bank, Ivy Bank, Jenius Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Laurel Road Bank, LendingClub Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, My Banking Direct, NASA Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, Newtek Bank, OMB Bank, OnePay, Openbank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Poppy Bank, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank and Zynlo Bank.
NerdWallet's Best 1-Year CD Rates for January 2026 (Up to 4.10%)
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield CD: 4.00% APY
- Bask Bank CD: 3.75% APY
- TAB Bank CD: 3.90% APY
- Live Oak Bank Personal CD: 4.00% APY
- E*TRADE Certificate of Deposit: 4.10% APY
- Sallie Mae Bank CD: 4.00% APY
- Alliant Credit Union Certificate: 4.00% APY
- Newtek Bank CD: 4.00% APY
- My Banking Direct CD: 3.90% APY
- Ally Bank High Yield CD: 3.85% APY
- Capital One 360 CD: 3.90% APY
- Discover® CD: 3.90% APY
- Popular Direct CD: 4.00% APY
Frequently asked questions
Which banks have the best 1-year CD rates?
Online banks and credit unions tend to have some of the most competitive one-year CD rates.
When should you get a one-year CD?
You should only get a one-year CD if you know you won’t need those funds for a year, so as to avoid breaking the seal early and paying a penalty. Beyond that, consider that the fixed rate of a one-year CD can come in handy especially compared to a high-yield savings account during a falling-rate environment.
Should you consider short-term or long-term CDs?
It depends on your savings goals and how sure you are that you won't need your funds before the CD term expires. If you want to play it safe, go for a shorter CD term or a no-penalty CD.
How do CD rates work?
CD rates are quoted as an annual percentage yield, or APY, which is how much the account earns in one year including compound interest. Banks generally compound interest monthly or daily. Learn more about APY vs. interest rate.