Banks may offer promotional CD rates alongside rates for traditional CD terms, such as one year and five years. Promotional CDs, or CD specials, have higher yields for generally nontraditional terms. In fact, they can be a bank’s most competitive CDs, but watch out for downsides, such as irregular term lengths and automatic renewals into a lower-rate CD. You’ll likely want to have calendar reminders ready. Here’s what to know.
» See our full list of top CD APYs: Best CD rates
Promo CDs: Higher APYs on odd terms but read the fine print
Here’s a list of features they may have:
- Higher rates on shorter terms (at the same bank). For example, a bank’s promotional rate for a seven-month CD might be higher than its five-year CD. Traditionally, rates are higher for longer terms, though current short-term rates have been higher than long-term rates. Remember that a short term has less time to earn interest.
- Unconventional CD term lengths, such as seven, 13 and 15 months. Standard terms tend to be easier to remember and have a common time frame, such as one year, three years or five years.
- Promotional rates typically don’t carry over into a CD renewal. For example, a 7-month special rate CD might roll into a 6-month standard rate, which may have a lower rate.
- A higher minimum deposit than a bank’s standard CDs. Wells Fargo, for instance, requires at least $5,000 to open one of its CD specials, and $2,500 to open its standard CDs. NASA Federal Credit Union’s featured certificates have a minimum deposit of $10,000, compared to the minimum of $1,000 for standard certificates.
- Promotional rates tend to be limited-time offers. Unlike bank bonuses, you won’t typically find expiration dates on promotional rates, but some have them. Treat them like regular CDs in which rate offerings on new CDs are subject to change at any time.
Current promotional CD rates
Name (click to see our review) | CD rate (or certificate rate) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Consumers Credit Union: 7-month certificate | 4.25% APY. | ||
NBKC: 7-month CD | 4.15% APY. | ||
Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub): 11-month CD | 4.20% APY. | ||
OMB Bank: 13-month CD | 4.19% APY. | ||
Connexus Credit Union: 17-month CD | 4.30% APY. | ||
Climate First Bank: 30-month CD | 4.25% APY. | ||
NASA Federal Credit Union: 49-month Certificate | 4.30% APY. | ||
+ See the full list
Name (click to see our review) | CD rate (or certificate rate) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Consumers Credit Union: 7-month certificate | 4.25% APY. | ||
NBKC: 7-month CD | 4.15% APY. | ||
EverBank: 7-month CD | 4.10% APY. | ||
OMB Bank: 7-month CD | 4.10% APY. | ||
Service Credit Union: 8-month certificate | 4.25% APY. | ||
E*TRADE: 9-month CD | 4.10% APY. | ||
Bread Savings®: 9-month CD | 4.15% APY. *Bread Savings disclosureAll Bread Savings APYs are accurate as of 05/21/2026. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice. Offers apply to personal accounts only. Fees may reduce earnings. To open a CD, a minimum of $1,500 is required and must be deposited in a single transaction. A penalty will be imposed for early withdrawals on CDs. At maturity, your CD will automatically renew and earn the base interest rate in effect at that time. Rates are compared against competitor rates published by NerdWallet.com and the institutions themselves as of 05/21/2026. NerdWallet.com obtains the data from the various banks that it tracks and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. | ||
American Express: 10-month CD | 4.25% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as advertised is accurate as of 7/28/2026. Interest Rate and APY of a Certificate of Deposit account is fixed once the account is funded. APY. | ||
NBKC: 11-month CD | 4.15% APY. | ||
Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub): 11-month CD | 4.20% APY. | ||
Sallie Mae: 11-month CD | 4.05% APY. | ||
Andrews Federal Credit Union: 13-month certificate | 4.15% APY. | ||
OMB Bank: 13-month CD | 4.19% APY. | ||
Sallie Mae: 13-month CD | 4.10% APY. | ||
Synchrony Bank: 14-month CD | 4.15% APY. | ||
Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub): 14-month CD | 4.00% APY. | ||
NBKC: 15-month CD | 4.15% APY. | ||
Sallie Mae: 15-month CD | 4.15% APY. | ||
Popular Direct: 18-month CD | 4.20% APY. | ||
CFG Bank: 18-month CD | 4.17% APY. | ||
Sallie Mae: 18-month CD | 4.15% APY. | ||
Climate First Bank: 30-month CD | 4.25% APY. | ||
NASA Federal Credit Union: 49-month Certificate | 4.30% APY. | ||
Are promotional CD rates worth it?
It depends. Traditional banks often have relatively low CD yields across the board. What they consider a deal might be far lower than the best out there. While the highest yields in the market may be promo CDs at online banks and some credit unions, unusual CD terms might be harder to use certain CD strategies, such as laddering or stacking CDs of different terms. And letting a CD auto-renew into a lower rate can mean missing better opportunities.
Here are some tips to consider:
- Set a reminder for a CD’s maturity date, especially if it has a nontraditional term. Being able to withdraw at the end of a CD term – which is the only time there’s no withdrawal penalty – is important for a promo CD to be worthwhile.
- Compare promo CDs of different rates and term lengths by estimated total return. The amount of time you earn interest can be as important as the rate. If a six-month and one-year CD have the same rate, remember that six-month CDs only earn half the annual yield.
- Look at competitive CD rates with standard terms too. Check out online banks and credit unions on our list of the best CD rates.
Want to see best CDs by term?
View a curated list of our picks based on competitive rates and terms.
Other rate boosts that aren’t promotional
- Relationship rates: Some traditional banks may offer slightly or considerably higher CD rates if you have another account, generally a checking account, at the same institution.
- Step-up and bump-up CD rates: These two types of CDs can offer rate increases within a CD term. Step-up CDs have built-in rate increases. Bump-up CDs have one or more rate increases at the time you choose, once your rate is lower than the current rates available at the bank. In a falling rate environment, bump-up CDs may not get the chance for a rate boost. See where rates are headed on our CD rate forecast.
- Loyalty rate bonus: At least one bank, Ally, offers customers who renew CDs a slight interest rate bump on top of the new CD rate.
If you’re considering a promotional rate CD, compare with high-yield online CD rates beforehand. What one bank calls competitive might be much lower than other banks’ standard rates.
