10 Best 1-Year CD Rates of August 2026 (Up to 4.17%)

  1. Spencer Tierney Author Avatar
  2. Tony Armstrong Author Avatar
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Last updated on August 7, 2026
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The best one-year CD rates can help boost some of your short-term savings. These rates tend to be more than double the national average of 1.68% for one-year certificates of deposit.

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.

    • Popular Direct: 4.25% APY.

    • E*TRADE: 4.40% APY.

    • CFG Bank: 4.15% APY.

    • CIBC U.S.: 4.15% APY.

    • Bask Bank: 4.10% APY.

    • Newtek Bank: 4.30% APY.

    • Sallie Mae Bank: 4.15% APY.

    • Live Oak Bank: 4.10% APY.

    • Ivy Bank: 4.05% APY.

    • NASA Federal Credit Union: 4.15% APY.

Bank/institutionNerdWallet rating Minimum depositAPYLearn more
Bask Bank CD

Bask Bank CD

Learn moreon partner's site
at Bask Bank, Member FDIC
3.0/5
$1,000
Member FDIC

APY 4.10%

 
Learn moreon partner's site
at Bask Bank, Member FDIC
E*TRADE Certificate of Deposit

E*TRADE Certificate of Deposit

Learn moreon partner's site
at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC
5.0/5
$0
Member FDIC

APY 4.40%

 
Learn moreon partner's site
at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC
CFG Bank CD

CFG Bank CD

4.0/5
$500

APY 4.15%

 
Ivy Bank CD

Ivy Bank CD

3.8/5
$1,000
Member FDIC

APY 4.05%

 
Live Oak Bank Personal CD

Live Oak Bank Personal CD

3.8/5
$2,500
Member FDIC

APY 4.10%

 
Newtek Bank CD

Newtek Bank CD

4.5/5
$2,500
Member FDIC

APY 4.10%

 
Popular Direct CD

Popular Direct CD

4.3/5
$10,000
Member FDIC

APY 4.25%

 
NASA Federal Credit Union Share Certificate

NASA Federal Credit Union Share Certificate

5.0/5
$1,000
Federally insured by NCUA

APY 4.15%

 
Sallie Mae Bank CD

Sallie Mae Bank CD

5.0/5
$2,500
Member FDIC

APY 4.15%

 
CIBC Agility™ Online CD

CIBC Agility™ Online CD

2.6/5
$1,000
Member FDIC

APY 4.15%

 
    • Bask Bank CD
      Learn moreon partner's site
      at Bask Bank, Member FDIC
      NerdWallet rating
      3.0/5
      Learn moreon partner's site
      at Bask Bank, Member FDIC

      Minimum deposit

      $1,000

      Member FDIC

      APY

      4.10%

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      Started 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. While many banks offer CD terms as long as five years, Bask goes up to only two years.

    • E*TRADE Certificate of Deposit
      Learn moreon partner's site
      at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC
      NerdWallet rating
      5.0/5
      Learn moreon partner's site
      at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC

      Minimum deposit

      $0

      Member FDIC

      APY

      4.40%

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      E*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 rating
      4.0/5

      Minimum deposit

      $500

      APY

      4.15%

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      CFG Bank is a regional bank based in Baltimore, Maryland, that offers online CDs nationwide, including a solid one-year term. The $500 minimum to open is low compared to the typical minimum among online banks.

    • NerdWallet rating
      3.8/5

      Minimum deposit

      $1,000

      Member FDIC

      APY

      4.05%

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      Ivy Bank is the online-only banking division of Cambridge Savings Bank, which has been around since 1834. Ivy Bank has few CD terms but a competitive one-year CD and a somewhat low opening minimum of $1,000. Other banks offer a wider variety of term lengths with competitive interest rates.

    • NerdWallet rating
      3.8/5

      Minimum deposit

      $2,500

      Member FDIC

      APY

      4.10%

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      Live Oak Bank offers some online CDs with strong rates, though there's a somewhat high minimum requirement of $2,500.

    • NerdWallet rating
      4.5/5

      Minimum deposit

      $2,500

      Member FDIC

      APY

      4.10%

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      Newtek 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 rating
      4.3/5

      Minimum deposit

      $10,000

      Member FDIC

      APY

      4.25%

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      Founded 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.

    • NerdWallet rating
      5.0/5

      Minimum deposit

      $1,000

      Federally insured by NCUA

      APY

      4.15%

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      NASA Federal Credit Union has a competitive rate on its one-year share certificate and a low minimum opening deposit of $1,000. Membership to the credit union is available to anyone nationwide, no NASA affiliation required.

    • NerdWallet rating
      5.0/5

      Minimum deposit

      $2,500

      Member FDIC

      APY

      4.15%

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      Sallie 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 rating
      2.6/5

      Minimum deposit

      $1,000

      Member FDIC

      APY

      4.15%

      Our Take
      Why We Like It

      Launched in 2018, CIBC U.S. is the online U.S. banking division of the 150-year-old bank CIBC, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The minimum deposit of $1,000 is somewhat low. CIBC’s one-year CD rate stands out, but the bank has a limited offering of CDs without longer terms such as three or five years.

Why trust NerdWallet

Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions.

Around 100 financial institutions surveyed by our team of experts.

More than 50 data points considered for each bank and credit union to be eligible for our lists. For this CD list, three data points were considered per institution.

Want to see best CDs by term?
View a curated list of our picks based on competitive rates and terms.
See rateson NerdWallet's secure site
More Nerdy Perspective

“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's profile picture
Spencer Tierney

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.

🤓

Nerdy Tip

The Fed lowered its benchmark interest rate three times in late 2025 but has kept its rate steady in 2026. Excellent interest rates are still available on certificates of deposit.

Best 1-year CD rates for August 2026

  • Live Oak Bank: 4.10% APY, $2,500 minimum deposit.

  • E*TRADE: 4.40% APY, no minimum deposit.

  • Newtek Bank: 4.30% APY, $2,500 minimum deposit.

  • Popular Direct: 4.25% APY, $10,000 minimum deposit.

  • Bask Bank: 4.10% APY, $1,000 minimum deposit.

  • CIBC U.S.: 4.15% APY, $1,000 minimum deposit.

  • NASA Federal Credit Union: 4.15% APY, $1,000 minimum deposit.

  • Ivy Bank: 4.05% APY, $1,000 minimum deposit.

  • Sallie Mae: 4.15% APY, $2,500 minimum deposit.

  • CFG Bank: 4.15% APY, $500 minimum deposit.

NerdWallet picks’ average:

4.11% APY

National average:

1.68%

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 around 4%, federally insured bank accounts. Rates can change at any time, though.

  • Other short-term high-yield CDs: The best 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.

Last updated on August 7, 2026

Methodology: How we rate banks and credit unions

Banking writers and editors use an objective methodology to rate banks, credit unions, and other providers, and to recommend the best products.

100+

Financial institutions reviewed

We took a close look at around 100 financial institutions and financial service providers, including 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 players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.

30+

Categories assessed

Each provider is evaluated across five weighted categories and 30 subcategories, including checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, customer experience, and overdraft services. For banks or credit unions without one or more types of accounts, the overall rating is modified to include only applicable categories. Institutions are not penalized if they don't offer every type of account.

60+

Data points analyzed

We considered more than 60 data points for each provider. Depending on the category, these included account fees and rates (such as annual percentage yields), ATM and branch access, account features, account bonuses, customer service access and user-facing technology, such as innovative tools and mobile apps. We gathered this information for each financial institution from its website, a media representative or both.

Certificate of deposit star rating categories

Providers with the best CDs (or share certificates, as credit unions call them) generally have interest rates for six-month, one-year, three-year and five-year terms that tend to be at least twice their national averages. Minimum opening deposits tend to be lower than $3,000, but not always. Institutions with at least one of four specialty CDs (no-penalty, add-on, step-up or bump-up CDs) may get extra marks. Banks with a limited number of term lengths receive lower marks.

NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for banks and credit unions and our editorial guidelines

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best 1-Year CD Rates of August 2026 (Up to 4.17%)

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.