13 Best 3-Year CD Rates for May 2025
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ALSO CONSIDER: Best online savings || Best checking || Best high-interest accounts
The best three-year CD rates can give a boost to short-term savings. The rates featured on this page are much higher than the national average rate of 1.35% APY for three-year CDs. See our picks below.
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.
More than 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.
Also scroll down to see "no-penalty" CDs that allow you to withdraw your money whenever you want.
Nerdy Tip
The Fed hasn’t changed its benchmark interest rates so far this year. This means that excellent interest rates are still available on CDs.
Best 3-Year CD Rates
| Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Minimum deposit | APY | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
4.4/5 | $1,500 Member FDIC | APY 4.00% | Learn moreon partner's site at Bread Savings®, Member FDIC | |
4.7/5 | $1,000 Federally insured by NCUA | APY 3.65% | ||
5.0/5 | $0 Member FDIC | APY 4.00% | ||
5.0/5 | $500 Member FDIC | APY 3.90% | ||
5.0/5 | $1,000 Member FDIC | APY 3.91% | ||
5.0/5 | $1,000 Federally insured by NCUA | APY 3.65% | ||
5.0/5 | $1,000 Federally insured by NCUA | APY 3.95% | ||
5.0/5 | $1,000 Member FDIC | APY 3.97% | ||
5.0/5 | $0 Member FDIC | APY 3.90% | ||
5.0/5 | $500 | APY 3.75% | ||
4.4/5 | $2,500 Member FDIC | APY 3.90% | ||
4.5/5 | $10,000 Member FDIC | APY 4.15% | ||
3.3/5 | $0 Member FDIC | APY 3.60% |
Minimum deposit
$1,500
Member FDIC
APY
4.00%
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Federally insured by NCUA
APY
3.65%
Minimum deposit
$0
Member FDIC
APY
4.00%
Minimum deposit
$500
Member FDIC
APY
3.90%
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Member FDIC
APY
3.91%
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Federally insured by NCUA
APY
3.65%
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Federally insured by NCUA
APY
3.95%
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Member FDIC
APY
3.97%
Minimum deposit
$0
Member FDIC
APY
3.90%
Minimum deposit
$500
APY
3.75%
Minimum deposit
$2,500
Member FDIC
APY
3.90%
Minimum deposit
$10,000
Member FDIC
APY
4.15%
Minimum deposit
$0
Member FDIC
APY
3.60%
» Want to see more options? Check out our list of the best CD rates overall
Best 3-year CD rates for May 2025
Alliant Credit Union: 3.65% APY.
Synchrony Bank: 4.00% APY.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs: 3.90% APY.
Andrews Federal Credit Union: 3.65% APY.
TAB Bank: 3.91% APY.
NASA Federal Credit Union: 3.95% APY.
First Internet Bank: 3.97% APY.
E*TRADE: 3.90% APY.
Bread Savings®: 4.00% APY.
CFG Bank: 3.75% APY.
Newtek Bank: 3.90% APY.
Popular Direct: 4.15% APY.
American Express: 3.60% APY (annual percentage yield) as of 02/26/2025.
3-year CD trends
NerdWallet picks’ average:
3.86% APY
National average:
1.35%
Another option: No-penalty CDs
When you withdraw your money from a CD before the term expires, you generally pay a penalty of at least several months’ of interest earned.
Some providers, however, allow you to withdraw your money before the term expires, with no penalty. Keep in mind that rates may be a little lower for these no-penalty CDs.
The following four banks offer no-penalty CDs (click each link to read the full review):
Ally Bank® (Member FDIC).
See CD rates by term and type
Compare the best rates for various CD terms and types:
How do CDs work?
Learn more about choosing CDs, understanding CD rates, and opening and closing CDs.
Choosing CDs:
Here’s a quick list of CD rates at traditional and online banks and a brokerage:
Last updated on May 1, 2025
Methodology
On a monthly basis, we compare rates at over 45 financial institutions, pulled from our full list, that we’ve seen to be consistently competitive. On a quarterly basis, we analyzed our full list, excluding banks that offered brokered CDs, since those accounts work differently from standard bank CDs. Higher rates might be available elsewhere.
We took a close look at over 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 and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.
Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm, All America Bank, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, America First Credit Union, 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, Carver Federal Savings Bank, CFG Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Bank, City First Bank, Climate First Bank, Commerce Bank, Community First Credit Union of Florida, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Customers Bank, Delta Community Credit Union, Discover® Bank, E*TRADE, EverBank, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First Internet Bank, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flagstar Bank, FNBO Direct, Forbright Bank, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, Global Credit Union, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenwood, Hope Credit Union, Huntington Bank, Industrial Bank, Ivy Bank, Jenius Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Laurel Road Bank, LendingClub Bank, Liberty 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, One, OneUnited Bank, 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, Suncoast Credit Union, 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 3-Year CD Rates for May 2025
- Alliant Credit Union Certificate: 3.65% APY
- Synchrony Bank CD: 4.00% APY
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield CD: 3.90% APY
- TAB Bank CD: 3.91% APY
- Andrews Federal Credit Union Fixed Rate Share Certificates: 3.65% APY
- NASA Federal Credit Union Share Certificate: 3.95% APY
- First Internet Bank CD: 3.97% APY
- E*TRADE CD: 3.90% APY
- Bread Savings® CD: 4.00% APY
- CFG Bank CD: 3.75% APY
- Newtek Bank CD: 3.90% APY
- Popular Direct CD: 4.15% APY
- American Express® CD: 3.60% APY
Frequently asked questions
Certificates of deposit, or CDs, are savings accounts in which cash is locked away for a predetermined period of time, generally three months to five years.
CD rates are shown as an annual percentage yield, or APY. That number shows how much the CD earns in one year and includes compound interest. The higher the APY, the more your money will grow. Long-term CDs usually earn the highest rates. See this month’s top 3-year CD rates.
That depends on how much risk you're willing to take. Investment accounts can have higher returns than CDs, but CDs offer guaranteed returns in the form of fixed interest rates. And they're typically federally insured for up to $250,000. Brokerage accounts can be riskier since you aren’t protected against losses. (For more information, see our list of the best online brokers.)
Ideally, you'll take out a three-year, or 36-month, CD only if you're certain that you won’t need that money before the term ends. Current CD rates tend to be higher than savings account rates. However, if you want to keep your funds more accessible, a high-yield online savings account is a better choice. (Check out our list of the best online savings accounts.)
Although most CDs don't have monthly fees, banks typically charge early withdrawal penalties if you remove money before the CD's expiration date. The penalty is often several months' worth of interest. (If you're worried about losing access to your money for too long, consider shorter terms such as six-month CDs.)
» See what CDs can earn with our CD calculator