BEST OF
15 Best 5-Year CD Rates for August 2021
The best five-year CD rates tend to be much higher than the national average rate of 0.26% APY. These CDs can help you work toward your individual savings goals.
Why trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow 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.
» Want to see a wider pool of high rates? See our list of the best high-interest accounts
The best five-year CD rates tend to be much higher than the national average rate of 0.26% APY. These CDs can help you work toward your individual savings goals.
Why trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow 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.
» Want to see a wider pool of high rates? See our list of the best high-interest accounts
Summary of Best 5-Year CD Rates for August 2021
| Bank/Institution | NerdWallet Rating | Minimum Balance | APY | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Comenity Direct CD Learn more at Comenity Direct, Member FDIC | $1,500 Member FDIC | 0.90% With $1,500 minimum balance | Learn more at Comenity Direct, Member FDIC | |
 Discover Bank CD Learn more at Discover Bank, Member FDIC | $2,500 Member FDIC | 0.60% With $2,500 minimum balance | Learn more at Discover Bank, Member FDIC | |
 Consumers Credit Union CD | $250 Federally insured by the NCUA | 0.70% With $250 minimum balance | Read review | |
 Live Oak Bank CD | $2,500 Member FDIC | 0.70% With $2,500 minimum balance | Read review | |
 PenFed Credit Union Money Market Certificate | $1,000 Federally insured by the NCUA | 1.10% With $1,000 minimum balance | Read review | |
 TAB Bank CD | $1,000 Member FDIC | 0.75% With $1,000 minimum balance | Read review | |
 Alliant Credit Union CD | $1,000 Federally insured by the NCUA | 0.65% With $1,000 minimum balance | Read review | |
 Popular Direct CD | $10,000 Member FDIC | 0.85% With $10,000 minimum balance | Read review | |
 Synchrony Bank CD | $0 Member FDIC | 0.80% With $0 minimum balance | Read review | |
 Ally Bank High Yield CD | $0 Member FDIC | 0.80% With $0 minimum balance | Read review | |
 TIAA Bank Basic CD | $1,000 Member FDIC | 0.85% With $1,000 minimum balance | Read review | |
 Connexus Credit Union CD | $5,000 Federally insured by the NCUA | 1.06% With $5,000 minimum balance | Read review | |
 Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield CD | $500 Member FDIC | 0.60% With $500 minimum balance | Read review | |
 Quontic Bank CD Learn more at Quontic Bank, Member FDIC | $500 Member FDIC | 1.11% With $500 minimum balance | Learn more at Quontic Bank, Member FDIC | |
 Lake Michigan Credit Union Certificate of Deposit | $500 Federally insured by the NCUA | 0.85% With $500 minimum balance | Read review |
at Comenity Direct, Member FDIC
Comenity Direct CD
Minimum Balance
Member FDIC
APY
With $1,500 minimum balance
at Comenity Direct, Member FDIC
at Discover Bank, Member FDIC
Discover Bank CD
Minimum Balance
Member FDIC
APY
With $2,500 minimum balance
at Discover Bank, Member FDIC
Consumers Credit Union CD
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
APY
With $250 minimum balance
Live Oak Bank CD
Minimum Balance
Member FDIC
APY
With $2,500 minimum balance
PenFed Credit Union Money Market Certificate
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
APY
With $1,000 minimum balance
TAB Bank CD
Minimum Balance
Member FDIC
APY
With $1,000 minimum balance
Alliant Credit Union CD
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
APY
With $1,000 minimum balance
Popular Direct CD
Minimum Balance
Member FDIC
APY
With $10,000 minimum balance
Synchrony Bank CD
Minimum Balance
Member FDIC
APY
With $0 minimum balance
Ally Bank High Yield CD
Minimum Balance
Member FDIC
APY
With $0 minimum balance
TIAA Bank Basic CD
Minimum Balance
Member FDIC
APY
With $1,000 minimum balance
Connexus Credit Union CD
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
APY
With $5,000 minimum balance
Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield CD
Minimum Balance
Member FDIC
APY
With $500 minimum balance
at Quontic Bank, Member FDIC
Quontic Bank CD
Minimum Balance
Member FDIC
APY
With $500 minimum balance
at Quontic Bank, Member FDIC
Lake Michigan Credit Union Certificate of Deposit
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
APY
With $500 minimum balance
» Want to see more options? Check out our list of the best CD rates overall
NerdWallet's best 5-year CD rates for August 2021
Quontic Bank: 1.11% APY.
Connexus Credit Union: 1.06% APY.
Comenity Direct: 0.90% APY.
Lake Michigan Credit Union: 0.85% APY.
TIAA Bank: 0.85% APY.
Popular Direct: 0.85% APY.
Ally Bank: 0.80% APY.
Synchrony Bank: 0.80% APY.
TAB Bank: 0.75% APY.
Consumers Credit Union: 0.70% APY.
Pentagon Federal Credit Union: 1.10% APY.
Live Oak Bank: 0.70% APY.
Alliant Credit Union: 0.65% APY.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs: 0.60% APY.
Discover Bank: 0.60% APY.
Last updated on July 30, 2021
Methodology
On a monthly basis, we compare rates at over 20 financial institutions, taken from our full list, which we’ve seen to be consistently competitive. On a quarterly basis, we take a close look at over 70 financial institutions, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, debit card volume, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on deposits as well as broad-based membership requirements; 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; we favored those with the highest CD rates. We excluded banks that offered brokered CDs, since those accounts work differently from standard bank CDs. Higher rates might be available elsewhere.
Financial institutions surveyed include: Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Associated Bank, Axos Bank, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Bank of America, Bank of the West, Barclays, BB&T, BBVA, BMO Harris, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Capital One 360, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens Access, Citizens Bank, Comenity Bank, Comerica Bank, Commerce Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Discover Bank, E*TRADE Bank, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation Bank, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flagstar Bank, FNBO Direct, GoBank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, HSBC Bank, Huntington Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LendingClub, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Nationwide Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Popular Direct, PurePoint Financial, Quontic Bank, Redneck Bank, Regions Bank, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Service Credit Union, State Employees' Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, SunTrust Bank, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TCF Bank, TD Bank, TIAA Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Union Bank, USAA, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo, Woodforest National Bank and Zions Bank.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best 5-Year CD Rates for August 2021
- Comenity Direct CD: 0.90% APY
- Discover Bank CD: 0.60% APY
- Consumers Credit Union CD: 0.70% APY
- Live Oak Bank CD: 0.70% APY
- PenFed Credit Union Money Market Certificate: 1.10% APY
- TAB Bank CD: 0.75% APY
- Alliant Credit Union CD: 0.65% APY
- Popular Direct CD: 0.85% APY
- Synchrony Bank CD: 0.80% APY
- Ally Bank High Yield CD: 0.80% APY
- TIAA Bank Basic CD: 0.85% APY
- Connexus Credit Union CD: 1.06% APY
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield CD: 0.60% APY
- Quontic Bank CD: 1.11% APY
- Lake Michigan Credit Union Certificate of Deposit: 0.85% APY
Frequently asked questions
In an environment with climbing interest rates, you might question putting your money in a long-term CD. But getting a CD can still make sense if you're trying to spread out your investments, guarantee yourself a risk-free return, or want to ensure you won't spend a sum of your savings for a few years. (Keep in mind that shorter-term CDs can also be part of your saving strategy; consider the best six-month CD rates.)
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.
» See what CDs can earn with our CD calculator
You should get a CD only if you know you won’t need those funds during its term. Pulling money out of a CD before its expiration date will likely result in an early withdrawal fee, which is typically a percentage of the interest earned.
» Looking for a shorter term? Check out our list of best three-year CD rates
It depends on what's more important to you, rates or access to your money. The current CD rates tend to be higher than the best savings account rates, but you sacrifice access to money in CDs. If that doesn't work for you, check out our list of best online savings accounts.
» Want to know how CD rates stand? Read our full article on historical CD rates
It depends on the level of risk you want to take. Investment, or brokerage, accounts can have higher returns than CDs, but CDs guarantee returns. They're typically federally insured for up to $250,000 and offer fixed interest rates. Brokerage accounts can be riskier, since you aren’t protected against losses.
