14 Best 6-Month CD Rates for July 2025
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ALSO CONSIDER: Best online savings accounts || Best checking accounts || Best high-interest accounts
Six-month CD rates can play a role in boosting your short-term savings, especially in some saving strategies such as CD ladders. Here's a list of our picks.
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.
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.
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 6-Month CD Rates
| Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Minimum deposit | APY | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
4.4/5 | $1,500 Member FDIC | APY 4.45% | ||
2.6/5 | $1,000 Member FDIC | APY 4.20% | ||
4.2/5 | $10,000 Member FDIC | APY 4.40% | ||
3.9/5 | $500 Federally insured by NCUA | APY 4.15% | ||
5.0/5 | $1,000 Federally insured by NCUA | APY 4.30% | ||
5.0/5 | $1,000 Member FDIC | APY 4.39% | ||
4.6/5 | $0 Member FDIC | APY 4.15% | ||
2.6/5 | $1,000 Member FDIC | APY 4.26% | ||
3.9/5 | $500 | APY 4.15% | ||
4.4/5 | $2,500 Member FDIC | APY 4.50% | ||
5.0/5 | $500 Member FDIC | APY 4.20% | ||
4.0/5 | $1,000 Member FDIC | APY 4.25% | ||
4.6/5 | $2,500 Member FDIC | APY 4.15% | ||
3.1/5 | $500 Member FDIC | APY 4.40% |
Minimum deposit
$1,500
Member FDIC
APY
4.45%
Our Take
The online bank Bread Savings® has a strong rate on its six-month CD, though its opening minimum of $1,500 is somewhat high.
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Member FDIC
APY
4.20%
Our Take
Bask Bank has a competitive yield and a somewhat low minimum opening requirement of $1,000.
Minimum deposit
$10,000
Member FDIC
APY
4.40%
Our Take
Online bank Popular Direct has a strong rate on its six-month CD rate, but its opening minimum of $10,000 is hefty.
Minimum deposit
$500
Federally insured by NCUA
APY
4.15%
Our Take
Service Credit Union offers a six-month certificate with a low opening minimum of $500. Anyone can join by becoming a member of the nonprofit American Consumer Council, with a promo code to bypass the membership fee.
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Federally insured by NCUA
APY
4.30%
Our Take
NASA Federal Credit Union has a competitive yield on its six-month share certificate and a somewhat low minimum deposit requirement of $1,000. Anyone can join by becoming a member of the nonprofit National Space Society.
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Member FDIC
APY
4.39%
Our Take
First Internet Bank, one of the oldest online banks, has a strong rate for its six-month CD term and a somewhat low minimum deposit of $1,000.
Minimum deposit
$0
Member FDIC
APY
4.15%
Our Take
E*TRADE, a division of Morgan Stanley Private Bank, offers a solid six-month CD rate and no minimum deposit requirement. E*TRADE’s bank CDs are separate from the CDs available for investors in brokerage accounts (learn more about brokered CDs).
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Member FDIC
APY
4.26%
Our Take
CIBC U.S., online U.S. bank division of a Canadian bank, has a competitive yield on its six-month CD. Its opening minimum deposit of $1,000 is fairly low.
Minimum deposit
$500
APY
4.15%
Our Take
Customers Bank, based in Pennsylvania, offers online six-month CDs with a low minimum opening of $500.
Minimum deposit
$2,500
Member FDIC
APY
4.50%
Our Take
Newtek Bank, an online bank with headquarters in Miami, has a stellar rate on its six-month CDs. The opening minimum of $2,500 is somewhat hefty.
Minimum deposit
$500
Member FDIC
APY
4.20%
Our Take
Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers a solid six-month rate and a low minimum opening requirement of $500.
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Member FDIC
APY
4.25%
Our Take
Ivy Bank is the online-only banking division of Cambridge Savings Bank. The bank’s short-term CDs tend to have competitive yields and the opening minimum of $1,000 is low.
Minimum deposit
$2,500
Member FDIC
APY
4.15%
Our Take
Known for its student loans, Sallie Mae also has high-yield certificates of deposit. The minimum of $2,500 is higher than at some banks.
Minimum deposit
$500
Member FDIC
APY
4.40%
Our Take
Bank5 Connect provides a range of short-term CDs and its opening minimum of $500 is low.
» Want to see more options? Check out our list of the best CD rates overall
Best 6-month CD rates for July 2025
Bread Savings®: 4.45% APY, $1,500 minimum deposit.
Popular Direct: 4.40% APY, $10,000 minimum deposit.
Customers Bank: 4.15% APY, $500 minimum deposit.
CIBC U.S.: 4.26% APY, $1,000 minimum deposit.
NASA Federal Credit Union: 4.30% APY, $1,000 minimum deposit.
Service Credit Union: 4.15% APY, $500 minimum deposit.
Bask Bank: 4.20% APY, $1,000 minimum deposit.
First Internet Bank: 4.39% APY, $1,000 minimum deposit.
E*TRADE: 4.15% APY, no minimum deposit.
Newtek Bank: 4.50% APY, $2,500 minimum deposit.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs: 4.20% APY, $500 minimum deposit.
Sallie Mae Bank: 4.15% APY, $2,500 minimum deposit.
Ivy Bank: 4.25% APY, $1,000 minimum deposit.
Bank5 Connect: 4.40% APY, $500 minimum deposit.
6-month CD trends
NerdWallet picks’ average:
4.29% APY
National average:
1.57%
No-penalty CDs offer more freedom
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 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:
See CD rates by bank
Here’s a quick list of CD rates at traditional and online banks and a brokerage:
Last updated on July 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 6-Month CD Rates for July 2025
- Bask Bank CD: 4.20% APY, $1,000 Minimum deposit
- Popular Direct CD: 4.40% APY, $10,000 Minimum deposit
- Service Credit Union Share Certificate: 4.15% APY, $500 Minimum deposit
- NASA Federal Credit Union Share Certificate: 4.30% APY, $1,000 Minimum deposit
- First Internet Bank CD: 4.39% APY, $1,000 Minimum deposit
- Bread Savings® CD: 4.45% APY, $1,500 Minimum deposit
- E*TRADE CD: 4.15% APY, $0 Minimum deposit
- CIBC Agility™ Online CD: 4.26% APY, $1,000 Minimum deposit
- Customers Bank CD: 4.15% APY, $500 Minimum deposit
- Newtek Bank CD: 4.50% APY, $2,500 Minimum deposit
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs High-Yield CD: 4.20% APY, $500 Minimum deposit
- Ivy Bank CD: 4.25% APY, $1,000 Minimum deposit
- Sallie Mae Bank CD: 4.15% APY, $2,500 Minimum deposit
- Bank5 Connect High-Yield CD: 4.40% APY, $500 Minimum deposit
Frequently asked questions
What is a CD?
A CD, or certificate of deposit, is a type of savings account that keeps money locked up for a set period or term, generally three months to five years. The longer the CD term, the higher the rate tends to be. See this month's best six-month CD rates.
What CD term length should I choose?
It depends on your savings goals and how sure you are that you won't need your funds before the CD term expires. Having to pay an early withdrawal penalty, generally up to one year's worth of interest, can be a blow to your savings. Common CD terms range from three months to five years; if you want to play it safe, go for a shorter CD term or a no-penalty CD.
What is a no-penalty CD?
A no-penalty CD is a type of CD that doesn’t have a penalty for withdrawing money before the term ends. It can be appealing if you want the traditionally higher yield of a CD, compared to regular savings accounts, and think you might need the money sooner than planned. See the best no-penalty CD rates.
What's better: CDs or high-yield savings accounts?
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.
When should I get a CD?
You should only get a CD 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.
» Thinking of a longer term for higher yields? Check out the best three-year CD rates
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.
» See future CD earnings using our CD calculator
What's better: CDs or investment accounts?
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.
Should I put my emergency fund in a CD?
No. CDs are meant for savings you can set aside and leave untouched. Consider a high-yield savings account for money you may need in a pinch.
Is laddering short-term CDs a good idea?
A CD ladder can be a helpful strategy if you don’t want to go all in on one CD, especially if you want to catch higher CD rates down the road. It works like this: you open multiple CDs at different terms, such as three months, six months, and one year, which frees up part of your funds more regularly than having, say, just a three-year CD. Each time a CD matures, you can either reinvest in a new CD or withdraw your money.