BEST OF
8 Best Jumbo CD Rates for 2021
Jumbo CD rates tend to be slightly better than regular CD rates, on average, but these CDs come with a steep requirement. Jumbo CDs traditionally require at least $100,000 to open, though some financial institutions have lower minimums. You can find the best CD rates with much lower or no minimums.
» In a low-rate environment: Are CDs worth it?
The best jumbo CD rates tend to be at credit unions, many of which have membership requirements such as living in a certain state or being part of an employer group, such as the military. Our list focuses on CDs with minimums from $50,000 to $100,000.
Best jumbo CD rates for 6-month to 5-year terms: Easy to join:
Consumers Credit Union.
First Tech Federal Credit Union.
Competitive rates but restrictive membership:
Navy Federal Credit Union.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.
Golden 1 Credit Union.
Security Service Federal Credit Union.
Suncoast Credit Union.
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.
Jumbo CD rates tend to be slightly better than regular CD rates, on average, but these CDs come with a steep requirement. Jumbo CDs traditionally require at least $100,000 to open, though some financial institutions have lower minimums. You can find the best CD rates with much lower or no minimums.
» In a low-rate environment: Are CDs worth it?
The best jumbo CD rates tend to be at credit unions, many of which have membership requirements such as living in a certain state or being part of an employer group, such as the military. Our list focuses on CDs with minimums from $50,000 to $100,000.
Best jumbo CD rates for 6-month to 5-year terms: Easy to join:
Consumers Credit Union.
First Tech Federal Credit Union.
Competitive rates but restrictive membership:
Navy Federal Credit Union.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.
Golden 1 Credit Union.
Security Service Federal Credit Union.
Suncoast Credit Union.
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.
Summary of Best Jumbo CD Rates for 2021
| Bank/Institution | NerdWallet Rating | 1-year APY | 3-year APY | 5-year APY | Minimum Deposit | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Not yet rated Best for Easy to join | 0.30% | 0.45% | 0.55% | $50,000 | Read review | |
Not yet rated Best for Easy to join | 0.55% | 0.70% | 0.80% | $100,000 | Read review | |
Not yet rated Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership | 0.60% | 0.75% | 0.95% | $100,000 | Read review | |
Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership | 0.60% | 0.85% | 1.10% | $100,000 | Read review | |
Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership | 0.55% | 0.80% | 1.00% | $100,000 | Read review | |
Not yet rated Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership | 0.40% | 0.60% | 0.75% | $100,000 | Read review | |
Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership | 0.40% | 0.70% | 0.95% | $100,000 | Read review | |
Not yet rated Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership | 0.40% | 0.50% | 0.70% | $100,000 | Read review |
Our picks for
Easy to join
First Tech Federal Credit Union CD
Not yet rated
1-year APY
With $50,000 minimum balance
3-year APY
With $50,000 minimum balance
5-year APY
With $50,000 minimum balance
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
Consumers Credit Union CD
Not yet rated
1-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
3-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
5-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
Our picks for
Competitive rates but restrictive membership
Navy Federal Credit Union Standard Certificate
Not yet rated
1-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
3-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
5-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
SchoolsFirst FCU CD
1-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
3-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
5-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
Golden 1 Credit Union CD
1-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
3-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
5-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
Security Service Federal Credit Union CD
Not yet rated
1-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
3-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
5-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
Suncoast Credit Union CD
1-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
3-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
5-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union CD
Not yet rated
1-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
3-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
5-year APY
With $100,000 minimum balance
Minimum Balance
Federally insured by the NCUA
Last updated on February 3, 2020
Methodology
We featured easy-to-join financial institutions that we've reviewed with the highest CD rates available and that require an opening minimum from $50,000 to $100,000. Higher rates might be available elsewhere.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best Jumbo CD Rates for 2021
- First Tech Federal Credit Union CD: Best for Easy to join, 0.55% APY, $50,000 Minimum Balance
- Consumers Credit Union CD: Best for Easy to join, 0.80% APY, $100,000 Minimum Balance
- Navy Federal Credit Union Standard Certificate: Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership, 0.95% APY, $100,000 Minimum Balance
- SchoolsFirst FCU CD: Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership, 0.60% APY, $100,000 Minimum Balance
- Golden 1 Credit Union CD: Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership, 0.55% APY, $100,000 Minimum Balance
- Security Service Federal Credit Union CD: Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership, 0.40% APY, $100,000 Minimum Balance
- Suncoast Credit Union CD: Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership, 0.40% APY, $100,000 Minimum Balance
- Alaska USA Federal Credit Union CD: Best for Competitive rates but restrictive membership, 0.40% APY, $100,000 Minimum Balance
Frequently asked questions
A jumbo CD is a certificate of deposit that traditionally requires a minimum deposit of $100,000. Some banks and credit unions offer jumbo CDs with lower minimums, such as $50,000. But for most people, regular CDs tend to be a better option: There’s no steep deposit requirement, and rates can be as good as or higher than jumbo CD rates.
Apart from minimums, regular and jumbo CDs are similar. They both keep money locked up for a fixed period, usually from three months to five years. In return for sacrificing access to your funds, you earn an interest rate that is usually higher than that of a regular savings account.
Typically, not by much. Current rates on jumbo CDs tend to be around 0.05% to 0.10% higher than regular CDs, while the difference between their minimum deposit requirements is huge. Jumbo CDs usually require $100,000, while regular CDs can have higher rates and a minimum deposit requirement of $500 or $5,000. Or even no minimum, especially at some online banks such as Barclays and Capital One 360.
CDs give some of the highest returns for deposit accounts, and they tend to work best for specific short-term goals, such as saving for a wedding or down payment for a home a few years down the road. (To help save for goals, look at the best five-year CD rates this month.)
But the federal deposit insurance limit for a bank account is $250,000. If you want the assurance that you will get all your money back if your bank or credit union fails, it’s best to keep your deposit, and the expected interest amount you’ll earn, at or below that limit. To make sure your money is protected, you can also open a joint account, which insures $250,000 per co-owner, or consider multiple CDs from different banks.
If you have enough savings for a jumbo CD, compare rates across both jumbo and regular CDs. In general, bigger CD minimums don’t mean higher rates.