Do You Have a CD Maturing Soon? Here's What to Do Next
These strategies can help you make the most of your money when your CD matures.
If you have a CD at the end of its term soon, the first step is to ensure it doesn't automatically renew before you choose what to do with your money. Even if you renew it, you want to be sure you're making that decision yourself. These steps will help you decide what to do next.
If you miss the maturity date, no worries: Many banks offer grace periods of seven to 10 days after the maturity date, during which you can cancel the CD and still have access to your money without incurring any penalties.
Next, you'll decide whether you want to keep the money in the same CD or explore other options. If you're on course to reach your retirement plans and want to avoid any short-term market volatility and grow your earnings without much risk, here are some smart options to consider.
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Let your CD roll over
In some cases, it does make sense to let your CD roll over. If the rates remain the same and you're satisfied with what you're earning, then there's no need to switch. Make sure your bank will auto-renew the CD and do a quick rate check before they do.
This works best if you allocate some of your money to a less risky investment, don't want to contend with shopping around, and you like the bank you're using.
However, if your financial goals change, you want to try a new bank or you're looking to grow your money in different ways, here are a few other options to consider.
Consider short-term CDs for maximum growth, flexibility
If you don't want to tie up your money for a long period of time, but also don't want to face diminishing returns from rate cuts, a short-term CD could be a smart option. Finding a term from three months to one year ensures you lock in rates while they remain high.
It's perfect, too, if you have short-term savings goals you want to achieve over the next year, such as paying off debt or saving for a trip. What's nice about a short-term CD is that you can get in, earn some money, not worry about Fed rate cuts (CDs have fixed rates) and get your money back quickly for other investments.
Use the tool below, powered by Bankrate, to compare today's top CD account offers:
The only thing to remember is that with shorter-term CDs, you face a quicker turnaround time to reinvest those funds. This can be good news if inflation continues to rise and you need to pivot to investment vehicles that can earn you more.
Gain peace of mind with long-term rate protection
Another option is a long-term CD. The best five-year CD rates offer 4.10% APYs, and locking one in now could shield you from any future rate cuts.
They're also great if you're looking at longer-term savings goals. To demonstrate, you might be retiring in the next five to 10 years, and want to earmark some money for a dream vacation or renovations before downsizing after you retire.
A five-year CD can help you reach these goals without worrying about lower APYs. The only thing to remember is that long-term CDs come with significant early-termination fees, with some levying up to a year of earned interest.
What if neither option sounds good, and you want some middle ground? CD laddering could be a smart approach. How it works is you take some money and spread it over the course of multiple CDs. Here's an example using $50,000:
- Open a six-month CD with $5,000
- Open a one-year CD with $10,000
- Open a three-year CD with $10,000
- Open a no-penalty CD with $5,000
- Open a five-year CD with $20,000
The goal of this approach is to stagger your maturity dates so you're able to lock in higher rates for long-term growth, while also having quick access to some of your cash to fulfill short-term goals or reinvest it in other avenues.
Stay liquid while exploring your next investing steps
If you're unsure where to turn and don't want to tie your money into a long-term CD, a high-yield savings account is still a smart choice to consider. Even though they have variable rates, many of the best high-yield savings accounts can still help protect your cash while earning competitive returns.
Best of all, you have access to your money whenever you want it. This is critical if you're at a juncture where you're changing retirement allocations and need to park your cash and grow it before determining next steps.
Account |
APY |
Min. opening deposit |
4.20% |
$0 |
|
4.00% |
$1,000 |
|
3.95% |
$100 |
Overall, these strategies can help with the next steps after your CD matures. Whether you're looking to save for goals as you near retirement or want some liquidity as you weigh next investment steps, these avenues allow you to reach your milestones your way.
Use the tool below, powered by Bankrate, to connect with a financial professional who can help build a personal road map to your financial goals:
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