The Fed Could Cut Rates Again. What Should Savers Do About CDs and High-Yield Accounts?
Here's what to know about CDs and high-yield savings accounts before the Fed meets to possibly cut rates again.
The Federal Reserve meet on December 17-18 to determine if they need to cut rates for a third time this year. They previously met in November, where they cut rates by 25 basis points, or 0.25%. In a poll conducted by Reuters, 90% of economist believe the Fed will cut rates by another 25 basis points when they meet next week.
With rates dropping, now is a good time to reassess your approach to CDs and high-yield savings accounts to make sure you get the most out of your money. Here’s what you should do about CDs and high-yield savings accounts before the Fed might cut rates again.
What should savers do about CDs and high-yield accounts before a Fed rate cut?
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If you don’t already have a high-yield savings account, it’s still worth getting one, even after the recent drop in savings rates. Keeping your cash in a high-yield savings account is an easy way to maximize your savings through compound interest, and rates are still much, much higher than rates you’d find on standard savings or checking accounts.
As of December 2, the national average savings account yield was 0.60%, according to Bankrate. Rates for the best high-yield savings accounts still top 4%, even after a drop in rates.
Keep in mind that high-yield savings accounts have variable interest rates, meaning the APY on your account will fluctuate based on the market. Because of this, you won’t be able to lock in rates. However, savings rates might fall gradually over the coming months, instead of falling off immediately — so take advantage of high APYs while you still can.
If you already have a high-yield savings account, now's a good time to check your rates and potentially shop around for an account that will let you earn even more.
Compare rates by using our tool below, powered by Bankrate.
CDs
If you opened a CD account during the boon to savings rates, it may be nearing maturity soon. While many individuals opted for short-term CDs, thanks to their impressive rates, it may now be more prudent to open a long-term CD. Keep in mind that typically, banks renew a CD at a similar term automatically once it matures, so be sure to contact your financial institution before this happens.
Opening a five-year CD can be an easy way to maximize the amount of interest earned on your savings, because of course, the longer you keep your money in a CD, the more interest you’ll earn. Just be sure you’re okay with the time commitment — you won’t be able to withdraw funds or you’ll be charged a fee, offsetting any interest you may have earned.
You can use our tool below, powered by Bankrate, to compare CD rates today.
Bottom line
Starting in March 2022, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates 11 times to combat high inflation. However, as inflation started to cool, the central bank began holding the federal funds rate steady at its 23-year high — a target range of 5.25% to 5.50%
After eight consecutive meetings of holding rates steady, the Fed finally cut rates twice, and might be poised to do so again next week. While this should provide some relief for borrowers as interest rates go down, savings rates will also decline. Rates are expected to continue declining throughout 2026.
You won't be able to lock in rates with a high-yield savings account, so the earlier you start taking advantage of high yields, the better. And while you can lock in rates with a CD, make sure you won't need to access your cash before it matures. If you're okay with tying up a good amount of money for several years, it'll pay off in the long run.
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