Sean Jackson
If you’re thinking about putting your cash in a CD in 2025, now may be the best time. Currently, rates on CDs are still somewhat high — in most cases offering over 4% on your cash — but they likely won’t go higher than they are now. The reason for this is the Federal Reserve cut interest rates three times in 2024, with the last rate cut being 0.25% on December 18.
For this reason, the beginning of this year could be a great time to lock-in CD rates and earn interest on your savings. In fact, many CD accounts have begun to slightly drop rates in recent weeks, so consider taking advantage of the best possible rates while you still can.
How to open a CD in 2025
Opening a CD is fairly straightforward, and can help maximize your savings with little to no effort. In fact, opening a CD can be done in five simple steps:
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
- 1. Choose a CD term
- 2. Choose a provider
- 3. Apply for the CD
- 4. Choose how to receive your interest
- 5. Fund the account
There might be reasons why you don't want to open a CD. Some of the most common obstacles involve people not wanting to temporarily lose access to funds, not wanting to open a CD with an online-only bank and not seeing the value of having a CD.
CDs hold a fixed amount of money for a fixed period of time, which can be anywhere from three months to five years, and are good options for individuals looking for a fixed, predictable rate of return on their savings.
While CD accounts offer higher savings rates than standard savings accounts, there is one drawback. You'll have to wait until your CD's maturity date before you can withdraw funds. Failure to do so will cost you a fee, which can offset any interest you may have earned (unless you have a no-penalty CD account).
But if you're okay with setting your money aside for a certain period of time, you could easily maximize your savings with the best rates on the market. For those hesitant to lock their cash away, a high yield savings account is a better option. However, because rates on these accounts are variable, you won't be able to lock-in rates. These accounts are also simple to set up, and are a no-brainer for those looking to earn more on their hard-earned cash. By not putting your savings into a high yield savings account or CD, you're leaving money on the table.
Unlike high yield savings accounts, rates on CDs are fixed, meaning your APY won't fluctuate over time. And because savings rates have been leveling off lately, in some cases even dropping, opening a CD account now, rather than later, can help you secure the best rates before they drop further.
You can compare current CD rates below by using our tool — powered by Bankrate.
Also check out Kiplinger's savings calculator below to see just how much you could earn with a high APY.
Savings rates 2025
Savings rates have been on the rise since March 2022, when the Federal Reserve began hiking interest rates in an attempt to combat high inflation. Since then, the Fed began a trio of rate cuts in 2024, with the third one being a 0.25% cut on December 18. Moving forward, the Fed might not make as many rate cuts in 2025.
Since the Fed started holding rates steady, APYs on CDs have begun to level out, and in several cases, decrease. For this reason, consider taking advantage of savings rates while they're still high.
Related Content
-
Are You Ready for 65? The Medicare Initial Enrollment Period QuizQuiz Turning 65 soon? Test your basic knowledge of Medicare's Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) rules in our quick quiz.
-
3 Ways to Stretch the 2026 Social Security COLA For Your BudgetThree steps retirees can take to stretch the Social Security COLA to fit their budgets.
-
How to Keep Your Charitable Giving Momentum Going All YearInstead of treating charity like a year-end rush for tax breaks, consider using smart tools like DAFs and recurring grants for maximum impact all the year.
-
Uber Takes Aim at the Bottom Lines of Billboard Personal Injury LawyersUber has filed lawsuits and proposed a ballot initiative, in California, to curb settlements it claims are falsely inflated by some personal injury lawyers.
-
11 Cities With the Cheapest Groceries in the USIf you live in one of these 11 cities, you're paying less than the rest of the country to keep your fridge stocked.
-
Giving Tuesday 2025: 'Every Small Act Makes a Major Difference'GivingTuesday encourages generosity in any form, from donating to charity to helping your neighbors.
-
How to Position Your Portfolio for Lower Interest RatesThe Federal Reserve is far from done with its rate-cutting regime. This is how investors can prepare.
-
Moves to Manage the Soaring Costs of Owning a CarIt's costing more and more to keep a car on the road, but you can drive some costs down. Here's how to get a better deal on insurance premiums, repairs and gas
-
My First $1 Million: Oil Industry Engineering Manager, 67, Chapel Hill, N.C.Ever wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
I'm a Financial Literacy Expert: Bubble-Wrapping Our Kids Robbed Them of Resilience. Now What?By raising them to think they're amazing no matter what and lifting them over obstacles, we left them unprepared to work in the real world.
-
I'm a Financial Planner: If You're a High Earner, You Need an 18-Month Safety NetNo job seems to be safe in this age of AI. If you make a larger-than-usual salary, then you need to have a larger-than-usual emergency fund. Here's why.
