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Best 18-month CD rates for May 2025

Rates updated between May 12 and May 18

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Deciding where to stick your savings can be tricky. An 18-month CD offers the best of both worlds: a higher yield than a standard savings account and a relatively brief term. An 18-month CD might be a suitable term for saving for a down payment on a house or a new car.

Current 18-month CD trends

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Bankrate Partner average
3.76% APY
National average
2.22% APY
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CD rates remain high, but are projected to move lower.
The Fed is predicted to continue cutting rates in 2025. Read more from Bankrate's experts in our CD rates forecast.
PERSONALIZE YOUR SEARCH

Bankrate’s picks for the top 18-month CD rates

Note: Annual percentage yields (APYs) shown were updated between May 12 and May 18. Bankrate's editorial team validates this information regularly, typically biweekly. APYs may have changed since they were last updated and may vary by region for some products. Bankrate includes only FDIC banks or NCUA credit unions in its listings.

TAB Bank

Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1 Bankrate CD score
  • Annual percentage yield

    4.16%
  • Min. deposit to open

    $1,000

Why TAB Bank?

TAB Bank offers an 18-month CD that earns a top-notch rate, and its other five CD terms also earn highly competitive APYs. Term lengths range from one year to five years, and all CDs require a minimum $1,000 deposit.

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
4.9 Bankrate CD score
  • Annual percentage yield

    4.00%
  • Min. deposit to open

    $500

Why Marcus by Goldman Sachs?

Marcus by Goldman Sachs is an online-only bank with a wide range of CD terms with consistently high APYs, including its 18-month option. It also offers three no-penalty CDs with competitive rates and a 20-month rate bump CD. All CDs require a minimum opening deposit of $500.

CFG Community Bank

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3 Bankrate CD score
  • Annual percentage yield

    4.00%
  • Min. deposit to open

    $500

Why CFG Community Bank?

CFG Community Bank’s four CD terms range between one year and five years, and they all earn high APYs, including the 18-month term. A minimum of $500 is required to open a CD, which can be done online or at one of the bank’s three branches, which are located in Maryland.

Limelight Bank

Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4 Bankrate CD score
  • Annual percentage yield

    4.00%
  • Min. deposit to open

    $1,000

Why Limelight Bank?

Limelight Bank offers a high-yielding 18-month CD as well as competitive rates on its three additional terms, which range from six months to three years. A minimum deposit of $1,000 is required. Limelight doesn’t offer any other types of bank accounts other than CDs.

First Internet Bank of Indiana

Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1 Bankrate CD score
  • Annual percentage yield

    4.00%
  • Min. deposit to open

    $1,000

Why First Internet Bank of Indiana?

First Internet Bank of Indiana is a nationally available, online-only bank with eight terms of CDs that earn strong yields, including its 18-month option. The other terms range from three months to five years. Each requires a minimum opening deposit of $1,000.

Bask Bank

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5 Bankrate CD score
  • Annual percentage yield

    4.00%
  • Min. deposit to open

    $1,000

Why Bask Bank?

Bask Bank offers one of the highest APYs available on an 18-month CD, and you’ll find competitive rates on its five additional terms that range from three months to two years.

American Express National Bank

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5 Bankrate CD score
  • Annual percentage yield

    3.85%
  • Min. deposit to open

    $0

Why American Express National Bank?

American Express National Bank only offers four terms of CDs, although they all earn solid APYs, including its 18-month offering. Unlike many banks, there’s no set minimum opening deposit for the CDs. You can find CDs with terms up to two years.

Synchrony Bank

Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
4.9 Bankrate CD score
  • Annual percentage yield

    3.80%
  • Min. deposit to open

    $0

Why Synchrony Bank?

Synchrony Bank is known for its deposit accounts that often earn high rates, including its 18-month CD. In total, Synchrony offers nine CD terms that range up to 60 months, none of which require a minimum deposit. Synchrony also offers two specialty CDs: a two-year bump-up CD and an 11-month no-penalty CD, though the latter has a low rate.

Alliant Credit Union

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2 Bankrate CD score
  • Annual percentage yield

    3.80%
  • Min. deposit to open

    $1,000

Why Alliant Credit Union?

Alliant Credit Union offers a solid rate on its 18-month share certificate (the credit union term for CDs), and its additional seven CD terms also earn high APYs. Each requires a minimum deposit of $1,000. Membership in Alliant is required, although anyone is able to join. Having an Alliant savings account is a requirement for membership, which requires a $25 initial deposit.

Ally Bank

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6 Bankrate CD score
  • Annual percentage yield

    3.70%
  • Min. deposit to open

    $0

Why Ally Bank?

Ally Bank offers seven standard terms of CDs, all of which earn yields that are decent or competitive, including its 18-month term. Also offered are a no-penalty CD and two terms of raise-your-rate CDs. None of the CDs require minimum opening deposits.

What is an 18-month CD?

With a CD, you agree to leave your money in the account for a set period of time — in this case, 18 months. In return for your commitment to leave the money alone, you receive a higher yield than you would earn in a savings account. If you take your money out early, you will pay an early withdrawal penalty.

With an 18-month CD, your annual percentage yield (APY) is locked in, so you don’t have to worry about your bank potentially lowering the rate on your account before the term ends.

An 18-month CD can be ideal for setting aside money for short-term goals, such as going on vacation or saving for a car down payment. You can also use an 18-month CD as a rung in a CD ladder.

Compare APYs available for 18-month CDs andHere are the top widely available 18-month CD rates. Compare these offers, then calculate how much interest you would earn when your CD matures.

Long-term CDs offer a predictable, stable return, which can anchor a diversified investment portfolio, particularly for risk-averse investors. They act as a safe haven, balancing out more volatile investments while ensuring your funds are FDIC insured, up to the coverage limits.
Bankrate logo Harmon Kong, CFP, AIF, chief wealth manager and co-founder of Apriem Advisors

How to find the best 18-month CD rates

An 18-month CD is a low-risk investment, although not all CDs are created alike when it comes to APY. But before you purchase an 18-month CD, it’s important to do some research before committing your funds to one.

Taking the time to find the best CD rate can translate to significantly higher interest earnings. “It’s advised that you shop around when searching for CDs,” says Christopher Stroup, CFP, founder and president of Silicon Beach Financial. “For example, online banks tend to offer much higher rates than traditional brick-and-mortar banks. If you’re okay with an online banking relationship, this could be a great opportunity to lock in a better rate.”

Besides online banks, high yields can sometimes be found from credit unions and community banks, Stroup says. Factors to look for, in addition to APY, include minimum deposit requirements and early withdrawal penalties.

Before opening an 18-month CD, it’s also important to make sure you won’t need access to the money before the CD matures. “When considering 18-month CDs, first understand what this lockup period could mean for your personal finances,” Stroup says. “If this money is meant for a future expense or set aside as your emergency reserve, be careful to read the fine print surrounding early withdrawals and penalties should you need the funds prior to the end of the CD term.”

18-month CD FAQs

Research methodology

Bankrate researches over 100 banks and credit unions, including some of the largest financial institutions, online-only banks, regional banks and credit unions with both open and restrictive membership policies.

To find the best 18-month CD rates, we regularly survey 18-month CD offerings from the banks and credit unions that continually offer the most competitive rates.

The banks and credit unions on this page are selected based on their current APY for an 18-month CD and minimum deposit requirements. In the case of a tie, we choose the CDs that have the lowest minimum deposit requirements and highest Bankrate’s product star ratings. Only banks and credit unions with broadly available CDs made the list. Learn more about how we choose the best banking products and our methodology for reviewing banks.