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CD Rates in California for June 2026

Updated June 21, 2026

Written by
Rhys Subitch
Edited by
Pippin Wilbers

Given California has one of the highest costs of living in the U.S., a secure way to save may be among your financial strategies. Certificates of deposit (CDs) provide guaranteed returns. To get the best CD rates, you'll need to know how to compare your options.

At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here’s an explanation for how we make money. Learn more about who we are and our promise to guide you through life’s financial journey.

How to compare the best CD rates in California

  1. Term

    You'll typically find terms from three months to five years. You may find CDs that are shorter or longer, but it will depend on the bank or credit union.

  2. Yield

    The annual percentage yield (APY) is the amount of interest earned each year.

  3. Minimum deposit

    Typical minimum deposits range from $500 to $1,000. You may run into significantly lower or higher requirements.

  4. Fees and penalties

    You may face an early withdrawal penalty if you take out your funds before the term is up. This can be as little as a month of interest, up to the entire amount you would have earned.

Don't forget about credit unions

You may be able to find better yields with online banks and credit unions than you will with a traditional bank. As nonprofit organizations, credit unions cater to their members rather than shareholders, and pass profits along to them through benefits like higher yields.

To find California-based credit unions, you can use the official search tool provided by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) or search online. The three largest credit unions in California as of the fourth quarter of 2025 are:

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Keep in mind: Some credit unions call their CDs certificates or share certificates.

How to decide whether you want a long- or short-term CD

When deciding between term lengths, it's important to know that there are sometimes large divides in the yield you'll get. Right now, terms less than six months will typically come with lower yields. Longer terms may net you higher APYs and let you grow your savings longer — just make sure you can afford not to make an early withdrawal.

Next steps to take out a CD in California

Compare CD rates

Find and compare nationally available CDs using Bankrate's best list.

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Consider additional credit unions

You may find credit unions that offer membership to those outside California.

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Calculate how much you'll earn

Use Bankrate's CD calculator to crunch the numbers.

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Learn about CD ladders

A CD ladder can help you keep building your savings over time.

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Research methodology

Since 1976, Bankrate has been a leading publisher of rates and personal finance articles. We help our readers make smarter financial decisions, adhering to strict principles of editorial integrity and transparency.

Part of Bankrate’s editorial team is made up of a group of banking experts. These experts have collectively researched over 100 banks and review current details at least monthly to make sure readers stay up to date on the latest rates and bank products. If you see a star rating next to a product, that has been established by one of our banking experts, and is not influenced by partner status.

Note: Bankrate doesn’t include callable CDs or brokered CDs on this page and compares regular CDs and no-penalty CDs separately.

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