Current CD rates for December 2025
Bankrate tracks the best certificate of deposit rates and recent interest rate trends for you. Here are the current national average annual percentage yields (APYs) as of Tuesday, December 23, 2025, according to Bankrate’s most recent survey:
- 1-year CD yield: 1.92 percent APY
- 3-year CD yield: 1.65 percent APY
- 5-year CD yield: 1.69 percent APY
A certificate of deposit (CD) is a time deposit account in which your money accrues interest at a fixed yield for a set period of time, or term. CD terms typically range from as short as a few months to as long as five years, or even longer. However, if you withdraw your funds before the CD’s term ends, you’ll likely be charged an early withdrawal penalty, which is typically some or all of the interest you’ve accrued.
How CD rates have changed
The national average rate for one-year and five-year CDs started to increase in February 2022, driven in part by rising Treasury yields and expectations of Federal Reserve rate increases. Since February 2023, the one-year CD average has been higher than the five-year CD average.
How the Federal Reserve impacts CD rates
In December 2025, the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by 0.25 percentage point to a target range of 3.50 percent to 3.75 percent, marking the third consecutive rate cut of the year. The Fed had already lowered rates earlier in September 2025 (to 4.00 percent to 4.25 percent) and again in October 2025 (to 3.75 percent to 4.00 percent) as inflation moderated and signs of slower economic growth emerged.
While the Fed’s rate cuts have eased borrowing costs across the economy, policymakers have also signaled a more cautious outlook for future cuts, emphasizing that additional moves will depend on incoming economic data and inflation progress.
Because CD rates tend to move in the same direction as Federal Reserve policy over time, average CD yields have declined from their 2023–2024 peaks and could continue to drift lower if the easing cycle continues into 2026.
That said, top nationally available CD APYs remain above 4 percent across several terms, and inflation has recently been running around 3 percent year over year, allowing many savers to continue earning positive real returns.
Bankrate’s take: You can lock in a competitive yield with a CD. Savings accounts, on the other hand, usually have variable APYs. In an environment where CD rates might decrease in the future, a CD is an option to consider as long as you won’t need the money during the term. It’s important to determine your time horizon for money that’s being put into a CD, since CDs generally have an early withdrawal penalty.
Latest average CD APYs: 3-month trend
Bankrate monitors the national average rates on various CD terms, including:
| Date | 1-year CD | 3-year CD | 5-year CD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/15/2025 | 1.93% | 1.65% | 1.69% |
| 12/8/2025 | 1.93% | 1.64% | 1.68% |
| 12/1/2025 | 1.92% | 1.65% | 1.69% |
| 11/24/2025 | 1.93% | 1.65% | 1.69% |
| 11/17/2025 | 1.93% | 1.66% | 1.69% |
| 11/10/2025 | 1.95% | 1.67% | 1.70% |
| 11/3/2025 | 1.96% | 1.67% | 1.70% |
| 10/27/2025 | 1.97% | 1.67% | 1.70% |
| 10/20/2025 | 1.97% | 1.67% | 1.70% |
| 10/13/2025 | 1.98% | 1.68% | 1.70% |
| 10/06/2025 | 1.97% | 1.67% | 1.70% |
| 9/29/2025 | 1.99% | 1.67% | 1.70% |
| 9/22/2025 | 2.00% | 1.68% | 1.70% |
How Bankrate calculates the national average
Bankrate has made enhancements to our national averages database on April 14, 2025, including ones that retroactively impact previous weeks’ listings in our table. Previous enhancements were also made in January 2025. Up to 1,300 banks and credit unions are surveyed weekly to generate the national averages. Among these institutions are those that are broadly available and offer high yields, as well as some of the nation’s largest banks.
Bankrate’s best CD rates can help you compare CD yields and find the right one for you.
Compare CD rates by term for December 2025
Current 6-month CD rates
- Alliant Credit Union — 4.10%
- Limelight Bank — 4.10%
- Bread Savings — 4.05%-4.10%
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs — 4.05%
- Popular Direct — 4.00%
See additional best 6-month CD rates.
Current 1-year CD rates
- Morgan Stanley Private Bank — 4.10%
- Discover Bank — 4.05%
- Limelight Bank — 4.05%
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs — 4.00%
- Alliant Credit Union — 4.00%
See additional best 1-year CD rates.
Current 3-year CD rates
- Sallie Mae Bank — 3.95%
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs — 3.90%
- M.Y. Safra Bank — 3.75%
- TAB Bank — 3.75%
- Bread Savings — 3.70%-3.75%
See additional best 3-year CD rates.
Current 5-year CD rates
- Sallie Mae — 4.00%
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs — 3.90%
- M.Y. Safra Bank — 3.80%
- Morgan Stanley Private Bank — 3.75%
- TAB Bank — 3.75%
See additional best 5-year CD rates.
Note: Annual percentage yields (APYs) shown are as of December 23, 2025. Bankrate’s editorial team updates this information weekly. APYs may have changed since they were last updated and may vary by region for some products.
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