What Is a Certificate of Deposit?

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a low-risk way to save money, offered by banks and credit unions. You agree to keep your money in the CD for a set time, and when it matures, you get your original amount plus interest. Taking the money out early may result in a penalty. A financial advisor can help you decide how CDs fit into your investment plan.

Certificates of Deposit Basics

Certificates of deposit are, by definition, deposits you make with the issuing bank or credit union. You can buy them directly from a local bank or go online and shop for the best CDs from different banks and credit unions all over the country.

To calculate how much interest you could earn with a CD, try using SmartAsset’s CD calculator.

When shopping for CDs, you’ll want to compare what’s being offered and look for the highest interest rate you can find. They’re likely to be higher than the rate you would get from a regular savings account.

CDs are advertised with their length, yield and compounding frequency. Pay close attention to the annual percentage yield (APY), which tells you the interest your money will earn. You should also consider the compounding period of the CD you’re considering. Depending on whether the bank will compound daily, monthly, quarterly or yearly, your money will grow at different rates.

In general, long-term CDs pay a higher rate than short-term CDs to compensate for the fact that you’re locking up your money for a while. Just remember that if you go for a 10-year CD you might be missing out on a better investment opportunity at some point during the 10-year period.

CD Ladders

Rather than put all the money they want to save into a single certificate of deposit, some people choose to set up CD ladders to ensure a steady flow of modest income. They’ll plan multiple CD purchases so that their CDs mature one after another. Each CD is a rung of the ladder and provides income when it comes due.

A single investor could divide savings between, say, 10 different CDs that will mature in three-month intervals. The investor could use that money when it comes due or put it back into more CDs and continue building the ladder. If you want to keep the CD ladder going, when your first CD comes due, take that money and reinvest it into another CD that will mature after the last CD you originally bought. Continue this process with each CD that matures, extending the timeline of your ladder.

Using a ladder rather than a single CD ensures two things: 1) more frequent compounding, which can earn you more money, and 2) a regular flow of income rather than a long wait time before one big CD matures.

Advantages of Certificates of Deposit

A woman looking at a chart on a board with an upward trend.

The big advantage of a certificate of deposit is its safety. If you’re particularly risk-averse or you just want a safe place to stash your emergency fund, a CD could be a good fit. CDs from reputable institutions are also FDIC-insured for up to $250,000. If you buy a CD from a little bank in another state and the bank folds, you won’t lose your money.

CDs generally offer higher returns than you’d get from a savings account, both because their rates are higher and because of compounding. As described above, a savvy CD user can use a CD ladder to ensure more frequent compounding of his or her savings and generate a steady, if modest, income. The same can’t be said for putting your money into a savings account.

Disadvantages of Certificates of Deposit

The big disadvantages of CDs are their low rate of return and their early withdrawal penalties. Like other safe investments, CDs balance their low risk with low potential for growth. If you want your money to grow significantly over time and blossom into a healthy retirement fund, you won’t want to put all your money in CDs. For growth potential, there’s no substitute for stocks. But if you want to balance the risk of your investments in stocks and hold some relatively liquid assets, CDs could work for you.

Be careful when choosing the length of your CD. Why? Because if you withdraw the money before the maturity date of the CD you may have to pay penalties. You don’t want your entire emergency fund held up in 10-year CDs because you might need to access that money in a hurry. That’s another reason people set up CD ladders to ensure a steady flow of income.

With a CD ladder that has money coming due every few months or every year, you’re less likely to need to make an early withdrawal and pay the penalty. If you’re worried that you might have to dip into your deposits, you can look for penalty-free CDs.

CDs vs. Money Market Account

A certificate of deposit is a unique savings instrument but so is a money market account. With a money market account, you can get access to a better return than a traditional checking account and many savings accounts while having flexibility in withdrawing funds. They do require higher balances, similar to a CD, than other savings instruments.

With a CD your money is locked into an account where you can’t access it and you’ll get your principal back with the money earned at the end of the term. With a money market account, you are free to add additional savings while also withdrawing money pretty freely throughout the life of the account. There is no term for a money market account as it’s just an account you would use like a traditional checking or savings.

If you’re looking for a safe but better return than traditional savings vehicles then a certificate of deposit might make the best option. However, if you’re looking for more of a checking account instrument that can provide a better return then that’s when you would look towards the money market account.

CD Strategies for Different Goals

If you’re saving for a short-term goal, such as a vacation, home project, or upcoming expense, a short-term CD can help you earn some interest while keeping your money safe. These CDs usually range from a few months to a year, offering fixed returns without tying up your funds for too long. Choosing a no-penalty CD may also make sense if you think you might need the money early.

For medium-term goals like college tuition or a future down payment, a CD ladder can help you earn steady interest and keep access to funds at regular intervals. By opening multiple CDs with different maturity dates, you reduce the need to break a CD early while still having cash become available over time. As each CD matures, you can reinvest or use the money based on your plan.

If you’re focused on preserving capital and earning predictable returns, especially in retirement, longer-term CDs or IRA CDs may be better suited to your goals. These offer stable interest over several years and can be used as part of a conservative income strategy. Pairing CDs with other low-risk investments can provide a balanced approach to safety and yield.

Bottom Line

If you want a safe place to keep some money and you’re underwhelmed by the interest rates offered for savings accounts, it may be time to consider the CD. If you have the time, setting up and maintaining a CD ladder can help you maximize the earning potential of your CDs. A certificate of deposit is considered a safe investment with a small but reasonable return for losing access to your money for a period of time.

Tips for Investing

A financial advisor can help you choose investments to keep your financial goals on track. If you don’t have a financial advisor, finding one doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
If you’re trying to determine what a potential return might look like on a CD or another investment, consider using SmartAsset’s free investment return and growth calculator.