Best Short Term Certificate of Deposit Accounts

Conor Keenan Author Bio By: Conor Keenan  Last updated January 29, 2026
Conor Keenan is the Co-Founder of CompareAccounts and an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor candidate. He has covered consumer banking & investing trends for over a decade, his work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Reuters & Yahoo Finance.

Editorial Independence: Our opinions, reviews, and recommendations are our own. Partner commissions keep our site free, but our content remains independent.

Compare CD terms with ease, find the right one for you, and open your account in minutes.

Cit Bank Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

APY

3.75%

11 Month Term

  • High Yield No Penalty CD
  • Term: 11 Months
  • 3.75% APY1
  • Min. initial deposit: $1,000
  • No Maintenance Fees
  • No Penalty to Access Funds if Needed Before Maturity2
  • Daily Compounding Interest to Maximize Your Earning Potential
  • FDIC Insured up to $250,000
  • Sign up in under 5 Minutes
  • Terms Apply
  • See Site for Details
Q

11 Month No Penalty CD Disclosure

1 APY — Annual Percentage Yield is accurate as of January 9, 2026. $1,000 minimum to open the account.

2 With a No-Penalty CD, you may withdraw the total balance and interest earned, without penalty, beginning 7 days after funds have been received for your CD. No withdrawals are permitted during the first 6 days following the receipt of funds.

On CIT Bank's Secure Site, Member FDIC

Western Alliance Bank Powered by Raisin

4.5

CompareAccounts™ Score

APY

3.60%

3 Month Term

  • High-Yield CD
  • Min. initial deposit: $1
  • Term: 3 Months
  • 3.60% APY
  • FDIC Insured up to $250,000
  • No Monthly Fees
  • Interest Compounded Daily
  • Ranked #1 Top-Performing Large Bank with Assets $50 Billion and Above in 2021, 2022, 2023, & 2024 by American Banker
  • Exclusive Offer Powered by The Raisin Platform
  • See Site for Details

On Raisin's Secure Site for
Western Alliance Bank,
FDIC Insured

Sallie Mae Powered By Raisin

4.5

CompareAccounts™ Score

APY

3.65%

10 Month Term

  • High Yield CD
  • Term: 10 Months
  • 3.65% APY
  • Min. initial deposit: $1
  • No Monthly Fees
  • Exclusive Offer Powered by The Raisin Platform
  • Interest Compounded Daily
  • FDIC Insured up to $250,000
  • See Site for Details

On Raisin's Secure Site for​ Sallie Mae, Member FDIC

Synchrony Bank Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

APY

3.80%

12 Month CD

  • High Yield CD
  • Term: 12 Months
  • Min. Initial Deposit: $0.00
  • 3.80% APY — far above the national average
  • No Monthly Fees
  • Daily Compounding Interest, Credited Monthly
  • Member FDIC
  • No Minimum Balance
  • Terms Apply
  • Trusted Fortune 500 Bank with Nationwide Reach Serving Millions of Customers
  • See Site for Details
Q

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is subject to change at any time without notice. Offer applies to personal non-IRA accounts only. Fees may reduce earnings. For CD accounts, a penalty may be imposed for early withdrawals. After maturity, if your CD rolls over, you will earn the offered rate of interest in effect at that time. Visit synchrony.com/banking for current rates, terms and account requirements. Member FDIC.

On Synchrony Bank's
Secure Site, Member FDIC

Western Alliance Bank Powered by Raisin

4.5

CompareAccounts™ Score

APY

3.30%

12 Month Term

  • High-Yield CD
  • Min. initial deposit: $1
  • Term: 12 Months
  • 3.30% APY
  • FDIC Insured up to $250,000
  • No Monthly Fees
  • Interest Compounded Daily
  • Ranked #1 Top-Performing Large Bank with Assets $50 Billion and Above in 2021, 2022, & 2023 by American Banker
  • Exclusive Offer Powered by The Raisin Platform
  • See Site for Details

On Raisin's Secure Site for Western Alliance Bank,
FDIC Insured

 Compare With

Bank of America Logo

1.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

APY

0.03%

12 Month Term

Bank of America® Details

  • Certificate of Deposit
  • Term: 12 Months
  • Minimum Opening Deposit: $10,000
  • 0.03% APY

Not Recommended.
Shown For Comparison Purposes Only.

 

Cit Bank Logo

4.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

APY

3.25%

13 Month Term

  • High Yield CD
  • Term: 13 Months
  • 3.25% APY1
  • APY as of January 29, 2026
  • Min. initial deposit: $1,000
  • No Maintenance Fees
  • Interest Compounded Daily
  • FDIC Insured up to $250,000
  • Sign up in under 5 Minutes
  • Terms Apply
  • See Site for Details
Q

13- Month CD Disclosure

1 APY —Annual Percentage Yield is accurate as of January 9, 2026. $1,000 minimum deposit is required to open the account. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal of principal, and any early withdrawal (principal or interest) will reduce earnings. Upon maturity, the 13-Month CD will be automatically renewed as a 1-Year Term CD at the then-published APY.

On CIT Bank's Secure Site, Member FDIC

Sallie Mae Powered By Raisin

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

APY

3.75%

14 Month Term

  • High Yield CD
  • Term: 14 Months
  • 3.75% APY
  • Min. initial deposit: $1
  • No Monthly Fees
  • Exclusive Offer Powered by The Raisin Platform
  • Interest Compounded Daily
  • Customer Service is Located in New York, NY
  • FDIC Insured up to $250,000
  • Sallie Mae Bank (Member FDIC) was founded in 1972 & has almost $30 billion in total assets
  • See Site for Details

On Raisin's Secure Site for​ Sallie Mae, Member FDIC

To recap our recommendations.

Best Certificate of Deposits According To CompareAccounts™

Western Alliance Bank® High-Yield CD: 3.60% APY - 3 Month Term

Western Alliance Bank® High-Yield CD: 3.30% APY - 12 Month Term

Customers Also Viewed: High-Yield Savings Accounts

Q

Top choice for bonus + APY

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

Bonus: up to $300 with Direct Deposit
Limited Time Offer: +0.70% Boost to 4.00%​ APY for up to 6 Months on New Accounts with Eligible Direct Deposit.

On SoFi's Secure Site,
Member FDIC

Synchrony Bank Logo

4.5

CompareAccounts™ Score

APY

3.50%

  • High-Yield Savings Account
  • Min. initial deposit: $0.00
  • 3.50% APY — far above the national average
  • Member FDIC
  • No Minimum Balance
  • No Monthly Fees
  • Interest Compounded Daily
  • Full Liquidity - Withdraw Funds Anytime
  • Terms Apply
  • Trusted Fortune 500 Bank with Nationwide Reach Serving Millions of Customers
  • See Site for Details
Q

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is subject to change at any time without notice. Offer applies to personal accounts only. Fees may reduce earnings. For High Yield Savings accounts, the rate may change after the account is opened. Visit synchrony.com/banking for current rates, terms and account requirements. Member FDIC.

On Synchrony Bank's
Secure Site, Member FDIC

Up to $300 Bonus

SoFi Logo

5.0

CompareAccounts™ Score

up to APY

4.00%​

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

  • Checking & Savings Account
  • Min. to Open: $0
  • Bonus: up to $300 with Direct Deposit
  • Up to 4.00% APY on Savings Balances with Qualifying Activities
  • $0 Monthly Fees
  • FDIC Insured up to $250,000
  • Earn $50 or $300 with direct deposit, terms apply
  • Limited Time Offer: +0.70% Boost to 4.00%​ APY for up to 6 Months on New Accounts with Eligible Direct Deposit.
  • Terms Apply
  • See Site for Details
Q

1. Up to $300 Bonus Tiered Disclosure
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

2. APY disclosures
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

3. Fee Policy
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

4. Additional FDIC Insurance
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks


5. ATM Access
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees
may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

6. Early Access to Direct Deposit Funds
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

7. Overdraft Coverage
Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.

8. 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

On SoFi's Secure Site,
Member FDIC

What to Look for in a Certificate of Deposit Account

It’s always wise to compare your options when opening a new certificate of deposit account.

Small differences in interest rates and fees can quickly add up over time, especially if you’re keeping a large balance in the account.

Here are the top features to look for and compare:

1. Interest Rate

The interest rate of a certificate of deposit is one of its most important features. However, a very high interest rate can get completely wiped out if you have to pay a penalty fee because you need to withdrawl your funds before the term is complete.

Besides interest rate, term length is the second most important factor. Other important features of your certificate of deposit account include the required initial deposit, and minimum balance required.

2. Term Length

Most banks will charge you what’s called a “penalty fee” for withdrawing your funds before the term length has been completed.

This means, that if you open a 12-month CD, but withdraw your funds within 6 months, then you’ll pay a penalty fee.

Therefore, you need to decide when you’ll need these funds again.

For any term less than a year, we recommend a high-yield savings account.

If this is your first CD account, we recommend starting with a 12 – 15 month term.

If you’ve opened a CD account in the past, then you choose which term is right for you and your unique situation.

3. Required Initial Deposit

Initial deposit is another important factor when deciding to open up a certificate of deposit. Most banks require at least a $500 initial deposit to open a CD account.

While others require much more than $500 to open the account.

Again, because the initial deposit is in the hundreds if not thousands, we recommend you open a high-yield savings account if you need these funds within a year.

What is a Short Term CD?

Short-term CDs have a maturity date that is typically within a year or less, while long-term CDs have a maturity date that is more than a year in the future.

There are a few reasons why someone might want to consider a short-term CD:

1. Higher interest rates: Short-term CDs often offer higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts, which can help the depositor earn more money on their savings.

2. Low risk: CDs are considered to be a low-risk investment because they are FDIC-insured, which means that the depositor’s money is backed by the government up to $250,000.

3. Flexibility: Short-term CDs have a shorter term than long-term CDs, which means that the depositor can access their money sooner. This can be beneficial for someone who might need to access their savings in the near future.

4. Liquidity: CDs are considered to be a relatively liquid investment, as the depositor can typically cash in their CD before the maturity date, although there may be a penalty for doing so.

*National Savings Rate Average as published by FDIC