01Recommended
Quorum Federal Credit Union
Top APY with a low minimum
- NCUA-insured share certificates
- Terms from 3 months to 5 years
17 Best CD Rates of 2026
Quorum Federal Credit Union pays the highest APY with just $100 to open, Nuvision Credit Union is best for short commitments with a 5.00% seven-month certificate, and Accordia Bank suits savers building a ladder with daily compounding. Decide how long you can lock up your cash, then compare the rate, minimum and penalty for that exact term.
Fact-checkedOur top 3 picks
Independent picks from our 2026 ranking. No paid placements.
02Best short-term rate
Nuvision Credit Union
Short-term savers
- NCUA-insured certificate
- 7-month promotional term
03Best for laddering
Accordia Bank
CD laddering
- Online-only bank
- Daily compounding
Advertiser disclosure RaveReviews may earn a commission from links on this page. That never influences our scores or rankings. How we make money.
The RaveReviews AlgorithmSources, weights and method
How the score works
We collect published rankings in this category, normalize each placement to a 0–100 scale, weight the sources by category fit and recency, and average only the lists where a provider appears. The result is divided by 10 and rounded to one decimal.
- 01Collect the source rankings.
- 02Normalize every position.
- 03Weight the sources.
- 04Calculate the RaveReviews Algorithm score.
Sources used
Last reviewed 2026-11-02. 4 sources contributed to this ranking.
The ranking at a glanceScores, chart and shortlist shape
Score curve
How the top 10 scores fall from first to tenth.
#1#5#10
Top scores
The first five, scored out of 10.
What you need to know before you choose.
Compare CD rates by term, minimum deposit and early withdrawal penalty so you can match the account to how long you can leave the money untouched.
Compare the APY for the term you actually want, not just the headline rate. Check the early withdrawal penalty, because forfeiting months of interest can erase the advantage of a higher yield. Also confirm the minimum deposit and any membership requirement before you open the account.
What the research says.
This shortlist is built from published rankings, not a single editor's opinion. Here is the evidence behind the score.
17options reviewed
6.0average score
10.0top score
4authority sources
An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
Key insights
17options reviewed
Compared on value, features, ease, support and reputation.
5weighted ranking factors
The same published model across every category.
0paid placements
Compensation never changes a score or a rank.
Money options ranked
17 options, scored on value, features, ease of use, support and reputation.
Quorum Federal Credit Union
RecommendedBest overall- NCUA-insured share certificates
- Terms from 3 months to 5 years
- Low $100 opening deposit
Nuvision Credit Union
Best short-term rate- NCUA-insured certificate
- 7-month promotional term
- $1,000 opening deposit
Accordia Bank
Best for laddering- Online-only bank
- Daily compounding
- 10-day grace period at maturity
Sallie Mae
Best for long-term savers- FDIC-insured
- Full CD ladder range
- Online banking
CFG Bank
Best 3-year rate- FDIC-insured
- Online and mobile access
- Terms of 1 to 5 years
Popular Direct
Best for high balances- FDIC-insured
- Online bank
- Eight standard terms
BTG Pactual Bank
Best low minimum- FDIC-insured
- Online bank
- 13-month no-penalty CD also offered
Bask Bank
Best digital experience- Online-only bank
- Daily compounding
- Three-month to two-year terms
Bread Savings
Best term variety- FDIC-insured
- Online-only bank
- Daily compounding
E*TRADE
Best no-minimum CD- FDIC-insured via Morgan Stanley Private Bank
- Six terms from 6 months to 5 years
- Online and mobile access
Synchrony Bank
Best bump-up CD- FDIC-insured
- Daily compounding
- Bump-up certificate option
Capital One
Best brand experience- FDIC-insured
- Flexible interest payout options
- 10-day grace period
Barclays
Most widely recommended- FDIC-insured
- Daily compounding
- 14-day grace period
NASA Federal Credit Union
Best credit-union perks- NCUA-insured
- Bump-up and add-on options
- Free one-year National Space Society membership
Charles Schwab Bank
Best brokered CD- Brokered CD via Schwab
- No early withdrawal penalty
- Secondary market access
Happen Bank
Best 2-year rate- FDIC-insured
- Online bank
- Terms from 6 months to 5 years
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Best rate-bump CD- FDIC-insured via Goldman Sachs Bank USA
- Rate Bump CD
- No monthly fees
Quorum pays 5.00% APY on 48- and 60-month certificates while requiring only $100 to open.
10.0RaveReviews Algorithm
Compare the top options
The details that matter most, in one view.
| Offer | Quorum Federal Credit Union | Nuvision Credit Union | Accordia Bank | Sallie Mae |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RaveReviews Algorithm | 10.0 | 10.0 | 8.9 | 8.7 |
| Best for | Top APY with a low minimum | Short-term savers | CD laddering | Long-term savers |
| Price | Up to 5.00% APY | Up to 5.00% APY | 4.40% APY | Up to 5.00% APY |
| Highlight | NCUA-insured share certificates | NCUA-insured certificate | Online-only bank | FDIC-insured |
Showing the top 4 of 17 options. See every ranked option.
The questions buyers actually ask
Clear answers to the decisions that come after the shortlist.
What is the best choice in cd rates?
If you want the short answer, start with Quorum Federal Credit Union. It earned a 10.0 out of 10 in our 2026 ranking, and it is the option we would shortlist first for top apy with a low minimum. That does not mean it is the right choice for every reader. It means it is the most defensible place to begin.
The ranking is a shortlist, not a finish line. The right option depends on the job you need done, the total cost after fees and the support you will actually use. Nuvision Credit Union is the stronger fit for short-term savers. Accordia Bank is worth a close look for cd laddering. Start with the top pick, then compare the runner-up on the details that change your decision.
Most buyers do not need the longest feature list. They need a clear answer to a smaller question. What will this cost over a year? What happens when something goes wrong? Can I leave without a penalty? Those questions separate a good shortlist from a good decision.
How did we rank cd rates?
We used the same five-factor model across this category. Features at 30%, price at 25%, ease of use at 20%, support at 15%, reputation at 10%. The weights are published because a score without a method is just a vibe with a decimal point.
The process starts with the evidence a buyer can actually check. We review provider materials, published pricing, contract terms and the support model. Then we compare the details that tend to cause regret later. A low headline price does not count for much if the service fee, cancellation term or coverage limit undoes it.
We also separate popularity from quality. A brand can be everywhere and still be a poor fit for your situation. The ranking rewards fit, not advertising spend. That is why the top pick may not be the most famous name on the page.
What should you look for in cd rates?
Start with the features that affect your actual use case. For Quorum Federal Credit Union, the relevant details include ncua-insured share certificates, terms from 3 months to 5 years, low $100 opening deposit. Those are not decoration. They are the parts of the product that determine whether it works on a normal Tuesday, not just on the day you sign up.
Then look at the terms. Price is easy to compare. Contract length, service fees, cancellation rules, support hours and eligibility are harder. They are also where most of the real cost hides. Ask for the total annual cost, not the monthly teaser. Ask what happens if you need to cancel, move or change the plan.
Finally, check the track record. A provider that answers a sales call quickly may be slow when you need help. Read recent reviews, look for patterns and ask how disputes are handled. The best time to learn how a company behaves is before you depend on it.
How much do cd rates cost?
Quorum Federal Credit Union starts at Up to 5.00% APY $100 minimum · 3 mo–5 yr terms. Nuvision Credit Union starts at Up to 5.00% APY $1,000 minimum · 7-month term. Accordia Bank starts at 4.40% APY $1,000 minimum · 6 mo–5 yr terms. Those prices are a starting point, not a full budget. The final number depends on the plan, the contract, the add-ons and where you live.
Here is the part most shoppers miss. The cheapest monthly price is often the most expensive decision. A low rate with a long contract, a large service fee or a narrow coverage set can cost more than a higher headline price with clean terms. Compare the total cost over the period you expect to use the product.
Set a budget before you compare. Then decide which features are worth paying for. If you cannot explain why an upgrade matters to your actual use, it is probably not an upgrade. It is a sales feature.
Which option is best for top apy with a low minimum?
Quorum Federal Credit Union is the pick here because quorum pays 5.00% apy on 48- and 60-month certificates while requiring only $100 to open.. It is not the cheapest option in the category, and it is not trying to be. It is the option that makes the fewest compromises where the decision matters most.
That recommendation comes with a condition. If your priority is different, the ranking should change. A reader who needs the lowest possible upfront cost should look at the value pick. A reader who needs hands-on support should pay attention to service quality. The best answer is always relative to the job.
Use the top pick as a benchmark. Compare every other option against it on price, terms and the one feature you cannot do without. If another option wins on those three points, it deserves a closer look.
What should you verify before you buy?
Verify the total cost, not the promotional price. Ask for the monthly cost after any introductory period ends. Ask about setup fees, service fees, cancellation fees and anything that changes when you add a user, a location or a feature. The number you see in an ad is rarely the number you will pay in month twelve.
Verify the terms that are easy to miss. Contract length, renewal rules, data practices and support hours matter more than most buyers expect. If the provider cannot explain them clearly before the sale, assume the answer will be harder to get afterward.
Verify the fit with your actual workflow. A demo can make any product look simple. A free trial or a short pilot can show you what the product feels like on a normal day. Use the trial to test the one feature you need most. That is a better use of time than touring every menu.
What should you do next?
Start with the top pick and read the full review. Then compare the runner-up on the three details that matter most to you. If you are still unsure, use the comparison table and the methodology on this page. The goal is not to keep researching forever. The goal is to make a decision you can explain.
Before you sign up, confirm the current price, the contract term and the cancellation policy directly with the provider. Prices change. Terms change. A ranking can point you in the right direction, but the final check has to happen at the source.
If this ranking helped you narrow the list, stop there. A shortlist of two or three good options is enough. The best decision is the one you can act on with confidence, not the one that keeps you in the research phase for another month.
Who wrote and reviewed this ranking
Every ranking has a named editor and a separate quality review before publication.
David Krug
Head of Content
David leads the RaveReviews editorial team, turning research into clear comparisons and useful guides. He oversees content strategy, testing standards and the final read on every ranking.
LinkedIn
Annie Membreve
Head of Quality Control
Annie runs quality control at RaveReviews, checking sourcing, scoring and the details readers rely on. She reviews every ranking before publication and manages corrections.
TikTokFrequently asked questions
What should I compare first?
Start with the term you actually need, then compare APY, minimum deposit, early withdrawal penalty and whether the institution is FDIC- or NCUA-insured.
How often are these rankings updated?
We review rankings when pricing, features or provider terms change. Check the updated date at the top of the page.
Keep comparing
More rankings and guides for the decision in front of you.