Best 5-Year CDs for March: Lock In Multi-Year Growth Up to 4.00%

The best 5-year CD rate is 4.00% APY from multiple institutions. To find you the highest 5-year CD rates nationwide, we review CD rates from hundreds of banks and credit unions every day. CD terms of 54–66 months are eligible for our 5-year rankings, with minimum deposit requirements of up to $25,000.

For savings that are better kept in the bank than invested in the market, certificates of deposit offer a way to earn more than you might with a standard savings account. All CDs and rates in our rankings were collected, verified, and available to open as of March 13, 2026.

Below are the top CD and annuity rates available from our partners, followed by the best CD rates that we’ve found from our research that are available to U.S. customers everywhere:

In the News

The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged at its Jan. 28 meeting, maintaining a range of 3.50%–3.75%. The Fed had cut rates at its three previous meetings and six times since September 2024. CD rates closely follow the federal funds rate, which means CD rates are expected to decline if the Fed lowers rates later this year.¹²

You can find our ranking of the highest CD rates with terms of 54–66 months below. In cases where more than one institution pays the same annual percentage yield, we’ve prioritized CDs by the shortest term, then the CD requiring a smaller minimum deposit, and if still a tie, alphabetically by institution name.

Best 5-Year CD Rates

• Mountain America Credit Union – 4.00% APY
• Utah First Credit Union – 4.00% APY
• Sallie Mae Bank – 4.00% APY
• USAlliance Financial – 3.95% APY
• Marcus by Goldman Sachs – 3.90% APY
• KS State Bank – 3.90% APY
• All In Credit Union – 3.87% APY
• Genisys Credit Union – 3.84% APY
• NASA Federal Credit Union – 3.83% APY
• American Heritage Credit Union – 3.81% APY
• Prime Alliance Bank – 3.80% APY
• MYSB Direct – 3.80% APY
• Technology Credit Union – 3.75% APY
• Credit Human – 3.75% APY

Mountain America Credit Union – 4.00% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $500
• Early withdrawal penalty: 12 months of interest
• Overview: Anyone can join Mountain America through a complimentary membership in the nonprofit American Consumer Council and keeping at least $1 in a savings account. Established in the 1930s, MACU is headquartered in Sandy, Utah.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

Utah First Credit Union – 4.00% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $2,000
• Early withdrawal penalty: All earned interest up to 6 months
• Overview: Credit union membership is available to anyone who makes a $5 donation to join the Community Volunteers of Utah. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah First Credit Union was founded in 1935.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

Sallie Mae Bank – 4.00% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $2,500
• Early withdrawal penalty: 6 months of interest
• Overview: Sallie Mae Bank is the online banking arm of the well-known student loan provider. Founded in 1972, Sallie Mae Bank is headquartered in Delaware.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

USAlliance Financial – 3.95% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $500
• Early withdrawal penalty: 12 months of interest
• Overview: Anyone can join USAlliance by agreeing to a free membership in the nonprofit American Consumer Council and keeping at least $1 in a savings account. Established in 1966 to serve IBM employees, USAlliance is headquartered in Rye, New York.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

Marcus by Goldman Sachs – 3.90% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $500
• Early withdrawal penalty: 9 months of interest
• Overview: Marcus by Goldman Sachs is an online-only bank established in 2016 by the investment bank giant.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

KS State Bank – 3.90% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $500
• Early withdrawal penalty: 18 months of interest
• Overview: Established in 1969, KS State Bank operates six branches in Kansas and one in Phoenix, while serving online customers nationwide.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

All In Credit Union – 3.87% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $1,000
• Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest
• Overview: Anyone can join All In by signing up for a free membership in the Fort Rucker/Wiregrass Chapter of the Association of United States Army, keeping at least $5 in a savings account, and paying a one-time fee of $1. All In Credit Union was established in 1966 at Fort Rucker in Alabama as Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union to serve soldiers and their families stationed there.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

Genisys Credit Union – 3.84% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $500
• Early withdrawal penalty: 6 months of interest
• Overview: Anyone can join Genisys by making a $5 donation to the Arthritis Foundation or the Paint Creek Center for the Arts and keeping at least $5 in a member savings account. Genisys Credit Union was chartered in 1964 and is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

NASA Federal Credit Union – 3.83% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $1,000
• Early withdrawal penalty: All earned interest up to 12 months
• Overview: Anyone can join NASA FCU by signing up for a free membership in the National Space Society and holding $5 or more in a savings account. NASA FCU is headquartered in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and has a history that dates back to 1949.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

American Heritage Credit Union – 3.81% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $500
• Early withdrawal penalty: 12 months of interest
• Overview: Anyone can join American Heritage by agreeing to a free membership in the Kids-N-Hope Foundation and keeping $15 or more in a member savings account. Headquartered in Philadelphia, American Heritage dates back to 1948.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

Prime Alliance Bank – 3.80% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $500
• Early withdrawal penalty: 3 months of interest
• Overview: Established in 2004, Prime Alliance operates one branch in metropolitan Salt Lake City, while also offering deposit products online to customers throughout the U.S.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

MYSB Direct – 3.80% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: $500
• Early withdrawal penalty: All interest (3 months minimum)
• Overview: MYSB Direct is the online banking arm of M.Y. Safra Bank, which is headquartered in New York City and operates a single branch there.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

Technology Credit Union – 3.75% APY

• Term (months): 48–59 months
• Minimum deposit: $1,000
• Early withdrawal penalty: 6 months of interest
• Overview: Membership in the credit union is available to anyone who joins the Financial Fitness Association for $8, or one of several other affiliated organizations. Chartered in 1960, Technology Credit Union is headquartered in San Jose, California.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

Synchrony Bank – 3.75% APY

• Term (months): 60
• Minimum deposit: Any amount
• Early withdrawal penalty: 12 months of interest
• Overview: In addition to being the largest U.S. provider of private-label credit cards, Synchrony Bank is an online-only bank offering consumer deposit accounts. Synchrony Bank was founded in 1932 and its headquarters are in Connecticut.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

Credit Human – 3.75% APY

• Term: 60–83 months
• Minimum deposit: $500
• Early withdrawal penalty: 24 months of interest ($50 minimum)
• Overview: Anyone can join Credit Human by agreeing to a complimentary membership in the nonprofit American Consumer Council and keeping at least $5 in a member savings account. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Credit Human dates back to 1935.
• Rate verified as of March 13, 2026

Pros and Cons of a 5-Year CD

Pros

• Interest rate is locked for five years
• Pays completely predictable earnings
• Extremely safe
• Potentially higher APY than other options
• Discourages spending

Cons

• Penalty imposed if you withdraw early
• Only allows a single deposit
• If rates rise, you’re locked at a lower rate until maturity
• Future interest rates are impossible to predict

Pros Explained

• Interest rate is locked for five years: When you open a 5-year CD, you get to keep that rate for the entire duration of the CD. Even if interest rates tanks after you lock in your certificate, the bank cannot change the rate you agreed to until the five years are concluded.
• Pays completely predictable earnings: Since you know the precise rate you’ll earn for the full five years of your CD’s term, you can determine exactly how much your CD balance will be when your term ends.
• Extremely safe: All CDs held at FDIC banks or NCUA credit unions are insured by the federal government for up to $250,000 per person per institution. So even if the institution fails, your CD funds are protected.
• Potentially higher APY than other options: Depending on the current interest rate environment, 5-year CDs may pay higher rates than savings and money market accounts or shorter CDs. It’s not always true, but in times when rates are falling, 5-year CD rates are often the best-paying deposit account.
• Discourages spending: Because your funds are committed in a CD with threat of a penalty if you withdraw the money early, you may be deterred from the temptation to spend your savings on something unplanned.

Cons Explained

• Penalty is incurred if you withdraw early: When you open a CD, the bank or credit union will spell out in the agreement how it will calculate an early withdrawal penalty should you request to take your money out before maturity. Most typically, you’ll have to forfeit a certain number of months of interest.
• Only allows a single deposit: You fund CDs with a one-time deposit when you open the certificate. Only in “add-on” CDs, an uncommon niche product, can you make additional deposits to the same certificate.
• If rates rise, you’re locked at a lower rate until maturity: If interest rates go up while you are locked into a 5-year CD, you will be stuck with your rate until the end of your term, preventing you from capitalizing on the higher rates.
• Future interest rates are impossible to predict: Over a five-year timeline, it is not possible to forecast if interest rates will rise or fall, or even hold steady for years. So it’s difficult to predict whether a 5-year CD rate will be competitive or not several years down the road.

Warning

Beware of early withdrawal penalties that can eat into your CD’s principal. Losing earned interest when incurring a penalty is to be expected, but avoid certificates where even your principal deposit could be at stake.

Compare the Best 5-Year CDs

Alternatives to a 5-Year CD

Shorter-Term CDs

Though banks and credit unions often pay higher rates on 5-year CDs than on shorter terms, this isn’t always the case. So it can be smart to consider a shorter CD if it allows you to earn a higher APY. This is especially true if national interest rates are already elevated or are expected to rise in the coming years.

In addition to possibly earning a higher rate, choosing a shorter-term CD lets you make another choice with your money sooner than if you have to wait for a five-year term to expire. Just be aware that when your shorter-term CD matures, the rates you’re able to get then could be quite a bit less than the rate you were able to lock in for five years.

High-Yield Savings or Money Market Accounts

Another option for your funds is a high-yield savings or money market account. When rates are high, the best high-yield savings accounts and best money market accounts may offer rates competitive with a 5-year CD. But it’s critical you understand that these are variable rates that can change at any time. If interest rates start going down, so too will savings and money market rates, while CD rates will be locked at your initial APY.

The advantage, however, is that you can withdraw your funds at any time from a savings or money market account, giving you more flexibility for funds you’re not confident about locking up in a CD.

Bond Investments

Instead of CDs or bank accounts, you can also put your funds into bond instruments, which come in a wide spectrum of types. For instance, you can buy U.S. Treasury savings bonds, like I bonds or EE bonds. Also backed by the U.S. Treasury are Treasury bills and notes. T bills have durations of up to one year, while Treasury notes have terms of 2 to 10 years. U.S. savings bonds, treasury bills and treasury notes are among the safest investments you can buy.

You can also invest in municipal or corporate bonds, though the research and decision-making required to choose individual bonds may be more challenging than many savers are equipped or inclined to decipher. An easier option is to invest in a bond mutual fund or bond ETF (exchange traded fund), which bundles hundreds or thousands of bonds into one fund and enables you to enter and exit the fund anytime you like.

Stock Equities

For money you plan to hold as long as five years, a conservative investment in the stock market is an alternative option. And if the five years in which you’re invested in the market are a period of growth, you can earn considerably more with stocks than a fixed-rate CD.

However, the significant downside is that preserving your principal is not guaranteed in the market. You can very easily lose some of your investment, unlike money held in a CD. So if keeping your savings reliably intact is important to you, a CD will serve you better than an equity investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How Does a 5-Year CD Work?
  
• How Do CDs From Traditional Banks, Online Banks, and Credit Unions Differ?
  
• Which CD Term Pays the Highest Rate?
  
• What If I Need to Withdraw My Money Early?
  
• How Do You Build a CD Ladder?