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Our Criteria

We assessed 5-year certificate of deposit options provided by the biggest banks and credit unions across the country to determine the best choices, ultimately only featuring those that fit our strict criteria. To be eligible, a bank or credit union had to:

  • Fall among the top 30 banks and top 10 credit unions based on 2022 consolidated assets.
  • Be federally insured by either the FDIC or the NCUA.
  • Offer CDs in all 50 states.

Our Methodology

Annuity.org’s independent editorial staff evaluated 5-year certificate of deposit options from the country’s biggest banks and credit unions to determine the best rates in 2023.

They evaluated products from the 30 largest banks and 10 largest credit unions based on consolidated assets according to the U.S. Federal Reserve or National Credit Union Administration to determine which companies qualified for their rankings.

To be eligible, a bank or credit union had to provide 5-year CDs in all 50 states and be insured by either the FDIC or the NCUA. This resulted in 19 banks and credit unions, of which only 12 offered 5-year terms.

The staff only chose CDs offering more than 3.00% APY on 5-year CDs for their final comparisons, narrowing the list to just seven institutions.

The final choices were made based on APY, minimum deposit requirements, early withdrawal penalties and any bonuses or promotions offered by the institutions.

Learn more about our broader Editorial Guidelines.

Editors Choice: Best Overall

GREAT FOR: COMPETITIVE RETURNS ON LARGE CD INVESTMENTS

BMO

BMO Bank Logo

APY: 4.75%
BMO Bank Details

Founded in 1847, BMO was established under its current charter in 2011 and is headquartered in Chicago. It has branches in the Midwest, Florida and Arizona, but serves customers nationwide. It had $176.9 billion in consolidated assets in 2022, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Pros

  • Competitive APY
  • Nationwide online banking access
  • Wide range of other CD term options

Cons

  • High early withdrawal penalty
  • High minimum deposit requirement ($1,000)

Our Take

BMO is a brick-and-mortar bank, but its High Yield CD rates are competitive with online-only banks — and well above the national average for traditional banks, according to the FDIC. Its special rate was the best overall for a commercial bank on our list.

In-person customer service is limited to 500 branches in just eight states, but BMO offers bank by phone, online and mobile banking as well as no-fee ATM service through the Allpoint network of 55,000 locations.

Best for Small Depositors

GREAT FOR: PEOPLE WITH LESS THAN $500 TO DEPOSIT

Ally Bank

Ally Bank logo

APY: 4.10%
Ally Bank Details

Founded in 1919 as GMAC — the dealer financing arm of General Motors — Ally Bank was rebranded in 2009. Ally is an online-only bank and has no physical branches. It reported 4 million retail customers in 2016 and $181.8 billion in assets in 2022, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Pros

  • High APY
  • No minimum deposit
  • Maximum 150 days’ interest for early withdrawal fees

Cons

  • Lack of physical branches

Our Take

Ally Bank offers highly competitive 5-year High Yield CD rates. There was no minimum deposit to open and the early withdrawal penalty of five months’ interest was the least of the banks and credit unions we reviewed — making it a great option for small depositors. Ally Bank’s rates are much higher than the national average, according to the FDIC.

Best From a Credit Union

GREAT FOR: HIGH STANDARD RATES
Alliant Credit Union Details

One of the largest credit unions in the United States, Alliant was founded in Chicago in 1935 as the United Airlines Employees’ Credit Union. It changed its name in 2003 and diversified its membership. It now serves 700,000 members and has $17 billion in assets, according to its corporate website.

Pros

  • Competitive rates
  • Early withdrawal penalty is limited to 180 days’ interest maximum

Cons

  • $1,000 minimum deposit requirement
  • Must have an active savings or trust account with Alliant to open
  • Limited physical branches

Our Take

Alliant offers competitive rates for CDs, called share certificates at credit unions. You must have an existing account with Alliant to purchase a certificate. Coming in just below BMO’s special rate, Alliant offered the highest standard rate on our list.

Alliant has well-rated mobile banking apps featuring financial planning tools and a network of 80,000 free ATM locations nationwide. You can become an Alliant Credit Union member by paying a $5 fee to Foster Care to Success and Alliant will refund it with a deposit to your account.

Best for Military Members and Their Families

GREAT FOR: SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Navy Federal Credit Union Details

Navy Federal has 12.3 million members and 350 branches globally. Membership is limited to military members, their families or household members, veterans and U.S. Department of Defense personnel. It had $156 billion in assets in 2022, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Pros

  • High APY is competitive with online banks
  • Branches and ATMs near military installations

Cons

  • Membership is limited to family or household members of current or former military
  • Hefty $1,000 minimum deposit requirement
  • Early withdrawal penalty

Our Take

Purchasing a share certificate from Navy Federal Credit Union is an option for millions of current or veteran service members and their immediate families. The minimum deposit, while relatively high, is less than some commercial and online banks. Shorter-term Navy Federal certificates have considerably lower minimum deposit requirements and offer higher rates.

Navy Federal offers online and mobile banking options along with access to 30,000 fee-free ATMs in the CO-OP Network. Branches are typically located in areas with large military family populations or military installations.

Others We Considered

Among the other institutions Annuity.org considered — with APYs of 3.00% or higher — there were some competitive choices among rates and minimum deposits.

Other Top-Rated 5-Year CD Rates

Capital One
Capital One offered a competitive APY with no minimum balance at the time of consideration. Its early withdrawal penalty was six months’ interest, making it the best of our secondary choices.
Discover Bank
This online bank offered a competitive rate with a high $2,500 minimum deposit. But it also had a withdrawal penalty of nine months’ simple interest.
Marcus (Goldman Sachs)
This Goldman Sachs online bank offered a 5-year CD with just a moderate APY and a $500 minimum deposit at the time of our rankings. The early withdrawal penalty was nine months’ interest.
American Express Bank
American Express Bank offered a modest APY 5-year CD with no minimum deposit. Unfortunately, the minimum withdrawal penalty was equal to 356 days of interest.

Typically, online-only institutions or regional or community banks and credit unions with robust online presence had the highest overall rates.

Four other large commercial banks on our list were not considered because their advertised 5-year CD rates fell below our 3.00% APY threshold. These included Citibank, JPMorgan Chase and U.S. Bank.

What Makes 5-Year CDs Different From Other CDs?

The biggest differences between 5-year CDs and other terms are the amount of interest you may be able to earn and the amount of commitment you have to have.

Typically, longer-term certificates of deposit — such as 5-year CDs — offer higher rates. This is not always the case, especially, when economic forces cause a partial inversion of the U.S. Treasury curve, which we are currently experiencing. In any economic environment, make sure to compare different terms and different institutions’ offerings.

In some cases, you may find a shorter-term CD with a special or promotional rate. Sometimes shorter-term CDs may actually offer higher rates. But you won’t be able to lock them in for as long as with a 5-year CD. This is something to consider if interest rates fall.

At the same time, to earn this higher interest, you have to commit to leaving your money in the CD for longer than with other, shorter-term CDs. Early withdrawal penalties also tend to be higher for 5-year CDs than shorter-term options.

Is a 5-Year CD Right for You?

To decide if a 5-year CD is right for you, financial professionals recommend you balance the highest interest rate with the ideal length of time you can keep your money in savings.

Early withdrawal incurs a penalty, meaning a 5-year CD may only be suitable if you are sure that you won’t require the money tied up in the CD until it hits maturity.

If this is too long for your financial goals — or needs — you may want to expand your search to CDs with shorter terms that better align with your timeline but still offer competitive rates.

Talking with a financial advisor or other professional can help you decide which CD term best fits your personal finance plans.

Frequently Asked Questions About 5-Year CDs

What other CD terms are available?

Banks and credit unions set their own CD terms, which typically range from one month to 10 years. Not all institutions provide all terms in that range, but the most common besides 5-year CDs include 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, 2-year and 3-year CDs.

Can your 5-year CD lose value over time?

Fixed-rate certificates of deposit pay a guaranteed rate for the term of the CD. You can lose some or all of your interest if you withdraw money before the end of the term, but if your CD is insured by the FDIC or NCUA, it’s covered up to $250,000 if the institution fails.

What investments are a good alternative to 5-year CDs?

Investment alternatives to 5-year CDs may include high-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, bonds and fixed-rate annuities. Returns on investments may vary and may not guarantee a fixed rate of return.

Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Last Modified: November 7, 2023