Best CD rates today, November 12, 2025: Lock in up to 4.1% APY

Core Insights - Deposit account rates are declining, but competitive returns on certificates of deposit (CDs) can still be locked in, with the best CDs offering rates above 4% [1] Group 1: Current CD Rates - The best short-term CDs (six to 12 months) currently offer rates around 4% to 4.5% APY, with the highest rate at 4.1% APY available from Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Sallie Mae, and Synchrony [2] - The trend of falling CD rates has been observed, with historical data showing significant declines following economic downturns and Federal Reserve rate cuts [3][4][5] Group 2: Historical Context - CD rates were relatively higher in the early 2000s but fell significantly after the 2008 financial crisis, with average one-year CDs at around 1% APY by 2009 [3] - The Federal Reserve's policies, particularly the near-zero benchmark interest rate, led to very low CD rates throughout the 2010s, with average rates dropping to about 0.1% APY for 6-month CDs by 2013 [4] Group 3: Recent Developments - The Federal Reserve increased rates between 2015 and 2018, leading to a slight improvement in CD rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused emergency rate cuts, resulting in record low CD rates [5][6] - Following the pandemic, inflation prompted the Fed to hike rates 11 times from March 2022 to July 2023, leading to higher APYs on savings products, including CDs [6] Group 4: Understanding CD Rates - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offered higher interest rates, but current trends show the highest average CD rate is for a 12-month term, indicating a flattening or inversion of the yield curve [7][8] - When choosing a CD, factors such as goals, type of financial institution, account terms, and inflation should be considered to maximize returns [9]