Best CD rates today, November 18, 2025: Lock in up to 4.1% APY today

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] Group 2: Historical Trends - CD rates were relatively high in the early 2000s but began to decline due to economic slowdowns and Federal Reserve rate cuts, with average one-year CDs at around 1% APY by 2009 [3] - The trend of falling CD rates continued into the 2010s, with average rates for 6-month CDs dropping to about 0.1% APY by 2013 [4] - Between 2015 and 2018, CD rates improved slightly as the Fed increased rates, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to emergency rate cuts, causing new record lows for CD rates [5] - Following the pandemic, the Fed hiked rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, resulting in higher APYs for savings products, including CDs [6] Group 3: Future Expectations - As of September 2024, the Fed has started cutting the federal funds rate, leading to a decrease in CD rates from their peak, although they remain high by historical standards [7] - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offered higher interest rates, but currently, the highest average CD rate is for a 12-month term, indicating a flattening or inversion of the yield curve [8] Group 4: Choosing the Best CD - When selecting a CD, factors such as goals, type of financial institution, account terms, and inflation should be considered to ensure the best fit for individual needs [9]