Best CD rates today, November 19, 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 reversed since the pandemic, with the Federal Reserve hiking rates 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023, leading to higher APYs on savings products, including CDs [6] Group 2: Historical Context - CD rates were relatively high in the early 2000s but began to decline due to economic slowdowns and Federal Reserve rate cuts, reaching around 1% APY for one-year CDs by 2009 [3] - The 2010s saw continued low rates due to the Fed's near-zero benchmark interest rate policy, with average rates for 6-month CDs dropping to about 0.1% APY by 2013 [4] - A slight improvement in CD rates occurred between 2015 and 2018 as the Fed gradually increased rates, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to emergency rate cuts, causing new record lows [5] Group 3: Understanding CD Rates - Traditionally, longer-term CDs offer 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 [7][8] - When choosing 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]