Best CD rates today, February 17, 2026: Lock in up to 4.05% 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% APY, with the highest rate at 4% APY available from Marcus by Goldman Sachs and Sallie Mae [2] - The trend of falling CD rates has reversed since the pandemic, with the Federal Reserve increasing 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 after the financial crisis of 2008, with average one-year CDs paying around 1% APY by 2009 [3] - The average rates on 6-month CDs fell to about 0.1% APY by 2013 due to the Federal Reserve's policies to stimulate the economy [4] - The Fed's rate hikes between 2015 and 2018 led to a slight improvement in CD rates, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused rates to fall to record lows [5] Group 3: Understanding CD Trends - 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] - Factors to consider when choosing a CD include goals for locking away funds, type of financial institution, account terms, and inflation [9]