Certificates of deposit (CDs) are a popular type of deposit account for savers looking to protect their money from market risk and inflation. CDs allow you to deposit money at a fixed interest rate for a specific period and often come with higher rates than many savings accounts. CDs are considered low-risk because the interest rate is fixed for the entire term, and the principal balance can’t lose money — in most cases. That said, CDs can lose money in certain rare situations. So before you put your money ...