Best CD Rates This Week, Sept. 20, 2025: The Fed Cut Rates -- Lock In up to 4.54% APY Now Before These Top Rates Disappear

The Fed officially cut rates on Sept. 17 -- and that likely means CD yields will start to slip soon. After months of strong returns, this could be the beginning of the decline.

If you've been thinking about opening a CD, now's the time to act. Locking in a top rate today lets you protect your savings from future drops and earn a guaranteed return for the months or years ahead.

Below, you'll find some of the best CD rates available this week.

Featured offers

Best CD rates this week, Sept. 20, 2025

All of the CDs featured here come from FDIC-insured banks, so your deposits are protected up to $250,000. Which account works best for you really comes down to two things: how much cash you want to commit and how long you're willing to leave it there.

Prefer something short and flexible? Climate First Bank is offering 4.54% APY on an 8-month CD, and you only need $500 to get started. Want to lock in a steady rate for years? United Fidelity's 5-year CD pays 4.30% APY with a $1,000 minimum.

Featured CD: LendingClub's 8 Mo. CD pays 4.15% APY and has a $500 minimum deposit. It's long enough to protect your savings from inflation and potential rate cuts, yet short enough to keep your cash within reach.

Should you lock in a CD right now?

Got money you won't need for a while? A certificate of deposit (CD) can be a simple, low-stress way to put it to work. CDs are meant for cash you can set aside -- whether just a few months or several years -- without touching it.

A CD could make sense if:

• You've already built an emergency cushion in a high-yield savings account (three to six months of expenses).
• Your long-term goals, like retirement, are on track with investments such as IRAs or index funds.
• You'd rather have steady, guaranteed growth than ride out market swings.

With fixed returns and FDIC protection up to $250,000, CDs offer safe, predictable growth. If you're looking for a no-fuss place to stash extra savings, now's a good time to consider one.

Example: Grow $25,000 into $25,736 in just 8 months

The appeal of CDs is simple -- certainty. From the moment you open one, you'll know exactly what your balance will be when the term ends.

Take LendingClub's 8-month CD as an example. A $25,000 deposit would grow to about $25,736 by maturity. That's $736 in guaranteed earnings on a short timeline, with zero effort.

And with interest rates likely to drop again before the end of next year, locking in today's higher yield could put you ahead. Read our full LendingClub CD review to find out more and lock in your rate today.

How to open a CD in 5 easy steps

It doesn't take long to set up a CD -- and once you do, your money can start earning a fixed return. Here's what to do:

1. Shop around for rates. Check offers from several banks. Online banks often beat traditional ones, so make sure to compare.
2. Decide how much to deposit. You usually can't add more later, and pulling money out early means penalties. Pick an amount you're okay leaving alone.
3. Apply online or in person. You'll need basic info like your ID, Social Security number, and funding account details.
4. Move your money. Transfer funds from checking or savings into your new CD. Your rate locks in as soon as the deposit goes through.
5. Mark the maturity date. Set a reminder so you'll know when your CD ends -- and be ready to withdraw or roll it over.

That's it. Five quick steps, and your savings are set to grow. Ready to lock in a top rate? Click here to see today's best CD rates.

Grow your savings and keep access to your cash

A high-yield savings account (HYSA) lets you earn a strong return without tying up your money. Some of today's best accounts pay APYs that stack up well against top CDs.

The big perk? Flexibility. You can deposit or withdraw whenever you need -- no fees, no waiting period.

The trade-off is that rates aren't fixed. HYSA APYs can change at any time, while CDs guarantee your return until the term ends.

One clear standout now is NexBank High-Yield Savings Account from Raisin. This top-rated account pays 3.92% APY, which is right up there with the best CDs.

Our Picks for the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2026

Account	APY	Bonus	Next Steps
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings On SoFi's Secure Website. Member FDIC. 4.90/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor	up to 3.80% Rate info Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY as of 5/28/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Min. to earn: $0	Earn $50 or $400 and +0.70% Boost on Savings APY with direct deposit. Terms apply. Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY as of 5/28/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.	Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings On SoFi's Secure Website.
Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings On CIT's Secure Website. Member FDIC. 4.80/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor	up to 4.10%* Rate info 4.10%* APY for balances of $5,000 or more; otherwise, 0.60%* APY Min. to earn: $5,000	Earn up to 4.10% APY with promo code CITBoost With the 6 month Boost limited-time offer, you earn 4.10%* APY on balances over $5,000 (balances less than $5,000 earn 0.60%* APY). After the boost is complete you will continue to earn standard rates -- 3.75% APY for balances over $5,000 (balances less than $5,000 earn 0.25% APY). The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100. Member FDIC. No monthly service fees.	Open Account for CIT Platinum Savings On CIT's Secure Website.
Open Account for EverBank Bank High-Yield Savings Account from Raisin On Raisin's Secure Website. Member FDIC.	4.10% Rate info Earn a guaranteed 4.10% APY for 90 days. After that, your savings keep growing at a competitive standard rate -- currently 3.95% APY (subject to change). No minimum account balance required. Deposit or withdraw at any time with no additional fees. Min. to earn: $1	NEW CUSTOMER BONUS: Earn up to $1,200 with code SUMMER26 at sign-up. New customers: earn up to $1,200 in cash bonuses when you open a savings account through the Raisin platform with code SUMMER26 and make a qualifying deposit within 14 days of your first deposit. Bonuses are tiered. To receive the bonus, deposits must be maintained for 90 days.	Open Account for EverBank Bank High-Yield Savings Account from Raisin On Raisin's Secure Website.

Disclaimers

Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-of-day account balance. APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of January 9, 2026: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.

Based on comparison to the national average Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on savings accounts as published in the FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps, accurate as of February 17, 2026.

* Platinum Savings APY Boost Promotion Terms and Conditions

This is a limited time offer available to New and Existing customers who meet the Platinum Savings APY Boost promotion criteria.

Accounts enrolled in the Platinum Savings Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Boost promotion will receive a 0.35% APY boost on the Platinum Savings current standard APY tiers for 6 months following the opening of a new account or when an existing Platinum Savings account is enrolled in the promotion. The Platinum Savings APY boost will be applied on account balances up to $9,999,999.00. Account balances above $9,999,999.00 will earn the standard APY. If the standard-published APY should change during the promotion period, the APY boost will move with it, offering an account APY above the standard rate.

The Promotion begins on February 13, 2026, and ends June 30, 2026. Customers enrolled in the promotion prior to the end date will receive the APY boost for the 6-month period outlined in the terms and conditions.

The promotion can end at any time without notice.

For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures.

CIT General Disclosure

For complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures. https://www.cit.com/cit-bank/resources/forms