How Many Americans Own Certificates of Deposits?
KEY POINTS
- CD ownership rebound: CD ownership has risen to 10.7% in 2025 from a low of 6.5% in 2022, but remains below the 16.1% recorded in 2007.
- Income influences ownership: Higher-income households are more likely to own CDs and hold greater values, with the top 10% having a median CD value of $69,000.
- CDs and age correlation: CD ownership and value peak among those aged 75 and older, while younger individuals under 35 have minimal CD investments.
Approximately 10.7% of Americans own certificates of deposits (CDs), with a median value of $35,000 and average of $112,590. Older and higher-income households are more likely to hold CDs, and ownership and value are highest among those 75 and older.
Motley Fool Money has reviewed the best CDs by term length to help savers find the most competitive options.
Read on for a deep dive into CD ownership statistics.
Average CD ownership rate and value
Of all Americans, 10.7% hold CDs, according to a 2025 survey from the Federal Reserve. The median value of CDs held was $35,000 and the average was $112,590.
| Percent Holding CDs | Median Value of CDs | Average Value of CDs |
|---|---|---|
| 10.7% | $35,000 | $112,590 |
CD ownership rates fell from 2007, when 16.1% of households owned them, to 6.5% in 2022, then rebounded to 10.7% in 2025. The median value of CDs held hit its high in 2025, at $35,000, in 2025 dollars, while the average value hit its high in 2019 at $129,340.
Average CD ownership rate and value by income
Rates of CD ownership and the value of CDs held rises with income. Among the top 10% of households by income, 18% own CDs with a median value of $69,000 and an average value of $257,570. CD ownership drops to just 5% of households in the bottom 20% by income, the median value falls to $22,000 and the average value is nearly $200,000 lower, at $58,960.
| Income Quintile | Percent Holding CDs | Median Value of CDs | Average Value of CDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 20% | 5% | $22,000 | $58,960 |
| 20% to 39.9% | 7% | $28,000 | $77,750 |
| 40% to 59.9% | 10% | $30,000 | $77,430 |
| 60% to 79.9% | 15% | $40,000 | $92,980 |
| 80% to 89.9% | 15% | $40,000 | $86,370 |
| Top 10% | 18% | $69,000 | $257,570 |
Average CD ownership rate and value by age
The rate of CD ownership increases with age, and so does the value of CDs held, which peaks among those 75 and older. Among Americans 75 and older, 19.0% hold CDs with a median value of $50,000 and average value of $154,490. The percentage of households with CDs among those aged 65 to 74 is 18.0%, with a median value of $45,000 and an average value of $139,460.
Just 4.3% of Americans younger than 35 hold CDs. The median value of CDs held by that age group is $6,600 and the average value is $13,580. Americans between the ages of 35 and 44 hold CDs at a 5.3% rate, with a median value of $20,000 and an average value of $68,980.
| Age | Percent Holding CDs | Median Value of CDs | Average Value of CDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 35 | 4% | $6,600 | $13,580 |
| 35 to 44 | 5% | $20,000 | $68,980 |
| 45 to 54 | 8% | $25,000 | $107,500 |
| 55 to 64 | 12% | $35,000 | $85,970 |
| 65 to 74 | 18% | $45,000 | $139,460 |
| 75 or older | 19% | $50,000 | $154,490 |
Average CD ownership rate and value by race and ethnicity
Fourteen percent of white Americans hold CDs, making them more likely than Black, Hispanic, and households with other races and ethnicities to hold them. White households and households of other races have the same median value of CDs held, $40,000, though the average is higher for other races ($139,090) than for white Americans ($115,000).
Black households are least likely to own CDs. Just 3% of Black households hold CDs, with a median value of $17,000 and average value of $28,200. Hispanic households follow at 4% and have the lowest median value, $10,000, with an average value of $75,450.
| Race/Ethnicity | Percent Holding CDs | Median Value of CDs | Average Value of CDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 14% | $40,000 | $115,000 |
| Black | 3% | $17,000 | $28,200 |
| Hispanic | 4% | $10,000 | $75,450 |
| Other | 10% | $40,000 | $139,090 |
Are CDs a good investment?
Understanding how CDs work is a first step to determining if they're the right financial option for you. CDs are among the safest ways to earn a guaranteed return on your cash over a predetermined period of time, because their interest rates are locked in over the course of the term length. The catch is that you can't access the cash you've deposited before the term ends without paying a penalty.
CDs come in a range of term lengths, from 6-month CDs to 5-year CDs, and there are different types of CDs that each have their own features.
That makes CDs a great option for those who have savings they know they won't need for a set period of time and don't want to worry about the volatility of the stock market or high-yield savings account rates.
Still, it's worth comparing CD rates to the best high-yield savings accounts and double checking whether you'll need the money you intend to set aside in the next six months. If you don't need the cash quickly and you can find a CD with a rate that beats the best high-yield savings accounts, then a CD might be the best choice for you.
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Sources
- Federal Reserve (2026). "Survey of Consumer Finances."
Our Research Expert
Jack Caporal is the Research Director for The Motley Fool and Motley Fool Money and has worked full-time for the company since 2021. Jack leads efforts to identify and analyze trends shaping investing and personal financial decisions across the United States. His research has appeared in thousands of media outlets including Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and CNBC, and has been cited in congressional testimony. He previously covered business and economic trends as a reporter and policy analyst in Washington, D.C. He serves as Chair of the Trade Policy Committee at the World Trade Center in Denver, Colorado. He holds a B.A. degree in International Relations with a concentration in International Economics from Michigan State University.
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