Is there a risk putting money in CDs?
Standard CDs are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) for up to $250,000, so they cannot lose money. However, some CDs that are not FDIC-insured may carry greater risk, and there may be risks that come from rising inflation or interest rates.
Federal insurance keeps CDs safe
Like savings and checking accounts, most CDs are protected by deposit insurance, meaning your funds are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) at a bank and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) at a credit union.
Banks and credit unions often charge an early withdrawal penalty for taking funds from a CD ahead of its maturity date. This penalty can be a flat fee or a percentage of the interest earned. In some cases, it could even be all the interest earned, negating your efforts to use a CD for savings.
| Term Length | Average APY | Interest earned on $10,000 at maturity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 1.81% | $181 |
| 2 years | 1.54% | $310.37 |
| 3 years | 1.41% | $428.99 |
| 4 years | 1.32% | $538.55 |
Are CDs safe if the market crashes? Putting your money in a CD doesn't involve putting your money in the stock market. Instead, it's in a financial institution, like a bank or credit union. So, in the event of a market crash, your CD account will not be impacted or lose value.
The FDIC Covers CDs in the Event of Bank Failure
But the recent regional banking turmoil may have you concerned about your investment in case of a bank failure. CDs are treated by the FDIC like other bank accounts and will be insured up to $250,000 if the bank is a member of the agency.
For context, in 2021, when rates were around their lowest, the national average 12-month CD had an APY of just 0.15%. For a $5,000 deposit, this is the difference between earning $250 in interest over a year versus earning only $7.50 over that same time frame.
Standard CDs are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) for up to $250,000, so they cannot lose money. However, some CDs that are not FDIC-insured may carry greater risk, and there may be risks that come from rising inflation or interest rates.
CD rates may not be high enough to keep pace with inflation when consumer prices rise. Investing money in the stock market could generate much higher returns than CDs.
The most common way people lose money through a CD account is by withdrawing their funds before the term ends. When you take money out of your CD account before the maturity date, you'll typically have to pay an early withdrawal penalty.
How much money should I put in a CD?
The specific amount you put into a CD depends on your personal finances. The best way to decide how much money to put into a CD is to figure out how much cash you can afford to part with for an extended amount of time. While that amount will be different for everyone, you should keep a few things in mind.
| Term | APY (current | Yield on $50,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 5.26% | $682.50 |
| 6 months | 5.00% | $1,250 |
| 9 months | 5.55% | $2,081 |
| 1 year | 4.90% | $2,625 |
This CD will earn $108.33 on $500 over five years, which means your deposit will grow by 21.7%.
Security: Both CDs and Treasuries are very high-quality investments. CDs are bank deposits that pay a stated amount of interest for a specified period of time and promise to return your money on a specific date. They are federally insured and issued by banks and savings-and-loans institutions.
Stocks are a better investment when you don't need the money any time soon and can afford to ride out the ups and downs of the market. For goals that are more than five years away, invest in stocks over CDs. Retirement savings is the most common example, but the same is true for any other goal that's still a ways off.
Limited liquidity
One major drawback of a CD is that account holders can't easily access their money if an unanticipated need arises. They typically have to pay a penalty for early withdrawals, which can eat up interest and can even result in the loss of principal.
Still, the FDIC itself doesn't have unlimited money. If enough banks flounder at once, it could deplete the fund that backstops deposits. However, experts say even in that event, bank patrons shouldn't worry about losing their FDIC-insured money.
As long as you open a CD with a financial institution that's insured by the FDIC or the NCUA, your CD is protected up to $250,000 per person, per account category in case of a bank failure. That means you won't lose your deposit or interest earned (up to the insured amount) if the bank unexpectedly closes.
CDs offer all banks a kind of stability, according to financial risk consultant Mayra Rodriguez Valladares. “They want more people and certificates of deposits, because then individuals are a lot less likely to withdraw their money,” she said.
CD terms typically range from three months to five years. The trick is to find a CD with the right maturity date for you. If your term's too short, you might miss out on a higher rate available for another term. If your term's too long, you may need the money prematurely and pay an early withdrawal penalty to get it.
Is a 12 month CD worth it?
A one-year CD typically offers a higher interest rate than shorter-term CDs, such as three-month CDs and six-month CDs. Offers higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts.
How much interest would you make on a $5,000 CD? We estimate that a $5,000 CD deposit can make roughly $25 to $275 in interest after one year. In comparison, a $10,000 CD deposit makes around $50 to $550 in interest after a year, depending on the bank.
A CD might be a good place for short-term cash you're planning to use within a year for an expense like buying a car or a house. But it's not a good place for long-term retirement funds.
“Consumers should be reassured that savings accounts and CDs are covered by FDIC [or NCUA] insurance up to $250,000. CDs are as safe as putting money in a savings account, and in most cases will provide a higher return,” says Rebell.
There are a few different ways to invest your money to earn interest and live off of that income. The most popular investments are bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs) and annuities. The interest that you'll earn will depend on the amount of money you have in your account when you go to live off of that interest.
