The best 3-year CD rates for September 2024: Earn up to 4.60%

Advertiser Disclosure: Content provided by Red Ventures. Fox Business and its content partners earn compensation from the affiliate companies that appear below. This content does not include all available financial offers, and compensation may impact how and where links appear in the content.

Looking for a safe, reliable way to grow your savings? A 3-year certificate of deposit (CD) could be the perfect solution. These accounts offer guaranteed returns over a 36-month term, with higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts.

These accounts work best for goals you plan to achieve in the next few years, like saving up for a down payment, wedding, or home remodeling. 

What are the best 3-year CD rates currently available? Our research shows that the top rates range from 4.00% to 5.00% annual percentage yield (APY) as of August 2024. These rates are offered by a mix of online banks, credit unions, and community banks.

What are the best 3-year CD rates? 

Here are some of the best 3-year CD rates we’ve seen, much higher than the national average of 1.42% annual percentage yield (APY).

Why 3-year CDs are attractive right now

Because the Federal Reserve rapidly raised interest rates over the past few years, 3-year CD rates are at relative highs. 

The average 3-year CD has an APY of 1.40%, according to the Federal Reserve. But the best 3-year CDs offer rates over 4% APY. 

To put this in perspective, a $10,000 deposit into a 3-year CD at 4.50% would earn approximately $1,400 in total interest over the 36-month term. This far exceeds the paltry $300-$750 you would have earned in a 3-year CD just a few years ago. 

For savers looking to lock in a high guaranteed return without the volatility of the stock market, 3-year CDs are very appealing right now.

Benefits of a 3-year CD

Why consider a 3-year CD for your savings goals? Here are some of the key benefits:

Higher interest rates

Three-year CDs typically offer higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts or shorter-term CDs. This is because you're agreeing to lock your money away for a longer period, which allows the bank or credit union to invest those funds for a higher return.

Guaranteed returns

When you open a 3-year CD, you know exactly how much interest you'll earn over the life of the account. This makes CDs a low-risk investment option, as your returns are not subject to market fluctuations like stocks or bonds.

FDIC or NCUA Insurance

Most 3-year CDs are insured by either the FDIC (for banks) or NCUA (for credit unions) up to $250,000 per person, per account. This means your principal and earned interest are protected even if the bank or credit union fails.

Longer-term savings

A 3-year CD can be a smart choice for savings goals that are a few years away, such as saving for a down payment on a house, planning a wedding, or funding a child's education. The 36-month timeline allows your money to grow while keeping it accessible in the relatively near future.

How CD interest is calculated

When comparing 3-year CD rates, it's important to understand how interest is calculated and credited to your account. Here are a few key concepts to know. 

Annual percentage yield (APY)

When you open a certificate of deposit, your bank will disclose the interest rate and annual percentage yield (APY). 

The APY represents the total amount of interest you'll earn on a CD over one year based on the interest rate and compounding frequency. APY assumes that interest is reinvested back into the account.

Compounding frequency

Compounding refers to how often interest is calculated and added to your CD balance. Most banks compound interest daily or monthly. The more frequently interest compounds, the faster your savings will grow. 

Here's an example of how compounding frequency affects the total interest earned. Here's how much interest you would earn with $10,000 on 3-year CD with a 4.50% interest rate: 

• Daily compounding: $1,432.48 
• Monthly compounding: $1,428.84 
• Annual compounding: $1,417.74 

As you can see, daily compounding results in the highest total return, but the differences are relatively small. The interest rate itself has a much bigger impact on your earnings.

What happens when your 3-year CD matures

When your CD matures, you typically have a short grace period (usually 7-10 days) to decide what to do with the funds. Here are your options:

1. Cash out the CD: You can simply withdraw the full balance of principal and interest and transfer the funds to your linked checking or savings account.
2. Renew the CD: Most banks will automatically renew your CD for another 3-year term at the current interest rate if they don't hear from you during the grace period. 
3. Change CD terms: The grace period also gives you the opportunity to switch to a different CD term. For example, if you expect rates to rise soon, you might prefer to renew into a 1-year CD. Or if you're nearing retirement, you might choose an IRA CD to defer taxes longer. 

It's important to track your CD maturity dates. If you forget and the bank automatically renews your CD, you may be locked in at a lower rate for another three years. 

CD ladders and 3-year CDs 

One popular strategy for CD savers is building a CD ladder. This involves dividing your investment across multiple CDs with staggered maturity dates.

For example, instead of putting $25,000 into a single 3-year CD, you might open five CDs of $5,000 each, maturing in 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. As each CD matures, you would renew it into a new 5-year CD to keep the ladder going.

The benefits of a CD ladder include:

• Higher rates: By including longer-term CDs, you can lock in higher rates for a portion of your savings.
• More frequent access to funds: With CDs maturing annually, you have the opportunity to withdraw some money each year if needed without penalty.
• Flexibility: Staggering your CD maturities allows you to adjust your strategy as interest rates change. For example, if rates are rising, you can reinvest into higher-yielding CDs as each rung of the ladder matures.

In a CD ladder, 3-year CDs can provide a good middle ground between short-term liquidity and long-term growth. They offer higher rates than 1- or 2-year CDs while still keeping a portion of your savings accessible in the relatively near future.

How we rated the best CDs 

To determine the best CDs, we carefully evaluated a wide range of factors, including interest rates, fees, and minimum deposit requirements.

Our team analyzed numerous CD offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria. The options on this list represent the best value benefits available.

Here are some of the key factors we considered: 

• Interest rate: The interest rate is the primary reason someone would choose a savings, CD, or money market account over another, so this is our most heavily weighted factor. 
• Fees: Fees, particularly early withdrawal penalties can eat into the overall cost of a CD.
• Minimum deposit & balance requirements: High minimum deposits can be a barrier, and high balance requirements to avoid fees or earn the best rate limit the CD's usefulness.

The bottom line

A 3-year CD can be a smart choice for savers who want a guaranteed return and are comfortable locking away their money for a few years. With interest rates at their highest levels in over a decade, now is an excellent time to shop around for the best 3-year CD rates.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.