Perhaps you’ve decided to build a CD ladder within your IRA, or maybe you’re looking for a safe way to store your retirement cash for a specific period of time. Whatever the reason, you’re interested in getting an IRA CD and, understandably, want to know what products will give you the best rate of return. You can get an IRA CD with terms ranging from three months to more than six years, with interest rates generally increase with the term length. There are lots of options, so we’ve rounded up the top IRA CD rates that are available right now for a variety of terms. You’ll select your IRA CD terms based on your CD-ladder master plan or whenever you’ll need access to your money.
Every month, we choose the best IRA CD rates using data from DepositAccounts.com, a database of offerings at more than 17,100 banks and credit unions. We sorted the products by APY, then eliminated institutions with a health rating below a B. We then eliminated products that are not available nationwide. From there, we chose the IRA CD with the highest APY among products with a minimum deposit no greater than $5,000. Here are the best options.
Term | Institution | APY | Minimum opening deposit |
---|---|---|---|
3 months | Bethpage Federal Credit Union | 0.40% | $50 |
6 months | Communitywide FCU | 0.70% | $1,000 |
12 months | Communitywide FCU | 0.75% | $1,000 |
19 months Special | Western Vista CU | 1.00% | $500 |
2 years | Lafayette FCU | 0.90% | $500 |
3 years | Lafayette FCU | 1.01% | $500 |
4 years | Lafayette FCU | 1.16% | $500 |
59-month Rate Riser | Abound CU | 1.35% | $500 |
6 years | Evansville Teachers FCU | 1.20% | $1,000 |
Bethpage Federal Credit Union offers an array of IRA CDs, including a 3-month CD with a competitive APY of 0.40%. This CD requires a $50 minimum deposit, and dividends are compounded and credited monthly.
Membership to Bethpage Federal Credit Union is open to anyone who opens a $5 savings account. The financial institution is headquartered in Bethpage, New York. Branch locations are in Long Island or New York City, but account holders can also use Bethpage FCU’s co-op nationwide network as well as its online banking services.
CommunityWide Federal Credit Union is offering the highest APY on 6-month IRA CDs and 1-year IRA CDs at 0.75% APY for deposits of at least $1,000. This credit union has other IRA CD products, too, with term lengths going as far as 60 months.
There are a number of ways to become a member of CommunityWide, including being a member of Michiana Goodwill Boosters, Marine Corps League of St. Joseph Valley, or Habitat for Humanity Helpers. You can also join if you are an employee, retiree or donor member of a long list of companies or a spouse or relative of a CommunityWide member.
Western Vista Credit Union is offering the highest rate on a 19-month IRA CD at 1.00% APY for deposits of at least $500. It also offers other IRA CDs ranging from six months to 60 months and APYs from 0.13% to 0.69%.
You can become a member of Western Vista CU by completing a membership application at your nearest location. Although there are only Western Vista CU locations in Cheyenne and Casper, Wyoming, it is a part of the Co-op Shared Branching which includes more than 5,000 shared branches. You’ll also need to make a deposit of $25 in a savings account, which is representative of your purchase of a share.
If it’s IRA CDs you’re after, a membership to Lafayette Federal Credit Union may be worth your while. The credit union offers a standout rate on its 2-year, 3-year and 4-year IRA certificates. Each certificate requires a minimum deposit of $500 to open the account and to earn the APY.
Membership extends to individuals who live or work in the Washington, D.C., or Potomac, MD., area; members of the Home Ownership Financial Literacy Council; and immediate family members of a current Lafayette Federal member. Those who live in Maryland, Virginia, or D.C. and are members of the American Consumer Council (ACC) are also eligible, as are employees of certain companies.
Abound Credit Union currently offers its 59-month Rate Riser IRA CD with an APY of 1.35% and a $500 minimum deposit. Abound CU offers several other CDs starting at three months and 0.25% APY.
You can become a member of Abound CU if you are military personnel, active or retired military and civil service employees or if you live in select areas of Kentucky or are employed by select local employers. If you don’t meet these requirements for membership, you can still become a member by selecting Other from the dropdown box on the application page.
To join this credit union, you may make a $5 donation to the Mater Dei Friends & Alumni Association. You may want to strongly consider doing so, as the 6-year IRA CD rates offered by Evansville FCU are the best on the market in terms of APY. Plus, opening an IRA CD through Evansville Teachers FCU only requires a minimum balance of $1,000.
Opening an IRA CD generally requires filling out a form or talking to a banker. You’ll have to have a way to fund your IRA CD, whether that’s rolling over an existing retirement account into an IRA CD or depositing cash into the product. The same limits that apply to IRA contributions apply to IRA CDs: $6,000 per year ($7,000 if you’re over age 50) of your own money across all your IRA accounts each year, and you can do a rollover once per year.
Unless you’ve invested in a bump-up IRA CD, you won’t be able to take advantage of a higher rate until your CD matures. Withdrawing funds from an IRA CD before they mature will result in a stiff penalty. Bump-up IRA CDs give you a chance to increase your interest rate to a higher level if it’s available, but you’re generally only allowed to do this once or twice during the life of the CD.
You can either use the direct-transfer method or the indirect-transfer method. The direct transfer method requires setting up your new IRA account by filling out a form authorizing the bank or credit union to transfer money from the old account into the new account. The indirect transfer method involves you asking for a check from your old IRA account. You have up to 60 days to deposit that check into your IRA CD to avoid incurring a penalty.
Source: https://www.magnifymoney.com/blog/best-of/ira-cd-rates1106519852/