CD Investments: How Much Can CDs Earn? - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

How much money can I make from CDs? ›

That said, there are factors that could lead you to limit your deposit amount — including the maximum amount your CD account is insured for by the NCUA or FDIC, which is typically $250,000 per depositor, per account. "There is no hard and fast rule on the maximum amount," says Kevin L.

However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate banking products to write unbiased product reviews. Depending on the bank, a $5,000 CD deposit will make around $25 to $275 in interest after one year.

Competitive 1-year CD rates

If you were to deposit $100,000 into a one-year CD that pays a competitive APY of 5 percent, you'd have around $5,000 in interest when the term is up, for a total balance of $105,000.

That said, here's how much you could expect to make by depositing $20,000 into a one-year CD now, broken down by four readily available interest rates (interest compounding annually): At 6.00%: $1,200 (for a total of $21,200 after one year) At 5.75%: $1,150 (for a total of $21,150 after one year)

The cons of CDs

With a savings account, the money is easily accessible in case of a financial emergency or a change in spending priorities. With CDs, you typically can't withdraw the money whenever you want—at least not without paying a penalty.

However, federally insured banks and credit unions only insure up to $250,000 per depositor per account ownership category. If you put more than this amount in a single CD, some of your money will be at risk. You can still safely invest more than $250,000 in CDs by opening accounts at multiple financial institutions.

For example, you could earn more by putting $1 million into a CD. However, weigh the percentage rate against possible loss of your funds—at least $750,000 of that $1 million won't be FDIC insured. It may be better to distribute your $1 million into 4 FDIC- or NCUA-insured CDs at different financial institutions.

Today's CD rates are still high

One of the most compelling reasons to put $10,000 into a long-term CD investment now is the current state of interest rates. CD rates remain at levels we haven't seen in years, and many financial institutions are offering rates of 4% to 5% or more on their long-term CDs.

Can you get 7% on a CD? ›

While there aren't any financial institutions paying 7% on a CD right now, there are other banks and credit unions that pay high CD rates. Compare today's top CD and savings rates.

In summary, a certificate of deposit gives you steady and safe returns. Investing $15,000 in a CD could lead to substantial gains, regardless of the CD's length. However, make sure you won't need that money while the CD is active because withdrawing early usually incurs hefty penalties.

How much interest would you earn? If you put $20,000 into a 5-year CD with an interest rate of 4.60%, you'd end the 5-year CD term with $5,043.12 in interest, for a total balance of $25,043.12.

The deposit amount won't be prohibitive

But you'll still earn hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars worth of interest with that manageable deposit. For example, a $5,000 deposit into a 5-year CD with a rate of 4.35% (available right now) will result in a $1,186.32 profit upon maturity.

There's nothing wrong with putting cash into a CD, but it can be the wrong decision if you're left without any money in your savings account. Most financial experts recommend having enough cash to cover three to six months of expenses in your emergency fund. If that's too much to manage, start with $1,000.

Here's what to expect: 5.10%: With a $2,500 deposit at this rate you'd earn $127.50 upon CD maturity, growing your funds to a total of $2,627.50.

But because CDs tie up your cash, you often earn higher interest rates than other types of deposit accounts. Generally, the longer the CD term, the higher the interest rate you may earn. For example, you will likely lock in higher rates with five-year CDs than three-month CDs.

With a rate that high, a $10,000 investment in a 5-year CD could potentially grow to over $12,000 by the end of the term — and that's without any additional contributions. That means the returns on your CD will significantly outpace the returns typically offered by traditional savings accounts, averaging about 0.45%.

How much a $10,000 deposit in a money market account will earn annually depends on the annual percentage yield (APY) offered by your financial institution. If you deposit $10,000 into a money market account with a 5.00% APY, you will earn $513 in interest by the end of the year, assuming daily compounding.