Best CD Rates of 2026: Top Yields by Term A certificate of deposit (CD) is a savings account that pays you a fixed interest rate in exchange for agreeing to leave your money untouched for a set period, from a few months to several years. If you can park cash you will not need soon, CDs remain one of the simplest ways to earn a guaranteed return — and as of early October 2026, the best CD rates still reach about 5.00% APY, far above the national average. The rate environment has cooled, though....







