Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com
Four sites consistently publish updated lists of the top CD offers available each month: CD Valet, Investopedia, NerdWallet, and Bankrate. These platforms track certificate of deposit (CD) rates from federally insured banks and credit unions and present current annual percentage yields (APYs) across common CD terms.
Monthly, and often more frequent, updates help savers identify competitive CD offers as rates shift. CD rates fluctuate based on Federal Reserve policy and how aggressively banks compete for deposits.
CD rates can change significantly from one month to the next. The four platforms below publish regularly, verify rates before listing them, and make it easier for users to identify current top offers.
This article covers how often each site updates its lists, their key features, and how they approach publishing top CD offers. Each CD rate tracking platform has different strengths, and using more than one can provide a clearer picture of the market.
1. CD Valet
CD Valet is a CD marketplace that provides verified CD rates and comparison tools, helping savers explore higher-yield CD options from federally insured banks and credit unions. The platform publishes daily updates of CD offers across multiple term lengths and includes both traditional certificates of deposit and no-penalty CD products. Its focus stays on competitive yields rather than broad market coverage.
CD Valet connects savers with verified rates that are monitored daily and updated as banks change offers. Rates are verified directly with financial institutions to improve accuracy and reduce outdated listings.
The interface emphasizes a curated selection of competitive-rate options. Sort functions act as comparison tools, allowing users to evaluate term lengths, APY, and minimum deposits. No account is required to browse current offers. The design stays focused on straightforward and time-efficient rate comparison.
The offers published include traditional CDs across standard terms from three months to five years, no-penalty CDs for flexibility, and options from both national banks and credit unions with competitive yields.
This platform may appeal to people who prefer curated selections over comprehensive databases, savers comparing traditional and no-penalty CDs, and those researching competitive rates across different institution types.
2. Investopedia
Investopedia publishes monthly roundups of CD rates with editorial analysis and expert review. The platform combines CD rate listings with educational content explaining APY calculations, term selection, and CD strategies. Updates often include standard CDs, jumbo CDs, and IRA CDs, with editorial context tied to Federal Reserve policy and interest-rate conditions.
Its approach centers on monthly “best CD rates” articles supported by commentary. Rates are checked with institutions before publication. Listings are presented alongside explanations of current market conditions and their effect on CD rate changes.
Investopedia’s platform is editorial in nature, backed by an experienced financial team. As part of Dotdash Meredith, it operates within a larger financial media network. Concepts like CD laddering and early withdrawal penalties are covered in detail.
The types of offers published typically include standard CDs across major terms, jumbo CDs for higher deposits, IRA CDs for retirement accounts, and no-penalty or bump-up CDs when available. Educational components include explanations of APY versus APR, historical rate context, trend analysis, and FDIC insurance coverage details.
Investopedia is best suited for readers who want education and context with rate information, those learning CD terminology and strategy, and savers interested in understanding the broader rate environment.
3. NerdWallet
NerdWallet publishes CD rate comparison cards that show APY, term length, minimum deposit, and FDIC or NCUA insurance at a glance. Alongside, they feature financial calculators and post editorial reviews and consumer-focused guidance. The platform tracks CD rates from banks and credit unions and updates listings monthly to reflect current APYs and terms.
Its approach emphasizes clarity. Filters for term length, minimum deposit, and sorting make it easier to narrow options. NerdWallet’s ratings and brief editorial notes help explain how each product works and how CDs compare with other savings options.
NerdWallet’s platform highlights usability and trust. Editorial reviews assess banks on multiple factors beyond yield, including customer experience and account features. Educational content explains APY, compounding, and early withdrawal penalties in plain language. Coverage tends to focus on featured partners rather than exhaustive market listings, covering both standard CDs and high-yield options from well-known institutions.
NerdWallet is useful for first-time CD buyers, people comparing CDs with other savings products, and readers who want expert guidance rather than raw rate data alone.
4. Bankrate
Bankrate publishes monthly updates of CD rates drawn from hundreds of banks and credit unions nationwide. The platform aggregates CD rates across all major term lengths and presents them in sortable tables.
Its approach prioritizes breadth. Bankrate maintains one of the largest CD rate databases available, covering national banks, online banks, and local credit unions. Rates are updated regularly, and users can filter results by term, deposit amount, and location.
The platform includes editorial reviews, bank profiles, and financial calculators alongside rate data. Historical rate information and state-by-state filtering help users compare both current offers and institutional reputations.
Bankrate typically publishes standard CDs across all terms and includes a wide range of yields, from market-leading rates to lower local offers. Because of the volume, results can feel crowded, and promotional placements may appear.
Bankrate works best for people who want a comprehensive market view and are comfortable filtering results to identify top offers.
How to Use These Sites Together
Combining different platforms gives a more complete view of available CD rates. Cross-referencing rates across two or three platforms helps verify availability.
For Comprehensive Research
Start with Investopedia or NerdWallet if you are new to CDs and want to understand terminology and strategy. Use Bankrate to view the broad market and identify which institutions are offering competitive rates. Compare those results with the curated selections of CD Valet to see which high-yield offers stand out.
For Monthly Monitoring
Set calendar reminders to review monthly roundups. Track which banks appear repeatedly across platforms and note changes from the previous month. Consistent appearances signal sustained competitiveness.
Key Verification Points
Always confirm FDIC insurance status, minimum deposit requirements, early withdrawal penalties, APY versus APR accuracy, and any promotional conditions attached to the rate.
Timing Considerations
Check rates after Federal Reserve meetings, which occur eight times per year. Month-end periods may also bring competitive offers as banks meet deposit goals. Balance strategic timing to lock in strong current rates.
Finding Competitive CD Offers
These four platforms approach CD rate publishing in different ways. CD Valet offers a curated marketplace, Investopedia provides educational analysis, NerdWallet emphasizes consumer guidance, and Bankrate delivers comprehensive database coverage.
Using multiple platforms paired with monthly monitoring helps identify trends and competitive offers across the market. All four focus on FDIC-insured institutions for depositor protection.
Disclosure: Insider Monkey doesn’t recommend purchase of any securities/currencies/products/services. Insider Monkey received compensation to publish this article. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of the statements made in this article. Insider Monkey and its principals are not affiliated with the client and have no ownership in the client. Insider Monkey doesn’t recommend the purchase/sale of any securities, cryptocurrencies, or ICOs. Please get in touch with a financial professional before making any financial decisions. You understand that Insider Monkey doesn’t accept any responsibility and you will be using the information presented here at your own risk. You acknowledge that this disclaimer is a simplified version of our Terms of Use, and by accessing or using our site, you agree to be bound by all of its terms and conditions. If at any time you find these terms and conditions unacceptable, you must immediately leave the Site and cease all use of the Site.
