Best 3-Month CD Rates - September 2026
Brian McKay
Brian McKay
Founder & Data Architect- Automated Online Rate Data Aggregation
- Location-Based Rate Tables
- Bank & Credit Union Health Safety Ratings
- Finance Calculators
Top 3-month CD rates currently available include Bank of the PanhandleBank of the Panhandle1223 N Main St, Guymon, OK 73942A5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 12.98%Real return: +2.30%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering 90 Day Certificates of Deposit at 5.10% APY, and Habib American HAB BankHabib American HAB Bank150 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 5.54%Real return: +1.70%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering 3 Month Certificate at 4.50% APY, and Austin Capital BankAustin Capital Bank3305 Steck Ave Ste 275, Austin, TX 78757A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 2.96%Real return: +1.52%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering 3 Month CD at 4.32% APY, and Public Service Credit UnionPublic Service Credit Union7665 Merriman Rd, Romulus, MI 48174 1920A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 5.09%Real return: +1.52%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering Jumbo CD 3 Months at 4.32% APY. CD rates as of September 21, 2026 according to verified data from MonitorBankRates.
A 1-year CD is often considered the sweet spot for savers. It offers a higher yield than a standard savings account while keeping your money committed for just one year — ideal for building a CD ladder or parking funds you won’t need in the near term. We display Safety Grades, Star Ratings, and Texas Ratios so you can choose institutions with confidence.
The APYs displayed reflect actual verified offers. Rates are subject to change at the institution’s discretion without notice. A substantial penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. 3-Month CD Rates Last Updated and Verified: September 21, 2026
Compare the Best 3-Month CD Rates Nationwide
$50,000+
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UP to $99,999.99
Min: $3,000,000 Max: $6,000,000
$1,000,000.00+
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EARLY WITHDRAWAL PENALTIES (Minimum $25): 91 Days Interest
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Balance: 250,000.00 - $349,999.99
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Term: 3 Months ($250K +) ***SPECIAL***
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VIP Yield
Compounding: At maturity. Availability: Open Online
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Interest credited At Maturity; Rates and Annual Percentage Yields (APY) are effective as of 12/19/25 and subject to change without notice. No brokered or institutional deposits. Rates and Annual Percentage Yields displayed are unavailable in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Brilliant Bank's CD is a certificate of deposit with initial Annual Percentage Yield available for new depositors only. Rate is accurate as of website publication and subject to change. Fees may reduce earnings. Early withdrawal penalties may apply.
Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) current as of 18th September 2026 and are subject to change without notice. Withdrawals of principal are subject to early withdrawal penalties. The Dividend Rate and Annual Percentage Yield are fixed and will be in effect for the initial term of the account. Membership eligibility required. Insured by NCUA.
SPECIAL OFFER THRU 9/30/26
Available for current 3-Month CD clients only. The advertised interest rates and Annual Percentage Yields (APY) are effective as of December 17th, 2025 and are subject to change daily without notice. The maximum amount allowed per client is $1,000,000.
$30,000 Max. - Penalty for Early Withdrawal. Only available for members under age 18. Member may add to certificate balance at any time.
Limited Time 3 Month and 6 Month Share Certificates available on new Certificates. This is a promotional yield of 4.00% APY; Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is calculated on a 3.93% base rate. Yields are subject to change without notice. "Limited Time 3-Month and 6-Month" Bonus Dividend may not be combined with any other dividend increase/bonus, i.e., "Direct Deposit Bonus" and "Jumbo Certificate" increased rates. $1,000.00 minimum balance, regular Share Certificate requirement on a 365-day basis compounding monthly or at account closure. IRA share certificates do not qualify for this promotion. No additional deposits accepted (other than dividends) during certificate term. There is a substantial penalty for early withdrawal of Certificate funds. Fees and other conditions may reduce earnings. The 3-Month promotional Certificate will automatically roll over to a 3-Month Certificate at the available rates of Certificates at maturity.
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Jumbo Certificate (3, 6, 9 and 12 Months)
Must be opened in branch. New Money Only. This APY is available for new money (funds not currently on deposit with the Bank). Subject to change without notice. Interest is compounded and credited to the account monthly. A Penalty may be imposed at the rate paid for withdrawing any of the principal before maturity date and will reduce earnings. Fees could reduce earnings.
Balance: $10,000+; Basic: 0.40% APY; Better: 0.90% APY
Qualifications Required: High-Yield Rewards Checking Account required; High-Yield Rewards Checking Account required
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Balance: $100,000 and above
Balance: $250,000.00 and up; Compounding: Interest At Maturity
Compounded: ; Credited: At Maturity
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective as of 8/31/26 and subject to change without notice. $1,000 minimum daily balance is required during each monthly cycle period to earn interest. Fees could reduce earnings. Penalty for early withdrawal.
A penalty will be imposed for early withdrawals on CDs. At maturity, your CD will automatically renew and earn the base interest rate in effect at that time.
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At maturity, your CD will automatically renew and earn the base interest rate in effect at that time. A penalty will be imposed for early withdrawals on CDs.
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Term: 3 Month (No IRA Available)
Dividends Compounded & Credited: Quarterly; Dividend Period: Quarterly
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Balance: $100,000.00 and up
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Monthly Paid
Interest paid at term or maturity of CD
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$75,000
Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal
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A 90-day dividend penalty will be imposed for early withdrawal on Share Certificates. The penalty is calculated as a forfeiture of part of the dividends that have been earned on the account. If the account has not yet earned enough dividends, the penalty will be deducted from the principal. Fees may reduce earnings.
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Withdrawals: Allowed--Ask Credit Union
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Balance: $100,000+*
Compounded: Simple
At Maturity
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Open 3 Month CD Online (Opens in new tab)
Interest Rate is Base Interest Rate + 0.50%
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Balance: $500.00 and above
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Limited-time offer. Dividend rates are fixed for the term of the certificate and are not subject to a tiered rate. Deposits cannot be added to this certificate once it has been opened. Institutional deposits are not eligible. At maturity, each Pick-A-Term Certificate renews to the same term at the fixed rate in effect at that time.
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For all certificates unless otherwise noted: penalty for early withdrawal. Minimum deposit of $500 required to open certificate & earn dividends. Rate is accurate as today's dividend declaration. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. Rate = dividend rate.
IRA Minimum Balance: $500.00
IRA's: 3.80%
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Tiered Rates
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Minimum balance required to earn dividend
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Term: 3 months through 5 months; Balances of $500.00-$99,999.99
Term: 3 Month Certificate (91 days)
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Balance: $500 Minimum
Minimum $500.00
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Effective: 12/17/2025
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Fixed Rate
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Balance: $1,000.00
Interest is not compounded. Interest will be credited to your account at maturity.
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Apply Online
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certificate of deposit
Balance: $1,000 - $9,999
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$100,000+; APY**= Annual Percentage Yield. Fee May Reduce Earnings on the Account. A Penalty May be Imposed for Early Withdrawal on any Share Certificate product.
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A penalty may be imposed for withdrawals made before maturity. Fees could reduce earnings
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Balance: $100,000 and over
Preferred Rate with any checking account; 3.75%
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Interest Compounded and Credited At Maturity
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Minimum: $100,000 per member maximum; Balance: $10,000 and over
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APY = Annual Percentage Yield. The APY's are accurate as of 7/01/26. Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. All rates are subject to change without notice.
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Earn Up To 3.60%
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Balance: $99,999.01 or more; Payment Frequency: Maturity
Balance: $500,000+; $500,000+ minimum balance
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Interest Paid: Quarterly and at Maturity
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Interest Paid: Quarterly
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A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Certificate will automatically renew to a fixed rate CD of the equivalent term with the current rate at renewal. The Annual Percentage Yield is current as of August 24, 2026, and is subject to change at any time without notice.
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Balance: $1,000-$74,999
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Balance: $20,000-$49,999
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*
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Balance: $50,000 & Over
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Balance: Less than $50,000
New Money Only
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Earn 3.55% APY on balances of $500 or more. Account matures in 3 months.
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Balance: $50,000 & Over
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Renews every 3 months.
Banks and Credit Unions: If you identify an incorrect rate or wish to request removal from MonitorBankRates.com, please contact us here.
Tracked Nationwide
About Our 3-Month CD Rate Database
MonitorBankRates tracks 2,684 3-month CD rates from 1,563 institutions across the United States. Our proprietary aggregation system pulls verified rate data directly from each institution’s official website — no estimates, no national averages passed off as real offers.
Every rate listed includes the institution’s Safety Grade (A+ to F), Star Rating (1–5), and Texas Ratio — objective financial health metrics calculated from FDIC and NCUA regulatory data — so you can compare yield and institutional safety in one place.
Current top rate: Bank of the Panhandle offers a 3-month CD at 5.10% APY with a minimum deposit of $0. Use the rate table above to compare all current offers.
3-Month CD Rate Trend
Daily national average APY for 3-month CDs
Daily averages compiled from 2,684 verified CD rate quotes — updated daily.
National 3-month CD rates rose 0.022 points over the past 7 days to 2.065% APY, up from 2.043% 7 days ago. Rates are currently 0.073 points above the 90-day average of 1.992%.
Rates are well above the 2010-2019 decade average of 0.22%, reflecting the Fed rate hike cycle of 2022-2023.
3-Month CD Rate Forecast — Next 12 Months
Where are 3-month CD rates headed through September 2027?
Projections based on Fed funds rate futures and historical CD-to-fed-funds spread model. Not financial advice.
CD Calculators
Enter any deposit amount to see exactly how much interest you earn at the end of your 3-month term at today’s top APY.
CD Ladder with 3 months RungModel a CD ladder that includes a 3-month CD. See how staggering maturities keeps cash accessible while locking in higher yields on longer terms.
Early Withdrawal Penalty3-month CDs typically carry a 30–90 days interest penalty for early access. Calculate your actual net return if you need funds before maturity.
3-month CD vs. High-Yield Savings3-month CD rates are close to top savings APYs right now. Compare both side-by-side to find which earns more for your deposit amount and timeline.
What Does a 3-Month CD Actually Earn After Inflation?
The APY on your CD tells you the nominal return — what you earn before accounting for inflation. The real return is what matters for purchasing power: your CD rate minus the current inflation rate. A CD yielding 4.85% when inflation runs at 2.8% gives you a real return of roughly 2.0%. When inflation runs at 5%, that same CD is losing ground.
What This Means for 3-Month CD Savers
At the current national average of 2.065% and headline inflation running at 2.8% (BLS CPI-U, February 2026), a $10,000 3-month CD earns roughly $51.62 in interest over 3 months. After adjusting for the annualized inflation rate, the real purchasing-power gain is approximately -0.74% on an annualized basis.
With inflation still running above the current CD average, short-term CD holders are losing ground in real terms — though far less than during the 2020–2021 period when rates were near zero and inflation was accelerating.
The top-yielding 3-month CDs in our database, however, typically run 0.50%–1.50% above the national average. Savers who shop across our full list rather than accepting their current bank's rate meaningfully improve their real return.
Real Return in Context
| Period | Avg 3-Mo CD APY | Avg CPI | Approx. Real Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–2019 (pre-pandemic) | ~1.0%–2.4% | ~2.3% | ~-1.3% to +0.1% |
| 2020–2021 (pandemic lows) | ~0.05%–0.10% | ~1.2%–4.7% | ~-4.6% to -1.1% |
| 2022–2023 (rate hike cycle) | ~0.5%–5.5% | ~4.0%–9.1% | ~-8.6% to +1.5% |
| 2023 Peak | ~5.25% avg | ~3.2%–4.1% | ~+1.0% to +2.0% |
| Today (Sep 2026) | 2.065% avg | 2.8% | -0.74% |
Data sources: MonitorBankRates.com 3-month CD rate averages; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), All Items, 12-month percent change. CPI reading: February 2026. Real return is an approximation; precise calculation is ((1+nominal)/(1+inflation))-1. Not financial advice.
How to Find the Best 3-Month CD Rates
What to compare when shopping for a short-term CD
To find the best APYs on a 3-month CD, start with credit unions and online-only banks — they consistently offer the highest yields because they have lower overhead than traditional brick-and-mortar banks and compete aggressively for deposits.
Always compare the APY (Annual Percentage Yield), not just the interest rate. The APY reflects compounding and is the true measure of what you’ll earn. A CD advertised at 4.75% interest compounding monthly is worth more than one at 4.80% compounding annually.
Also compare the early withdrawal penalty. On a 3-month CD, common penalties range from 30 to 90 days of interest. If you’re unsure whether you’ll need the funds early, a penalty-free no-penalty CD or a high-yield savings account may be a better fit.
When a 3-Month CD Makes Sense
- You have a planned purchase or expense in ~3 months and want to earn while you wait
- You expect interest rates to fall and want to lock in today’s rate short-term
- You’re building the shortest rung of a CD ladder
- You want FDIC/NCUA protection with a guaranteed fixed return
Consider an Alternative If…
- You may need funds before 3 months → High-yield savings
- Rates are rising and you want to benefit → Variable-rate savings or MMA
- You want check-writing or debit access → Money market account
3-Month CD vs. Other Short-Term Savings Options
| Feature | 3-Month CD | High-Yield Savings | Money Market | 6-Month CD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate Type | Fixed APY | Variable APY | Variable APY | Fixed APY |
| Liquidity | Locked 3 months | Anytime | Anytime | Locked 6 months |
| Early Withdrawal | Penalty (30–90 days interest) | None | None | Penalty (90–180 days interest) |
| FDIC / NCUA Insured | Yes (up to $250K) | Yes (up to $250K) | Yes (up to $250K) | Yes (up to $250K) |
| Check / Debit Access | No | Usually no | Often yes | No |
| Best For | Known near-term goal, CD ladder start | Emergency fund, flexible savings | Liquid savings with check-writing | Slightly higher yield, less urgency |
3-Month CD FAQs
What is a 3-Month Certificate of Deposit (CD)?
Are 3-month CD rates higher than regular savings accounts?
Is my money safe in a 3-month CD?
What happens if I withdraw money from a 3-month CD early?
What is APY and how does it differ from the interest rate?
Can I add money to a 3-month CD after opening it?
How can I use a 3-month CD in a CD ladder?
Is a 3-month CD better than a high-yield savings account right now?
What is the real return on a 3-month CD?
Does inflation affect CD rates?
Methodology & Data Sources
Direct-Sourced & Verified CD Rate Data: We aggregate 3-month CD rates nationwide directly from the official websites of banks and credit unions using our proprietary rate aggregation technology. By pulling data straight from the institutions’ own digital properties and manually verifying yields daily, every rate on MonitorBankRates.com is highly accurate and trustworthy.
Local, Regional, and National Coverage: Our systems constantly monitor the market to provide a complete picture of available 1-year CD yields across the country. We feature a comprehensive mix of financial institutions — from neighborhood credit unions and competitive regional banks to high-yield CDs from large national institutions.
Daily Updates & Time-Stamped Accuracy: Our rate updaters verify and update CD rates daily. Because yields can fluctuate rapidly based on Federal Reserve policy and market conditions, every CD product listed features its own specific “last updated” date for full transparency.
Proprietary Institution Health & Safety Grades: Beyond tracking rates, MonitorBankRates evaluates the financial stability of every listed institution. Our Health Grades (A+ to F) and Star Ratings are composite metrics calculated using objective regulatory data — including the Texas Ratio — ensuring you deposit with secure, reliable institutions.
