Best 6-Month CD Rates - May 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 6-month CD rates currently available include Bank of Prairie du SacBank of Prairie du Sac555 Park Ave, Prairie Du Sac, WI 53578A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 0.64%Real return: +3.50%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering 7/6-month SOFR ARM at 6.30% APY, and Northwoods Community Credit UnionNorthwoods Community Credit Union1224 4th Ave S, Park Falls, WI 54552 1923A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 4.18%Real return: +2.26%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering Share Certificate Special Youth Accounts 6 Month at 5.06% APY, and United Financial Credit UnionUnited Financial Credit Union6310 Dixie Hwy, Bridgeport, MI 48722A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 3.73%Real return: +2.25%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering 6 month - 4H or FFA CD at 5.05% APY, and NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTHNATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH111 Rockville Pike Ste 500, Rockville, MD 20850A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 2.03%Real return: +2.20%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering 6 Month Youth Saver at 5.00% APY. CD rates as of May 12, 2026 according to verified data from MonitorBankRates.
A 6-month CD is one of the most popular short-term options 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. 6-Month CD Rates Last Updated and Verified: May 12, 2026
Compare the Best 6-Month CD Rates Nationwide
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Teen Cents Club Junior Savers Kangaroo Kids Club Minimum $100.00 Maximum $5,000.00 (Aggregate)
Max $5,000
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Must be funded by new money not currently on deposit
Bonus Rate
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FEATURED RATE
Qualifications Required: Checking and Savings account; Debit card; Direct Deposit; Requirements for LOYALTY CERTIFICATE PROMO: Checking and Savings account, Debit card and must currently have Direct Deposit. Money must be new to MWFFCU.
paid monthly
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Deposit Amount: $100,001 and up
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Minimum $100,000 Deposit to start
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Limited Time Special!
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EARLY WITHDRAWAL PENALTIES (Minimum $25): 181 Days Interest
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Rates subject to change
Special CD rates through April 30th.
Limited Time
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APY= Annual Percentage Yield. Effective 3/1/26: Annual Percentage Yield for for all CDs and IRA CDs includes a .25% bonus for Meijer Team members, Meijer retirees and current MCU members. Rate is subject to change without notice. Early withdraw penalties may apply, and may reduce earning.
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Quarterly Dividend Transfers, Non-Automatic Renewal, Simple Interest, Paid Quarterly! NEW MONEY ONLY!!!
Regular Accounts
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Penalty: 90 days
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Branch
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Effective 3/12/26
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Dividends on 3 and 6 month certificates are paid at maturity.
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early withdrawal penalty may apply. Funds are disbursed to shares at maturity.
new money only
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Must maintain a minimum $1,000 balance to earn APY. Interest is compounded monthly and credited monthly. There is a penalty for early withdrawal.
New money only, not funds currently on deposit with Commonwealth Credit Union
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New money only
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With a low $500 minimum deposit
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Limited Time Special
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Up to
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Automatic Renewal
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(Age 0-17)
Annual Percentage Yield. Minimum balance of $1,000 to earn APY. Rate 3.88% as of 11/1/2025. Rates subject to change. Early withdrawal penalties may apply.
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A penalty may be applied for early withdrawal. Fees may reduce earnings. $500 minimum opening deposit required to obtain APY. Not valid with any other offer. Rates effective as of 02/16/2026. Expires on or before 5/17//2026.
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Special
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Regular Rates
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New money only.
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*APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Rates are accurate as of March 30, 2026, and are fixed for the term of the certificate. A penalty will be imposed for early withdrawal. Fees may reduce earnings. No institutional deposits accepted. Insured by NCUA.
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A penalty applies for early withdrawal.
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$500 minimum deposit to open and earn APY. Penalty for early withdrawal.
One time NO PENALTY withdrawal.
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Minimum $1,500 to open
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NEW MONEY REQUIRED � IRA ELIGIBLE
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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 6-Month CD Rate Database
MonitorBankRates tracks 3,616 6-month CD rates from 2,166 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 Prairie du Sac offers a 6-month CD at 6.30% APY with a minimum deposit of $0. Use the rate table above to compare all current offers.
6-Month CD Rate Trend
Daily national average APY for 6-month CDs
Daily averages compiled from 3,616 verified CD rate quotes — updated daily.
National 6-month CD rates rose 0.012 points over the past 7 days to 2.682% APY, up from 2.670% 7 days ago.
Rates are well above the 2010-2019 decade average of 0.30%, though below the 2023 cycle peak of 5.50%.
6-Month CD Rate Forecast — Next 12 Months
Where are 6-month CD rates headed through May 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 6-month term at today’s top APY.
CD Ladder with 6 months RungModel a CD ladder that includes a 6-month CD. See how staggering maturities keeps cash accessible while locking in higher yields on longer terms.
Early Withdrawal Penalty6-month CDs typically carry a 90–180 days interest penalty for early access. Calculate your actual net return if you need funds before maturity.
6-month CD vs. High-Yield Savings6-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 6-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 6-Month CD Savers
At the current national average of 2.682% and headline inflation running at 2.8% (BLS CPI-U, February 2026), a $10,000 6-month CD earns roughly $67.05 in interest over 3 months. After adjusting for the annualized inflation rate, the real purchasing-power gain is approximately -0.12% 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 6-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 | ~5.50% avg | ~3.2%–4.1% | ~+1.0% to +2.0% |
| Today (May 2026) | 2.682% avg | 2.8% | -0.12% |
Data sources: MonitorBankRates.com 6-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 6-Month CD Rates
What to compare when shopping for a 6-month CD
To find the best APYs on a 6-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 6-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 6-Month CD Makes Sense
- You have a planned purchase or expense in ~6 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
6-Month CD vs. Other Short-Term Savings Options
| Feature | 6-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 |
6-Month CD FAQs
What is a 6-Month Certificate of Deposit (CD)?
Are 6-month CD rates higher than regular savings accounts?
Is my money safe in a 6-month CD?
What happens if I withdraw money from a 6-month CD early?
What is APY and how does it differ from the interest rate?
Can I add money to a 6-month CD after opening it?
How can I use a 6-month CD in a CD ladder?
Is a 6-month CD better than a high-yield savings account right now?
What is the real return on a 6-month CD?
Does inflation affect CD rates?
Methodology & Data Sources
Direct-Sourced & Verified CD Rate Data: We aggregate 6-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.
