CD Interest Rate

By: EconomyWatch Content   Date: 4 November 2009

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Investors can search for the best CD interest rate using financial calculators and other tools offered by service providers and compare several CDs (Certificate of Deposits). The certificates of deposit help investors earn guaranteed, steady income, while the market is volatile. CDs are a good option for short- to medium-term (five years or less) investments.

CD Interest Rate: Finding the Right One

Here are a few metrics to evaluate a certificate of deposit on, while searching for the best CD interest rate. Important factors include tenure, risk, interest rates and withdrawal penalties.

 

Minimum Investment and Tenure: Investors can obtain the best CD interest rate if they deposit a higher minimum amount upfront for a longer period. Before committing, ensure that you can wait till maturity.

Risks: Your CD investments up to$250,000 are insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). If you want to invest more than this amount, check the issuer’s policy about securing your investments in case of insolvency. The FDIC is expected to reduce the limit to $100,000 on January 01, 2014.

Type of Interest Rate: Certain CDs offer fixed interest rates for the entire investment period. While others offer variable interest rates that are tied to the Fed’s base interest rate. If you expect the base interest rate to increase, choose a variable interest rate CD for better rates of return.

Withdrawal Penalties: When you are looking for the best CD interest rate, check the issuer’s policy regarding early withdrawal penalty rules. Some issuers offer attractive interest rates with longer lock-in periods and heavy penalties for early withdrawals.

While scouting for the best CD interest rate, ensure that your issuer is insured by the FDIC. More importantly, ensure that you can lock in your money for the entire maturity period. You can also opt for staggered terms to obtain the best of liquidity and interest rates on your deposit. Buying from smaller banks or credit unions can also fetch you the best interest rates. However, this may not be a very safe option. You can also consolidate your assets with a bank or financial institution to get the best CD interest rate.


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