If you have a short-term savings goal for vacation planning, home remodels or a larger purchase, you might consider a no-penalty certificate of deposit.
Normally, a certificate of deposit is a "park the money and forget about it" type of savings vehicle. How it works is you deposit money and have it earn interest for a term. These terms can range from three months to 10 years. If you do need your cash before the term expires, you'll pay a fee for doing so. However, with a no-penalty CD, you're able to access your cash when you need it without paying fees.
In essence, you receive the benefits of a fixed interest rate that comes with CDs, with the flexibility normally found in a savings account. On top of that, the Federal Reserve didn't cut interest rates at their latest meeting, meaning you still have time to lock in good rates.
Best no-penalty CD rates March 2025
Use our tool, in partnership with Bankrate, to compare the rates of some of the best CD accounts available now.
Here is a selection of the best no-penalty CD rates, many of which can be found via Raisin:
Account | APY | Min. Deposit |
|---|---|---|
4.34% | $500 | |
4.25% | $1,000 | |
4.15% | $1 | |
4.15% | $500 | |
4.05% | $500 | |
4.00% | $1 | |
4.00% | $1,000 | |
3.95% | $1 | |
3.90% | $500 | |
3.65% | $1 |
Withdrawing funds from a no-penalty CD
With a no-penalty CD, sometimes called a liquid CD or penalty-free CD, you’ll have to wait a week after funding the account before you can withdraw funds. And while penalty-free withdrawal can be useful if you think you might need the cash at some point in the foreseeable future, keep in mind that it’s not as easy as withdrawing from a traditional savings account.
You’ll need to give your bank advance notice before taking out funds. Additionally, many institutions require you to withdraw all cash from an account, not just a partial amount, if you decide to “break open” your CD.
In other instances, you might be able to withdrawal a portion of your funds. But you'll only be able to do one withdrawal per month. If you're concerned about having more regular access to your accounts, a high-yield savings account might be a better fit. Here are some of the best rates:
Opening a no-penalty CD account
Like other CD accounts, no-penalty CDs offer higher APYs on deposits than traditional savings accounts. Therefore, they're good savings options for individuals that want guaranteed returns on their savings but don’t want to commit to a traditional CD account in case they need access to their cash before the CD maturity date. Most of the time, no-penalty CDs have relatively short terms, typically under 14 months.
With a no-penalty CD, you’ll lock in an APY when opening the account. If banks drop rates, your APY won’t be affected. On the other hand, since there are no penalties for withdrawing your cash early, you have the option to put your cash in a new CD account if rates go up. Our savings calculator can help you determine just how much you’ll earn in interest after your CD term is through.
Before opening any kind of savings account, it’s important to make sure your bank is federally insured. Banks that are FDIC-insured protect up to $250,000 in individual deposit accounts and up to $250,000 for each person’s share of joint accounts.
Deposits in federal credit unions are covered by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), protecting up to $250,000 per credit union member (whether in an individual or a joint account).
No-penalty CDs vs savings accounts
| Header Cell - Column 0 | No-Penalty CD | Savings Account |
|---|---|---|
Interest Rates | Fixed | Variable |
Access to funds | You will need to wait seven days after opening the account to access funds. You also need to give your bank advance notice before withdrawing cash. | Cash can be accessed at any time. |
Term | Typically under 14 months | None |
Minimum Deposit | Minimum deposit requirements vary from bank to bank. | Often require a low minimum deposit or none at all. |
Withdrawals/Deposits | Partial withdrawals and additional deposits after the opening of the account are not allowed. | Funds can be withdrawn or deposited anytime. |
Pros of no-penalty CDs
- Accessibility: Non-penalty CDs allow you to withdraw funds before the CD’s maturity date. If an unexpected emergency were to arise, you won’t have to pay a hefty fee to take out your cash, which can give individuals peace of mind.
- Maximize earnings: Since no-penalty CDs allow you to take out cash for no fee, it’s beneficial if banks raise rates. You’ll be able to take out cash and put it in an account with a higher APY.
- Guaranteed returns: Because most CD accounts are FDIC insured and have higher APYs than traditional savings accounts, they offer fixed, predictable and safe returns on savings.
Cons of no-penalty CDs
- Regular CD rates: Usually, no-penalty CDs don’t offer APYs as high as those on a standard CD account. And if inflation continues to rise, it might make sense to consider options with higher returns and risk on the stock market to outpace it.
- No partial withdrawal: If you decide to “break open” your non-penalty CD, you’ll likely have to withdraw your entire savings, not just a partial amount. With some accounts, you can withdrawal only a portion of your deposit, but they'll limit how many transactions you'll have.
- No additional deposits: Like standard CD accounts, in most cases, cash can only be deposited upon opening the non-penalty CD. No additional deposits can be made.
Bottom line
If you're unsure whether or not you'll need to access funds from your CD before its maturity date, a no-penalty CD can be a good option. With a no-penalty CD, you won't be charged an additional fee if you decide to withdraw your balance before the term is through.
Meanwhile, high-yield savings accounts help you earn a good rate of return and give you more access to your cash. The only drawback to them is their interest rates are variable, meaning if the Fed cuts rates again in the future, the rates could drop. With a CD, the rate you lock in is the rate you'll have throughout.
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