Best 6-month CD rates for January 2026: Earn up to 4.05% APY

6-month CD FAQs

Some of the most commonly asked questions about 6-month CDs include:

What are the benefits of a 6-month CD?

In many cases, 6-month CDs offer higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts. That means your money will generate more interest over a six-month period, allowing your savings to grow faster. Plus, your interest rate is guaranteed for the entire term, even if rates fall. With a six-month term, you can earn fixed interest without tying up your funds for an extended period or subjecting them to market risk.

Read more: Understanding CD terms: How long should you lock in your money?

What are the risks of a 6-month CD?

A shorter-term CD — such as a 6-month CD — allows you to earn a competitive interest rate on your balance without locking in your funds for years. That said, if rates are falling when your CD matures, you’ll give up the rate you initially locked in and will have fewer options for earning a similar rate going forward.

Read more: Pros and cons of certificates of deposit (CDs)

How much will $10,000 make in a 6-month CD?

This depends on your CD rate.

Right now, the average rate for a 6-month CD is 1.58%, according to the FDIC. If you were to put $10,000 in a 6-month CD at the average rate, you would earn just under $80 in interest by the time your CD reaches maturity.

However, many banks and credit unions offer CDs with rates well above national averages, sometimes as high as 4%. If you were to put $10,000 in a 6-month CD with 4% APY, you’d be looking at closer to $200 in earned interest over the same period.

This is why it’s important to shop around and compare your CD options before making any commitments.

Read more: Are CD rates going up or down in 2026?

Are 6-month CDs worth it?

If you want to test-drive a CD or you’re working with a shorter timeline for your savings goals, a 6-month CD can be a worthwhile investment for you. These accounts can offer competitive rates with a bit more flexibility than a longer-term CD. It can also be worth considering if you want to lock in a higher rate before interest rates continue to drop.

Read more: Is a certificate of deposit (CD) still a good investment?

Who has the highest-paying 6-month CD?

Right now, the highest 6-month CD rate is 4.05%, offered by Bread Savings and Marcus by Goldman Sachs.

Best 6-month CDs methodology

Our grading system, collected and carefully reviewed by our personal finance experts, comprised over 300 data points for federally insured CDs with 6-month terms. We used this data to develop our list of the best CDs.

We evaluated these accounts according to several key metrics, including annual percentage yield, minimum opening deposit, compounding frequency, and more.

The accounts on our list could earn a maximum of 25 points across all metrics. Here’s a closer look at the categories we considered:

• Annual percentage yield (APY): Accounts with higher APYs were rewarded with more points than those with lower APYs. Note that rates on our list are current at the time of publishing, but are subject to change at any time.

• Minimum opening deposit: Many CDs require a minimum deposit to open an account. Accounts with no or low minimum deposit requirements ranked more favorably than those with higher opening deposit requirements.

• Compounding frequency: Compounding can occur daily, monthly, quarterly, or even annually. We awarded more points to accounts that compound interest frequently.

• Customer service contact methods: Our team awarded one point for every contact method available to customers (phone, email, chat).