A CD can be a smart way to grow your money safely. Rmcarvalho/Getty Images
A certificate of deposit can give you some much-needed security in an economy that feels anything but certain. Your CD rate is fixed when you open the account, so your returns are guaranteed for the entire term.
What might those returns look that? That depends on which account you choose. The best CDs earn annual percentage yields up to 4.50%, but the national average for some terms is less than a third of that.
Here's a look at how much interest you could rack up if you open one of these top accounts and deposit $5,000 today. We'll also show you your potential earnings with some other amounts.
Read more: Best CD Rates for July 2025: APYs as High as 4.50% Won't Stick Around Forever
How much can you earn by depositing $5,000 into a CD?
If you have $5,000 to put into a CD, here are some sample earnings for several popular term lengths: six months, one year, three years and five years.
Your earnings with a $5,000 deposit Term Top APY Bank Interest earnings CD value at maturity 6 months 4.50% CommunityWide Federal Credit Union $92.55 $5,092.55 1 year 4.40% CommunityWide Federal Credit Union; Limelight Bank $220.00 $5,220.00 3 years 4.15% America First Credit Union $648.69 $5,648.69 5 years 4.25% America First Credit Union $1,156.73 $6,156.73
APYs as of July 15, 2025, based on the banks we track at CNET. Earnings are based on APYs and assume interest is compounded annually.
The national average for a one-year CD is 1.75% APY as of July 15, 2025, while the average for a one-year CD for the top banks tracked at CNET is 4.00% APY. What difference does that make for your interest earnings?
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