Top 6-Month CD Rates Now 2% — Or Less

When we ranked the best 6-month CD rates in late June, two banks were paying more than 2%.

Now there’s one.

And it’s hanging on by a thread.

Here’s how far and how fast the interest rates for short-term certificates of deposit have fallen: The best 6-month CDs are now paying less than the average 6-month CD was paying last summer.

The average return on a 6-month certificate of deposit has reached 0.77% — the lowest it’s been since Bankrate started tracking those CD rates way back in January 1984.

That’s why you’ve got to take advantage of a top-paying CD if you want to make any money at all.

These are the best 6-month CD rates available nationwide:

2.00% APY with a $1,000 minimum from United Central Bank, based in Garland, Texas, with 18 additional branches in Texas, Virginia, California, Maryland and Georgia.

1.96% APY with a $1,000 minimum from Wilshire State Bank, based in Los Angeles with branches in Southern California, New York, New Jersey and Texas. (Wilshire State topped our June rankings with a 2.50% APY.)

1.76% APY with a $500 minimum from Ascencia, an online division of PBI Bank in Louisville, Ky.

Click here to compare these rates with the best CD rates and terms from dozens of other banks in our extensive database.

This CD calculator can calculate the return on any certificate of deposit, regardless or size, interest rate or term.