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Banking » Compare Banks » 1 Year CD vs No Penalty CD: Compare Rates

1 Year CD vs No Penalty CD: Compare Rates

Compare online banks, credit unions and traditional bank CD rates and minimum deposit for 1 Year CD and No Penalty CDs.
Author: Lorraine Smithills
Interest Rates Last Update: January 1, 2025
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Lorraine Smithills
Interest Rates Last Update: January 1, 2025

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.

Compare No Penalty vs. 1-Year CD Rates

One-year CDs typically offer higher rates than no-penalty CDs because they require the investor to commit their funds for a fixed period of time.

This is a longer commitment than a no-penalty CD, which can be withdrawn at any time without incurring a penalty.

When an investor commits their funds for a longer period, they are taking on more risk and sacrificing liquidity.

In return, banks and financial institutions are willing to offer a higher interest rate to compensate for the increased risk and lack of flexibility.

Financial Institution
No Penalty CD
1-Year APY
Min Deposit
0.25% (11-month))
4.00%
$0
3.50% (11-month)
3.50% (13-month)
$1,000
3.75% (11-month)
3.90%
$0
4.00% (13-month)
4.25%
$500
0.05% (12-month)
2.25%
$500
N/A
4.00%
$0
N/A
4.00%
$0
N/A
3.65%
$1,000
N/A
4.340%
$2,500
N/A
4.10%
$1,000
N/A
4.40%
$1,000
N/A
3.00% – 3.25%
$1,000
N/A
3.60%
$0

In contrast, no-penalty CDs provide greater flexibility and liquidity since they allow investors to withdraw their funds without incurring any penalty.

This makes them less risky for investors, and consequently, the banks and financial institutions offering these CDs offer a lower interest rate to compensate for the lower risk.

Unfortunately, few banks are offering no-penalty CDs. However, the interests rates are quite high and the difference in rates compared to 1 year CD is minor, in most cases.

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What Is The Early Withdrawal Fees For a 1-Year CD?

When you withdraw funds from a CD before its maturity date, the financial institution may charge you an early withdrawal fee. This fee is a penalty imposed by the bank or credit union for accessing your funds before the agreed-upon term.

Banking and credit unions differ significantly in the amount of early withdrawal fees they charge.

  • For example, for a 1-year CD, the State Bank of Texas imposes the lowest penalty of 30 days of interest, while Ally Bank and Consumers credit unions charge a slightly higher penalty of 60 days of interest.
  • Conversely, financial institutions like American Express, Discover Bank, Synchrony Bank, Marcus, Bank of America (with a penalty of 6 months/180 days of interest), and Lending Club impose much higher penalties if you withdraw your funds, ranging from 100% of interest earned to 270 days of interest.
Financial Institution
1-Year CD Early Withdrawal Penalty
90 days of interest
6 months of interest
60 days of interest
180 days interest
90 days of interest
3 months interest
6 months interest
365 days / 30% of dividends (The lower)
90 days of interest
Fees, based on the amount
Fees, based on the amount
180 days of interest
270 days interest

No Penalty CD vs 1 Year CD: Which One Should I Choose?

When choosing a no penalty CD over a 1-year CD, it can make sense depending on your financial goals and circumstances.

A no penalty CD typically allows you to withdraw your funds before the maturity date without incurring an early withdrawal penalty, whereas a 1-year CD typically imposes a penalty for early withdrawals.

If you think there's a possibility that you may need to access your funds before the CD matures, a no penalty CD may be a better option.

Initial deposit

$

APY

%

Your total balance
$10,000
Your earnings
$1000.20

* Make sure to adjust APY, terms and deposit

On the other hand, if you're confident that you won't need to touch your funds for the duration of the 1-year CD term, you may be able to earn a higher interest rate with a 1-year CD.

Typically, the longer the term of the CD, the higher the interest rate.

It's important to also consider the current interest rate environment and the rates being offered for both types of CDs before making a decision. You may want to compare the rates and terms of different CDs from different banks or credit unions to find the one that best fits your financial goals and needs.

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Picture of Lorraine Smithills

Lorraine Smithills

Lorraine is a freelance finance writer with years of experience in the banking sector and after a successful career in one of the largest retail and commercial financial services providers. She has a passion for helping people with less financial confidence to get control of their money through budgeting, saving, and responsible credit practices.
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Best CD Rates
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Advertiser Disclosure
We get compensated for these product offers
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This website is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).

This website does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. This website may use other proprietary factors to impact card offer listings on the website such as consumer selection or the likelihood of the applicant’s credit approval.

This allows us to maintain a full-time, editorial staff and work with finance experts you know and trust. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impacts any of the editorial content on The Smart Investor.

While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, The Smart Investor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. All products are presented without warranty.