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Your Safe, Easy Options for a Top Cash Return

When it comes to earning a solid interest rate on savings, your options come in three m𒁏ain categories:

1. Bank and credit union products: Savings accounts, money market accounts, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:certificates of deposit (CDs)
2. Brokerage and robo-advisor products: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Money market funds and cash management accounts
3. U.S. Treasury products: T-bills, notes, and bonds, in addition to I bonds

You can choose just one of these, or mix and match different products for different buckets of funds. In any case, you'll want to understand what each product pays. We've laid out today's top rates in every category and indicated the changes from a week ago.

Today's Best Rates on Cash

This week saw both ups and downs on returns from different cash instruments. The leading high-yield savings account rate dipped from 4.75% to 4.60%, while 6-month CD rates now top out at 4.65% instead of last week's 4.74%.

But on the upside, the best 2-year CD rate bumped up to 4.50%, and the overall leading CD rate 5.00% APY has held firm. That offer is available from Mountain America Credit Union♒ with an 18-month term, which would guarantee that return until September 202💧6.

Long-term Treasury b♎onds were also in the gaining column this week, with 20-year and 30-year yields rising more than a tenth of a percentage point.

In any case, returns in the 4% range are excellent, and the various options below are likely to be a good fit for almost anyone's cash savings needs and timeline.

Understanding Your Different Cash Options

Bank and Credit Union Products

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: Savings Accounts

The most basic option is a bank or credit union savings account—sometimes called a high-yield savings account—that lets you add and withdraw money as you please. But don't assume your primary bank p🔯ays a competitive rate. Some banks pa🌠y virtually zero interest.

Fortunately, we make shopping for a high rate easy. Our daily ranking of the best high-yield savings accounts gives you 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:16 options paying 4.35% to 4.60🥂% APY. Note, however, that savings account rates can change at any ti𒈔me.

Money Market Accounts

A 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:money market account is a savings account that adds the ability to write paper checks. If this is a useful feature to you, shop our list of the be✨st money market accounts.

If you don't need paper check-writing, choose whichever account type—money market or savings—pays the better rate. The top money market accou♏nt rate is currently 4.50% APY. Again, be ღaware that money market rates are variable, so they can be lowered without warning.

Certificates of Deposit

A 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:certificate of deposit (CD) is a bank or credit union product with a fixed interest rate that promises a guaranteed return for a set period of time. Generally ranging from 3 months to 5 years, CDs offer a p🧸redictable return with a rate that cannot be changed for the duration of the term.

But beware that it's a commitment with teeth: If you cash in before maturity, your earnings will be dinged with an early withdrawal penalty. Our daily ranking of the best nationwide CDs currently includes 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:options paying up to 5.00% APY.

Brokerage and Robo-Advisor Products

Money Market Funds

Unlike a money market account at a bank, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:money market funds are mutual funds invested in cash and offered by brok💮erage and rob⭕o-advisor firms. Their yields can fluctuate daily but currently range from 4.00% to 4.26% at the three biggest brokerages.

Cash Management Accounts

For uninvested cash held at a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:brokerage or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:robo-advisor, you can ♛have the funds "swept" into a cash management account where it will earn a return. Unlike money market funds, cash management accounts offer a specific interest rate that the brokerage or robo-advisor can adjust when🥂ever it likes. Currently, several popular brokers are paying 3.83% to 4.00% APY on their cash accounts.

U.S. Treasury Products

Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds

The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:U.S. Treasury offers a wide array of short- and long-term bond instruments. Those with the shortest duration are Treasury bills, which range from 4 weeks to 52 weeks, while Treasur♔y notes have a maturity of 2 to 5 years. The longest-term option is a Treasury bond, which has a 20- to 30-year maturity. Today's rates on the various Treasury products range from 3.99% to 4.66%.

You can 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:buy T-bills, notes, and bonds directly from TreasuryDirect or buy and sell them on the secondary market at brokerages and banks. Selling a Treasury product allows you to exit before the bond matures. Ho🌃wever, you may pay a fee or commission for secondary market purchases and sales, while buying and♊ redeeming at TreasuryDirect has no fees.

You can also buy Treasury ETFs, which trade on the market like a stock. Treasury ETFs have advantages and limitations, which you 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:can read about here.

I Bonds

U.S. Treasury I bonds have a rate that's adjusted every six months to align with inflation trends. You can redeem an I bond anytime after one year or hold it for as long as 30 years. Every six months you own the bond, your rate will change.

How We Find the Best Savings and CD Rates

Every business day, Investopedia tracks the rate data of more than 200 banks and credit unions that offer CDs and savings accounts to customers nationwide and determines daily rankings of the top-paying accounts. To qualify for our lists, the institution must be federally insured (FDIC for banks, NCUA for credit unions), and the account's minimum initial deposit must not exceed $25,000. It also cannot specify a maximum deposit amount that's below $5,000.

Banks must be available in at least 40 states to qualify as nationally available. And while some credit unions require you to donate to a specific charity or association to become a member if you don't meet other eligibility criteria (e.g., you don't live in a certain area or work in a certain kind of job), we exclude credit unions whose donation requirement is $40 or more. For more about how we choose the best rates, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:read our full methodology.