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Discover Certificates of Deposit

Open CD

at Discover

  • Our Rating 4/5 How our ratings work
  • Minimum
    Deposit Required
    $2,500
  • 1 Year APY4.50%
  • 3 Year APY4.30%
  • 18-month APY4.75%

Despite the steep minimum opening deposit requirement, Discover Bank's certificates of deposit are competitive with the best CD rates currently available. And with maturities ranging from three months to 10 years, it's easy to find a term length that works for your specific savings plan. It's worth noting that some of Discover's strongest rates are on par with what you'd get from the best online banks.

High Interest Rates on Terms of Up to 10 Years

Those who are chasing higher interest rates for their savings may find what they’re looking for with Discover Bank.

Discover offers mostly competitive rates with its certificates of deposit (CDs). While the rates for some of its short-term CDs are middle of the road, the interest earnings for Discover’s longer terms could be appealing to those who want to put their money to work.

Pros

  • Strong interest rates for terms of one year or more
  • Wide range of maturities

Cons

  • Interest rates are the same for many of the longer terms

Discover Bank CD Rates

CD Term APY

3 months

2.00%

6 months

3.40%

9 months

3.50%

12 months

4.50%

18 months

4.75%

24 months

4.30%

30 months

4.30%

36 months

4.30%

48 months

4.10%

60 months

4.10%

84 months

4.10%

120 months

4.10%

Average percentage yields (APY) are accurate at the time of writing, are subject to change without notice, and will be determined and fixed for the term at funding. Applies to personal accounts only.

Overview

  • Minimum deposit: $2,500
  • Interest: Compounded daily and credited monthly
  • CD terms: 12 options that range between 3 months to 10 years
  • Monthly fees: None

Discover Bank offers a selection of CD terms from 3 months to 10 years, and the APYs vary between a modest 1.50% to a generous 4.75%. Although, the bank’s high-yield CDs require that you commit your savings for periods of 1-5 years. 

Even though Discover does have 5-, 7- and 10-year options, these longer terms earn the same rate as its 4-year CD. So there isn’t much incentive to invest your money for an extended period.

The minimum opening deposit is $2,500, which is a higher threshold to buy-in than many other banks. Still, Discover’s CD rates are competitive with online-only banks, and, in most instances, more than you’ll earn with Main Street banks.

Your interest is compounded daily, and it's credited to your account each month. Moreover, Discover’s mobile app makes checking your CD account balances quick and easy.

What Happens if I Withdraw Early?

CDs are designed to keep your money tucked away and out of reach. If you withdraw funds before the CD term concludes, you are subject to an early withdrawal penalty that is a percentage of the interest that you’ve earned. These percentages vary depending on your CD’s term.

Early withdrawal penalties

  • Terms less than 1 year: 3 months’ worth of simple interest
  • 1 year to less than 4 years: 6 months’ worth of simple interest
  • 4 years to less than 5 years: 9 months’ worth of simple interest
  • 5 years to less than 7 years: 18 months’ worth of simple interest
  • Terms of 7 to 10 years: 24 months’ worth of simple interest

Early withdrawal penalties can take a considerable bite out of your potential earnings, so it’s best to avoid them when possible.

If you’re concerned you’ll need cash before your investment matures, consider opening a no-penalty CD. Their interest rates are typically less than you’d earn with a traditional CD, but they do provide flexibility in an emergency.

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Alternatively, you can also consider a CD ladder, which is a strategy that involves spreading your investment across multiple CD terms. By opening a mix of long-term and short-term CDs, you’ll be able to take advantage of the higher rates offered by longer 2- to 5-year terms, for example, but also free up cash when the shorter 6- and 12-month CDs mature. 

How do Discover's CD Rates Compare?

Discover’s CD rates are generally higher than most Main Street banks and even some online competitors, including Briodirect and Ponce, depending on the term. Discover’s rates are roughly inline with the offerings from Capital One and Marcus, but fall behind leaders like Synchrony and Bread Financial (formerly Comenity).

If you’re interested in even higher yields, Gainbridge offers deferred fixed annuities starting at 5.25% APY. Keep in mind that while annuities and CDs share some similarities, they are distinct financial products. Still, Discover CD rates are competitive and tend to beat national averages.

What's more, many of Discover’s CD rates beat the interest earnings offered by both its online savings account and money market account. In fact, Discover’s CD rates also outpace some of the best high-yield savings accounts

So for those who don’t require regular access to their cash reserves, a Discover CD could be a beneficial place to park a portion of your savings.

Unlock High Interest Rates

Ready to open a Discover CD? Start here.

Open CD

at Discover

Discover CD FAQ

  • Discover CD rates vary between 2.00% and 4.75%, depending on the term length. The 1-year CD is currently 4.50% APY, and the 5-,7-, and 10-year CDs all offer 4.75% APY. Discover’s rates are generally competitive with online-only banks, and they’re higher than most national averages, according to the data from the FDIC.

  • Yes, Discover Bank CDs are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category. This is standard insurance for all financial institutions that are Member FDIC.

  • You can open a CD with Discover Bank through its website. You’ll need to provide the bank with some basic personal information, including your mailing address, Social Security number and email address. Once Discover has sent you an email confirmation, you can fund your new CD with $2,500 or more. If you have any questions, customer support is available by phone at 1-800-347-7000.

RT

Ryan Tronier

Ryan Tronier is a personal finance expert and writer. His work has been published on NBC, ABC, USATODAY, The Mortgage Reports, Yahoo Finance, MSN, and more. Ryan is the former managing editor of the finance website Sapling, as well as the former personal finance editor at Slickdeals. Find him online at ryantronier.com.