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Key Takeaways
- A new nationwide CD is offering 5.00%, putting it among the highest-paying cash options available right now.
- Top savings accounts, brokerage cash accounts, and Treasurys are paying roughly 3% to 5%, depending on the account and terms.
- Inflation has jumped to 3.3%, meaning savings need to earn more to keep up with rising prices.
Where Cash Yields Are Highest Right Now
Every week, we track the best-paying cash options across savings accounts, CDs, brokerages, and Treasurys—bringing them together for easy comparison.
A new CD is now offering 5.00%, putting it among the highest-paying cash options available. High-yield savings accounts still pay up to 5.00% with certain requirements, or around 4.60% with no strings attached, while brokerages, robo-advisors, and Treasurys continue to offer returns in the mid-3% to upper-4% range.
Why This Matters
Inflation jumped to 3.3% in March, pushed up by a surge in oil prices triggered by the Iran conflict. That means your savings should earn at least that much to avoid losing purchasing power. Fortunately, today’s top cash options clear that bar by a solid margin.
How Much $10K, $25K, or $50K Can Earn Right Now
Keeping your cash parked doesn’t mean it has to sit idle. The right account can turn even short-term savings into real earnings.
With a lump-sum savings deposit of $10,000, $25,000, or even $50,000, you can earn hundreds of dollars in interest if you choose one of today’s top rates. Whether you opt for a 3.25% cash management account, a top high-yield savings or money market account paying 5.00%, or something in between, here’s what different balances could earn over the next six months.
| Six Months of Earnings at Various APYs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| APY | Earnings on $10K for 6 months | Earnings on $25K for 6 months | Earnings on $50K for 6 months |
| 3.25% | $161 | $403 | $806 |
| 3.50% | $173 | $434 | $867 |
| 3.75% | $186 | $464 | $929 |
| 4.00% | $198 | $495 | $990 |
| 4.25% | $210 | $526 | $1,051 |
| 4.50% | $223 | $556 | $1,113 |
| 4.75% | $235 | $587 | $1,174 |
| 5.00% | $247 | $617 | $1,235 |
Important
The rate you earn from a savings account, money market account, cash account, or money market fund is variable and will generally drop whenever the Fed cuts rates. In contrast, CDs and Treasurys allow you to lock in your yield for a set period.
This Week’s Highest-Paying Cash Options, by Account Type
For a low-risk return that still pays, today’s top cash options fall into 3 main categories—each with different trade-offs depending on how long you plan to keep your money parked.
You can choose one or mix and match based on your goals and timeline. Below, we break down the top rates in each category as of Friday’s market close—and where they’ve moved over the past week.
How We Find the Best Savings and CD Rates
Every business day, Investopedia tracks rates from 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 leave out credit unions whose donation requirement is $40 or more. For more about how we choose the best rates, read our full methodology.
