What we’ll cover:
On its face, a CD, or certificate of deposit, seems like a pretty great way to save money. After all, CD rates may earn you more interest, compared to a traditional savings account.
But traditional CDs may come with a withdrawal penalty if you take your money out before maturity (another way of saying when the CD term is up). And depending on your savings goals, that might not make sense for you.
There is a way to avoid a CD early withdrawal penalty, though – a no-penalty CD.
Typically banks that offer a no-penalty CD don’t charge you a penalty for withdrawing your money early.
Like many other CDs, no-penalty CD rates are fixed. But the key difference with a no-penalty CD is that typically you can withdraw your money early without a penalty.
If you’re worried about committing to a traditional CD with a fixed rate over a long period of time, a no-penalty CD may be a good option because it offers more withdrawal flexibility.
Interest rates on CDs and other savings products tend to change when the Federal Reserve (aka “the Fed”) lowers or raises its rates.
A no penalty-CD can be helpful in either situation because you’ve secured a fixed rate, but have the ability to get out without paying a penalty.
If interest rates are on the rise, you can move your money to a higher-yielding CD, before your no-penalty CD matures. When interest rates fall, you have the security of knowing your money is still earning a higher fixed rate.
Even though you can open a no-penalty CD from some banks, just make sure you pick the right bank.
For your own protection, be sure your bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC). The FDIC is an independent agency of the federal government, which insures deposits, typically up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, including principal and any accrued interest.
With a Marcus fixed-rate No-Penalty CD, you can save for your future, earn a guaranteed return, and know that your money is there for you in the event of an emergency1.
1guaranteed return assumes funds are held through the end of the term
Account terms may also vary from bank to bank, so make sure you understand the details – such as whether there is a minimum deposit, the annual percentage yield (APY), and any withdrawal restrictions – before you deposit your money.
No one sets out to open a CD with an eye toward early withdrawal. But life happens and knowing there's an option to withdraw early provides peace of mind. With a no-penalty CD, you can save for your future, typically earn a high APY, and know that your money is accessible, in the event of an emergency.
Without early withdrawal penalties, no-penalty CDs give you the ability to take advantage of when interest rates rise. Here’s why: If you open a five-year CD and rates rise during that time, you may miss out on the opportunity to take advantage of the rising rates because your money is locked in. If you had that money in a no-penalty CD, you could easily withdraw it and move your money to take advantage of the higher interest CDs.
What you gain in flexibility with a no-penalty CD, you may (slightly) lose in APY. While rates on no-penalty CDs are typically higher than a savings accounts, they are usually slightly lower than traditional CDs.
A big draw for no-penalty CDs is being able to withdraw your funds early. However, generally no penalty CDs require that you withdraw your entire balance at once. So if you have $5,000 in a no penalty CD and need access to that money, you have to withdraw your full balance. There are no partial withdrawals. If this is a deal-breaker for you and you want an account that you can continuously withdraw and add funds to, you might consider a Marcus Online Savings Account instead.
No-Penalty CD
Traditional
No-Penalty CD
Traditional
Fixed rate
FDIC-Insured
Early withdrawal penalties
With Marcus, no fees when you withdraw the total balance beginning seven days after funding
Fees vary depending on the CD term and bank. Typically, the shorter the CD term, the less penalty you'll have for withdrawing early.
No-Penalty CD
Traditional
No-Penalty CD
Traditional
Fixed rate
FDIC-Insured
Early withdrawal penalties
With Marcus, no fees when you withdraw the total balance beginning seven days after funding
Fees vary depending on the CD term and bank. Typically, the shorter the CD term, the less penalty you'll have for withdrawing early.
A no-penalty CD gives you a simple way to earn interest on your savings with some added flexibility when compared to a traditional CD. And that flexibility can help you navigate changing rates.
Any savings account should ultimately work for whatever your savings goals may be. Depending on your needs, a no-penalty CD might check all those boxes. Find out more about the Marcus No-Penalty CD.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized professional advice. Individuals should consult their own tax advisor for matters specific to their own taxes and nothing communicated to you herein should be considered tax advice. This article was prepared by and approved by Marcus by Goldman Sachs, but does not reflect the institutional opinions of Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or any of their affiliates, subsidiaries or division. Goldman Sachs Bank USA does not provide any financial, economic, legal, accounting, tax or other recommendation in this article. Information and opinions expressed in this article are as of the date of this material only and subject to change without notice. Information contained in this article does not constitute the provision of investment advice by Goldman Sachs Bank USA or any its affiliates. Neither Goldman Sachs Bank USA nor any of its affiliates makes any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or any information contained in this document and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.