Investing in CDs
Certificates of Deposit are the safest monetary instruments of investing. Most banks, financial institutions and credit unions offer CDs with a variety of features.
Certificates of deposit can be very good investment tools for managing money when you have the savings to set aside for a period of time. With a bank CD, the account holder can obtain a fixed rate of return with a competitive interest rate and enjoy the security of FDIC insurance.
Most of the CD’s are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to a sum of $250,000 per person per bank. This feature of insurance of money guarantees low risk for your investment. The risk of losing money is very limited with this type of investment.
CDs are similar to savings accounts in that they are insured and practically risk free investment options. Bank CDs are different from savings accounts in that the CD has a specific, fixed term and usually has a fixed interest rate.
Bank CDs often offer higher interest rates than can be found on other bank products. CD interest rates are generally higher than regular saving accounts, money market accounts are even Treasury securities. The interest rate obtained on a fixed rate certificate of deposit is fixed for the time you choose to retain the deposit with the bank.
The capital investment or principal deposit in the CD account must remain on deposit or the account holder will be charged an early withdrawal penalty to gain access to the funds. When you cash in or redeem your CD, you receive the money you originally invested plus any accrued interest
Longer term CDs often offer higher interest rates than the shorter term CDs. While longer investment terms yield higher interest rates, longer terms also may result in a loss of opportunity to lock in higher interest rates should interest rates increase over the term of the CD.
Before you consider purchasing a CD from your bank or brokerage firm, make sure you fully understand all of its terms. To find the best CD rates, search local banks as well as the best online bank. Top CD rates can also be found with many large national banks including Wells Fargo CD rates and Citibank CD rates. In addition to comparing the CD rates from a variety of financial institutions, CD investors should consider a variety of CD terms from 6 month CD rates to 5 year CD rates.