CDs vs. IRAs: Key Differences and How Do They Compare?
![cd vs ira](/personal-finance/static/4f7d1f4c5612f9d3671eb78a965ef502/8ae18/cd-vs-ira.jpg)
Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partnersโ links. This content is created by TIME Stamped, under TIMEโs direction and produced in accordance with TIMEโs editorial guidelines and overseen by TIMEโs editorial staff. Learn more about it.
Certificates of deposit (CDs) are commonly used for short-term savings goals while individual retirement accounts (IRAs), as the name implies, are designed for retirement savings. A CD is a time-bound deposit account enabling you to save at a fixed interest rate with the added protection of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance. IRAs are tax-advantaged accounts used to save and invest for retirement. You can, however, put some of your IRA savings into an IRA CD.
Hereโs a closer look at how CDs and IRAs compare.
CDs | IRAs | |
---|---|---|
Primary use | Saving for short-term or long-term goals | Saving and investing for retirement |
FDIC insurance | Yes | No |
Tax-advantaged account | No (unless itโs an IRA CD) | Yes |
Fixed interest rate | Yes | No |
Allows other investments | No | Yes |
Early withdrawal penalty | Usually several months of interest | Taxes and penalties for early withdrawals before retirement age |
A certificate of deposit is a time-bound savings account offered by most banks and credit unions. With a CD, your interest rate is locked in for the duration of the CD until maturity. Whatโs more, if you want to withdraw your money before the maturity date, youโll generally have to pay a penalty.
Long-term CDs are often a good choice for savings you know you wonโt need during an environment with declining interest rates. For example, if you lock in a five-year term and interest rates fall, you still get that interest rate when itโs no longer available. Of course when rates rise, youโre stuck with the lower rate you agreed to when opening the CD account.
CDs are very safe, as the government guarantees youโll get your money back, with interest, even if the bank goes out of business, up to FDIC insurance limits. Youโre covered up to $250,000 per depositor per institution. That means you get $250,000 in FDIC coverage if you only have a single CD account with a bank or $500,000 for joint accounts.
You can get CDs from most banks and credit unions. Many financial institutions allow you to open a CD account online, even if youโve never had accounts there before. Opening a new CD account often takes less than 10 minutes if your personal information is readily available. Here are some examples of banks that offer CDs and the terms available:
Discoverยฎ CDs | CIT Bank CD No Penalty | Quontic CD's | |
---|---|---|---|
APY* | Up to 5.10% | 3.50% | Up to 4.50% |
Term | 3 months to 10 years | 11 months | 6 months to 5 years |
Min. deposit | $2,500 | $1,000 | $500 |
CIT Bank, part of First-Citizens Bank & Trust, features unique CD options. In addition to regular term CDs, you can open a No-Penalty 11-month CD, or Jumbo CD.
An IRA is a tax-advantaged savings and investment account designed to help support you during retirement. Most investment firms and some banks offer IRAs. You can generally invest in a wide variety of investments including stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and mutual funds.
The tax advantages of IRA accounts can be significant, depending on your investment performance and time horizon. With traditional IRA accounts, contributions are pre-tax. This means you donโt pay any taxes on the amount you contribute the year of your contribution. (Note that if you or your spouse has a retirement account at work, the deduction may be limited or not available, depending on income.) But for everyone, savings grow tax free while they are in the account. Withdrawals are taxable at your regular income tax rateโlikely lower in retirement than during your working years.
Contributions to Roth IRAs are made with after-tax money. They donโt receive any tax benefits up front, but qualified withdrawalsโincluding all the money your savings earned while they were in the accountโare tax-free. Early withdrawals, which the IRS views as those taken before age 59ยฝ, can be subject to tax penalties with traditional or Roth IRA accounts, though there are exceptions.
Tip: Some banks offer IRA CDs. IRA CDs are certificates of deposit accounts with the tax benefits and restrictions of an IRA.
You can open an IRA at most major brokerage firms and many big banks. When signing up, pay close attention to the type of account (traditional IRA or Roth IRA), so you know how your contributions are taxed.
Fees, available investments, investment platforms, and customer service are factors to consider when shopping for an IRA account.
Free trial: 7 days
Essential: $19/month (best for assets under $29K)
Plus: $59/month (best for assets over $29K)
A CD is a good choice when you want to earn interest on savings for a set period of time at a higher rate than most savings accounts. Most CDs have no tax benefit, but the interest rate is guaranteed and your money insured by the FDIC.
IRAs are best for saving for retirement. A variety of investment options, in addition to tax benefits, make traditional and Roth IRAs a top choice for anyone building a retirement nest egg. Even with Social Security benefits, most people will need additional savings and investments to maintain a good standard of living during retirement.
Many sophisticated savers and investors have a mix of bank and investment accounts, including CDs and IRAs. When you understand the pros and cons of each, you can make an informed decision about how these accounts may fit into your financial goals, and whether an IRA CD would be a useful option.
CDs are not a good choice when you may need funds before the maturity date. Theyโre also less ideal during periods when interest rates are rising, as you may lock yourself into a lower rate.
Some banks and investment companies offer IRA CDs, which let you hold IRA funds in a CD with a similar tax status without incurring taxes and penalties. That would give you the CDโs interest rate protection. Less sensible would be withdrawing funds from an IRA to move them into a non-IRA CD. In that situation, you risk incurring taxes and penalties.
Most CDs are taxable savings accounts. With an IRA CD, you can save in a CD with the same tax advantage as other IRA accounts.
TIME Stamped is paid a flat fee for each successful referral to Herring RIA Sub, LLC ("Playbook") made through our links. TIME Stamped is not a Playbook client. There is no guarantee that clients will have similar experiences or success.
The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.