Best 9 Month CD Rates for December 2024

By Rue Atanacio
Read more about Best CD Rate
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by the companies mentioned. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the companies.
Ad Disclosure: This article contains references to products from our partners. We may receive compensation if you apply or shop through links in our content. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site. You help support CreditDonkey by using our links. (read more)

Lock in a high APY with a 9-month CD. Find out who has the best 9-month CD rates today.

Who has the highest 9-month CD Rates?

If you're looking to save money for a few months and earn a good interest rate, consider 9-month CDs. Many online banks and credit unions out there offer competitive rates.

PRO TIP: Currently, one of the highest rates on a 9-month CD is with Western Alliance Bank at an impressive 4.35% APY. Find out more

Since it is a relatively short-term commitment, you can access your funds earlier while helping you control your spending. With that, let's explore the current 9-month CD rates.

How much do you want to deposit in a CD?

What Is a 9-Month CD?

A 9-month Certificate of Deposit is a savings account that holds a fixed amount of money for a fixed term of nine months. In exchange for the commitment, banks and credit unions usually offer a fixed rate that's higher than a regular savings account.

Typically, you can't take money out of the CD for the entire 9-month term. If you withdraw prematurely, you might face penalties that can go up to 90 days' worth of interest.

What is the interest on a 9-month CD?
One of the highest rates on a 9-month CD is Consumers Credit Union: 9-Month Super Jumbo CD - 4.50% APY.

What is your primary goal for investing in a 9-month CD?

How Much Does a 9-Month CD Pay?

If you put $25,000 in a 9-month CD at 5% APY, you'll earn about $932 once the term ends. Your earnings will depend on the interest rate and the deposit amount.

Here's a table to show how much you can earn on a 9-month CD.

Rate$10,000$25,000$50,000
0.00%$10,000$25,000$50,000
0.50%$10,037$25,094$50,187
1.00%$10,075$25,187$50,375
1.50%$10,112$25,281$50,561
2.00%$10,150$25,374$50,748
2.50%$10,187$25,467$50,935
3.00%$10,224$25,560$51,120
3.50%$10,261$25,653$51,307
4.00%$10,299$25,746$51,493
4.50%$10,336$25,839$51,678
5.00%$10,373$25,932$51,864
5.50%$10,410$26,024$52,049

Check out this CD calculator to test other rates and amounts.

CD Calculator

Is a 9-Month CD Worth It?

A 9-month CD is worth considering if the APY is comparable to, or higher than, regular savings accounts or other short-term options. You'll get peace of mind knowing you're earning guaranteed returns.

But make sure you don't need the money for the next 9 months. On the plus side, since the term is short at 9 months, you won't have to wait too long to access your money again.

This term can also work well if you're looking to build a CD ladder, depending on your financial goals.

What is the highest paying CD rate right now?
Here are some of the top CD rates by term:

TermBank and Yield Rate
3 MonthPonce Bank: 3-Month High-Yield CD - 4.52% APY
6 MonthWestern Alliance Bank: 6-Month High-Yield CD - 4.40% APY
9 MonthWestern Alliance Bank: 9-Month High-Yield CD - 4.35% APY
1 YearSkyOne Federal Credit Union: 12-Month Callable CD - 4.40% APY
18 MonthSkyOne Federal Credit Union: 18-Month High-Yield CD - 3.85% APY
2 YearAlways.bank: 24-Month Callable CD - 4.45% APY
3 Yearmph.bank: 36-Month Callable CD - 4.38% APY
4 YearSkyOne Federal Credit Union: 48-Month Callable CD - 4.25% APY

How important is liquidity when choosing a 9-month CD?

Can You Lose Money on a 9-Month CD?

No. Generally, you won't lose money on 9-month CDs. Your deposits in CDs are federally insured for up to $250,000 if your bank or credit union is a member of the FDIC or the NCUA. So, even if your bank suddenly closes in the next 9 months, you are guaranteed to get your money back.

However, you can lose a part or all of your interest earnings if you close your CD before it matures.

How much do early withdrawal penalties cost?
Early withdrawal penalties would depend a lot on the CD term length. In this case for 9-month CDs, it would usually be the 90 days' worth of interest. Penalties are set at the discretion of the bank or credit union so it may vary.

Pros and Cons of 9-Month CDs

Pros:

  • Shorter time commitment
  • Can have high APY
  • Fixed rate across the term
  • Federally insured
  • Prevents unnecessary spending

Cons:

  • Early withdrawal penalties
  • Cannot add more deposits once opened (unlike regular savings accounts)

Can I withdraw money from an 9-month CD?
No, usually you cannot withdraw a CD before it matures. Otherwise, you'll be paying early withdrawal penalties.

How to Choose the Best 9-Month CD

9-month CDs are fairly common in the market, so you may find it difficult to sift through the offerings. Here are some questions to ask before you lock in a CD:

  1. What is the APY?
    You'd want the highest APY to maximize your earnings on a CD. Look to online banks and credit unions to get the best rates.

  2. How much is the early withdrawal penalty?
    If you think closing a CD early is possible, you'll want to get one that has the lowest penalties to cut some losses. Or look for no-penalty CDs if you want to avoid early withdrawal charges completely.

  3. Is there a minimum deposit requirement?
    Some CDs may have minimum opening requirements ranging from as low as $1 to over $100,000 (for Jumbo CDs). Find a CD that fits your budget best.

What other CD terms are available?
CD terms can range from as short as 1 month and up to 10 years in length. However, not all banks will offer the same CD terms. If you can't find a 10-year CD at your usual institution, try shopping around other banks and credit unions.

What's most important to you when choosing a 9-month CD?

How to Use a 9-Month CD in a Ladder

CD laddering is a common strategy used on CDs where you split up your money into multiple CDs. The idea is to have CDs mature in regular intervals, so you can withdraw regularly if you need to. Plus, you can take advantage of good rates offered on some CD terms.

For example, say you have $60,000 on hand and you want a CD to mature every 3 months in one year. One way to do it is to open 4 CDs at once with varying terms, such as:

  • 3-month CD: $15,000
  • 6-month CD: $15,000
  • 9-month CD: $15,000
  • 12-month CD: $15,000

As each CD matures, you can reinvest them in 12-month CDs. This way, you'd continue to have a CD mature every 3 months indefinitely. Or you can withdraw if you need the funds.

Use this CD Ladder calculator to see how much you can earn in a ladder.

Alternatives to 9-Month CDs

While 9-month CD rates can be impressive, they might not be the best fit for you. Here are other options you can consider:

High-Yield Savings Accounts
Online high-yield savings accounts can give competitive rates too although they are not fixed like CDs. But, you get easy access to your funds and no early withdrawal fees.

Compare Savings Account Offers

No-Penalty CDs
If you're not sure about tying up your money, no-penalty CDs let you withdraw before the term ends with no early withdrawal fees. Think of it like a savings account with locked-in returns.

Top No-Penalty CD Rates:

Longer term CDs
If you can hold off for a few more months, some longer CD terms might offer higher APY.

Compare Long-term CD Rates

Shorter term CDs
In contrast, if you need your money sooner, shorter CD terms like 3 to 7 months might suit you.

Compare Short-term CD Rates

Which is better: 9-month CDs or 1-year CDs?
Depending on their APY and other features, either a 9-month or 1-year CD can be better. If you have a shorter timeframe, a 9-month CD is better for you. Ultimately, your preferences will decide which CD is better for you.

9-Month CD FAQs

What happens at the end of a 9-month CD?
Your bank or credit union usually will let you know before your 9-month CD matures. Before it matures decide if you want to:

  • Automatically renew the CD.
  • Renew the CD with a different amount, term, or both.
  • Withdraw all your funds and close the CD.

Make sure to inform your bank before or during the grace period after your CD matures. Otherwise, the CD might renew and early withdrawal penalties will already apply.

When is the best time to get a 9-month CD?
As a rule of thumb, get CDs when interest rates are at their highest. 9-month CD rates follow the movement of the Fed Funds rate. So if the Fed Funds rate goes up, you can expect CD rates to increase as well which will be the best time to get one.

Will 9-month CD rates go up?
If the Fed Funds rate continues to increase, you can expect 9-month CD rates to go up as well. But that is not guaranteed. If you want to see whether CD rates will continue to rise, try to follow the Fed Funds rate changes.

Is a 9-month CD better than a savings account?
It really depends on personal preference. If you're fine with not touching your money for a few months, a 9-month CD with a high rate could be good. But, if you like easy access to your funds, it might be better to go for a savings account instead.

Is there a CD that pays monthly?
Yes, CDs usually pay interest every month. The frequency can vary depending on the CD. But if you want to maximize your interest earnings, try not to withdraw your interest to get the full effect of compound interest.

Bottom Line

A 9-month CD is a good choice if you already have money saved and want stability and guaranteed returns. Check out Western Alliance Bank: 9-Month High-Yield CD - 4.35% APY for one of the top rates.

Just remember your funds will be locked up for a while. So make sure it fits your current financial situation.

If you want easy access to your money, consider looking into other options like high-yield savings accounts.

Rue Atanacio is a research analyst at CreditDonkey, a bank comparison and reviews website. Write to Rue Atanacio at rue.atanacio@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.

Subscribe to CreditDonkey: Get updates on the latest deals and keep up with the best money moves.
Your privacy is important to us. Unsubscribe anytime

Best CD Rates

March 27, 2017 - Reviews for Bank Reviews & Deals
Unearth the highest CD rates and maximize your savings. This list showcases the banks with the most lucrative rates.
How much do you want to deposit in a CD?
9% Under $5,000
9% $5,000 to $9,999
17% $10,000 to $24,999
13% $25,000 to $49,999
52% $50,000 or more
Source: CreditDonkey
Save money and build wealth. Sign up to get our FREE email newsletter.

Home > Bank Reviews & Deals > Best CD Rates > 9 Month CD Rates

Next Page:

About CreditDonkey
CreditDonkey is a bank comparison website. We publish data-driven analysis to help you save money & make savvy decisions.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

†Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditDonkey receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CreditDonkey does not include all companies or all offers that may be available in the marketplace.

*See the card issuer's online application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button you can review the terms and conditions on the card issuer's website.

CreditDonkey does not know your individual circumstances and provides information for general educational purposes only. CreditDonkey is not a substitute for, and should not be used as, professional legal, credit or financial advice. You should consult your own professional advisors for such advice.

About Us | Reviews | Deals | Tips | Privacy | Do Not Sell My Info | Terms | Contact Us
(888) 483-4925 | 680 East Colorado Blvd, 2nd Floor | Pasadena, CA 91101
© 2024 CreditDonkey Inc. All Rights Reserved.