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Key Takeaways
- Ahead of the Fed’s next decision, many low-risk cash options still earn competitive returns in the 3–5% range if you know where to look.
- The best savings accounts, CDs, brokerage options, and Treasuries continue to offer solid yields without taking on market risk.
- Choosing the right account can meaningfully change what your cash earns, as our comparison shows for balances like $10,000, $25,000, and $50,000.
Where Cash Is Paying the Most Right Now—All in One Chart
With the Federal Reserve set to announce a rate decision next week, many savers are evaluating where to keep their cash. Fortunately, the central bank is widely expected to leave rates unchanged, so today’s safest places to park money should continue to pay competitive rates—often higher than most people expect.
Markets also don’t anticipate a Fed rate cut until at least June, based on current expectations, suggesting cash rates may remain relatively stable in the near term.
Across savings accounts, CDs, brokerage cash options, and U.S. Treasuries, today’s top options span the low-3% range to around 5%, making it possible to earn a meaningful return without taking on market risk.
To make it easier to compare your choices, we’ve pulled together the best-paying options across every major cash category—all in one chart. Today’s best high-yield savings accounts continue to offer standout rates, the best CDs let you lock in a strong return for a set period, and brokerage cash options and Treasuries balance flexibility and stability.
Taken together, these rates highlight how much cash can still earn in today’s safest accounts. Below, we show what different balances could generate and how the top options compare across product types.
Why This Matters for You
Cash doesn’t have to sit idle to stay safe. With the right account, even short-term savings can still earn a competitive return.
How Much $10,000, $25,000, and $50,000 Can Earn Right Now
Staying cautious with your liquid savings doesn’t mean settling for minimal returns. Choosing the right account can still turn short-term cash into meaningful earnings.
Even modest differences in rates can add up over time. Below, we show how much different cash balances could earn over six months at a range of competitive rates, highlighting the impact of choosing a high-yield account.
| What Different Cash Balances Can Earn in Six Months | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| APY | Earnings on $10,000 for 6 months | Earnings on $25,000 for 6 months | Earnings on $50,000 for 6 months |
| National savings account average of 0.39% | $20 | $49 | $98 |
| 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 can change over time. In contrast, CDs and Treasuries allow you to lock in a rate for a set period.
This Week’s Top Options for Savings, CDs, Brokerages, and Treasuries
For investors looking to earn a competitive return without taking on much risk, today’s top cash options fall into three main categories—each with slightly different trade-offs depending on how long you plan to keep funds parked.
- Bank and credit union products: Savings accounts, money market accounts (MMAs), and certificates of deposit (CDs)
- Brokerage and robo-advisor products: Money market funds and cash management accounts
- U.S. Treasury products: T-bills, notes, and bonds, plus inflation-protected I bonds
You can choose a single option or mix and match based on your goals and timeline. Either way, it helps to know what each option is paying right now. Below, we break down current rates in each category as of Friday’s market close.
Bank and Credit Union Rates
The rates below represent the top nationally available annual percentage yields (APYs) from federally insured banks and credit unions, based on our daily analysis of more than 200 institutions offering products nationwide.
Brokerage and Robo-Advisor Cash Rates
The yield on money market funds fluctuates daily, while rates on cash management accounts are more fixed but can be adjusted at any time.
U.S. Treasury Rates
Treasury securities pay interest through maturity and can be purchased from TreasuryDirect or traded on the secondary market through a bank or brokerage. I bonds must be bought from TreasuryDirect and can be held for up to 30 years, with rates adjusted every six months.
