Glen Bennett
Marcus by Goldman Sachs is offering CD rates as high as 4.10% this month, with its 9 month and 14 month terms leading the pack among the online bank's certificate of deposit lineup.
What Marcus Is Paying Right Now
The bank's standard high yield CDs span terms from six months to six years, and the annual percentage yields shift depending on how long you're willing to lock up your money. Right now the sweet spot sits in the middle of the term range rather than at either end. A 9 month CD pays 4.10% APY, matched by the 14 month term, which is a limited time offer available until July 28, 2026. The 6 month CD comes in at 3.95%, while 12 month money earns 3.90%.
Once you stretch past 18 months, rates settle into a narrower band. The 18 month CD pays 3.80%, and both the 24 month and 36 month terms pay 3.70%, as does the 48 month CD. Go longer, to 60 or 72 months, and the rate ticks back up slightly to 3.80%. Every single one of these CDs requires a minimum deposit of $500, so the entry point stays the same whether you're parking money for half a year or six years.
| CD Term | APY | Minimum Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | 3.95% | $500 |
| 9 months | 4.10% | $500 |
| 12 months | 3.90% | $500 |
| 14 months | 4.10% | $500 |
| 18 months | 3.80% | $500 |
| 24 months | 3.70% | $500 |
| 36 months | 3.70% | $500 |
| 48 months | 3.70% | $500 |
| 60 months | 3.80% | $500 |
| 72 months | 3.80% | $500 |
That 14 month rate carries a catch worth flagging. Marcus notes the APY is accurate as of May 19, 2026, and could change before your account is funded. You need to deposit the $500 minimum within 10 days of opening to lock in the rate you saw when you applied, and the bank caps how much you can deposit into the account.
Two Other Ways to Structure a Marcus CD
Beyond the standard high yield CD, Marcus sells two variations built for people who want flexibility rather than the top rate.
The No Penalty CD lets savers pull their money out early without losing any interest, something a standard CD won't allow. It comes in three terms: 7 months at 3.75%, and both 11 months and 13 months at 3.80%. The minimum deposit matches the rest of the lineup at $500. The tradeoff for that flexibility is a lower rate than the top yielding standard CDs, and you still have to wait at least seven days after your opening deposit before you're allowed to withdraw.
The Rate Bump CD takes a different approach. It's a single 20 month term paying 3.75% APY, with the same $500 minimum. What makes it different is the built in option to bump your rate once during the term if Marcus raises rates on its 20 month CDs before your term ends. It's a bet on rising rates packaged into the account itself, rather than a bet on locking in today's number.
Fees, Penalties and the Fine Print
Marcus's early withdrawal penalties scale with how long the CD term runs. Pull money out of a CD with a term under one year and you'll forfeit 90 days of interest. For terms between one and five years, the penalty jumps to 180 days of interest. Anything longer than five years costs 270 days of interest if you withdraw early. There is a small cushion built in: Marcus gives savers a 10 day grace period after a CD matures during which you can withdraw funds without triggering any penalty.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| APY Range | 3.70% to 4.00% (standard CDs) |
| Minimum Balance | $500 |
| Term Range | 6 to 72 months |
| Early Withdrawal Penalty | 90 days interest (under 1 year), 180 days interest (1 to 5 years), 270 days interest (over 5 years) |
| Grace Period | 10 days after maturity |
All three CD types, the standard high yield CDs, the No Penalty CD and the Rate Bump CD, share the same $500 minimum opening deposit and the same FDIC insurance backing, since Marcus deposits are held at Goldman Sachs Bank USA and insured up to $250,000 per depositor.
Where Marcus Stands Against the Rest of the Market
Marcus doesn't operate branches, so anyone who wants face to face service at a teller window will need to look elsewhere. That's the clearest drawback tied to the bank. On the upside, Marcus offers a genuinely wide spread of term lengths, three distinct CD structures to choose from, and rates that, at the top end, are competitive with much of the online banking market.
Savers shouldn't treat any single bank's rate sheet as the final word, though. Comparing current CD rates across multiple online banks before committing is the only way to know whether 4.10% is actually a strong deal or simply an average one this month. Rates on CDs, savings accounts and money market accounts all move with the broader interest rate environment, and even a difference of a few tenths of a percentage point adds up on a larger deposit held for several years.
Other Places to Park Your Cash
A CD isn't the only option for savers chasing yield without taking on market risk. High yield savings accounts at other online banks sometimes pay rates that rival or beat what Marcus offers on its CDs, without locking up the money at all. High yield checking accounts can also pay competitive rates, though they often come with balance requirements or minimum transaction rules attached. Money market accounts offer another middle ground, generally paying interest while still allowing some check writing or debit access. For savers comfortable with government backed securities, Treasury bills, notes and bonds sometimes pay rates that match or exceed CDs and can be easier to sell before maturity if plans change.
Anyone weighing a Marcus CD against these alternatives should think about how soon they might need the cash. The No Penalty CD exists specifically for savers who aren't fully sure of their timeline, while the standard high yield CDs suit money that can sit untouched for the full term without risk of an early withdrawal penalty eating into the return.
Jenny Ellis
