What is the minimum deposit for a CD?

CD minimum deposits range from $0 (Ally, Capital One, Synchrony) to $10,000+ (jumbo CDs at big banks). Most online banks require $0-$500, while traditional banks typically require $500-$2,500.

Can I open a CD with $100?

Yes. Several online banks (Ally, Capital One, Synchrony, Barclays) have $0 minimums, meaning you can open a CD with $100 or even $1. Some banks like Marcus and Citibank require $500.

A jumbo CD requires a large minimum deposit, typically $100,000. In return, jumbo CDs sometimes offer slightly higher APYs (0.05-0.25% more). However, the rate premium has shrunk significantly, and some online banks offer the same rate regardless of deposit size.

Do bigger deposits earn higher CD rates?

At some banks, yes. Banks with tiered CD rates pay more on larger balances. However, many online banks offer the same APY whether you deposit $100 or $100,000.

CD Minimum Deposit by Bank: Every Major Bank Compared (2026)

CD minimum deposits vary wildly — from $0 at online banks to $10,000+ for jumbo CDs at traditional banks. Here’s what every major bank requires and how to find the best CD for your deposit amount.

CD Minimum Deposits: Complete Comparison

$0 Minimum Deposit

Bank	1-Year APY	Terms Available	Early Withdrawal Penalty (1-Year)
Ally Bank	4.25-4.75%	3 months – 5 years	60 days interest
Capital One	3.75-4.25%	6 months – 5 years	6 months interest
Synchrony	4.50-4.75%	3 months – 5 years	90 days interest
Barclays	4.00-4.50%	3 months – 5 years	90 days interest
Alliant Credit Union	4.00-4.50%	1 year – 5 years	180 days dividends
EverBank	4.50-4.75%	6 months – 5 years	Varies

$100-$500 Minimum Deposit

Bank	Min. Deposit	1-Year APY	Terms Available
Marcus (Goldman Sachs)	$500	4.00-4.50%	6 months – 6 years
Citibank	$500	0.05-4.00% (varies by tier)	3 months – 5 years
Bread Savings	$1,500	4.25-4.75%	1 year – 5 years
CIT Bank	$100	4.25-4.75%	6 months – 5 years
Popular Direct	$100	4.50-4.85%	1 year – 5 years
BMO Alto	$0	4.25-4.75%	6 months – 5 years
Vio Bank	$500	4.50-5.01%	6 months – 5 years

$1,000+ Minimum Deposit

Bank	Min. Deposit	1-Year APY	Terms Available
Chase	$1,000	2.50-4.00%	1 month – 10 years
Bank of America	$1,000	0.05-4.15% (Featured)	1 month – 10 years
TD Bank	$250	2.50-4.25%	3 months – 5 years
PNC	$1,000	2.50-4.25%	1 month – 10 years
Regions	$1,000	2.00-4.00%	3 months – 5 years
US Bank	$1,000	2.00-4.50%	1 month – 5 years

$2,500+ Minimum Deposit

Bank	Min. Deposit	1-Year APY	Terms Available
Wells Fargo	$2,500	0.15-3.50% (Special: up to 4.75%)	3 months – 5 years
Discover	$2,500	4.00-4.50%	3 months – 10 years
Truist	$2,500	2.00-4.00%	1 month – 5 years

Jumbo CD Minimums

Jumbo CDs require $100,000+ and sometimes offer a rate premium:

Bank	Jumbo Minimum	Jumbo 1-Year APY	Standard 1-Year APY	Premium
Chase	$100,000	2.75-4.25%	2.50-4.00%	+0.25%
Bank of America	$100,000	0.10-4.25%	0.05-4.15%	+0.05-0.10%
Wells Fargo	$100,000	0.25-4.00%	0.15-3.50%	+0.10-0.50%
Citibank	$100,000	0.10-4.25%	0.05-4.00%	+0.05-0.25%
Ally Bank	None	Same rate	Same rate	None — no jumbo CDs
Discover	None	Same rate	Same rate	None — same rate for all

Are jumbo CDs worth it? Usually not. The rate premium (0.05-0.25%) is small, and online banks offer the same or higher rates without the $100,000 requirement. Plus, FDIC insurance only covers $250,000 — concentrating $100K+ at one bank reduces your coverage flexibility.

CD Minimums by Term Length

Some banks have different minimums depending on CD term:

Chase Example

CD Term	Minimum Deposit	APY
1 month	$1,000	0.02%
3 months	$1,000	2.00%
6 months	$1,000	2.00-3.50%
1 year	$1,000	2.50-4.00%
3 years	$1,000	2.00-3.00%
5 years	$1,000	2.00-3.00%
10 years	$1,000	2.00-2.50%

Ally Bank Example

CD Term	Minimum Deposit	APY
3 months	$0	3.75-4.00%
6 months	$0	4.00-4.25%
9 months	$0	4.00-4.50%
1 year	$0	4.25-4.75%
18 months	$0	4.00-4.50%
3 years	$0	3.75-4.25%
5 years	$0	3.50-4.00%

Early Withdrawal Penalties Compared

If you need money before the CD matures, the penalty varies significantly:

Bank	3-6 Month CD	1-Year CD	3-Year CD	5-Year CD
Ally	60 days interest	60 days	90 days	150 days
Capital One	3 months interest	6 months	6 months	6 months
Marcus	90 days interest	270 days	270 days	365 days
Synchrony	90 days interest	90 days	180 days	365 days
Discover	3 months interest	6 months	9 months	18 months
Chase	90 days interest	180 days	365 days	365 days
BofA	90 days interest	180 days	365 days	365 days
Wells Fargo	30-90 days interest	180 days	365 days	365 days
Citibank	90 days interest	180 days	365 days	730 days

Best for flexibility: Ally Bank has the lowest penalties across all terms (only 60 days for up to 2-year CDs).

Worst for flexibility: Citibank charges 730 days (2 years) of interest for breaking CDs over 3 years.

No-Penalty CDs

If you’re worried about needing your money, no-penalty CDs let you withdraw without a fee:

Bank	Term	Minimum	APY	When You Can Withdraw
Ally	11 months	$0	3.75-4.00%	After 6 days
Capital One	9 or 11 months	$0	3.75-4.00%	After 6 days
Marcus	7, 11, or 13 months	$500	3.75-4.25%	After 14 days
Discover	7, 11, or 14 months	$2,500	3.00-3.75%	Day of maturity only
CIT Bank	11 months	$1,000	3.75-4.25%	After 6 days

Trade-off: No-penalty CDs typically pay 0.25-0.75% less than standard CDs of the same term. You’re paying for flexibility with a lower rate.

Best CDs by Deposit Amount

Under $500

Recommended	Min. Deposit	1-Year APY
Ally Bank	$0	4.25-4.75%
Synchrony	$0	4.50-4.75%
Capital One	$0	3.75-4.25%

$500-$2,500

Recommended	Min. Deposit	1-Year APY
Marcus	$500	4.00-4.50%
CIT Bank	$100	4.25-4.75%
Vio Bank	$500	4.50-5.01%

$2,500-$10,000

Recommended	Min. Deposit	1-Year APY
Discover	$2,500	4.00-4.50%
Bread Savings	$1,500	4.25-4.75%
Popular Direct	$100	4.50-4.85%

$10,000-$100,000

Recommended	Min. Deposit	1-Year APY
Best rate available (Synchrony, Bread, Vio)	Varies	4.50-5.00%
Consider CD laddering	Spread across 3-5 terms	Blended 4.25-4.75%

$100,000+

Strategy	Why
Split across 2+ banks	Keep each deposit under $250K for full FDIC coverage
Mix CDs and T-bills	T-bills are state tax-exempt, potentially higher after-tax yield
Consider brokered CDs	Available through Fidelity/Schwab, FDIC-insured at issuing bank

Brokered CDs: An Alternative

Brokered CDs are purchased through a brokerage account rather than directly from a bank:

Feature	Direct CD	Brokered CD
Where to buy	Bank website	Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard
FDIC insured	Yes	Yes (through issuing bank)
Minimum deposit	$0-$2,500	$1,000 (typical)
Early withdrawal	Penalty	Sell on secondary market (may gain or lose value)
Rates	Competitive	Often slightly higher
Multiple banks from one account	No	Yes — diversify issuers easily

Brokered CDs can be a good option if you already have a brokerage account and want to spread deposits across multiple banks for FDIC coverage without opening accounts everywhere.

CD Laddering with Low Minimums

CD laddering works well at $0-minimum banks because you can split small amounts across multiple terms:

Example: $5,000 CD Ladder at Ally ($0 Minimum)

Rung	Amount	Term	APY	Maturity
1	$1,000	1 year	4.75%	March 2027
2	$1,000	2 years	4.25%	March 2028
3	$1,000	3 years	4.00%	March 2029
4	$1,000	4 years	3.75%	March 2030
5	$1,000	5 years	3.50%	March 2031

When rung 1 matures, reinvest into a new 5-year CD. After 5 years, you have a CD maturing every year with the security of longer-term rates.

This would be impossible at Wells Fargo ($2,500 minimum per CD = $12,500 needed for a 5-rung ladder) or Discover ($2,500 minimum per CD = $12,500).

The Bottom Line

Deposit Amount	Best Bank	Minimum	1-Year APY
$0-$499	Ally or Synchrony	$0	4.25-4.75%
$500-$2,499	Marcus or Vio Bank	$500	4.00-5.01%
$2,500-$9,999	Discover or Bread	$2,500/$1,500	4.00-4.75%
$10,000+	Best available rate	Varies	4.50-5.00%
Want no penalty	Ally (11-month)	$0	3.75-4.00%
Want flexibility	Brokered CD (Fidelity/Schwab)	$1,000	Varies

The best CD rates in 2026 are available at banks with $0 minimums. There is no advantage to depositing more at banks that require higher minimums — you’re just limiting your flexibility. Start with a $0-minimum bank and invest any amount that works for your timeline.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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