$12,000 CD vs. $12,000 high-yield savings vs. $12,000 money market account: Here's which will earn the most now

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money $12,000 CD vs. $12,000 high-yield savings vs. $12,000 money market account: Here's which will earn the most now We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Matt Richardson Matt Richardson Sr. Managing Editor, Managing Your Money Matt Richardson is the senior managing editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com. He writes and edits content about personal finance ranging from savings to investing to insurance. Read Full Bio Matt Richardson April 16, 2026 / 12:51 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The growth potential of CDs, high-yield savings and money market accounts won't be identical for savers. AN Studio/Getty Images While it may feel good to deposit a big, round number in a high-rate savings account right now, the reality is that doing so isn't always that easy, especially in today's economy. With inflation surging last month, a paused Federal funds rate continuing to make it costly to borrow and stock market swings significant now, savers will understandably want to maintain access to a portion of their funds. And that can be hard with fixed-rate accounts like certificates of deposit (CDs). At the same time, many savers do have a portion of their funds that they can put into a CD, high-yield savings or money market account. And while that may not be $20,000 or $30,000, even a smaller number like $12,000 can be worth depositing into one of these accounts now, especially if it means a sizable return and some protection against market volatility. But the interest rate each account offers, while comparable, won't be identical. So it's helpful to start by crunching the returns each offers. Below, we'll do the math.See how much interest you could be earning with a CD account here.$12,000 CD vs. $12,000 high-yield savings vs....