How much interest can a $40,000 long-term CD account earn now?

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money How much interest can a $40,000 long-term CD account earn 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 May 21, 2026 / 1:30 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google A $40,000 deposit into a long-term CD could be worth considering for some savers in today's economy. Getty Images/iStockphoto A savings account worth $40,000 by any measure can be considered a success. But in the economic terrain of recent years, marked by decades-high inflation and elevated borrowing costs, saving that much money is an even more considerable achievement than it may have been otherwise. So, if you were able to build your account while keeping your debts minimal at the same time, you may now understandably be looking for a safe and profitable home for those funds. A certificate of deposit (CD) account may increasingly look like a viable option.Interest rates on CDs are competitive now, with many terms coming with rates of 4% or higher. And the rates are fixed, allowing for precise interest-earning projections. Because the rate is fixed, the account is a naturally attractive option for those savers looking to protect their money from market fluctuations, which are especially pronounced now. With a long-term CD, in particular, savers can lock their money away for 18 months or longer. This will not only protect their $40,000 but, thanks to the extended interest-earning timeline, grow it significantly with compounding interest.Before getting started, it may be helpful to kn...