Best 18-Month CD Rates - August 2026
Brian McKay
Brian McKay
Founder & Data Architect- Automated Online Rate Data Aggregation
- Location-Based Rate Tables
- Bank & Credit Union Health Safety Ratings
- Finance Calculators
Top 18-month CD rates currently available include Middlesex Federal SavingsMiddlesex Federal Savings1 College Ave, Somerville, MA 02144A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 0.50%Real return: +2.41%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering IRA 18 Month Variable Rate Certificate at 5.21% APY, and Bank of Franklin CountyBank of Franklin County900 E 8th St, Washington, MO 63090A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 5.20%Real return: +2.20%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering 18 Month YOUTH Fair CD Special at 5.00% APY, and FreeStar Financial Credit UnionFreeStar Financial Credit Union37570 S Gratiot Ave, Clinton Township, MI 48036A5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 8.12%Real return: +2.20%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering 18-Month Special! - Military at 5.00% APY, and State Bank of NewburgState Bank of Newburg300 Congress Dr Hwy 33, Newburg, WI 53060A+5.0 ★Texas Ratio: 0.29%Real return: +2.04%APY minus CPI (February 2026) offering 18 mo Variable Rate IRA 18 mo Certificate of Deposit at 4.84% APY. CD rates as of August 28, 2026 according to verified data from MonitorBankRates.
An 18-month CD bridges the gap between short-term flexibility and longer-term yields. It locks in a competitive rate for a year and a half — ideal for savers who want more than a 12-month commitment without tying up funds for two or more years. We display Safety Grades, Star Ratings, and Texas Ratios so you can choose institutions with confidence.
The APYs displayed reflect actual verified offers. Rates are subject to change at the institution’s discretion without notice. A substantial penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. 18-Month CD Rates Last Updated and Verified: August 28, 2026
Compare the Best 18-Month CD Rates Nationwide
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See Fair Special options; Preferred Rate with any checking account
Qualified Military Members receive a 1% rate increase on all CDs, excluding iSave. Eligible members include Active Duty, Veterans, and Retirees. To qualify, military members must establish a full direct deposit in their name into their checking account. Any direct deposits less than $2,000 will not be eligible for the rate increase. Offer is subject to qualification and can change without notice. Military Status Verification: Verification of military status is required. Acceptable proof includes Military ID, Retirement ID, or DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). Terms and conditions apply.
Interest Will Be Credited: Quarterly
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Must be under 18 to open. 18M allows add-ons & withdrawals (Min +/- $100 ) & a 1-time rate bump (must provide report card). MAXIMUM DEPOSIT OF $10,000.00, LIMIT ONE PER MEMBER
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Compound Period: Semi-Annually
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Limited Time Special
APY as high as
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The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 08/13/2026. APY assumes interest remains on deposit until maturity date. Penalty for early withdrawal may reduce earnings. Fees may reduce earnings. Rates are subject to change at any time and are not guaranteed until the account is opened.
Bump-Up CD. Available for a limited time only. Increase your rate once during the term if Capra's rates increase. Valid for new customers to Capra Bank. Must have or open an active Elevate or Summit checking account to obtain CD Special Offer. Restrictions apply. Available in Dubuque, Lubbock, Albuquerque, and Boise.
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Interest paid quarterly via ACH to any account designated by the customer institution; Withdrawal before maturity is not permitted; BBW can arrange for the safekeeping of the instrument upon request
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Limited-time offer
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Annual Percentage Yields (APY) are accurate as of August 19, 2026 and are subject to change. Early withdrawals will have a substantial penalty imposed. Fees may reduce earnings.
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Calculated Daily, Compounded Semi-annually
Traditional Certificates & IRAs
The 18-month Market Watch is currently unavailable for new issuances, renewals from other certificate terms, or term changes. The rate shown applies only to Market Watch Certificates originally opened prior to 01/01/2017. This is a variable rate certificate. The rate is adjusted on the first of each month and is calculated by using the 24-month Treasury Bill rate in effect on the 10th day of the previous month plus 0.25% (25 basis points). At maturity, the certificate automatically renews.
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Compounded: Quarterly; Credited: Quarterly
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Interest paid quarterly
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Variable Rate
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Rates effective as of 08/17/2026. Expires on or before 09/20/2026.
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Upon maturity, the Certificate will automatically renew into a standard, non-promotional 24-month Certificate at the dividend rate in effect at the time of renewal. Early withdrawal penalties may apply. Membership eligibility and other terms and conditions apply. Rates, conditions, and terms are subject to change without notice. These promotions are a limited time offer. Please contact Eagle Community Credit Union for the most current information.
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Early Withdrawal Penalty: 3 month interest
Dividends will be compounded and credited semi-yearly. The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) disclosed assumes that dividends remain in the account until maturity. Any withdrawal will reduce earnings. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawals.
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Dividends Compounded Monthly Dividends Credited Monthly Renewal Automatic with 10-day grace period
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For all certificates unless otherwise noted: penalty for early withdrawal. Minimum deposit of $500 required to open certificate & earn dividends. Rate is accurate as today's dividend declaration. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. Rate = dividend rate.
A penalty may be imposed for withdrawals made before maturity. Fees could reduce earnings. APY assumes dividends remain in account.
Early Withdrawal Penalty: 6 Months of Interest
Interest Paid: Quarterly
Penalty: 120 Days1
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Rate changes quarterly-Quarterly compounding-$100.00 minimum additions permitted-IRA fund also permitted
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Dividends are paid monthly. IRA Share accounts pay monthly dividends at the same rate as Savings accounts. Once your account is established, you may not make additional deposits. We may impose a penalty equal to 90 days dividends if you withdraw the CD funds before the maturity date (regular IRA distributions are excluded from this). Rate bump-up available for IRA/HSA certificates with terms of 24, 36, 48, and 60 months. This allows you to "bump-up" your existing certificate rate to the current rate within the same term, without changing the maturity date of the certificate. Rate "bump-up" allowed once during the term of the CD.
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$100,000 and Above
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Dividends Compounded & Paid: Quarterly
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Dividends Compounded Monthly; Dividends Credited Monthly; Dividends Period Monthly; Balance Method Average Daily Balance; Transaction Limitations Additional Deposits: Not Allowed Dividend Withdrawal: Allowed Monthly Renewal: Automatic
Annually
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A penalty applies for early withdrawal. Unless otherwise noted: Accounts with a term of one year or less may incur a penalty of the greater of seven days' dividends on the withdrawn amount, all dividends earned up to 90 days, or $25.00. Accounts with a term longer than one year may incur a penalty of the greater of seven days' dividends on the withdrawn amount, all dividends earned up to 180 days, or $25.00. The penalty may be calculated based on the rate at the time of withdrawal and, if necessary, deducted from the principal.
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Until Maturity
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Enjoy this rate when you have an Advantage Plus Checking Account.
Non-Rewards+ Loyalty Program Dividend rate: 2.96%, Non-Rewards+ Loyalty Program APY: 3.00%
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3 | New Deposits Only
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Checking Account Relation
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Bump one time**
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Variable Rate
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Legacy Club
Legacy Club
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Must maintain a minimum $50,000 balance to earn APY. Interest is compounded monthly and credited monthly.
w/bump
Automatic Renewal to Regular Certificate
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Online
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EARLY WITHDRAWAL PENALTIES (Minimum $25): 365 Days Interest
($500.00 minimum to open)
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Star Member APY: 3.90%; Star Member Dividend Rate: 3.85%
Requires a qualifying checking account.
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Fixed Rate
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Banks and Credit Unions: If you identify an incorrect rate or wish to request removal from MonitorBankRates.com, please contact us here.
Tracked Nationwide
About Our 18-Month CD Rate Database
MonitorBankRates tracks 2,869 18-month CD rates from 1,743 institutions across the United States. Our proprietary aggregation system pulls verified rate data directly from each institution’s official website — no estimates, no national averages passed off as real offers.
Every rate listed includes the institution’s Safety Grade (A+ to F), Star Rating (1–5), and Texas Ratio — objective financial health metrics calculated from FDIC and NCUA regulatory data — so you can compare yield and institutional safety in one place.
Current top rate: Middlesex Federal Savings offers an 18-month CD at 5.21% APY with a minimum deposit of $100. Use the rate table above to compare all current offers.
18-Month CD Rate Trend
Daily national average APY for 18-month CDs
Daily averages compiled from our database of 8,500+ banks and credit unions — updated daily.
National 18-month CD rates rose 0.038 points over the past 7 days to 2.675% APY, up from 2.637% 7 days ago.
18-Month CD Rate Forecast — Next 12 Months
Where are 18-month CD rates headed through August 2027?
Projections based on Fed funds rate futures and historical CD-to-fed-funds spread model. Not financial advice.
CD Calculators
Enter any deposit amount to see exactly how much interest you earn at the end of your 18-month term at today’s top APY.
CD Ladder with 18 Months RungAdd an 18-month rung between your 12 and 24-month CDs. See how this mid-range term fills gaps in your ladder to keep funds maturing every 6 months.
Early Withdrawal Penalty18-month CDs typically carry a 150–270 day interest penalty for early access. Calculate your actual net return if you need funds before maturity.
18-Month CD vs. High-Yield Savings18-month CD rates typically sit above savings APYs. Compare both to determine if locking in for a year and a half is worth the yield difference.
How to Find the Best 18-Month CD Rates
What to compare when shopping for an 18-month CD
To find the best APYs on an 18-month CD, start with credit unions and online-only banks — they consistently offer the highest yields because they have lower overhead than traditional brick-and-mortar banks and compete aggressively for deposits.
Always compare the APY (Annual Percentage Yield), not just the interest rate. The APY reflects compounding and is the true measure of what you’ll earn. A CD advertised at 4.75% interest compounding monthly is worth more than one at 4.80% compounding annually.
Also compare the early withdrawal penalty. On a 18-month CD, common penalties range from 30 to 90 days of interest. If you’re unsure whether you’ll need the funds early, a penalty-free no-penalty CD or a high-yield savings account may be a better fit.
When an 18-Month CD Makes Sense
- You have a planned purchase or expense in ~18 months and want to earn while you wait
- You expect interest rates to fall and want to lock in today’s rate short-term
- You want a mid-range commitment — the 18-month term earns more than a 1-year CD while maturing before a 2-year term
- You want FDIC/NCUA protection with a guaranteed fixed return
Consider an Alternative If…
- You may need funds before 3 months → High-yield savings
- Rates are rising and you want to benefit → Variable-rate savings or MMA
- You want check-writing or debit access → Money market account
18-Month CD vs. Other Savings Options
| Feature | 18-Month CD | High-Yield Savings | Money Market | 6-Month CD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate Type | Fixed APY | Variable APY | Variable APY | Fixed APY |
| Liquidity | Locked 18 months | Anytime | Anytime | Locked 6 months |
| Early Withdrawal | Penalty (30–90 days interest) | None | None | Penalty (90–180 days interest) |
| FDIC / NCUA Insured | Yes (up to $250K) | Yes (up to $250K) | Yes (up to $250K) | Yes (up to $250K) |
| Check / Debit Access | No | Usually no | Often yes | No |
| Best For | Known near-term goal, CD ladder start | Emergency fund, flexible savings | Liquid savings with check-writing | Slightly higher yield, less urgency |
18-Month CD FAQs
What is an 18-Month Certificate of Deposit (CD)?
How do 18-month CD rates compare to 12-month CDs?
Is my money safe in an 18-month CD?
What happens if I withdraw money from an 18-month CD early?
What is APY and how does it differ from the interest rate?
Can I add money to an 18-month CD after opening it?
How can I use an 18-month CD in a CD ladder?
Is an 18-month CD better than a 12-month CD?
Methodology & Data Sources
Direct-Sourced & Verified CD Rate Data: We aggregate 18-month CD rates nationwide directly from the official websites of banks and credit unions using our proprietary rate aggregation technology. By pulling data straight from the institutions’ own digital properties and manually verifying yields daily, every rate on MonitorBankRates.com is highly accurate and trustworthy.
Local, Regional, and National Coverage: Our systems constantly monitor the market to provide a complete picture of available 1.5-year CD yields across the country. We feature a comprehensive mix of financial institutions — from neighborhood credit unions and competitive regional banks to high-yield CDs from large national institutions.
Daily Updates & Time-Stamped Accuracy: Our rate updaters verify and update CD rates daily. Because yields can fluctuate rapidly based on Federal Reserve policy and market conditions, every CD product listed features its own specific “last updated” date for full transparency.
Proprietary Institution Health & Safety Grades: Beyond tracking rates, MonitorBankRates evaluates the financial stability of every listed institution. Our Health Grades (A+ to F) and Star Ratings are composite metrics calculated using objective regulatory data — including the Texas Ratio — ensuring you deposit with secure, reliable institutions.
