The interest rates for TIAA Bank CDs are competitive. Each of the term interest rates is competitive with other online CD accounts. TIAA rates are much higher than typical bank rates. Their CD rates are not tiered. Any account balance earns competitive rates.

TIAA Bank offers a wide variety of CD terms. Their terms range from three-months to five-years. They offer the basic CD terms between these times, but they offer a nine-month term and a 30-month term as well. TIAA Bank also offers a 42-month Bump Rate term.

TIAA Bank offers on Bump Rate CD. This CD term is a 42-month term. This CD only requires $1,500 to open. If interest rates increase during the CD term, you have the option to bump up to the new interest rate. You can bump up the interest rate once during the CD term. Customers can only have one Bump Rate CD opened at a time.

TIAA guarantees their interest rates earned are in the top five percent of the most competitive accounts. Each week TIAA reviews the rates of competitors. Based on their findings they adjust their rates to make sure they are competitive with the best.

The TIAA Bank high yield CDs have a high opening required amount. Each of these CDs terms require $5,000 to open. TIAA Bank offers the option of CDARS. This is if you want to invest an amount over the FDIC insured limit of $250,000 and still be insured. To open a CDARS CD requires an opening deposit of $10,000.

TIAA Bank offers high yield and regular CDs. The regular CD account interest rates are slightly lower. They are not as competitive as the high yield interest rates. The high yield accounts earn high rates but require a higher opening amount.

The early withdrawal penalty for CDs is high. The Bump Rate CD charges 318 days of interest if you withdraw money before the maturity date. The six-month CDs require 45 days of interest. The 18-month CDs require 136 days of interest. The five-year CDs require 456 days of interest. Other early withdrawal fees vary depending on the CD term.

Once you open a TIAA CD, you cannot make deposits into the CD. The opening deposit is the only deposit allowed until the CD reaches maturity. Contact customer service to decide what happens to your CD once it reaches maturity.

Read the full TIAA Bank review.

USAA provides a good variety of CD terms. The terms range from three-months to seven-years. They offer fixed-rate CDs, jumbo and super jumbo CDs, and variable-rate CD terms. Each of these types of CDs offers different term lengths.

The standard fixed-rate CDs have low opening required amounts. Each of those CD terms requires $1,000 to open and earn interest. The standard CD terms range from 91-days to seven years. The variable-rate CDs only require $250 to open.

The USAA standard fixed-rate CDs offer competitive interest rates. The rates are competitive with other online CDs. They are much higher than the typical bank rates. These CD interest rates are not tiered. Any amount above the required opening amount earns competitive rates.

Everything for your USAA accounts can be done online. You can apply to become a member online. Once you are approved, you can open their CDs and other accounts online. They also offer a mobile app.

The jumbo and super jumbo CDs with USAA have high opening required amounts. The jumbo CDs require $95,000 to open. Super jumbo CDs require $175,000 to open. Standard CDs require $1,000 to open.

To transfer money electronically into your USAA CD, you must link another account. This linked account can be an external account or another account with USAA. Once the account is verified, you can transfer money electronically.

To open accounts with USAA, you must first become a member of the bank. Those who are eligible to join include active military and former military members. Eligible family members of those serving, cadets, and midshipmen are also able to join.

USAA CDs offer competitive rates, but not an interest rate guarantee. If the interest rates increase shortly after you open your CD, your USAA rates will not increase. Each of the CD terms offers competitive rates.

Read the full USAA review.