Money Market vs. CD: Which Account Could Help Your Money Goals?

If you’re looking for a way to grow your savings faster than you could with a traditional savings account, you might consider a money market account or a certificate of deposit. Both accounts could help you earn higher interest rates and save more money.

But depending on your financial needs and savings goals, one of these options might be smarter for you. As with any financial product, it’s essential to educate yourself about the benefits and downsides of each type of deposit account.

Let’s examine money market accounts vs. CDs to help understand which avenue might be a better fit for you and your goals.

Money market account vs. CD

	Money market account	Certificate of deposit (CD)
Average interest rate	0.65% (as of Feb. 8, 2024) APY	0.23%-1.86% (as of Feb. 8, 2024) APY
Term length	N/A	1 month to 5 years
Check writing and/or debit card	Possibly, varies by bank	No
Access to money	Cannot make more than six transactions or transfers per month due to Federal Reserve Board Regulation D	No access until maturity date
FDIC or NCUA insured	Yes, depending on the institution	Yes, depending on the institution
Best for...	Anyone with a short-term savings goal (emergency fund, tax payment, vacation)	Anyone with a long-term savings goal (retirement, college tuition)

What is a money market account?

A money market account may be thought of as a combined savings and checking account. More specifically, it is an interest-bearing savings product that might also come with an ATM card or a limited number of checks.

Money market accounts work like any other bank deposit accounts: you deposit money and the bank pays interest on your balance according to the terms of the account. Money market accounts typically provide you with a higher interest rate than you’d find with a regular savings account, though these days, the difference can be minimal. In both cases, you’ll see the interest rate expressed as an annual percentage yield, or APY.

On the flip side, money market accounts sometimes come with higher minimum deposit and minimum balance requirements than with checking and savings accounts.

You can usually sign up for a money market account at most banks and credit unions. Because money market accounts are federally insured up to $250,000, your deposits are protected, even if the institution goes under. If you open an MMA at a bank, then you will have FDIC insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. If you open your account at a credit union, then you’ll be insured under the National Credit Union Administration.

What is a CD?

If you’re wondering what a CD is, it’s a type of savings account that generally pays higher interest rates (or APYs) in exchange for locking your funds for a specified term. Term lengths can be as short as one month or as long as five years. Banking institutions typically reward you with higher APY rates for longer-term CDs. For example, you might receive 0.80% APY on a five-year CD, whereas a one-month CD might provide only a 0.06% APY return.

The end of the term is called the maturity date, which is when you can access your funds, including deposits and interest. You may access your money before the maturity date, but you’ll likely be subject to an early withdrawal penalty. You’ll have the option at maturity to withdraw the funds, to move the funds to a different financial product, or to let the bank automatically renew the CD for the same term. You may also be able to add additional funds at this point.

Their unique structure and higher interest rates make CDs a logical option as a longer-term savings vehicle. You can usually earn higher interest rates than a savings account without exposing your money to the risks of stock market investing. Minimum required deposits can range greatly with CDs, from $1,000 to $10,000.

You can open CDs at most banks. If your bank is an FDIC member, then your money will be FDIC insured up to $250,000. Similarly, share certificates — the credit union version of CDs — are federally insured by the NCUA for the same amount.

Key differences between a money market vs. CD account

While money market accounts and certificates of deposit are both types of federally insured deposit accounts that earn interest, there are some key distinctions between them.

Interest rates

CD rates are usually higher than those of money market accounts. It makes sense because the financial institutions know they’re going to control your money for a longer period of time when it’s locked into a CD, so they’re able to pay you a higher interest rate.

According to the most recent FDIC national rates table, the national average rate for money market accounts sits at 0.65% (as of Feb. 8, 2024) and certificates of deposits are earning an average interest rate ranging from 0.23%-1.86% (as of Feb. 8, 2024).¹

It’s also worth noting, money market accounts typically have variable interest rates, whereas CDs offer a fixed rate that remains the same for the duration of your term.

For these reasons, CDs excel in terms of interest rates when compared with money market accounts.

Access to money

A key difference between a certificate of deposit and a money market account is liquidity. You can deposit or withdraw funds with few restrictions with a money market account. In contrast, you generally can’t withdraw funds from a CD without incurring an early withdrawal penalty. You also can’t add funds to a CD except at the renewal point.

You may prefer a CD if you’re trying to save, perhaps in a retirement account, and you like the idea of having your funds untouchable for an amount of time. On the other hand, if you need easy access to your funds, money market accounts usually give you six withdrawals per month before incurring a withdrawal charge.

Banking perks

Some money market accounts offer perks often associated with checking accounts, such as debit cards, ATM access, and the ability to write checks. By contrast, CDs are strictly a savings vehicle that does not include any perks that allow you to access your money.

Should you put our money in a money market account or CDs?

You might choose a money market account if...

If you’re saving for an emergency fund, a tax payment, or a big-ticket purchase in the near future, then you need your funds to be liquid. That’s when money market accounts make the most sense — when you want a better interest rate than a savings account, but the ability to access the money when you need to.

But if your bank or credit union pays similar interest rates for its standard savings account and its money market account, you might be better off stashing your money in the savings account. The reason? You might be able to avoid the high minimum balance requirements that often come with money market accounts while still keeping your money in an easily accessible and federally insured account.

However, if the money market account’s interest rate is significantly higher and you can afford the minimum, then it might make sense to go with the MMA.

You might choose a CD account if…

A CD account might be the right fit for someone close to retirement seeking a safe, federally insured place to store their money and earn interest. You may also consider getting a CD if you’re saving for a down payment, college savings, vacation, or another long-term goal, and you want to make sure your money is unavailable for accidental spending.

Whenever the Federal Reserve moves interest rates higher, interest rates for CD often follow. In these instances, it might make more sense to get a CD to lock in at a higher rate. Conversely, if interest rates are high, and the Fed hints at lowering the rate, you might want to act fast and lock money you don’t need quick access to into a certificate of deposit.

FAQs

Bottom line

When it comes to savings, you’ll find several vehicles to help you achieve your goals, including money market accounts and CDs. Maybe one of these bank accounts is the perfect fit for you. Or perhaps neither of these options fit, and a high-yield savings account makes the most sense.

It’s all about weighing account features with your needs. If you want a fixed rate for up to five years, a CD may be ideal. Research which product currently earns more interest, CD vs. savings. If you’re only going to keep the money in an account for several months and you want a higher interest rate, then a money market account might meet your needs if you can meet the minimum balance requirements.

The best way to get started is to shop the marketplace using our list of the best banks. Review the banks and their interest-earning accounts to see where you’ll get the most bang for your buck.