Why are certificates of deposit described as time deposits?
A time deposit is an interest-bearing bank account that has a date of maturity, such as a certificate of deposit (CD). The money in a time deposit must be held for the fixed term to receive the interest in full.
A certificate of deposit (CD) is a savings account that holds a fixed amount of money for a fixed period of time, such as six months, one year, or five years, and in exchange, the issuing bank pays interest. When you cash in or redeem your CD, you receive the money you originally invested plus any interest.
A specific amount of funds in peso which earns interest at a pre-determined competitive rate for a fixed period of time/term with a “Certificate of Time Deposit” (CTD) as proof of deposit. This is offered to individuals and institutions with peso denominated funds which may be locked-in for at least thirty (30) days.
This is the time deposit, commonly known as a certificate of deposit (CD). A time deposit is a bank account that takes in an amount of cash that will bear interest with a pre-set maturity date. It pays a higher interest rate compared to a regular savings account.
For example, if you deposit $500 in a five-year CD that earns a 5.15% APY, your balance by the end of five years will be $642.71, earning you $142.71 in interest. However, if the interest rate is 3.25%, your earnings will only be $586.71, a difference of $56 in interest earnings.
A time deposit is an interest-bearing bank account that has a date of maturity, such as a certificate of deposit (CD). The money in a time deposit must be held for the fixed term to receive the interest in full. Typically, the longer the term, the higher the interest rate that the depositor receives.
The biggest risk to CD accounts is usually an interest-rate risk, as federal rate cuts could lead banks to pay out less to savers. 7 Bank failure is also a risk, though this is a rarity.
When you sign up for a CD, you agree not to touch the money for a set period of time but there are always unexpected expenses. If you access your money before the CD's term is up, you'll be charged an early withdrawal penalty, often worth a few months of interest.
Yes, money deposited in a certificate of deposit is typically locked in for a set time, known as the CD term. The CD term can range from a few months to several years, depending on the specific CD chosen.
Term: This is the length of time that you agree to leave your funds deposited to avoid any penalty (for example, 6-month CDs, 1-year CDs, 18-month CDs, etc.) The term ends on the maturity date, when your CD has fully matured and you can withdraw your funds penalty-free.
Which deposits are known as time deposits?
Term deposits, also known as time deposits, are investment deposits made for a predetermined period, ranging from a few months to several years. Demand deposit accounts offer greater liquidity and ease of access as compared to term deposits.
Regular savings accounts offer easy access in case of emergencies, but the value of your money may not grow as fast. Time deposit, on the other hand, provides a secure haven for your funds, shielding it from impulsive spending sprees while letting it earn a fixed higher rate than a regular savings account offers.

The two main differences between demand deposit and time deposit (or term deposit) accounts are how easily you can access the money in the account, and how much interest the account earns. Demand deposit accounts allow you to withdraw money from the account “on demand,” at any time.
How much you earn on a $100,000 CD varies, depending on the APY. For example, if your CD has a 5% APY, you'd earn $5,000 after one year.
Term | APY | Yield on $50,000 (per year) |
---|---|---|
2 years | 4.75% | $2,250 |
3 years | 4.66% | $2,375 |
4 years | 4.45% | $2,225 |
5 years | 4.30% | $2,150 |
How much interest would you earn? If you put $20,000 into a 5-year CD with an interest rate of 4.60%, you'd end the 5-year CD term with $5,043.12 in interest, for a total balance of $25,043.12. Not all CDs offer that interest rate, though.
That's up to each issuer. In practice, however, most CDs compound either daily or monthly. The more frequent the compounding, the more interest your interest will earn. The frequency with which your CD compounds is reflected in the annual percentage yield (APY) that the CD's issuer promises you when you buy a CD.
With traditional CDs, you tie up your money for a fixed period in exchange for a fixed interest rate. The duration of a CD can range from a few weeks to years. CDs are more illiquid than Treasurys—you can access your cash before the investment reaches maturity, but it usually costs you.
Typically, when the term ends, you can access the money again without penalty. Just like a puzzle might have different-sized pieces, CDs have different terms. Some terms might be shorter, such as only a few months. Others could be longer, like 2 years, 5 years or even longer.
When rates are high, your CDs will generally yield a better return. But when rates are low, money held in CDs won't grow as much. CDs carry interest rate risk in that it's possible to lock in savings at one rate, only to see rates climb.
Are CDs safe if the market crashes?
Are CDs safe if the market crashes? Putting your money in a CD doesn't involve putting your money in the stock market. Instead, it's in a financial institution, like a bank or credit union. So, in the event of a market crash, your CD account will not be impacted or lose value.
Unlike traditional or high-yield savings accounts, which have variable APYs, most CDs lock your money into a fixed interest rate the day you open the account. That's why if you suspect that interest rates will soon drop, it can be a good idea to put money in a CD to preserve the high APY you would earn.
Ramsey has referred to certificates of deposit as "nothing more than glorified savings accounts with slightly higher interest rates." Ramsey warned that you shouldn't invest in CDs because average rates won't keep pace with inflation and because they aren't a good place to grow your money.
Institution name | APY | Minimum opening deposit |
---|---|---|
LendingClub Bank | 5.00% | Contact institution for details |
Newtek Bank | 5.00% | $2,500 |
My eBanc | 5.00% | $5,000 |
Western Alliance Bank | 5.00% | $1,000 |
High-yield savings accounts, money market accounts and bonds can be good alternatives to CDs. Returns vary, but they're all considered low-risk investments. Regardless of where you keep your money, tending to your credit health is always a top priority.