Schwab reserves the right to change the funds we make available without transaction fees and to reinstate fees on any funds. Certificates of deposit available through Schwab CD OneSource typically offer a fixed rate of return, although some offer variable rates. They are FDIC-insured and offered through Charles Schwab. Information to consider about Charles Schwab 1 Year CD Rates: Like other banks, Charles Schwab Bank is exposed to interest rate risk primarily from changes in interest rates. The loans it provided are significantly funded by interest bearing deposits from client deposits. The best CD rates tend to be at online banks and credit unions. Many banks dropped their rates on CDs in response to the Federal Reserve's emergency rate cuts in March 2020. But you can still find. Charles Schwab 6 Month CD Rates. The rate indicated is for a 6 month term with the tier balance required to be above $20,000. The rate of 0.03% is 0.74% lower than the average 0.77%. Also it is 2.32% lower than the highest rate. Certificates of deposit available through Schwab CD OneSource typically offer a fixed rate of return, although some offer variable rates. They are FDIC-insured and offered through Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Charles Schwab Bank and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Are separate but affiliated companies and subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab.

• Option to open CDs issued by several banks with competitive rates
• Option to choose from fixed-rate and variable CDs

• Fees apply for secondary trades
• Some CDs require large minimum deposits
• Interest doesn't compound, but is instead paid into your brokerage account at different time intervals

• Investors looking to park large sums of money in multiple CD accounts

Through Schwab CD OneSource, you can open several certificate of deposit (CD) accounts issued by multiple banks including options with some of the best CD rates we’ve seen. However, these CDs are a bit different from those banks offer. Charles Schwab has brokered CDs. Financial institutions typically buy brokered CDs issued by different banks in bulk and then sell them at competitive rates to their brokerage customers. However, terms and rates can vary across banks. Nonetheless, you can open and manage the CD directly through Charles Schwab for no additional fees.

Schwab Brokered CDs

Charles Schwab offers CDs with some of the highest rates in the industry. And because Charles Schwab sells these CDs but different banks issue them, you can choose a rate and term length that’s right for you. In fact, you can open one with as little as $1,000 for terms stretching from 1 month to 20 years. Minimum deposits, however, depending on issuing bank. Furthermore, Schwab’s online platform allows you to search for CDs based on term length, CD type, institution, and other preferences. The table below illustrates examples of what you’d be likely to find at the Schwab OneSource marketplace.

Overview of Schwab CDs

Charles Schwab offers brokered CDs with competitive rates. Through the firm’s platform, you can open CDs with interest rates as high as 0.15% depending on the term. These offerings launch Schwab to the head of the competition when it comes to CDs. Their annual percentage yields (APYs) can compete with Vanguard CD rates and options other financial services giants like Fidelity offer. Charles Schwab also charges no maintenance fees for managing your CD. But you may incur some fees if you sell your CD on the secondary market because Schwab offers brokered CDs. According to Charles Schwab’s website, the firm charges a $1 transaction fee per $1,000 CDs. The fees have a $250 maximum. Broker assisted trades cost the online price plus a $25 per trade service charge.

Best Schwab Cd Rates

How Much Do You Earn With Schwab Certificate of Deposits Over Time?

As with any CD, investing for the long term will usually generate the highest return. Through Schwab's marketplace, you can open CDs with terms ranging from a few days to several years. However, interest does not compound in the CD. So you end up getting your principal plus interest delivered to your brokerage account. Thus, your return would be the same each year. Nonetheless, Schwab still offers higher CD rates than a lot of the competition, so you could earn a large amount by making a large deposit.

Compare Charles Schwab Bank to Other Competitive Offers

How Schwab’s CD Rates Compare to Other Banks

Schwab doesn’t have its own CDs. Instead, it offers CDs other banks issue. However, you’d likely find stronger interest rates by opening a CD through Schwab than you would opening it directly through a bank. Other financial institutions such as Vanguard and Fidelity offer these types of CDs as well. Across the board, however, interest rates tied to the CDs these firms have are higher than those most banks offer. In comparison, they tend to offer similar CD rates. If you want a bit more flexibility, you can use our CD comparison tool to evaluate options across the banking industry.

Should You Get a Schwab CD Account?

You should get a Schwab CD if you’re willing to invest a large amount of money for the mid- to long-term as this would earn you the highest return. But because Schwab offers so many CDs through its platform, you’re likely to find something that meets your needs.

But if you want expert guidance on CD investing, you should contact a qualified financial advisor. If you’ve never reached out to one before, you can use our SmartAdvisor tool. It asks you a few simple questions in order to link you to advisors in your area based on your unique needs.

Charles Schwab is a multinational financial services company founded and headquartered in San Francisco, California.

They’ve built up quite an impressive sum of assets under management since their inception in 1971 with just over $3.3 trillion and counting.

Charles Schwab has an array of products and services that it offers to both retail and institutional clients encompassing commercial banking, stock brokerage, and wealth management advisory services.

For the purposes of this review, we will only focus on the brokered CD (certificate of deposit) rates offered through Charles Schwab. To see all of Charles Schwab’s CD options you will need to login to the Schwab CD OneSource platform here or continue reading below.

It is important to keep in mind that Charles Schwab does not issue CDs themselves, but rather brokers (or re-sells) bank CDs issued by FDIC-insured banks and financial institutions.

Charles Schwab CDs require a minimum deposit of $1,000 and you may increase your investment size by increments of $1,000.

Charles Schwab Brokered CD Rates

To put these offers in perspective, the current national average on a 12 month CD sits at 0.22% APY, and top rates on 12 month CDs from online banks and credit unions still come close to 1.00% APY.

Charles Schwab Brokerage Fees for CDs: New Issue and Secondary Market

For all new issue CDs a selling concession is already included in the overall price for both online and broker assisted trades.

For all CDs purchased on the secondary market through Schwab CD OneSource, a $1 transaction fee per $1,000 is applied. This comes with a $10 minimum and a $250 maximum.

If you need a broker’s assistance for the trade you will also be charged an additional $25 as a trade service charge.

How Does FDIC-Insurance Work with Charles Schwab CDs?

All of the brokered CDs offered through Schwab OneSource are federally insured by the FDIC through the partner bank. Thus the same coverage extends to you and can even exceed the $250,000 maximum if you choose to open more than one CD with more than one bank.

For example, if you open two CDs from two different banks through Schwab OneSource, you will get FDIC coverage of $250,000 from one bank and then $250,000 from the second bank. Assuming you have no other deposits at those banks, you’re covered for $500,000.

Compounding Interest + Grace Period

Charles Schwab Best Cd Rates

Interest on brokered CDs is not compounded as it would be with a traditional bank as it requires immediate distribution. If you want compounding interest on a brokered CD you will need to reinvest your earnings into a different account.

Grace periods with traditional banks tend to be around 10 days long. During this time a deposit holder may add to or withdraw funds without incurring a penalty. With brokered CDs you will not incur any fee for early withdrawal. If you need funds prior to maturity, a broker will help you sell it on the secondary market. The exact grace period for your deposit can be found by contacting the issuing institution.

Drawbacks and Risks

The main risk in purchasing a brokered CD through Charles Schwab (or any brokerage firm for that matter) is if you need your funds prior to maturity. As mentioned above, in this case you will need to sell your CD on the secondary market. Depending on the interest rate environment at that time it is possible to sell your CD for either less or more than you purchased it for.

Consider the following: You purchase a 2 year CD and need to cash out unexpectedly after the first year. During this time CD rates have also risen substantially. At this point you will likely need to sell your CD at a lower price than you purchased it for because much more attractive rates are being offered on new issue CDs.

While we’ve seen Charles Schwab offer competitive brokered CD rates in the past the current offers are less competitive than brokered CDs at either Fidelity or Edward Jones and are substantially less profitable than CDs found through actual banks and credit unions directly.

Charles Schwab Cd Rates

The main advantage brokered CDs have over traditional bank deposits is the ability to leverage the FDIC insurance of multiple banks. But in the current interest rate environment, this perk seems less noteworthy.