On this page14 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Navy Federal vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Navy Federal CD rates today
- Is Navy Federal safe for CDs?
- Types of Navy Federal certificates
- Early withdrawal penalties
- Who can open a Navy Federal certificate
- Complaints and what members report
- Who should skip Navy Federal CDs
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Navy Federal's certificates (its name for CDs) pay well above national averages: 4.05% APY for 12 months and 4.10% for 18 months and 3 years on $1,000, against FDIC national averages of 1.73% and 1.36% for 12 and 36 months. They're a good fit if you already qualify for membership through military service, a Defense Department job or a family member. Top online banks and brokered CDs can pay more, and early withdrawal penalties run from 90 to 365 days of dividends, so match the term to when you'll need the money. Deposits are federally insured by the NCUA up to $250,000 per member, per ownership category.
- 12-month certificate
- 4.05% APY with $1,000; 4.10% with $100,000 (rates as of October 13, 2026)1
- Best standard rate
- 4.10% APY on 18 months and 3 years at $1,000; 4.15% at $100,0001
- Special EasyStart
- 4.35% APY for 12 months, $50 to $3,000, with Navy Federal checking and direct deposit within 90 days1
- Terms
- Standard: 3 months to 7 years, $1,000 minimum, no maximum; EasyStart: 12, 18 or 24 months from $501
- Early withdrawal penalty
- Up to 90 days of dividends for terms of 1 year or less; 180 days over 1 year; 365 days for 5 years or more2
- Maturity
- Renews automatically; 21-day grace period to change or withdraw without penalty2
- Insurance
- NCUA, up to $250,000 per member, per ownership category9
- Membership
- Service members, veterans, DoD civilians and contractors, and family and household members of members4
Pros
- Rates more than double FDIC national averages on most terms
- EasyStart certificates from $50, with added deposits allowed
- Terms from 3 months to 7 years, plus IRA and ESA versions
- No maximum balance on standard certificates
- NCUA insured to $250,000 per member, per ownership category
Cons
- Membership limited to military, DoD and their families
- Top online banks and brokered CDs often pay more
- Penalty of up to 365 days of dividends on 5 and 7 year terms
- Best rate is capped at $3,000 and needs checking plus direct deposit
- Only a small rate bump for $100,000 balances
Best for: Military members, veterans and their families who already bank with Navy Federal and want a competitive fixed rate.
Skip it if: You don't qualify for membership, or you can get a higher CD rate at an online bank or through a brokerage.
Navy Federal vs. competitors
| Company | 12-month APY | 5-year APY | Minimum | Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navy Federal | 4.05% (4.35% Special EasyStart) | 3.85% | $1,000 ($50 EasyStart) | NCUA |
| Alliant Credit Union | 4.10% | 3.65% | $1,000 | NCUA |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 4.40% | 4.40% | $500 | FDIC |
| Capital One 360 | 4.00% | 3.60% | $0 | FDIC |
Navy Federal pricing at a glance
Navy Federal certificate rates (APY), as of October 13, 20261
| Term | $1,000 minimum | $20,000 minimum | $100,000 minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 1.50% | 1.50% | 1.55% |
| 12 months | 4.05% | 4.05% | 4.10% |
| 18 months | 4.10% | 4.10% | 4.15% |
| 24 months | 3.66% | 3.66% | 3.70% |
| 3 years | 4.10% | 4.10% | 4.15% |
| 5 years | 3.85% | 3.85% | 3.90% |
| 7 years | 3.85% | 3.85% | 3.90% |
| EasyStart 12 months ($50 min) | 4.00% | ||
| EasyStart 18 / 24 months ($50 min) | 3.70% / 3.60% | ||
| Special EasyStart 12 months ($50 to $3,000) | 4.35% |
Rates apply to share, IRA and ESA certificates. Dividends compound daily and are credited monthly. Rates change; check before you open. The Special EasyStart rate drops to the regular 12-month EasyStart rate if you don't have Navy Federal checking and direct deposit within 90 days.
Navy Federal, step by step
Become a member
Qualify through military service, a DoD job or a family or household member, and open a share savings account with $5.
Choose a certificate
Standard for a single lump sum of $1,000 or more; EasyStart if you want to start at $50 and add money; Special EasyStart for the top 12-month rate on up to $3,000.
Fund it
Open online, in the app or at a branch, and transfer money in. The rate is fixed for the term.
At maturity
The certificate renews automatically into a comparable term. You have 21 days to withdraw or change it without a penalty.
Navy Federal CD rates today
As of October 13, 2026, Navy Federal’s standard certificates pay 4.05% APY for 12 months, 4.10% for 18 months and 3 years, 3.66% for 24 months and 3.85% for 5 and 7 years with $1,000. Balances of $100,000 or more get about 0.05% more. The Special EasyStart Certificate pays 4.35% for 12 months on $50 to $3,000 if you also have Navy Federal checking and direct deposit within 90 days. For comparison, the FDIC’s national average was 1.73% for a 12-month CD and 1.36% for 36 months in September 2026.
Is Navy Federal safe for CDs?
Yes. Navy Federal is a federally chartered credit union with 15.7 million members and $204.3 billion in assets as of June 2026. Its certificates are federally insured by the NCUA up to $250,000 per member, per ownership category, the same protection the FDIC gives bank CDs. CD complaints are rare: 62 of Navy Federal’s 34,347 CFPB complaints in the last three years were about CDs. The CFPB fined Navy Federal in 2024 over overdraft fees, a checking issue rather than a certificate one, and that order ended in July 2025.
Types of Navy Federal certificates
- Standard Certificate: one deposit of $1,000 or more, terms of 3 months to 7 years, no maximum.
- EasyStart Certificate: 12, 18 or 24 months from $50, and you can add money any time before maturity.
- Special EasyStart Certificate: 12 months, $50 to $3,000, one per member per product type, with checking and direct deposit required within 90 days.
- IRA and ESA certificates: the same rates, subject to IRS contribution limits.
What customers say about Navy Federal
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Rates well above national averages
- Low $50 minimum on EasyStart certificates
- Helpful branch and phone staff for military families
- Strong mobile app
Common complaints
- Membership limited to military-linked households
- Accounts restricted or closed during fraud reviews
- Overdraft and low-balance problems on checking accounts
- Hold times when reaching member services
Early withdrawal penalties
If you take money out before maturity, Navy Federal keeps the lesser of the dividends earned since opening or:
- 90 days of dividends on the amount withdrawn for terms of 1 year or less
- 180 days for terms over 1 year
- 365 days for terms of 5 years or more
If a withdrawal drops the balance below the minimum, the certificate closes and the penalty applies to the whole amount. Withdrawals in the first 6 days of a new certificate cost 7 days of dividends. After maturity, you have a 21-day grace period to withdraw or change terms without penalty.
Who can open a Navy Federal certificate
You need to be a member. That includes active duty, Reserve and National Guard members, veterans, Defense Department civilian employees and contractors, and parents, grandparents, spouses, siblings, children, grandchildren and household members of existing members. Membership starts with a $5 deposit in share savings.
Complaints and what members report
Most complaints about Navy Federal concern checking accounts, overdrafts and credit reporting, not certificates. The BBB rates it F with 2,147 complaints in three years, while Trustpilot reviewers give it 4.4 out of 5 from more than 52,000 reviews. If you have a problem with a certificate, contact member services at 1-888-842-6328, then the CFPB or NCUA if it isn’t resolved.
Who should skip Navy Federal CDs
If you don’t already qualify for membership, a nationally available online bank or brokered CDs will usually match or beat these rates without the eligibility step. And if there’s a real chance you’ll need the money early, a high-yield savings account or a short term avoids the up to 365-day penalty on longer certificates.
Alternatives to Navy Federal
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs Open to anyone and paid more on 1 and 5 year CDs when we checked, with a $500 minimum. Read review
- Alliant Credit Union A credit union with easier membership and a slightly higher 12-month rate at $1,000. Read review
- Brokered CDs at Fidelity Higher yields on many terms and no early withdrawal penalty, since you sell on the market instead. Read review
- Treasury bills Bought free at TreasuryDirect, exempt from state income tax, and backed by the U.S. government.
Navy Federal reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What is Navy Federal's 12-month CD rate?
4.05% APY with $1,000 on a standard 12-month certificate, or 4.10% with $100,000, as of October 13, 2026. The Special EasyStart Certificate pays 4.35% on up to $3,000 with checking and direct deposit.
What is Navy Federal's best CD rate right now?
4.35% APY on the 12-month Special EasyStart Certificate, limited to $3,000. Among standard certificates, 18 months and 3 years pay 4.10% ($1,000) to 4.15% ($100,000).
What is the minimum to open a Navy Federal certificate?
$1,000 for standard certificates and $50 for EasyStart and Special EasyStart certificates.
What is Navy Federal's early withdrawal penalty?
Up to 90 days of dividends for terms of a year or less, 180 days for longer terms and 365 days for terms of 5 years or more, or all dividends earned if that's less.
Can anyone open a Navy Federal CD?
No. You must be a member, which requires a link to the military or Defense Department, either your own or a family or household member's.
Are Navy Federal certificates insured?
Yes. The NCUA insures them up to $250,000 per member, per ownership category, the credit union equivalent of FDIC insurance.
What's the difference between a share certificate and a CD?
They work the same way. Credit unions call them share certificates and pay dividends; banks call them CDs and pay interest.
What happens when my Navy Federal certificate matures?
It renews automatically into the most comparable standard certificate. You have a 21-day grace period to withdraw or change it without penalty.
Does Navy Federal have jumbo CD rates?
Balances of $100,000 or more earn about 0.05% more than the $1,000 tier, for example 4.15% instead of 4.10% on 3 years.
Can I add money to a Navy Federal certificate?
Only to EasyStart and Special EasyStart certificates, through online banking or the mobile app. Standard certificates take a single deposit.
Sources (11)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Navy Federal Credit Union: Certificate accounts and rates (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Navy Federal Credit Union: Savings FAQs (early withdrawal penalties, maturity) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Navy Federal Credit Union: EasyStart Certificate (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Navy Federal Credit Union: Membership eligibility (accessed October 13, 2026)
- FDIC: National rates and rate caps (September 21, 2026) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- CFPB: Consumer complaint database, Navy Federal Credit Union (accessed October 13, 2026)
- BBB: Navy Federal Credit Union profile (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Navy Federal Credit Union reviews (accessed October 13, 2026)
- NCUA: Share insurance coverage (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Navy Federal Credit Union: 2026 fact sheet (accessed October 13, 2026)
- CFPB: Enforcement action, Navy Federal Credit Union (2024) (accessed October 13, 2026)
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