You've probably walked past a Chase branch a thousand times. It’s that blue hexagon on every street corner. If you’re like most people, you’ve thought about parkin' your savings there just because it’s easy. But honestly, looking at chase certificate of deposit rates can be a bit of a reality check once you start comparing them to the rest of the market.
Banking with a giant has its perks. You get an app that actually works. You get physical branches. You get the peace of mind that comes with a "too big to fail" institution. But that convenience costs you. In the world of CDs, you’re basically trading interest for accessibility.
The Current State of Chase Certificate of Deposit Rates
Let’s get into the weeds. As of early 2026, Chase is still sticking to its guns with a tiered interest system. If you just open a standard CD without a linked Chase checking account, you’re likely looking at rates that feel like they’re stuck in 2015. We're talking 0.01% or 0.02% APY for many standard terms. It’s practically nothing.
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However, everything changes if you have a "Relationship."
Chase rewards loyalty, or more accurately, they reward you for keeping all your money in their ecosystem. If you link a qualifying personal checking account, you unlock "Relationship Rates." These are significantly higher than the standard ones, but they still rarely lead the pack when compared to online-only banks like Ally or Marcus by Goldman Sachs.
Why the Terms Matter More Than the Percentages
Chase loves their "Special Term" CDs. Usually, these aren't your standard 12-month or 24-month blocks. They’ll offer a 7-month or a 15-month special. These specific windows are where the "best" chase certificate of deposit rates live.
If you go off-script and pick a random 18-month term, you might get burned with a lower rate than the 15-month special. It's weird. It's counterintuitive. But that's how big bank math works. They want to funnel deposits into specific liquidity buckets.
Is the Relationship Rate Actually Worth It?
To get the best deal, you usually need a Chase Total Checking, Chase Premier Plus, or Chase Sapphire Checking account.
For someone with $100,000 to drop into a CD, that bump in APY matters. On a $10,000 deposit, the difference between a 0.05% standard rate and a 4.00% relationship rate (hypothetically, depending on the current Fed environment) is hundreds of dollars.
But here is the kicker. Even with the relationship bump, Chase often lags behind the top-tier high-yield options.
Why? Because Chase doesn't need your money as badly as a smaller bank does. They have millions of customers and a massive balance sheet. They don’t have to bribe you with 5% APY to keep the lights on. They know you're there for the convenience of the ATM around the corner.
The Hidden Penalty: What Happens if You Leave Early?
Life happens. Maybe your car dies. Maybe your roof leaks. If you have to pull your money out of a Chase CD before the term ends, they’re going to take a bite out of your earnings.
For terms of 6 months to less than 24 months, the penalty is usually 180 days of interest. If you haven't even earned 180 days of interest yet, they’ll take it out of your principal. Yeah, you could actually end up with less money than you started with.
That’s the risk. You’re locking your money in a vault. If you want the key early, you pay the toll.
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Strategy: The CD Ladder Method
If you’re determined to stay with Chase—maybe because you have a mortgage there or you just love the interface—don’t put everything in one basket.
Think about a ladder.
Instead of putting $50,000 into a 5-year CD, you split it. $10k in a 3-month, $10k in a 6-month, $10k in a 9-month, and so on. As each one matures, you reinvest it at the current chase certificate of deposit rates. This keeps your cash relatively liquid while still capturing some yield.
It’s a smart way to hedge your bets against interest rate changes. If rates go up, you have cash coming due soon to take advantage of it. If rates go down, you’ve already locked in higher returns on your longer-term rungs.
Comparing Chase to the Field
Let's be real for a second. If your primary goal is maximizing every single penny of interest, Chase is rarely the winner.
Online banks don't have to pay for thousands of marble-floored branches or thousands of tellers. They pass those savings to you. You can often find a 12-month CD at an online bank that beats Chase’s best relationship rate by a full percentage point or more.
But there’s a "trust factor." Some people just don't feel comfortable with a bank that doesn't have a physical building. I get that. There is value in being able to walk in and look a human in the eye if something goes wrong with your wire transfer.
Real-World Examples of the Rate Gap
Imagine you have $25,000.
- Scenario A: You put it in a Chase Standard CD at 0.01%. After a year, you’ve earned $2.50. That’s a cup of coffee. Actually, it’s not even a cup of coffee anymore. It’s a literal insult.
- Scenario B: You have a Chase Sapphire account and get a Relationship Rate of 3.50% on a special term. Now you’ve made $875. That’s a weekend getaway.
- Scenario C: You go to a high-yield online competitor offering 5.00%. You’ve made $1,250.
The gap between Scenario B and C is $375. Is the convenience of having your CD in the same app as your credit card worth $375 a year to you? For some, yes. For others, absolutely not.
What to Watch Out For in 2026
The Federal Reserve is always the puppet master here. When the Fed moves the federal funds rate, chase certificate of deposit rates eventually follow, but they usually move like molasses on the way up and like lightning on the way down.
When rates are rising, Chase will be slow to give you more interest. When rates start falling, expect those CD specials to vanish overnight.
Also, keep an eye on the "Auto-Renewal" feature.
Most Chase CDs will automatically renew at the end of the term. But here’s the trap: they renew at the current rate, not your old rate. And they usually renew into a standard term, not the "Special" term you might have started with.
You usually have a 10-day grace period after the CD matures to pull your money out without penalty. Mark your calendar. If you miss that window, your money is locked up again at whatever rate they feel like giving you.
Minimum Deposits and Fine Print
You generally need at least $1,000 to open a Chase CD. That’s pretty standard. Some of their better rates might require $5,000 or even $10,000.
If you’re working with "Jumbo" amounts—usually $100,000 or more—you might have a little more leverage. But honestly, at that level, you should probably be talking to a wealth advisor about Treasuries or Municipal bonds rather than just sitting in a retail CD.
Actionable Steps for Your Savings
If you’re ready to move forward, don’t just click "open" on the first offer you see in the app.
- Check your account type. If you don't have a Chase checking account, don't even bother with their CDs. The standard rates are a waste of your time.
- Look for the "Special" terms. Ignore the round numbers like 12 or 24 months. Look for the weird ones like 7, 11, or 15 months. That’s where the marketing budget is hidden.
- Compare the "Relationship" vs. "Standard" table. Ensure your accounts are properly linked before the CD is funded.
- Set a "Maturity Alert." Don't let the 10-day grace period slip by. Use your phone’s calendar to remind you three days before the CD matures so you can decide whether to roll it over or move it to a higher-yielding home.
- Calculate the penalty. Before you sign, look at exactly how many days of interest you lose if you break the term. If you think you might need the cash in six months, don't buy a 12-month CD.
Chase is a powerhouse for a reason. They offer stability and a seamless user experience. But when it comes to chase certificate of deposit rates, you have to be a savvy shopper. You can't just assume the "default" option is a good one. It's almost always designed to benefit the bank’s bottom line more than yours. Be intentional, look for the specials, and always keep an eye on the exit door.
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Decide if the convenience of the blue hexagon is worth the potential "interest tax" you're paying by not going with a hungry, high-yield online competitor. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it definitely isn't.