Promotional CD Rate (Bonus CD Rate) Definition

A promotional certificate of deposit (CD) rate, also referred to as a bonus CD rate, is a higher than normal rate of return on a CD offered by banks and credit unions to attract new deposits. Often this promotional rate is limited to certain deposit amounts or for certain short periods of time.

Promotional certificate of deposit rates generally are offered only for short-term CDs and require a higher minimum investment. Like all CDs, they guarantee a minimum rate of return and provide the security of Federal Deposit Insurance Company (FDIC) up to $250,000 per individual at banks. Share certificates, which are the credit union version of CDs, are also low risk, as they are insured up to the same amount through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

At maturity, promotional CDs renew into a standard CD of the same maturity, with the standard posted CD rate, not a promotional rate. However, institutions may offer investors incentive to stay invested by offering a higher rollover rate than a new CD would yield. Promotional rates are used to lure new customers or entice existing customers to purchase more CDs.

A certificate of deposit is a savings certificate with a fixed maturity date and fixed interest rate issued in any denomination considering minimum investment requirements. Term lengths can be as short as a few days or as long as a decade, but the standard range is three months to five years. CDs pay higher rates than savings accounts. CDs with higher rates earn higher yields. Online banks tend to have the most competitive rates.

CDs may automatically renew upon maturity, or, at maturity, the principal plus interest earned is available for withdrawal. A CD is a time deposit that restricts holders from withdrawing funds on demand. An early withdrawal penalty is charged depending on the duration of the CD and the issuing institution.

Typical early withdrawal penalties are equal to an established amount of interest. FDIC and NCUA insurance doesn’t cover penalties incurred by withdrawing money early. Term lengths can be as short as a few days or as long as a decade, but the standard range of options is between three months and five years. The longer the term length, higher the interest rate.

Most CDs come with fixed rates, meaning annual percentage yields are locked in for the duration of the term. For example, a five-year CD with a 2.50 percent annual percentage yield (APY) would earn around $625 on a $5,000 deposit. In a savings account that earns a rate of 1.50 percent, the same amount would earn about $375. In this scenario, a CD would earn over 1.5 times a high-yield savings account.