Revolut CD Alternatives Review (2026), For US Customers Who Want Real CD Yield
Quick take: Revolut is a UK-headquartered fintech that operates in the US through partner banks (Cross River Bank for savings, Lead Bank for its cards). US Revolut customers can hold FDIC-insured USD balances but cannot open CDs through Revolut. For locked-rate yield, US Revolut users need to add an external US bank account. This guide ranks the best alternatives.
| Plan (monthly fee) | High Yield account APY | Other Savings APY | Source, as of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard ($0) | 3.5% | 2.9% | revolut.com pricing plans, APYs accurate as of 9/1/2026 |
| Premium ($9.99) | 3.75% | 3.0% | revolut.com pricing plans, 9/1/2026 |
| Metal ($16.99) | 4.0% | 3.1% | revolut.com pricing plans, 9/1/2026 |
Only one High Yield account is allowed, limited to $10,000 of customer-initiated deposits. Revolut still offers no CDs in the US. Savings are held at Cross River Bank (Sutton Bank for vaults opened on or before July 29, 2025); cards are issued by Lead Bank.
CD vs MYGA, after tax
What $100,000 earns in 5 years: CD vs MYGA, after tax
Rates used: CD 4.50%, the top nationally available 5-year CD (DepositAccounts, September 24, 2026); change it to the rate you are offered. MYGA 5.95%, the best A-rated rate we track as of October 13, 2026: Delaware Life Pinnacle Plus 5-year (AM Best A-, negative outlook, 7/31/2026), $100,000 and up, effective October 6, 2026 (Delaware Life rate sheet).
| CD, interest taxed every year | $118,826 |
|---|---|
| MYGA, tax-deferred, before tax | $133,507 |
| MYGA after paying tax on all the interest at withdrawal | $126,136 |
| Tax deferral alone adds about | $674 |
| MYGA ahead of the CD, after tax | $7,310 |
Assumes 22% federal and 0% state income tax, no withdrawals, rates held for the whole term. MYGA interest is taxed as ordinary income when you withdraw it, not as capital gains. Gains taken before age 59 1/2 can owe a 10% IRS penalty, and cashing out early can cost a surrender charge. In an IRA both grow tax-deferred, so the edge there is the rate alone. Bank and credit union deposits are FDIC or NCUA insured up to the limits; a MYGA is backed by the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability and your state's guaranty association up to its limits, not the FDIC. General education, not tax, legal or financial advice.
Revolut savings rates and alternatives (as of September 2026)
| Term | APY | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Revolut Savings US (Standard, free) | 3.5% High Yield (up to $10K deposits) / 2.9% other savings (9/1/2026) | $0.01 to earn |
| Revolut Savings US (Premium $9.99/mo) | 3.75% / 3.0% (9/1/2026) | $0.01 to earn |
| Revolut Savings US (Metal $16.99/mo) | 4.0% / 3.1% (9/1/2026) | $0.01 to earn |
| Alternative: top online savings accounts (no fee) | 3.00% to 4.00% APY (bank sites, 9/24/2026) | Varies |
| Alternative: top nationally available 1-year CDs | 4.35% to 4.50% APY locked (DepositAccounts, 9/25/2026) | Varies |
| Alternative: A-rated 5-year MYGA | 5.80% to 6.00% locked, tax-deferred (AnnuityRateWatch, 9/24/2026) | Varies by carrier |
Revolut APYs from its US pricing page, accurate as of September 1, 2026 (checked September 25, 2026). Rates change frequently; confirm before opening an account.
Rates expire like milk.
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How Revolut works in the US
Revolut is headquartered in London (FCA-regulated in the UK as Revolut Bank UAB via Lithuanian charter). In the US, Revolut is not a bank: savings are provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC (vaults opened on or before July 29, 2025 sit at Sutton Bank), and its cards are issued by Lead Bank, Member FDIC, with deposit insurance up to $250,000 per depositor at the partner bank.
The US product is more limited than the UK product. US Revolut users get a US debit card, multi-currency wallet, fee-free FX up to monthly limits, and a tiered USD Savings account. CDs are not offered to US customers and the company has not announced plans to add them.
Why Revolut Savings rates are tied to paid tiers
Revolut's US savings APY is tiered by subscription level. As of September 1, 2026, the High Yield account paid 3.5% on Standard (free), 3.75% on Premium ($9.99/month) and 4% on Metal ($16.99/month); other savings balances paid 2.9%, 3.0% and 3.1%. The High Yield account is capped at $10,000 of deposits, so the subscription fee swamps the rate bump: at a $5,000 balance, Metal's 4% earns $200 over a year while the subscription costs $203.88. Net of fees you're behind a free online savings account.
Subscription fees may be worth it for heavy international travelers who use the FX and travel-protection features. For a US customer who just wants yield, the subscription math doesn't work.
What we like about Revolut CDs
- FDIC coverage via partner banks such as Cross River Bank ($250K cap)
- Excellent multi-currency wallet and FX features (best-in-class for international travelers)
- Strong app and user experience inherited from Revolut's UK product
- Can hold multiple currencies; useful for cross-border life
- Same login for spending, savings, currency exchange, and crypto
What we don't
- No CDs available to US customers
- Best savings APY (4%, 9/1/2026) requires the $16.99/month Metal plan and applies to only $10,000 of deposits; net of fees it trails free competitors
- Free tier pays 3.5% on the capped High Yield account and 2.9% on other savings (9/1/2026), versus 3.00% to 4.00% at leading no-fee online savings accounts (9/24/2026)
- Revolut UK has had regulatory scrutiny (FCA conditions on UK bank charter; Lithuanian regulator oversight), US partner-bank structure protects FDIC-insured deposits but worth knowing
- Limited US retirement-product lineup (no IRA, no MYGA, no annuity)
How Revolut CDs compare vs peers
If this rate is on your shortlist, you should also be pricing:
| Competitor | Term | APY |
|---|---|---|
| Marcus Online Savings (no fee) | Variable rate | 3.50% APY (9/24/2026) |
| Ally Online Savings (no fee) | Variable rate | 3.00% APY (9/24/2026) |
| Live Oak Bank Personal Savings | Variable rate | 4.00% APY (valid as of 9/8/2026) |
| Top nationally available 1-year CDs | 1-year lock | 4.35% to 4.50% APY (DepositAccounts, 9/25/2026) |
| A-rated 5-year MYGA | 5-year lock, tax-deferred | 5.80% to 6.00% (AnnuityRateWatch, 9/24/2026) |
Internal benchmarks: Best 5-Year CD Rates 2026 · Best 1-Year CD Rates 2026 · Online vs Brick-and-Mortar CDs.
When a MYGA beats this Revolut CD
For US Revolut customers with longer-term savings, the gap vs a MYGA is dramatic. Compare $50,000 over 5 years (Revolut Standard other-savings rate of 2.9%, since the High Yield account caps deposits at $10,000; the rate is variable, so this assumes it holds):
- Revolut Standard Savings at 2.9%: $50,000 grows to $57,683 (taxable annually)
- A-rated 5-yr MYGA at 5.80% (low end of 5.80% to 6.00%, AnnuityRateWatch, 9/24/2026): $50,000 grows to $66,282 (tax-deferred)
- Pre-tax delta: $8,599 in favor of the MYGA over 5 years
Revolut is a useful tool for international spending and currency management. It is not the right place to compound long-term savings for a US-based investor. Use it for what it's good at; route long-term cash to a real US CD or MYGA.
Revolut CD FAQ
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Free side-by-side: this CD vs. top MYGA rates for your state and amount.
CDs are safe and simple. MYGAs are insurance-company versions of CDs, often paying 50-150 bps more for the same lockup. The math depends on your tax bracket and state guaranty fund coverage.
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My take
Revolut is excellent for international and multi-currency banking but is not a substitute for a real US CD provider. The fee-gated savings tiers make the headline APYs misleading at small-to-mid balances. For locked-rate yield, US Revolut customers should add an external account at Marcus, BMO Alto, or BrioDirect for short tenors and consider a MYGA for 5-year retirement money.
About Hans Goldstein: Independent retirement income specialist. CA Life License #4273294. NPN #20602398. Reviews 30+ carriers and tracks bank CD rates weekly. Phone: 213-414-2808. Email: hans@hansgoldstein.com.
Disclosure
This review reflects publicly available bank rate sheets and approximate APYs as of the date stated above. CD rates change frequently, sometimes weekly, and the rates above may be stale by the time you read this. Always confirm current rates and terms against the bank's current rate sheet and disclosure documents before opening an account. FDIC insurance covers $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category; deposits above that amount at a single bank are not insured. This article is general information for educational purposes; it is not personalized financial advice, a solicitation, or an offer of any specific product. Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (NPN 20602398) and is not a bank, deposit broker, or registered investment adviser. CDs are bank deposit products and are not sold by insurance producers; references to CDs are for comparison context only. MYGAs (multi-year guaranteed annuities) are insurance contracts, subject to surrender charges and state guaranty fund coverage rather than FDIC. Early withdrawal of a CD before the maturity date typically results in a penalty that may exceed interest earned. Always read the actual deposit account agreement and consult a licensed advisor before making material financial decisions.