#1 1-Yr
Alliant 4.60%
Which Credit Union Has the Best CD Rates? — Top 10 Ranked (2026)
Quick take: Of the 60+ NCUA-insured CUs with national or near-national accessibility, the top 10 cluster within a 30 basis-point band on 1-year share certificates (4.30-4.60%) and a similar band on 5-year certificates. The ranking below prioritizes 1-year APY first, then 5-year APY, then ease of membership. NCUA insurance applies equally to all of them.
Top of the leaderboard · share certificates
#1 5-Yr (tie)
Alliant / Bethpage / NASA 4.10%+
Easiest Join
Bethpage ($5)
Insurance
NCUA
As of
2026-06-27
The top 10 ranking
| Rank | Credit Union | 1-Yr APY | 5-Yr APY | How to Join |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alliant Credit Union Best overall for open-eligibility 1-year rate | 4.60% | 4.15% | $5 to Foster Care to Success (national) |
| #2 | Connexus Credit Union Strong runner-up for open-eligibility rates | 4.55% | 4.10% | $5 Connexus Association donation (national) |
| #3 | Bethpage Federal Credit Union Easiest membership pathway — no donation required | 4.50% | 4.10% | $5 savings account (national, no donation) |
| #4 | NASA Federal Credit Union Frequent jumbo promo CDs above the rate sheet | 4.50% | 4.10% | Free National Space Society membership |
| #5 | Service Credit Union Solid national pathway via ACC | 4.50% | 4.10% | Free American Consumer Council membership |
| #6 | First Tech FCU Best for tech-employee high-balance buyers | 4.50% | 4.10% | Computer History Museum (~$15/yr) or tech employer |
| #7 | Andrews FCU ACC pathway + military focus | 4.50% | 4.10% | Free American Consumer Council membership |
| #8 | DCU (Digital Federal) Best EWP on short-term CDs (60 days) | 4.45% | 4.05% | Reach Out for Schools (free) |
| #9 | VyStar Credit Union Best regional pick for FL/GA buyers | 4.45% | 4.05% | FL/GA residency or military |
| #10 | Affinity Plus FCU National pathway via $25 donation | 4.40% | 4.05% | $25 Affinity Plus Foundation donation (national) |
APYs as of 2026-06-27. Rates change; confirm on each CU's website before funding. Promotional CDs (often on non-standard terms like 11/13/19/25 months) may pay above the standard rate sheet — always ask before opening.
Why these 10 made the cut
The 60+ credit unions with national or near-national accessibility cluster around three rate tiers in 2026:
- Tier 1 (4.50-4.60% 1-yr): Open-eligibility CUs competing for national membership growth. Alliant, Bethpage, Connexus, NASA, Service, First Tech, Andrews.
- Tier 2 (4.35-4.45% 1-yr): Mid-rate CUs — large regional or restricted-eligibility CUs that still post competitive numbers. DCU, VyStar, Affinity Plus.
- Tier 3 (below 4.30% 1-yr): Conservative or geo-restricted CUs that don't compete aggressively for national money. SchoolsFirst, SECU NC, smaller community CUs.
If you can qualify by direct eligibility (employer, residency, military, family member), your local CU is worth checking even if it's in Tier 3 — the convenience of in-person service may matter more than 15-20 basis points.
Membership eligibility — the key gate
Most credit union "rate shopping" articles ignore the membership question entirely. That's a mistake. A 4.60% rate you can't access is worse than a 4.45% rate you can. Here's the practical taxonomy:
- Open-eligibility (anyone in the U.S.): Alliant, Bethpage, Connexus, NASA FCU, Service CU, Andrews FCU, DCU, Consumers CU, Affinity Plus, LMCU. Most use a $5 donation or free non-profit membership as the qualifying step.
- Geo or employer restricted: BECU (WA), Patelco (CA), SchoolsFirst (CA educators), RBFCU (TX), SECU (NC state), Suncoast (FL), VyStar (FL/GA), Wescom (CA), Mountain America (UT/ID/NV/AZ/NM/MT), Truliant (NC/SC/VA), GTE Financial (FL), Redstone (AL/TN), Knoxville TVA (East TN), Star One (Lockheed/Bay Area), American 1 (south-central MI).
- Specialty: Navy Federal (military), First Tech (tech employer or Computer History Museum ~$15/yr), PenFed (now open to anyone).
When all 10 lose to a MYGA
A Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity (MYGA) is the insurance-industry equivalent of a CD: locked rate, locked term, principal-protected, backed by an A-rated carrier and your state's guaranty association. At the 5-year term, A-rated MYGAs are currently paying around 5.40% — well above all 10 credit unions on this ranking.
Math at $250,000 over 5 years (simple annual compounding):
- Best CU 5-Year @ 4.15% (Alliant): $306,363 ending balance
- 5-Year MYGA @ 5.40%: $325,194 ending balance
- Difference: $18,831 in favor of the MYGA
MYGAs are tax-deferred (interest isn't taxed until withdrawal); share certificates are taxed annually as ordinary income. For taxable retirement money you don't plan to touch for 5+ years, the MYGA usually wins on both pre-tax and after-tax math. The trade-off: MYGAs have a surrender schedule (usually 5-10 years), while share certificates have shorter penalty periods. See CD vs MYGA Comparison.
Practical strategy: how to actually use this ranking
- Decide your term first. 6-12 months? Top of the table at the 1-yr column. 3-5 years? Run the MYGA comparison before locking the CU.
- Pick a CU you can actually join. Open-eligibility CUs at the top of the list are usually the right starting point.
- Don't chase 5 basis points. The difference between Alliant (#1) and Andrews (#7) on a 1-year $50,000 CD is about $50 over the term. Not worth opening another account for.
- Diversify above $250K. Split across two CUs (or one CU and one bank, or one CU and one MYGA) to extend NCUA / FDIC / state-guaranty coverage.
- Set a maturity calendar reminder. Auto-renewal at the posted rate is usually below the promotional or jumbo rate available if you re-shop at maturity.
FAQ — Best credit union CD rates 2026
Which credit union has the absolute highest CD rate right now?
As of 2026-06-27, Alliant Credit Union leads on 1-year share certificates at ~4.60% APY among nationally accessible (open-eligibility) credit unions. Some restricted-membership CUs may pay slightly higher promotional rates on specific terms — check each CU's site directly before funding.
Are credit union CDs really safer than bank CDs?
They're equally safe. NCUA insures federally chartered credit unions to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category — the same coverage limit and federal backing as FDIC for banks. In 50+ years, no depositor has lost insured funds at an NCUA-insured CU.
Which credit union is easiest to join from anywhere in the U.S.?
Bethpage Federal Credit Union is the easiest — just open a $5 savings account, no donation required. Runner-up: Alliant ($5 donation to Foster Care to Success, which Alliant pays for you). All open-eligibility CUs on this ranking can be joined in 10-15 minutes online.
Why do credit unions usually pay higher CD rates than banks?
Credit unions are non-profit, member-owned cooperatives. Profits get returned to members in the form of better deposit rates, lower loan rates, and lower fees, instead of going to shareholders. Banks have to satisfy outside shareholders first; CUs only have to satisfy members.
What's the catch with membership 'workarounds'?
There isn't one. Sponsor-organization or donation-based Associate Memberships are explicitly built into the credit union's bylaws and approved by the NCUA. Once you're an Associate Member, you have the same access to accounts, certificates, and rates as direct-eligibility members. The donations are real; they support real non-profits.
Should I just open CDs at all 10 of these CUs?
No. Concentrate at 2-3 to keep account management manageable. Use multiple CUs primarily to extend NCUA insurance coverage beyond $250K, not as a strategy. Pick the best rate at your term, plus a backup that you also qualify for.
When does a MYGA still beat the best CU CD?
At terms of 5 years or longer. A-rated MYGAs currently pay around 5.40% on 5-year contracts, versus 4.10-4.15% at the best credit unions. That's a 125-130bps spread. Add the tax-deferral benefit, and the MYGA usually wins on both pre-tax and after-tax math. See [CD vs MYGA Comparison](/cd-reviews/cd-vs-myga-comparison/).
Related reading
- Credit Union vs Bank CD: structural differences
- Best 5-Year CD Rates 2026 — 30+ institutions
- CD vs MYGA Comparison
- CD Ladder vs MYGA Ladder strategy
- Best MYGA Rates 2026
See the MYGA option alongside the top 3 CUs
Hans Goldstein, independent licensed insurance producer.
Before you open at the top-ranked CU, see what an A-rated MYGA pays at the same term. Often 100-150 basis points higher with tax deferral built in.
Drop your info and you'll get a written four-way: top 3 CUs from this ranking plus the best MYGA at your chosen term, with end-of-term math at your actual deposit amount. No pitch, no follow-up calls unless you ask.
Hans Goldstein · 213-414-2808 · NPN 20602398, independent licensed insurance producer appointed with multiple A-rated carriers
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Disclosure
This ranking reflects publicly posted credit-union rates and approximate APYs as of 2026-06-27. Share-certificate rates change frequently — confirm current rates directly with each credit union before opening an account. Rankings are based on Hans Goldstein's independent review using publicly available rate sheets; institutional accessibility may vary by individual eligibility. This article is general information for educational purposes; it is not a personalized recommendation, solicitation, or offer of any specific banking or insurance product. All credit unions discussed are NCUA-insured to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, the same coverage limit and federal backing as FDIC. Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (NPN 20602398) appointed with multiple A-rated annuity carriers; he is not a credit-union employee, broker-dealer, or registered representative, and is not paid by any credit union for this content. MYGA comparisons reference rates from A-rated carriers as of the date stated; carrier rates change monthly.