How much will $18,000 earn in a CD this year (and is it worth opening)?

While it may be tempting to open a certificate of deposit (CD) account with a large, round number, the reality is that all of your money needs protection right now. And, if you can grow that money with a competitive interest rate, as a CD still allows, that will be even more advantageous. So, while depositing a five-figure amount such as $10,000 or $20,000 may look good on paper, even a deposit like $18,000 may be worth protecting in a CD account now.

At the same time, early withdrawal penalties on CDs can easily negate most or even all of the interest earned on the account to that point. And that could be significant on accounts of this size. So, not only will you need to be able to keep the money untouched through the maturity date, but you'll also want to understand the financial reward for doing so, in advance. Thanks to the CD's fixed interest rate, this will be easy to calculate. And, if you act now, you'll also regain access to your funds by the end of the year (or in early January 2027).

So, how much will $18,000 earn in a CD this year, and is it even worth opening? Below, we'll detail the answers to both questions.

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How much will $18,000 earn in a CD this year?

The interest-earning potential of an $18,000 CD account in the remainder of 2026 won't be robust. But it will be exponentially better than what savers can secure with a traditional savings account and it will be secure in a way that alternative accounts with variable rates cannot offer. 

Here's how much $18,000 will earn this year, then, calculated against three available rates and terms and the assumption that no penalties impact your earning potential:

• $18,000 3-month CD at 3.90%: $172.99 upon maturity
• $18,000 6-month CD at 4.15%: $369.70 upon maturity
• $18,000 9-month CD at 4.00%: $537.34 upon maturity

While the 9-month CD will technically mature in 2027, it can still be worth opening for those looking to earn more than $500 worth of interest in under a year. This interest is also guaranteed, even if rates decline before the account has matured. And with the potential to find slightly higher rates by shopping around (and by using an online bank), savers may be able to earn even more if they first take the time to carefully consider all of their current options.

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Is an $18,000 CD account worth opening now?

If you can easily afford to part with this much money through the maturity date, and the profits you earn by doing so are more attractive to you than what you may otherwise be able to make with strategic investing, then an $18,000 CD account can be worth it. Remember, too, that CDs are safe and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per account, so you'll have plenty of additional protection with a CD of this size. 

And with traditional savings accounts offering rates comfortably under 1% and high-yield savings and money market account rates variable and subject to rise or fall based on market conditions, this easily becomes not only one of your most profitable savings account options but also one of the safest ones.

The bottom line

An $18,000 deposit into a CD this year can result in hundreds of dollars of interest earned and, if you keep the account into 2027, even more than $500. While these earnings won't make you rich, they will still boost your bottom line, all while still protecting your principal in a way that many other savings accounts can't and won't. Before diving in, however, be sure to check your online banking options carefully as these institutions tend to offer more competitive rates than banks with physical branch locations.