🌐 Macro 🌍 United States

Fed holds rates into 2026; Marcus tops CD market at 4.35% APY on 18-month term

Marcus by Goldman Sachs is offering a top 18-month CD rate of 4.35% APY as the Federal Reserve holds rates steady in 2026, giving savers a window to lock high yields before the next cut.

🕐 1 min read

2 assets impacted (Bonds, Stocks). Net bias: 0 Bullish, 1 Bearish, 1 Neutral. Strongest signal: US02Y ↓ 4/10 (70% confidence).

📊 Affected Assets (2)

US02Y
Bearish 🤖 70%
📆 Mid-term 🌍 US ✨ Inferred

The Fed cut rates three times in 2025 and held in 2026; the article says now may be the last chance to lock CD rates before rates move further. If the easing cycle resumes, the 2-year Treasury yield, a proxy for Fed expectations, should drift lower and drag deposit rates with it.

Catalysts
  • Three Fed cuts in 2025 before a 2026 pause
  • Article frames current CD rates as peak before further moves
Risk Factors
  • Sticky inflation could delay Fed cuts and keep yields supported
  • CD rates are set by banks, not directly by Treasury yields
▼ Show FAQ (2) ▲ Hide FAQ
Why would US 2-year yields fall if Fed cuts resume?

The 2-year Treasury yield tracks fed funds expectations. The article notes three cuts happened in 2025 and a pause in 2026, so another cut would likely pull short-end yields lower.

Are CD rates a reliable proxy for 2-year Treasury yields?

Banks price CDs off their funding needs and policy expectations, so CD rates generally move with short-dated Treasury yields, though with lags and competitive variation.

GS
Neutral 🤖 60%
📅 Short-term 🌍 US · Explicit

The article names Marcus by Goldman Sachs as offering the top 18-month CD at 4.35% APY. The rate is a deposit-gathering tool for Goldman's consumer bank, but it also implies higher funding costs while the Fed holds rates steady. The direct stock impact is limited because the article is a rate comparison, not a demand signal.

Catalysts
  • Marcus tops 18-month CD market at 4.35% APY
  • Fed pause keeps deposit competition elevated
Risk Factors
  • High deposit costs could pressure Goldman's net interest income
  • Rate comparison is editorial content, not evidence of deposit volumes
▼ Show FAQ (2) ▲ Hide FAQ
Will Marcus's top CD rate lift Goldman Sachs revenue?

The 4.35% APY promo is designed to attract deposits to Goldman's consumer platform, but higher funding costs offset revenue gains. The article is a rate comparison, not a signal on deposit volumes.

How does the Fed pause affect Goldman Sachs?

With the Fed holding rates after 2025 cuts, banks still compete for deposits, keeping CD rates elevated. Further easing would lower deposit costs but also reduce yields on bank assets.

🎯 Key Takeaways

  • The Fed cut rates three times in 2025 and has not changed policy in 2026, leaving short-term deposit rates elevated.
  • Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers the top rate today at 4.35% APY on an 18-month CD.
  • Best CD rates generally sit on terms of one year or less, with online banks and credit unions leading the market.
  • A $1,000 one-year CD at 1.52% APY earns $15.20 in interest, while the same deposit at 4% APY earns $40.74.
  • The article frames today's CD rates as a last chance to lock yields before rates move further.
  • Traditional, bump-up, no-penalty, jumbo, and brokered CDs offer different trade-offs between yield and flexibility.
  • Jumbo CDs require a minimum deposit of roughly $100,000, but today's rate advantage over standard CDs is small.

📝 Executive Summary

The Federal Reserve has held its policy rate steady in 2026 after three cuts in 2025, keeping the top 18-month CD at 4.35% APY from Marcus by Goldman Sachs. Savers can still lock annualized yields above 4% before the next policy move, but any resumption of easing would push deposit rates lower. Online banks and credit unions continue to set the best rates on shorter terms.

❓ FAQ

What is the best CD rate today?

The highest CD rate is 4.35% APY on an 18-month CD from Marcus by Goldman Sachs, as of Saturday, September 5, 2026.

Why might today's CD rates be a last chance to lock in?

The Fed cut rates three times in 2025 and has held in 2026. If it resumes easing, banks typically lower deposit rates, making current CD yields less available.

How does CD interest compound?

Most CDs compound daily or monthly. APY measures total earnings after one year including compounding; a $1,000 one-year CD at 4% APY grows to $1,040.74.