Plan a classic CD ladder. Split a lump sum across rungs of 1, 2, 3… year terms so a CD matures every year — keeping you liquid while earning long-term rates.
| Rung | Deposit | Interest | Maturity value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,000 | +$230 | $5,230 |
| Year 2 | $5,000 | +$471 | $5,471 |
| Year 3 | $5,000 | +$723 | $5,723 |
| Year 4 | $5,000 | +$986 | $5,986 |
| Year 5 | $5,000 | +$1,262 | $6,262 |
Each rung gets an equal slice of the total deposit. Each slice compounds at the chosen APY for its term length. Longer rungs earn more total interest because they compound longer.
Deposit $25,000 across 5 rungs (1–5 years) at 4.5% APY. After year 5 the total interest is roughly $3,671. Find the best rates on our CD page.