How to Calculate CD
What is CD?
A Certificate of Deposit (CD) calculator projects the final value and interest earned when you deposit a lump sum at a fixed interest rate for a set term. CDs are FDIC-insured and offer guaranteed returns — higher rates than savings accounts in exchange for locking up funds.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Final value = Principal × (1 + r/n)^(n×t)
- 2r = annual interest rate, n = compounding periods per year, t = years
- 3Most CDs compound daily or monthly
- 4Withdrawing early incurs a penalty (typically 3–12 months of interest)
Worked Examples
Input
$10,000, 5% APY, 1 year, monthly compounding
Result
$10,511.62
$511.62 interest earned
Input
$25,000, 4.5% APY, 2 years, daily compounding
Result
$27,327.96
$2,327.96 earned risk-free
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