Key Advantages
A certificate of deposit from Sascu delivers something that no stock, bond, or mutual fund can offer: a guaranteed return, fully insured, with a maturity date you can circle on the calendar. The APY you see at account opening is the APY you earn through the entire term. Rate movements in the broader market do not affect your CD — not the yield, not the principal, not the payout schedule.
Every Sascu CD carries FDIC insurance up to the maximum allowed by law. When you combine individual, joint, trust, and IRA registration categories, coverage can extend well beyond the base limit. Sascu deposit operations can model your specific account structure to confirm coverage levels. The Nationwide Multistate Licensing System maintains a registry of mortgage and deposit-taking institutions at nmlsconsumeraccess.org, where Sascu's registration and regulatory standing are publicly available for verification.
Standard CD Terms — Short, medium, and long commitments
Sascu offers six standard CD terms: three months, six months, twelve months, twenty-four months, thirty-six months, and sixty months. The rate curve typically slopes upward — longer commitments earn higher yields — but an inverted curve environment can produce situations where medium-term CDs offer the best available rate. The rates published on this page update within one business day of any change, and the rate in effect when your application is processed is the rate you receive.
Interest on Sascu CDs compounds daily and credits monthly. You can choose to have credited interest remain in the CD to compound further, or transfer monthly to a Sascu checking or savings account for current income. At maturity, a ten-calendar-day grace period begins during which you can withdraw funds, transfer to another account, add to the balance, or change the term without penalty. If no instruction is received during the grace period, the CD automatically renews at the current rate for the same term.
Bump-Up CDs — One rate adjustment if markets move
The Sascu Bump-Up CD, available in twenty-four-month and thirty-six-month terms, allows a one-time rate increase during the CD term. If Sascu raises the standard rate for the same term while your Bump-Up CD is active, you can exercise the bump option once to capture the higher rate for the remainder of the term. The starting rate on a Bump-Up CD is typically slightly lower than the standard CD rate for the same term — a tradeoff for the optionality — but the feature protects against committing to a long term right before a rate increase cycle.
Exercising the bump requires a phone call to Sascu deposit services or a secure message through the online banking portal. The new rate applies from the date of the request forward and does not retroactively adjust interest already credited. After exercising the bump, no further rate adjustments are available on that CD.
IRA CDs — Tax-advantaged guaranteed growth
Sascu IRA CDs hold certificate of deposit investments within a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA structure, combining guaranteed returns with tax-advantaged treatment. Traditional IRA CDs allow pre-tax contributions that grow tax-deferred until distribution. Roth IRA CDs accept after-tax contributions and provide tax-free growth and qualified withdrawals. Both IRA types are available across the full range of Sascu CD terms from three months to five years.
The annual IRA contribution limits set by the IRS apply to IRA CDs just as they apply to brokerage IRA accounts. Sascu does not provide tax advice, and account holders should consult a qualified tax professional regarding contribution eligibility, deduction limits, and distribution rules before opening an IRA CD. Transferring an existing IRA from another institution to a Sascu IRA CD follows standard IRA transfer procedures and does not trigger a taxable event when processed as a trustee-to-trustee transfer.
CD Laddering — Liquidity without sacrificing yield
CD laddering distributes a total investment across multiple CDs with staggered maturity dates. A basic five-rung ladder divides the principal equally into one-year, two-year, three-year, four-year, and five-year CDs. Each year, one CD matures and provides access to a portion of the total funds. If rates have risen, the maturing CD renews at the higher five-year rate. If rates have fallen, only a fraction of the portfolio renews at the lower rate while the remaining CDs continue earning their original higher rates.
The laddering approach addresses the central tension of CD investing — the tradeoff between rate and liquidity. By keeping a portion of funds within twelve months of maturity at all times, laddering ensures that an unexpected need for cash never forces an early withdrawal penalty on the entire balance. A Sascu deposit specialist can model ladder scenarios based on your total investment amount and income needs, showing the expected monthly interest income and the rolling maturity schedule.
Sascu CD Rate Comparison
Current APY, minimum deposit, penalty structure, and features across every CD product.
| CD Term | APY | Minimum Deposit | Early Withdrawal Penalty | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Month CD | 3.25% | $500 | 30 days interest | Short commitment, auto-renewal with grace period |
| 6-Month CD | 3.75% | $500 | 90 days interest | Good for near-term cash with a guaranteed return above savings |
| 12-Month CD | 4.50% | $500 | 180 days interest | Most popular term, balance of rate and commitment |
| 24-Month CD | 4.85% | $500 | 270 days interest | Also available as Bump-Up CD at slightly lower starting rate |
| 36-Month CD | 5.10% | $500 | 365 days interest | Bump-Up option available; strong mid-curve rate |
| 60-Month CD | 5.40% | $500 | 545 days interest | Highest guaranteed rate; IRA CD eligible |
Certificate of Deposit Questions
How does a Sascu certificate of deposit work?
You deposit a fixed amount of money for a fixed term at a fixed interest rate. Sascu guarantees that rate for the entire term regardless of what happens to market interest rates. Interest compounds daily and credits monthly. At maturity, you have a ten-day grace period to withdraw the funds, transfer them to another Sascu account, add to the balance, or change the term. If no action is taken, the CD renews automatically at the current rate for the same term. All Sascu CDs carry full FDIC insurance coverage.
What are the early withdrawal penalties on Sascu CDs?
Early withdrawal penalties vary by CD term. The three-month CD carries a penalty of thirty days of interest on the amount withdrawn. The six-month CD penalty is ninety days of interest. The twelve-month penalty is one hundred eighty days. The twenty-four-month penalty is two hundred seventy days. The thirty-six-month penalty is three hundred sixty-five days. The sixty-month penalty is five hundred forty-five days. Penalties apply to the portion withdrawn, not the entire balance. In cases where the accrued interest is less than the penalty amount, the difference is deducted from principal. Sascu does not permit partial early withdrawals — any early withdrawal must close the entire CD.
What is CD laddering and how do I set one up at Sascu?
CD laddering spreads your total investment across multiple CDs with staggered maturities so a portion of your funds becomes available each year. A five-rung ladder divides the principal equally into one, two, three, four, and five-year CDs. When the one-year CD matures, you reinvest it in a new five-year CD, maintaining the five-rung structure while making one-fifth of your funds accessible annually. A Sascu deposit specialist can model a ladder for any investment amount and confirm the expected monthly interest income and annual maturity schedule before you commit.
Can I hold a Sascu CD inside an IRA?
Yes, Sascu IRA CDs are available across all standard CD terms from three months to five years, within both Traditional IRA and Roth IRA structures. Traditional IRA CDs accept pre-tax contributions that grow tax-deferred. Roth IRA CDs accept after-tax contributions and provide tax-free growth and qualified withdrawals. Annual contribution limits apply as set by the IRS. IRA transfers from other institutions to a Sascu IRA CD are processed as trustee-to-trustee transfers and do not trigger a taxable event. Sascu does not provide tax advice, so consult a qualified tax professional regarding your specific situation.
Does Sascu guarantee the CD rate until I open the account?
The rate published on this page at the time your application is processed is the rate you receive. Sascu updates CD rates within one business day of any change, so the rate displayed is current. Because CD rates are subject to change without notice, the rate in effect when funds are received and the account is opened applies even if it differs from the rate displayed when you first visited this page. You can call (866) 729-4728 to confirm the current rate before initiating a deposit. Rate lock guarantees are not available on standard CD products, though the Bump-Up CD feature provides a one-time rate adjustment if published rates increase during your CD term.
What happens when my Sascu CD reaches maturity?
At maturity, Sascu provides a ten-calendar-day grace period during which you can withdraw all or part of the balance, transfer funds to a Sascu checking or savings account, add to the CD balance, or change the CD term. If Sascu does not receive instructions by the end of the grace period, the CD automatically renews for the same term at the current published rate. Renewal notices are mailed approximately twenty days before maturity and also appear as alerts in the Sascu online banking dashboard for account holders enrolled in electronic notices.
A Sascu certificate of deposit locks in a guaranteed return without exposing your principal to market volatility. Whether you select a short-term CD to park proceeds from a home sale or commit to a five-year term for retirement income planning, the rate you see is the rate you earn. Pairing CDs with a high-yield savings account creates a two-tier strategy — savings for near-term liquidity, CDs for longer-term guaranteed growth. When a CD matures, the proceeds can transfer seamlessly to a Sascu checking account for immediate use or roll into a new CD at the current rate.
For retirement savers, Sascu IRA CDs combine the certainty of a fixed return with the tax advantages of an IRA structure. If your financial picture includes borrowing needs alongside deposit goals, mortgage financing and personal loan products are available with the same community-bank relationship approach. Access all your deposit and loan accounts through the Sascu login portal, and use auto financing when a vehicle purchase is part of your near-term plan. Review money market accounts for an earning vehicle that offers check-writing alongside competitive rates.