FRONT PORCH MONEY · Issue #7 · Saturday Rate Watch
Good morning. Safe rates held steady this week. Here's what they pay now, in plain dollars, plus a fake prize call to hang up on.
THE BIG ONE: Safe rates held steady. Here's what $10,000 earns
What changed: Not much, and that's calm news for savers. On Oct. 28, the Federal Reserve left its key rate at 3.75% to 4%. Two of the 12 voters wanted a small increase. We don't guess what comes next.
Treasury bills slipped a little. A six-month bill now pays about $422 a year on $10,000, or 4.22%, as of Nov. 5. On Nov. 3 it was about $430, or 4.30%.
What it means for your check: The best online savings account we found still pays about $427 a year on $10,000, or 4.27% APY. The national average pays about $38, or 0.38%. That's a $389 gap on every $10,000, every year.
The top 1-year CD still pays about $465 a year on $10,000, or 4.65% APY. With no minimum deposit, the best we found pays about $455, or 4.55%.
What to do: Money you may need soon fits best in savings, where you can take it out any time. Money you won't touch for a year could earn a bit more in a CD. Check the table below against what your bank pays you now.
RATE WATCH: This week's full table
Safe yield | Best this week | Where | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
Online savings | About $427 a year on $10,000 (4.27% APY) | Peak Bank (online). No promo, $100 to open. | Nov. 6, 2026 |
1-year CD | About $465 a year on $10,000 (4.65% APY) | CFG Bank (online). $500 minimum. No minimum: E*TRADE, about $455 (4.55% APY). | Nov. 5, 2026 |
6-month Treasury bill | About $422 a year on $10,000 (4.22%) | TreasuryDirect or a brokerage | Nov. 5, 2026 |
5-year fixed annuity (MYGA) | About $605 a year on $10,000 (6.05%) | Athene, rated A+ by AM Best. $100,000 minimum. Insurance product, not a bank deposit, not FDIC-insured. | Nov. 6, 2026 |
On $10,000, a 6-month T-bill at this week's rate pays about $206 over its six months. For comparison, the national average savings account paid about $38 a year on $10,000, or 0.38%, in October.
Dollar figures are about one year's interest on $10,000. Rates change often, so check before you open anything.
How we pick:
Savings and CDs: the highest standard rate we found at an online bank. We skip short-term promotions, promo codes, direct-deposit rules and memberships.
Treasury bills: the 26-week bill's daily yield, from the U.S. Treasury. Auction results can differ a little.
Annuities: the highest five-year guaranteed rate we found from an insurer rated A+ or better by AM Best.
What's protected, and how:
At FDIC-insured banks, deposits are covered to at least $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, at each bank.
Treasury bills are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Their interest is free of state and local income tax, but federal tax still applies.
Annuities aren't bank deposits, and FDIC insurance doesn't cover them. The guarantee depends on the insurer's financial strength. Taking money out early can mean a surrender charge.
ONE SMART MOVE: Ask if an annuity rate is "simple" or "compound"
Some fixed annuities pay simple interest. That means you earn interest only on what you put in, not on past interest. So the real yield is lower than the rate shown.
Here's the math on $10,000 over five years. A 6.65% simple rate earns $3,325. A 6.05% rate that compounds each year earns about $3,414. The lower rate pays about $89 more.
Before you buy, ask two questions. Does interest compound, and how often? And what is the insurer's AM Best rating? Get both answers in writing.
SCAM WATCH: The "you won a prize" charity call
The FTC warned about this one on Oct. 26. A caller says you've won a prize. He may say it's linked to a charity you already give to.
Why it matters: On Nov. 4, the FTC pointed to its new report on older adults. People 60 and older reported about $3 billion in fraud losses in 2025, up from about $600 million in 2020. They were more likely than younger adults to report losing money to prize scams.
How it works: Scammers use real charity names, or names that sound real. They call, or place ads on social media and search engines like Google and Bing. Then they ask for a fee or your Social Security number to "release" the prize.
How to spot it: Real prizes are free. The FTC says, "The moment someone tells you to pay to claim your prize, you know you're dealing with a scam." And caller ID can be faked, even when it shows a name you trust.
What to do: Hang up. Never pay or share personal details to get a prize. Before you give this season, see the FTC's tips on donating safely. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
ASK FRONT PORCH
A question we hear a lot: "What if I need my CD money before it matures?"
You can usually take it out, but you'll likely pay a penalty. Federal law sets a minimum penalty, but no maximum.
Take money out within six days of opening the CD, and the penalty is at least seven days' simple interest. After that, each bank sets its own rules.
Read the penalty in your account agreement before you open a CD. If you might need the money soon, a savings account may fit better.
That's it for this week. Hit reply and send us your biggest money question. We read every one. Front Porch Money isn't affiliated with the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the FTC, the Treasury or any government agency. Rates are for general comparison, not a recommendation of any bank, insurer or product.
— The Front Porch Money team
Front Porch Money is general education, not personal financial, tax, legal or investment advice. Some links are from partners who may pay us; see our disclosures.