Safe Money: the best rates on cash you can't lose.

U.S. Treasuries: backed by the federal government

Treasury bills and savings bonds aren't bank deposits, so they aren't FDIC insured. They're backed by the U.S. government itself. You can buy them at TreasuryDirect.gov or through a brokerage. Interest is free of state and local income tax.

Coupon-equivalent yields from the U.S. Treasury, as of Oct 23, 2026. Treasury daily bill rates

Is my money safe?

Yes, up to the limit. Every bank here is FDIC insured and every credit union is NCUA insured. That means the U.S. government backs your deposits up to $250,000 per person, per bank, for each type of ownership (for example, your own account, a joint account with your spouse, and a retirement account each count separately). If a bank fails, you get your money back up to that limit. According to the FDIC, no depositor has lost a penny of insured funds since it began in 1934.

Have more than $250,000? Spread it across banks, or add a joint owner or payable-on-death beneficiaries. FDIC: how coverage works · NCUA coverage

No-penalty CDs, in plain words

A no-penalty CD locks in a rate like a regular CD, but you can take all of your money out early without paying a fee, usually starting a week after you put it in. It's a good fit for money you probably won't need but want to be able to reach. The catch: you usually have to withdraw the whole balance at once, and the rate is a little lower than a regular CD.

The CD ladder, in plain words

Instead of putting all your savings in one CD, split it into a few CDs that end at different times. Example with $20,000:

1. $5,000 in a 6-month CD
2. $5,000 in a 1-year CD
3. $5,000 in a 2-year CD
4. $5,000 in a 3-year CD

Every so often one CD comes due. You can spend that money if you need it, or move it into a new longer CD. You always have some money coming free soon, and the rest keeps earning a locked-in rate.