SECU CD Rates (November 2026) & Calculator

SECU pays up to 4.30% APY on an 18-month certificate. Pick a term to see what your deposit earns, how it compares and what breaking it early would cost.

Rates checked Nov 7, 2026NCUA-insuredMembership required: see who can join

SECU CD rates (Nov 7, 2026)

Every certificate term SECU lists on its website, with what $10,000 earns over the full term.

SECU CD rates by term and balance
Term	Product	Minimum	APY	$10,000 earns
6 months	Share Term Certificate	$250	3.85%	$190.68
1 year	Share Term Certificate	$250	4.00%	$400.00
18 months	Share Term Certificate	$250	4.30%	$651.88
2 years	Share Term Certificate	$250	4.30%	$878.49
30 months	Share Term Certificate	$250	4.00%	$1,030.20
3 years	Share Term Certificate	$250	4.00%	$1,248.64
4 years	Share Term Certificate	$250	4.00%	$1,698.59
5 years	Share Term Certificate	$250	4.00%	$2,166.53

Special is a promotional rate. Relationship needs a linked account at SECU. A dash means the same APY as the opening balance. The highlighted row is SECU's top rate.

Source: SECU certificate rates. Rates change often; confirm before you open an account.

SECU vs the national average

The FDIC national average is what banks and credit unions pay on average, weighted by deposits (Oct 19, 2026). The last column is the best rate among the 82 other banks we track for the same term.

SECU CD rates compared with the FDIC national average
Term	SECU	National avg	Best other bank
6 months	3.85%	1.39%	Popular Direct 4.35%
1 year	4.00%	1.76%	Sallie Mae 4.60%
18 months	4.30%	1.76% (12 mo)	Popular Direct 4.80%
2 years	4.30%	1.55%	E*TRADE 4.80%
30 months	4.00%	1.55% (24 mo)	Sallie Mae 4.70%
3 years	4.00%	1.39%	Popular Direct 4.85%
4 years	4.00%	1.31%	Popular Direct 4.95%
5 years	4.00%	1.41%	Sallie Mae 5.00%

Laddering $10,000 across SECU's 1 year at 4.00%, 2 years at 4.30%, 3 years at 4.00% earns $842.38 by the time every rung matures, and frees cash every year. Plan the full ladder, mixing banks if you like, on the CD ladder calculator.

SECU certificate early withdrawal penalty

SECU early withdrawal penalty by term
Term	Penalty
All share term certificates	90 days of interest

Example: $10,000 in a 1-year certificate at 4.00%, withdrawn after 6 months, has earned $198.04. The penalty is $96.71, so you would get $10,101.33.

Model your own deposit and withdrawal date with SECU's rule pre-filled, including the month the interest beats the penalty and whether switching to a better rate pays off, on the CD early withdrawal penalty calculator.

The penalty is the lesser of 90 days of interest or all interest earned, so it does not reach your principal. Official disclosure (checked 2026-11-07).

Who can join SECU

Field of membership is primarily employees and retirees of North Carolina state government, public schools, community colleges and state universities, and their immediate families. Membership details.

Taxes on SECU certificate interest

Certificate dividends are taxed like bank interest: taxable as ordinary income, federally and in most states. You owe tax in the year the interest is credited or accrues, even if it stays in the certificate until maturity. SECU sends Form 1099-INT when you earn $10 or more in a year. For example, the $651.88 that $10,000 earns over 18 months at 4.30% would cost about $143 in federal tax in the 22% bracket.

If you pay an early withdrawal penalty, it appears in box 2 of your 1099-INT and you can deduct it from your income, even if you don't itemize. Certificates held in an IRA follow IRA tax rules instead. See IRS Publication 550.

How We Calculate & Keep This Accurate

Maturity value is your deposit grown at the APY for the term: A = P × (1 + APY)^(months ÷ 12). The APY for each term is the highest balance tier your deposit qualifies for. Early withdrawal penalties are charged as simple interest on the deposit at the CD's interest rate (the APY converted to its daily rate), following SECU's published rule for that term.

Rates come from SECU's own rate page. We use the APY Ledger dataset (CC BY 4.0) to spot rate changes, and we checked a sample of rates and the penalty rules against SECU's website and disclosures. Results are estimates, not an offer from the bank.

Primary Sources

Data & Freshness

Figures reflect 2026 tax-year data.

Last updated November 7, 2026 · Maintained by the Financial Calculator editorial team.

SECU CD FAQs

Quick answers about SECU certificate rates and penalties.

What are SECU's CD rates today?

As of Nov 7, 2026, SECU's highest certificate rate is 4.30% APY on the 18 months Share Term Certificate. The full list of terms and balance tiers is in the table above.

How much will $10,000 earn in an 18-month SECU certificate?

At 4.30% APY, $10,000 grows to $10,651.88 after 18 months, earning $651.88 in interest. Change the deposit or term in the calculator to see other amounts.

What is SECU's certificate early withdrawal penalty?

All share term certificates: 90 days of interest. The penalty is capped at the interest you have earned.

Are SECU certificates insured?

State Employees' Credit Union is a federal credit union. Its certificates are insured by the NCUA up to $250,000 per member, per credit union, per ownership category.

How do SECU's rates compare with the national average?

The FDIC's national average for a 12-month CD was 1.76% as of Oct 19, 2026. SECU pays 4.00% for 12 months. Its best rate, 4.30% for 18 months, is 2.54 points above the national average for that term.