Let's Talk About the Federal Reserve's Interest Rate Decision
Anticipated Trends in Savings and Certificate of Deposit (CD) Interest Rates for 2025, as Indicated by the Federal Reserve's Rate Outlook
The Federal Reserve, as anticipated, didn't make any changes to interest rates on Wednesdays, keeping the federal funds rate within its current range of 4.25% to 4.50%. If you're wondering what this means for your savings account or CD, it could still be a great time to consider one of the top high-yield savings accounts or a high-rate nationwide CD.
Did you know?
The Federal Reserve's latest dot plot, from the June 18, 2025 FOMC meeting, indicates a more modest pace of easing compared to earlier in the year. Only about two 25-basis-point cuts are expected over the remainder of the year, with the median projection settling for a federal funds rate below 4% by year-end.
Here's What You Need to Know:
- The steady interest rates: The Federal Reserve left the federal funds rate unchanged, maintaining its strategic "wait and see" approach.
- High impact on savings accounts: The federal funds rate has a direct influence on the rates banks and credit unions offer for high-yield savings, money market, and certificate of deposit (CD) accounts.
- Tariffs play a role: Tariff policies, like the one announced in April, impact the Fed's decisions and are still causing ripples in the economy.
- The role of the dot plot: The Fed's dot plot reflects the "median projection" of where the federal funds rate might land over the years. The latest forecast indicates two rate cuts of around 0.5 percentage point by year-end 2025.
- High-yield savings and top CDs: Despite interest rates starting to gradually lower, the best high-yield savings accounts and top CDs are still offering excellent rates in the mid- to upper-4% range.
So, if you want to make the most of these high rates, it might be a good idea to explore high-yield savings accounts or top nationwide CDs today. With the Federal Reserve's projected moderately lower rates, acting sooner rather than later could help ensure you earn some solid returns.
Don't miss out on the best rates each day! Check out our daily rankings for:
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Remember, the top rates we list are much higher than the national averages and can be found by shopping around! The rates we mention are based on our analysis of more than 200 banks and credit unions available nationwide. To learn more about how we find these rates, read our full methodology.
Happy banking!
- In light of the Federal Reserve's stable interest rates, it could be an optimal time to delve into Defi, crypto finance, and investing, particularly in tokens and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO), as they often have dependencies on interest rates.
- For those interested in personal finance, the continued high rates of high-yield savings accounts and top CDs, despite the anticipated reduction by the Federal Reserve, present an excellent opportunity for investing surplus funds in these financial instruments.
- As the Federal Reserve conducts easing with a slower pace, it might be relevant to keep an eye on the crypto mining sector, as alterations in the federal funds rate can influence the overall economy and subsequently the profitability of mining operations.
- Given the expectations of a decline in federal funds rates, researching and understanding Defi, crypto, and traditional finance strategies like investing in stocks, real estate, and high-yield savings accounts can be of personal-finance value to save and grow assets more effectively.