• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
APY GUY: Maximize Your Savings & Earnings

APY GUY: Maximize Your Savings & Earnings

  • CD Rates
  • Savings Accounts
  • Checking Accounts

TIAA Bank

TIAA Bank CD Rates – Now up to 5.25% APY!

Written by: Lauren Graves
Fact Checked : Dan Nelson
Updated August 9, 2023

TIAA Bank, previously called EverBank, is an FDIC-insured bank based out of Jacksonville, Florida with an all-inclusive lineup of digital deposit accounts that can be opened online and by consumers in all 50 states.

These include CDs (certificates of deposit), an online savings account, money market account, checking account and even foreign currency CDs.

For the purposes of this review, we will focus on TIAA Bank’s CD rates. They offer 10 “Basic” CDs with terms ranging from 3 months to 5 years. They also have one “Rate Bump” CD with a 3.5 year term that allows for one rate increase during its life (if one is available).

To see if TIAA Bank’s CDs are right for you, continue reading below.

TIAA Bank CD Rates + Account Details

image credit: tiaabank.com

TIAA Bank’s certificate of deposit suite only consists of Basic CDs and the Rate Bump CD. As of 2023, TIAA discontinued their “Yield Pledge CDs.”

The Basic CDs come with a minimum deposit requirement of $1,000 and the Bump Rate CD comes with a $1,500 minimum.

Basic CD Rates

CD TermAPY
3 month4.00%
6 month4.00%
9 month5.25%
1 year5.00%
18 month4.60%
2 year4.40%
30 month4.10%
3 year4.10%
4 year4.05%
5 year3.95%
APY = Annual Percentage Yield

To put these yields into perspective, a 12 month CD and a 60 month CD have an average yield of just 1.72% APY and 1.37% APY, respectively, according to FDIC data. However, top yields from other FDIC-insured online banks and nationally available credit unions are approaching the 5.50% and 4.50% APY mark for the same respective terms.

Bump Rate CD

TIAA Bank’s Bump Rate CD is a promotional CD that gives users a one-time rate bump if one comes along before their certificate matures (sometimes banks refer to these as step-up CDs or step rate CDs).

TIAA Bank’s Bump Rate CD requires a minimum deposit of $1,500 to open.

CD TermAPY
3.5 years4.10%
APY = Annual Percentage Yield

Interest is compounded daily and credited according to your account agreement upon issuance.

How do TIAA Bank’s CD Rates Compare?

To get a better idea of how TIAA Bank’s CD rates stack up against the competition, take a look at the table below. It compares TIAA Bank’s best CD rate with some of the other top CD rates offered by competing banks across the country.

BankBest CD Rate (APY)
BMO Harris5.10%
PNC Bank4.00%
Truist5.00%
Webster Bank5.00%
TIAA Bank5.00%
CD rates surveyed on August 9, 2023.

How Much Can You Earn with a TIAA Bank CD?

How much money you can make with a TIAA Bank CD is going to depend on your deposit size, the CD term you choose and its going APY (annual percentage yield). The table below shows potential earnings with some of TIAA Bank’s CDs assuming a deposit size of $10,000.

CD TermAPYEarnings
6 months4.00%$198.04
9 months5.25%$391.22
2 years4.40%$899.36
5 years3.95%$2,137.31
Earnings = Sum of all interest payments through maturity.

Grace Period and Early Withdrawal Fees

TIAA Bank allows for 10 calendar days (the grace period) upon your CD’s maturity in which you can add/withdraw funds, change terms, or close out the CD entirely without incurring any penalty fee. If nothing is done during the grace period your funds will automatically renew into a new CD of equal terms and the going yield at that time.

If you need funds prior to CD’s maturity, you will incur an early withdrawal fee.

Early withdrawal policies on Basic CDs are as follows:

  • 22 days’ interest on 3 month CDs,
  • 45 days’ interest on 6 month CDs,
  • 68 days’ interest on 9 month CDs,
  • 91 days’ interest on 1 year CDs,
  • 136 days’ interest on 18 month CDs,
  • 182 days’ interest on 2 year CDs,
  • 228 days’ interest on 30 month CDs,
  • 273 days’ interest on 3 year CDs,
  • 365 days’ interest on 4 year CDs, and
  • 456 days’ interest on 5  year CDs.

Other Deposit Accounts Offered

If you’re looking for a variable rate deposit account, TIAA Bank offers a “Yield Pledge” online savings account and a “Yield Pledge” money market account that both offer competitive rates.

Both come with first year intro APYs of 4.50% then lower, ongoing yields after that.

Yield Pledge Online Savings

Min. to openFirst Year APYOngoing APY
$04.75%4.30%
APY = Annual Percentage Yield

Yield Pledge Money Market

There is no minimum deposit requirement to open a Yield Pledge Money Market account.

BalanceFirst Year APYOngoing APY
$0 – $9,999.994.75%3.75%
$10k – $24,999.994.75%3.75%
$25k – $49,999.994.75%3.75%
$50k – $99,999.994.75%4.05%
$100k +4.75%4.10%
APY = Annual Percentage Yield

To put these yields into perspective, the average for a money market account and a savings account sit at just 0.63% and 0.42%, respectively, according to FDIC data. However the top yields from online banks are inching up to the 5.00% APY mark for both account types.

Interest is compounded daily and credited monthly on both the Yield Pledge savings and money market account.

Per federal regulation D, you are limited to 6 transfers each month. This includes ACH transfers, checks, internet, phone, and mobile-initiated transactions, and more. Should you exceed this limit excessively or frequently, TIAA Bank reserves the right to restrict your access further and transfer your balance into a Cash Reserves account.

Banking Experience and Customer Sentiment

Unlike many online banks today, TIAA Bank actually does offer ATM cash access at an impressive 80,000+ fee-free locations. TIAA Bank does not charge ATM fees and will reimburse out-of-network fees imposed by other institutions if your average daily balance is at least $5,000. If your balance is below this, you’ll be reimbursed up to $15. There are 11 TIAA Bank branch locations across Florida.

TIAA Bank offers both a Basic Checking and a Yield Pledge Checking account option. A TIAA Bank Basic Checking will not pay you interest, but a TIAA Bank Yield Pledge Checking is an interest-bearing account that earns 0.25% APY on all tiers at the time of this writing.

Overall, people seem to have a lukewarm impression of TIAA Bank from a customer experience perspective. Out of 119 user reviews left for the bank on WalletHub, 45% of reviewers gave the bank 3 stars for an average rating of 3 stars. And out of 23 reviews on DepositAccounts, TIAA Bank scored just 2.5 stars. 

Customer service at TIAA Bank could use some work, according to customers themselves. The overwhelming majority of negative reviews left for the company are related to bad experiences with customer support, with representatives being called condescending, rude, arrogant, and unhelpful by several users. Most positive reviews pertain to good rates and simple sign-ups.

The TIAA Bank apps, on the other hand, are supposed to be really solid. With 4.7 stars on the App Store and 4.4 on Google Play, it’s safe to assume that you can count on a user-friendly and comprehensive mobile banking experience through the TIAA Bank app.

TIAA Bank limits ACH transfers from a TIAA account to an external account to $50,000 daily and from an external account into a TIAA account to $250,000 daily.

To reach customer service, call the client solutions team at 1-(888)-882-3837 or tweet @TIAABankHelp. Representatives are standing by 7 days a week from 8 AM to 11 PM (ET).

Filed Under: CD Rates Tagged With: TIAA Bank

Foreign Currency CDs – Are They Worth It?

Written by: editorial staff
Published March 4, 2020

If you’re dismayed with the current interest rate environment as a saver then you may be considering foreign currency CDs as a potential alternative. Perhaps with the hope that another country might have a more favorable interest rate landscape than our own.

While you’d be correct to assume that other countries have better savings rates, you may be surprised to know that foreign deposits inherently carry quite a bit of risk.

Additionally, for retail investors, we would strongly recommend consulting with a certified financial advisor prior to opening any foreign currency CD. Unless one has a thorough understanding of government and monetary policy in the desired country of investment, outside advice by a certified professional should be sought.

In this article we’ll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of investing in foreign currency CDs and where you can open them.

Understanding Foreign Currency CDs

In many ways a foreign currency CD is just as simple and straightforward as a traditional CD you’d open at your local bank or credit union. The opening process, minimum deposit requirements, potential early withdrawal fees are usually all fairly standard.

The major difference with these products – and where the inherent risk lies – is with the currency fluctuation while the deposit is active.

Any weakening of the foreign currency (relative to the US dollar) while your money is tied up has the potential to eat away your interest and even principal. Conversely, any major strengthening of the foreign currency (relative to the US dollar) could amplify your earnings.

Additional Account Details:

Foreign Currency CDs generally come with similar early withdrawal fees and minimum deposit requirements, however, their durations tend to be shorter than standard US-based certificates of deposit. Maturities on foreign currency CDs usually range from 3 to 12 months.

How To Open A Foreign Currency CD

Opening a foreign currency CD is not easy and only a small handful of institutions even sell the products. It’s possible to purchase foreign currency deposits by reaching out to overseas banks, however you wouldn’t be eligible for FDIC insurance in these cases.

The most notable institution in the US offering foreign currency CDs with FDIC insurance is TIAA Bank (formerly Everbank). They require a minimum of $10,000 to open a WorldCurrency CD and take as much as 1% on currency conversion.

TIAA Bank’s WorldCurrency CD

TIAA Bank’s most popular foreign currency CD product is what they refer to as their “WorldCurrency CD.” These products come with short durations (3 – 12 months) and require a minimum of $10,000 to open. They are IRA eligible and are FDIC-insured against bank insolvency but not currency fluctuations.

When selecting a WorldCurrency CD you can filter between two groups – major currencies and emerging currencies.

TIAA Bank’s Major Currencies:

Image credit: TIAABank.com

As you might assume, the ‘major currencies’ feature more economically stable currencies while the ’emerging currencies’ (see below) feature emerging economies with more volatility.

Major currencies don’t often come with major advantages either. Savings rates in these countries aren’t always higher than the US either. For example, Hong Kong closed out 2019 with savings rates near zero and in August of last year a Danish bank launched a savings account with 0.6% negative interest rate for millionaires. So don’t assume you’ll get a stellar rate with minimal currency fluctuation risk.

TIAA Bank’s Emerging Currencies:

Image credit: TIAABank.com

The ’emerging currencies’ group features a riskier set of currencies.

While many banks in these countries offer attractive deposit rates, their country’s currency will always carry a high degree of risk against the US dollar.

Just to give you an idea of what kind of rates you could potentially lock-in, the current Mexican interest rate Banxico (base rate) is 7.250%. That said, the price of the Mexican Peso relative to the US dollar also fluctuated over 8% in 2019.

WorldCurrency CD Baskets

TIAA Bank’s “World Currency CD Baskets” are perhaps the most innovative set of foreign currency CD products on the market. These products are designed specifically to diversify currency and deposit holdings to offset risk.

They divide up currencies by three criteria:

  • Commodity Rich – The nations whose currencies comprise these baskets may benefit from increased world demand for their tremendous natural resources.
Image credit: TIAABank.com
  • Economy Driven – The nations whose currencies comprise these baskets may benefit because of sound economic strategies that help drive their monetary strength.
Image credit: TIAABank.com
  • Geographically Inspired – The nations whose currencies comprise these baskets may benefit from certain regional strengths and geopolitical strategies.
Image credit: TIAABank.com

How Can You Lose Money With Foreign Currency CDs

What is the largest risk to your foreign currency CD? A strengthening US dollar.

Consider the following:

You decide to purchase a 6 month CD for $10,000 in Indian Rupees because it is currently paying a generous 5% APY.

To open this CD you first need to exchange your $10,000 US dollars into Indian Rupees.

The current exchange rate at the start of your deposit term is $1 US dollar for 70 Indian Rupees. Therefore your $10,000 USD becomes 700,000 Indian Rupees.

After you’ve converted your currency, you place your 700k Rupees into your 5% certificate of deposit.

Ok, now during the 6 month period in which your CD was open, let’s assume the US dollar strengthened against the Rupee so that $1.00 USD now equalled 75 Indian Rupees.

Let’s see what you’re left with…

First, let’s multiply your starting position (700,000 Indian Rupees) by your guaranteed interest rate of 5%. So, 700,000 x 1.05 = 735,000 Indian Rupees – a gain of 35,000 Rupees.

Second, (and before we celebrate) let’s convert your Rupees back into US dollars so we can return those funds to your domestic bank account.

735,000/75 (75 Indian Rupees now equals $1 USD in our scenario) = $9,800 US dollars.

Ouch! You just lost $200 on your 6 month CD that paid an APY of 5.0%.

Final Thoughts

We know that it is easy to be frustrated with the current savings environment, but before you look outside the US for more favorable rates, be sure you fully understand the risks associated with foreign currencies CDs.

While it’s true that banks in other countries can offer more favorable savings rates than our own domestic banks, a strengthening US dollar against the currency you’re temporarily invested in can negate your earnings and even principal.

Retail investors should always consult with a financial advisor before embarking on their own in foreign currency trading or when opening a deposit. Having a strong understanding of complicated government policies and scrutinizing a country’s monetary policies are a must before opening a deposit in any foreign country.

Filed Under: CD Rates Tagged With: FDIC, foreign currency, TIAA Bank

Primary Sidebar

The Big Banks

  • Bank of America CD Rates
  • Capital One CD Rates
  • Citibank CD Rates
  • Chase Bank CD Rates
  • Wells Fargo CD Rates
  • U.S. Bank CD Rates

Noteworthy Credit Unions

  • Navy Federal Credit Union CDs and Savings
  • Patelco Credit Union CDs and Savings
  • PenFed CDs and Savings
  • Connexus Credit Union CDs and Money Market

Brokered CDs

  • Edwards Jones
  • Charles Schwab
  • Fidelity
  • Vanguard

Alternatives

  • 12 Alternatives to CDs and Savings Accounts

Real Estate Investment Platforms

  • Yieldstreet - Avg 10.61% Returns

Footer

Disclaimer

APY GUY strives to keep its information as accurate and up to date as possible. This information may be different than what you see at a bank, credit union or other financial institution. This applies to both in person visits and their website(s). Any financial products or services represented or discussed on this website are without warranty. When evaluating offers viewed on APYGUY.com, please read the financial institution’s Terms and Conditions.

About Us. Privacy Policy. Terms Of Use. How We Make Money.

Categories

Connect with Us:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Know of a fantastic APY offered by your local bank or credit union?

Don’t be shy, please share!

Send an email to hello@apyguy.com with the name of the institution, rate (APY) and type of product.

Our editorial staff will confirm the product, rate and APY (annual percentage yield) with the institution and publish it immediately for our viewers.

Copyright © 2023 - APYGUY: Maximize Your Savings & Earnings