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CD & Treasury ladder builder

A ladder splits your money into equal parts that come due at different times — for example, one CD or Treasury every year for five years. Each time one comes due ("matures"), you can use the money or put it into a new one. FINRA describes a CD ladder as dividing the money you're okay locking away equally across CDs with different maturity dates, for more flexibility. Here is a builder that does the arithmetic with your numbers, plus the rules from TreasuryDirect, FINRA, the SEC and the FDIC.

Checked October 13, 2026

Next step: type your total and how many rungs you want in the ladder builder. Then compare real rates on our CD rates by term and Treasury rates today pages.

Rates for reference (not offers)

1-year Treasury: 4.44%

Market yield, October 8, 2026 (U.S. Treasury via FRED)

2-year Treasury: 4.75%

Market yield, October 8, 2026 (U.S. Treasury via FRED)

5-year Treasury: 4.99%

Market yield, October 8, 2026 (U.S. Treasury via FRED)

10-year Treasury: 5.22%

Market yield, October 8, 2026 (U.S. Treasury via FRED)

12-month CD: 1.73% avg

FDIC national average, posted Sept. 21, 2026 — an average, not an offer

5-year CD: 1.38% avg

FDIC national average, posted Sept. 21, 2026 — an average, not an offer

Yields change every day. Treasury yields are constant-maturity market yields, not auction results. National CD averages are far below the best bank offers; see CD rates for dated offers from bank pages.

Ladder builder (arithmetic)

Type your total, how many rungs, and how far apart they come due. Add a yearly rate if you want to see the interest. We split the money evenly and add it up. That's all — it is not advice.

Total to put in the ladder ($) How many rungs? Years between rungs (0.25 = 3 months) Yearly rate to test (%) — optional

Try a sample:

CD ladder vs Treasury ladder

CDs (banks and credit unions)

Usually 6 months to 5 years; you can't add or take out money during the term (FINRA).
Cashing in early usually costs a penalty, often some of the interest (FINRA).
FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category (FDIC); credit union CDs are insured by the NCUA.
Some long CDs can be called — the bank ends them early if rates fall. Brokered CDs are more complex (FINRA).

Treasuries (U.S. government)

Bills: 4, 6, 8, 13, 17, 26 and 52 weeks. Notes: 2, 3, 5, 7 or 10 years, paying interest every six months (TreasuryDirect).
$100 minimum, in $100 steps. Federal tax on interest; no state or local income tax (TreasuryDirect).
Backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government (TreasuryDirect).
Bought in TreasuryDirect, a security must be held 45 days before you can sell or transfer it, and selling goes through a bank or broker (TreasuryDirect).

Sources: FINRA: Bank Products (CDs and CD ladders) · TreasuryDirect: Treasury Bills · TreasuryDirect: Treasury Notes · TreasuryDirect: About Treasury Marketable Securities · TreasuryDirect: Selling a Treasury Marketable Security (45-day hold) · FDIC: Understanding Deposit Insurance.

Risks and downsides

Selling early can mean a loss. When market interest rates go up, prices of existing fixed-rate bonds fall — even U.S. Treasuries (SEC). If you hold a Treasury bill to maturity, you're paid its face value (TreasuryDirect).
Locked-in rates: if rates rise, a CD can pay less than new ones (FINRA).
Inflation: if your rate is below inflation, your money can lose buying power (FINRA).
Early withdrawal penalties on CDs vary by bank (FINRA). Read the CD's terms before you buy.
A ladder spreads out when money comes due. It doesn't make any single CD or Treasury pay more.

Sources: SEC Investor Bulletin: Interest rate risk — when interest rates go up, prices of fixed-rate bonds fall (June 2013) · FINRA: Bank Products (CDs and CD ladders).

Sources & as-of dates

FINRA: Bank Products (CDs and CD ladders), checked October 13, 2026
TreasuryDirect: Treasury Bills, checked October 13, 2026
TreasuryDirect: Treasury Notes, checked October 13, 2026
TreasuryDirect: Selling a Treasury Marketable Security (45-day hold), checked October 13, 2026
TreasuryDirect: About Treasury Marketable Securities, checked October 13, 2026
SEC Investor Bulletin: Interest rate risk — when interest rates go up, prices of fixed-rate bonds fall (June 2013), checked October 13, 2026
FDIC: Understanding Deposit Insurance, checked October 13, 2026
U.S. Treasury constant-maturity yields via FRED (St. Louis Fed), checked October 13, 2026
FDIC national rates and rate caps (posted Sept. 21, 2026), via our bank vs credit union page

FAQ

What is a CD ladder?

Splitting the money you're okay locking away equally across several CDs with different maturity dates, for more flexibility (FINRA).

What is the minimum to buy a Treasury?

$100, in $100 steps, for bills and notes (TreasuryDirect).

Can I sell a Treasury before it matures?

Yes, through a bank, broker or dealer. Bought in TreasuryDirect, it must be held 45 days first (TreasuryDirect). Its price can be lower than you paid if rates have risen (SEC).

Are CDs or Treasuries insured?

Bank CDs are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category (FDIC). Treasuries are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government (TreasuryDirect).

Is this advice?

No. The builder only divides and adds the numbers you type. Rates shown are dated references, not offers.

Facts and arithmetic, not financial advice. The builder only divides and adds the numbers you type; rates shown are dated references, not offers. Confirm terms with the bank or TreasuryDirect.