A CD loan is a type of secured financing that uses a CD account as collateral. You can only borrow up to the amount saved in the account, and you can’t tap into the CD funds for any reason until the loan balance is paid in full. A CD loan is also known as a CD-secured loan because it’s a personal loan secured by your certificate of deposit. It’s similar to other collateral-based loans, such as a mortgage (secured by a house) or a secured auto loan (secured by a vehicle).

What Is a CD Loan?

Q: Will a CD-secured loan help me build credit?

Yes, a CD-secured loan may help you build credit if the depository institution reports your loan status to the credit bureaus. However, failing to repay a CD loan and defaulting on your obligations may damage your credit and cause you to lose your CD savings.

Q: How does a CD loan work?

A CD loan uses the savings in a certificate of deposit account as collateral for the loan. That means if you become unable to repay the loan, the lender can recoup their losses using your CD savings.

Lauren WardUpdated July 21, 2023

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Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive direct compensation from advertisers or partners. Read more about our Editorial Guidelines and How We Make Money.

A certificate of deposit loan, better known as a CD loan, is a secured personal loan that uses your certificate of deposit as collateral. If you default on a CD-secured loan, the bank can take the money in your CD.CD loans are not as common as other types of personal loans, but if you already have money in a CD, they can be handy for emergencies or as a way to build your credit. Below we highlight how a CD loan works.

Understanding CD Loans

What is a CD loan? A CD loan is a consumer lending product also known as a CD-secured loan. It’s a secured loan for personal use that utilizes the savings in your certificate of deposit account, or CD, as collateral. A CD loan allows you to borrow against the value of your certificate of deposit while your CD continues to earn interest. Unless you have a no-penalty CD, withdrawing funds from your CD before the certificate matures can result in costly penalties. A CD loan gives you a lump sum of money without disturbing your CD.The annual percentage rate (APR) on your CD loan may be higher than the annual percentage yield (APY) on your certificate of deposit. Should you default on your loan payments, the lender can seize the funds in your CD account to repay the outstanding balance.

How Does a CD Loan Work?

A certificate of deposit, or CD, is a type of savings account that earns interest on a fixed amount of money you agree to leave untouched for a specific period of time, such as six months, a year, or longer. The interest you earn on a CD can be higher than what you’d earn with a standard savings account, but should you take your money out early (before the CD matures), you typically have to pay a penalty, which can be anywhere from two to 12 months’ worth of interest.While CDs are mostly used as a savings vehicle, some banks and credit unions will let you borrow against the money in an existing CD by using it as collateral. Depending on the lender, you may be able to borrow up to the full amount of your CD account, or you may be capped at a certain percentage of the amount. A lender may also require the loan to be shorter than the CD’s remaining term.Like other personal loans, CD-secured loans can be used for almost any type of expense, whether it’s to consolidate high interest debt, pay for emergency expenses, or cover a large purchase.When you take out a CD loan, you end up with two active accounts — the CD itself and the CD loan, which you pay back over time with interest. After you receive the loan, your CD funds are put on hold until the end of the loan, though the money will continue to earn interest until the CD matures.Recommended: Certificate of Deposit (CD) vs Savings Account

Features of a CD Loan

CD loans are similar to other types of personal loans. However, they do have some features that set them apart.

Interest Rates

Because CD loans are low risk, they often come with low fixed interest rates. But the interest rate you pay on a CD loan is typically higher than the APY your CD earns. For example, your CD loan may have a 3.45% APR if your 24-month CD has a 1.45% APY. One of the benefits of CDs is they typically have a guaranteed rate of return if you hold them till maturity. The average interest rate a depositor earns on a CD is generally higher than the average interest rate a depositor earns on a money market account.Recommended: Money Market Account vs Certificate of Deposit

Approval Rate

Because these loans are backed by the money in the CD, they are usually easier to qualify for than other types of loans. Since the size of the loan corresponds to the amount of money in the CD, there isn’t much risk involved for the lender. Recommended: Personal Loan Tips That Can Help You Get Approved

Access to Funds

Because CD-secured loans are low risk for the lender, approval for a CD loan can often come in less than one business day, and sometimes within just a few hours. Access to funds can happen as quickly as one or two days after approval.

CD Loans: Common Reasons to Get One

While CD loans aren’t as common as other types of personal loans, there are two key reasons why you might want to seek one out.

Establish Credit

One of the most common reasons for getting a CD loan is to build or repair credit. Because CD loans are low-risk for a lender, even borrowers with no credit or poor credit can often qualify. Getting — and responsibly paying off — a CD loan can then help you build (or rebuild) your credit profile, making it easier to get other forms of financing in the future.

Emergency Fund

It may seem counterintuitive to take out a loan to cover an emergency expense when you have money sitting in a CD. But, depending on your CD’s early withdrawal fee, it might be more cost-effective to pay interest on a CD loan rather than remove the funds from the CD before it matures. You’ll want to run the numbers, however, before choosing the best way to go.

CD Loans Pros and Cons

CD loans can be a good idea for some people, but they aren’t right for everyone. Here’s a look at their benefits and drawbacks.

CD loan pros	CD loan cons
Interest rates are often lower than unsecured personal loans and credit cards	Existing CD account is required
Typically easier to qualify for than other types of financing	You may get hit with fees on top of interest
Can help build (or rebuild) your credit profile	CD funds are frozen during loan term
Borrowers may have wide discretion on how to use the funds and few restrictions	Could lose the money in your CD if the loan goes into default

CD Loan Pros

The pros of CD loans are similar to the benefits of personal loans. Below are some of the main advantages of getting a CD-secured loan:

Interest

Compared to unsecured personal loans or credit cards, CD loans typically come with low interest rates. And unlike credit cards, which often have a variable interest rate, CD loan borrowers get a fixed interest rate. That means your payments stay the same each month instead of fluctuating as market rates rise and fall.

Credit Score Requirements

Since you don’t need excellent credit to qualify for a CD loan, they can be ideal for people who either don’t have any credit established yet or who have a low credit score. The primary factor in getting approved is the funds in your CD account. Your credit score might impact your interest rate, but typically not your approval. Getting — and responsibly repaying — a CD loan can also help you build your credit profile.

Fast Approval

Your depository institution may approve your CD-secured loan request within hours. Banks and credit unions may provide fast loan approval and quick disbursement of funds.

Few Restrictions

CD loans are secured personal loans that may have few restrictions. Borrowers may use the funds on almost any personal endeavor.

CD Loan Cons

Here are some of the biggest drawbacks to CD-secured loans:

Need a CD

You need to have a CD in order to get a CD loan, so this type of financing isn’t an option for everyone. What’s more, you typically need to get a CD loan from the same bank where you have your CD. And, not all banks that offer CDs offer CD loans.

Fees

In addition to charging interest, some lenders also charge origination fees for CD loans, which increases the cost of borrowing and reduces the amount of the loan. You may also get hit with late fees if you don’t make your payments on time.

CD Funds Frozen

Though CDs are somewhat restrictive, you can generally withdraw the funds in the event of an emergency and simply pay an early withdrawal penalty. But when a CD becomes collateral for a loan, the funds are frozen. The only way you can access them is to fully pay off the loan.

Lose Money

As with any secured loan, it’s possible to lose money when you take out a CD loan. If you default on your loan payments, the lender can use your CD to pay off the remaining debt. Defaulting on the CD loan could also hurt your credit.Recommended: What Are the Pros and Cons of Personal Loans?

Alternatives to a CD Loan

If you need cash to cover a large expense or handle an emergency, but don’t have a CD (or your bank does not offer CD-secured loans), here are some other financing options to consider:

Personal Loan

There are many types of personal loans, both secured and unsecured, available through banks, as well as private lenders. To get a sense of your options, you can simply use an online loan comparison site and compare personal loan rates. With unsecured personal loans, you don’t have to put up any collateral, but interest rates are typically higher.

Credit Card

If you’re looking to build your credit, you may want to consider getting a secured credit card, which requires putting down a security deposit to serve as collateral. This type of credit card will have a credit limit that is equal to a cash deposit you make. Like a CD loan, if you fail to repay your debt, the bank can seize your cash deposit.

Cash

If you need money to cover an unexpected expense, you may want to see how much cash you can come up with before you turn to financing. While you may not want to give up your financial cushion, using cash can cost considerably less than borrowing. Plus, you won’t have to worry about hard or soft credit inquiries hurting your credit score.

The Takeaway

CD loans can be easy to qualify for if you already have a certificate of deposit with your bank. They also offer attractive interest rates and can help you build (or rebuild) your credit. However, CD-secured loans aren’t easy to find and, depending on rates and added fees, you may find it more cost-effective to pay the early withdrawal penalty on your CD.If you need a personal loan, Lantern by SoFi can help. With one online application, you can view personal loan offers from multiple lenders. And, checking your rates won’t affect your credit score.*Compare personal loan rates and apply in minutes.