Alliant Credit Union CDs: How to maximize your returns

The current economy is so uncertain that even safe investments require careful consideration.

Take certificates of deposit, for example. Even though deposits in CDs from banks and credit unions are insured, they still have some risk. After all, the national averages for CD rates is below the recent rate of inflation.

That means when you sign on for most CDs, you’ll be investing in something that is losing ground to inflation. However, if you choose carefully, you can find CDs that are currently beating inflation. Alliant Credit Union’s CDs are examples of these inflation-beating CDs.

In fact, Alliant Credit Union CD rates offer some of the most competitive yields in the industry. This article will review Alliant’s line-up of CD products and offer perspective on how those CDs stack up with competing products.

Types of Alliant Credit Union certificates of deposit

Alliant makes CDs available for a variety of deposit types:

Standard certificates

Alliant offers standard CDs for deposits of $1,000 or more.

Jumbo CD rates at Alliant Credit Union

Alliant offers jumbo CDs for deposits of $75,000 or more. There is no rate advantage to the jumbo CDs for periods less than one year. However, for CDs of one year or more in length, there are rate advantages of five to 10 basis points, depending on the term.

IRA CD options for retirement planning

Alliant offers IRA CDs for a variety of different types of retirement plans. These include traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs and SEP IRAs.

Current Alliant Credit Union CD rates

CD rates are subject to change at any time, though once you lock into a CD, the rate is fixed for the length of the CD term.

Even though CD rates are changeable, looking at recent rates can give you an idea of how they vary by different term lengths. For the most up-to-date information on current rates, visit the Alliant Credit Union website to see where their CD rates stand today.

How Alliant Credit Union CD rates compare to competitors

How do Alliant’s CD rates compare with those available from other institutions? The following table gives some perspective, using 1-year CD rates as an example:

12-month CD rate comparison

All rates as of 12/5/2025 except for the FDIC industry average, which is as of 8/18/2025.

CD rates can change at any time, so it’s important to take a fresh look at rates when you are ready to make a deposit. Still, this comparison shows that Alliant might be a good place to look for competitive CD rates.

Compare additional rates

How to open an Alliant Credit Union CD

If you’re interested in investing in one of Alliant’s CDs, here’s how to go about it:

Membership requirements

Since Alliant is a credit union, you have to be a member to use its products. Becoming a member is easy and can be done online. Simply click on the “Become a Member” button on the Alliant home page. This will lead you to a page summarizing Alliant’s major product categories. Click “Apply Now” for the type of product that interests you, and the site will guide you through the process.

To apply for membership, you must authorize Alliant to check your banking, credit and employment history. To maintain your membership, you have to keep at least $5 in an Alliant savings account.

Step-by-step application process

The online application process makes it easy to sign up for the product you want:

• Choose the type of account you want
• For CDs, a drop-down menu gives you a choice of all the different term lengths available
• Once you’ve chosen a CD, click “Apply Now”
• The next screens will lead you through all the information you need to enter to complete the application

Strategies to maximize your Alliant CD returns

When you look at the line-up of different Alliant CD terms, you’ll see the rates vary significantly depending on the length of the term you choose. However, choosing the right CD for your needs isn’t as simple as just picking the highest rate.

For one thing, you have to consider your liquidity needs – when you’ll need the money. You wouldn’t want to lock yourself into a 5-year CD if you’re going to need to use some or all of that money in a year.

You should also consider interest rate conditions. These are hard to predict, but sometimes you can base your decisions on what concerns you most about the economy. For example, if you’re concerned about inflation rising, you might not want to lock yourself into a long-term CD at today’s rates. On the other hand, if you expect rates to fall, securing today’s rates for as long as possible might have more appeal.

Laddering techniques

CD laddering is a technique for managing your cash flow and hedging against changes in interest rates.

Instead of putting all your money in one CD, you can spread it across CDs that mature at different times. This does two things:

• It lets you arrange for liquidity at regular intervals, which you can tailor to your needs.
• It gives you regular opportunities to reinvest while also securing today’s rates long-term for some of your money. This combination helps you hedge against changes in interest rates.

Combining with other Alliant products

Since CDs require you to commit your money for a specified length of time, you may want to use them in combination with other Alliant products:

• Alliant offers a checking account with no monthly fees. This gives you a means of meeting regular spending needs.
• Alliant also offers a high-rate savings account. This can act as a reserve of ready cash to meet unexpected needs.

Important considerations before opening an Alliant CD

With any CD, there are some features you should check on before signing up:

Early withdrawal penalties

One feature most CDs have is a penalty if you withdraw money before the CD’s term is up. Alliant’s CDs have this kind of penalty, but they do allow for monthly withdrawals of earnings from the CD without penalty.

Renewal policies and grace periods

Alliant CDs will automatically renew to a CD of the same length when the term expires. However, you have the option of changing your term length or withdrawing the money without penalty whenever a CD matures. There is a 10-day grace period after a CD matures during which you can make withdrawals.

NCUA insurance protection

Alliant CDs are protected by deposit insurance from the National Credit Union Administration. This means each account holder’s deposits are insured for up to $250,000 in case the credit union fails. Joint accounts provide $250,000 in coverage for each account owner, for a total of $500,000.

If you have more than one account at the same credit union, the amounts are combined for the purpose of calculating the insurance limit. So, if you are an individual account owner, you can’t get more than $250,000 in coverage at the same institution, even if the money is spread among different accounts.

Calculating your potential returns

If you want to see precisely how much a specific CD will pay, Alliant’s home page for certificates offers a handy calculator for this purpose. It allows you to input the amount you intend to invest, and offers a dropdown menu with Alliant’s different CD terms and the rates for each. When you choose the CD you want, the “Dividends Earned” box will automatically update to show how much money you will earn over the full term of the CD.

Frequently asked questions about Alliant Credit Union CDs

How do I join Alliant Credit Union to open a CD?

Simply click on the “Become a Member” button at the top of the Alliant home page. Then choose the product that interests you and click “Apply Now.” The site will then walk you through the information you need to provide to apply.

What happens when my Alliant CD matures?

Unless you provide different instructions, the CD will automatically roll over into a CD with the same term length as the maturing one. However, you also have the opportunity to choose a different CD length or withdraw the money at that point.

Can I add money to my Alliant CD after opening it?

Yes, but only within a 10-day grace period after opening the CD.

Are there penalties for early withdrawals from Alliant CDs?

Yes. These penalties vary depending on the length of the CD, with longer-term CDs having stiffer penalties.

How do Alliant Credit Union CD rates compare to other online banks?

Alliant Credit Union’s CD rates are well above the industry average. They may not the highest rates offered by online banks, but they are very competitive.

Is there a minimum or maximum amount I can invest in an Alliant CD?

The minimum deposit required for an Alliant certificate is $1,000. Though there is no firm maximum, keep in mind the maximum insured amount is $250,000 per account owner.

Can I open an Alliant CD if I’m not a U.S. citizen?

If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you can open an Alliance CD by submitting an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead of a Social Security number. Additional documentation may be required as well.

Does Alliant offer business CDs?

No, Alliant does not provide membership to businesses, so it does not offer business CDs.

Conclusions and next steps

An insured CD is a way to keep your money safe. Putting it in a high-yield CD can make that money safe and productive.

As a credit union offering CD rates that are well above average, Alliant is well worth considering. The modest minimum deposit of $1,000 makes their CDs accessible to a wide range of savers.