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[[{“value”:”Image source: Getty ImagesThe best thing about certificates of deposit (CDs) is that they pay a guaranteed interest rate. The advertised rate is what you’ll get until the CD matures.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. At today’s CD rates, you can lock in an annual percentage yield (APY) of about 4.00% for a 5-year CD. That’s a pretty good return for such a safe investment.What if I said you could earn a higher yield for twice as long? It’s true — though you should read up on the basics before you invest.Introducing the 10-year Treasury noteTreasury notes (aka “T-notes”) are government-issued investments. Much like CDs, they have maturity dates, and until that date, they pay a fixed interest rate.Unlike CDs, however, T-notes pay interest every six months. So twice per year, you get half of your annual interest earnings. When the T-note matures, you get your initial investment back.T-notes have terms ranging from two to 10 years. And right now, you can purchase 10-year T-notes that yield 4.40%.They’re not quite as intuitive as CDs, though. There are a few things you should know before you buy.Prefer to keep your savings simple? Check out our list of the best CD rates for a safe, dependable place to keep your cash.How to buy 10-year Treasury notesThere are a few ways to invest in Treasury notes, and each has its pros and cons.At auctionThe Treasury Department auctions off 10-year T-notes once per month. The next batch is expected to be up for sale on March 12. The Treasury will announce the date and more details about a week in advance.You can bid on T-notes at TreasuryDirect.gov. You’ll first need to create an online account and then link your bank account.Pros of buying Treasury notes at auction:You can purchase Treasury notes in $100 increments, so you don’t need to commit a lot of money.You won’t pay any fees, because there’s no middle man. You’re buying directly from the government.Cons of buying Treasury notes at auction:Interest rates are decided at auction. That means you won’t know beforehand exactly what interest rate you’ll get.There are simpler ways to buy T-notes.TreasuryDirect.gov is not the most user-friendly site.Through a brokerMany of the best stock brokers let you buy and sell Treasury notes. Some allow you to buy them at auction; you just go through your broker instead of TreasuryDirect.gov.However, investors can buy and sell T-notes among themselves at any time, and some brokers help you buy them through this secondary market. You can currently buy the 10-year T-notes that were auctioned in mid-February, which have a yield of 4.40%.Pros of buying Treasury notes on the secondary market:You can purchase T-notes at any time.You can pick and choose T-notes with different maturity dates and yields.Making a purchase is fairly simple.Cons of buying Treasury notes on the secondary market:The minimum investment may be extremely high.Some brokers charge a commission fee.Through an exchange-traded fundTreasury exchange-traded funds (ETFs) invest in a variety of T-notes. You can purchase a share of the ETF, which means you own a portion of all those T-notes. ETFs are traded just like stocks, and they’re offered by many brokers.Pros of buying T-notes through an ETF:The minimum investment is low.They typically pay interest monthly instead of semi-annually.They continually buy new T-notes, which means that if interest rates go up, your ETF will be buying T-notes with more attractive rates.Buying and selling ETFs is fast and easy.Cons of buying T-notes through an ETF:You may not get the best possible yield, since you can’t hand-pick the highest-yielding T-notes.You’ll pay a small fee to the fund manager.Are 10-year Treasury notes worth it?10-year Treasury notes are best for people who:Can invest a large amount of money. If you can only make a small investment (say, $1,000 or less), then the returns may not be worth the hassle and commitment.Can leave their investment untouched for years. There’s no penalty for selling a T-note before it matures. However, if you’re forced to cash out early, there’s a risk that you’ll sell your T-note at a loss. And of course, you’ll no longer get interest payments.Want guaranteed interest and minimal risk. T-notes are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, which has never failed to pay T-note investors on time and in full.If Treasury notes aren’t right for you, then you could stash your money in a high-yield savings account and call it a day. Savings account APYs can change at any time, but today’s best rates are around 4.00%.But if you have thousands of dollars that you want to keep safe while earning a solid return for years, then a 10-year Treasury note is one of the best options you’ll find.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.”}]] [[{“value”:”

Image source: Getty Images
The best thing about certificates of deposit (CDs) is that they pay a guaranteed interest rate. The advertised rate is what you’ll get until the CD matures.
Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
At today’s CD rates, you can lock in an annual percentage yield (APY) of about 4.00% for a 5-year CD. That’s a pretty good return for such a safe investment.
What if I said you could earn a higher yield for twice as long? It’s true — though you should read up on the basics before you invest.
Introducing the 10-year Treasury note
Treasury notes (aka “T-notes”) are government-issued investments. Much like CDs, they have maturity dates, and until that date, they pay a fixed interest rate.
Unlike CDs, however, T-notes pay interest every six months. So twice per year, you get half of your annual interest earnings. When the T-note matures, you get your initial investment back.
T-notes have terms ranging from two to 10 years. And right now, you can purchase 10-year T-notes that yield 4.40%.
They’re not quite as intuitive as CDs, though. There are a few things you should know before you buy.
Prefer to keep your savings simple? Check out our list of the best CD rates for a safe, dependable place to keep your cash.
How to buy 10-year Treasury notes
There are a few ways to invest in Treasury notes, and each has its pros and cons.
At auction
The Treasury Department auctions off 10-year T-notes once per month. The next batch is expected to be up for sale on March 12. The Treasury will announce the date and more details about a week in advance.
You can bid on T-notes at TreasuryDirect.gov. You’ll first need to create an online account and then link your bank account.
Pros of buying Treasury notes at auction:
- You can purchase Treasury notes in $100 increments, so you don’t need to commit a lot of money.
- You won’t pay any fees, because there’s no middle man. You’re buying directly from the government.
Cons of buying Treasury notes at auction:
- Interest rates are decided at auction. That means you won’t know beforehand exactly what interest rate you’ll get.
- There are simpler ways to buy T-notes.
- TreasuryDirect.gov is not the most user-friendly site.
Through a broker
Many of the best stock brokers let you buy and sell Treasury notes. Some allow you to buy them at auction; you just go through your broker instead of TreasuryDirect.gov.
However, investors can buy and sell T-notes among themselves at any time, and some brokers help you buy them through this secondary market. You can currently buy the 10-year T-notes that were auctioned in mid-February, which have a yield of 4.40%.
Pros of buying Treasury notes on the secondary market:
- You can purchase T-notes at any time.
- You can pick and choose T-notes with different maturity dates and yields.
- Making a purchase is fairly simple.
Cons of buying Treasury notes on the secondary market:
- The minimum investment may be extremely high.
- Some brokers charge a commission fee.
Through an exchange-traded fund
Treasury exchange-traded funds (ETFs) invest in a variety of T-notes. You can purchase a share of the ETF, which means you own a portion of all those T-notes. ETFs are traded just like stocks, and they’re offered by many brokers.
Pros of buying T-notes through an ETF:
- The minimum investment is low.
- They typically pay interest monthly instead of semi-annually.
- They continually buy new T-notes, which means that if interest rates go up, your ETF will be buying T-notes with more attractive rates.
- Buying and selling ETFs is fast and easy.
Cons of buying T-notes through an ETF:
- You may not get the best possible yield, since you can’t hand-pick the highest-yielding T-notes.
- You’ll pay a small fee to the fund manager.
Are 10-year Treasury notes worth it?
10-year Treasury notes are best for people who:
- Can invest a large amount of money. If you can only make a small investment (say, $1,000 or less), then the returns may not be worth the hassle and commitment.
- Can leave their investment untouched for years. There’s no penalty for selling a T-note before it matures. However, if you’re forced to cash out early, there’s a risk that you’ll sell your T-note at a loss. And of course, you’ll no longer get interest payments.
- Want guaranteed interest and minimal risk. T-notes are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, which has never failed to pay T-note investors on time and in full.
If Treasury notes aren’t right for you, then you could stash your money in a high-yield savings account and call it a day. Savings account APYs can change at any time, but today’s best rates are around 4.00%.
But if you have thousands of dollars that you want to keep safe while earning a solid return for years, then a 10-year Treasury note is one of the best options you’ll find.
Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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