Certificates of deposit (CDs), savings accounts, and high-yield savings accounts are alternatives to savings bonds. CDs, which offer a fixed rate of interest for the length of their terms, generally offer interest rates higher than traditional savings accounts, but you won’t reap the full benefits of your investment until the end of a CD’s term. The timeline is typically three months to five years, although there are terms that are as short as one month to as long as 10 years, even longer. Withdrawing funds before the CD matures will result in an early withdrawal penalty that can offset earned interest.Standard savings accounts offer liquidity, but interest rates are usually lower. On the other hand, high-yield savings accounts offer liquidity and higher interest rates than CDs and standard savings accounts.