Research · November 6, 2026
The highest rate doesn’t keep the most money
Dollars kept per year on $50,000, after tax (22% federal, 5% state). Recomputed with every rate check.
What stood out
- CFG Bank 1-year CD pays the top rate and keeps the most: $1,697.
- The median brokerage default sweep pays 0.03%: $11 a year on $50,000.
- The gap between the best option and the lowest default sweep: $1,694 a year.
How we did the math
Kept = balance × rate × (1 − federal rate − state rate × (1 − state-exempt share)). Treasury interest is fully state-exempt. Rates come from each provider’s own page or the U.S. Treasury’s daily yield curve; estimates are left out. Full method · Every option at your own numbers →
More research
- What 9 brokerages pay on your cash by default
- In 19 states and D.C., a Treasury bill beats every CD we track
- What a 0.01% account costs you, by balance
- $50,000 at 0.01% has missed about $8,014 since 2022
- CD or Treasury bill? Term by term, after tax
Free to share with credit to Movable Capital. Not investment or tax advice.