# 4.52% Treasury Bill Rate Benchmark for Savings

> Savers should check the 4.52% one-year Treasury bill yield before accepting their bank's rate.
- Title: 4.52% Treasury Bill Rate Benchmark for Savings · 24/7 Wall St.
- Summary: Savers should check the 4.52% one-year Treasury bill yield before accepting their bank's rate.
- Keywords: treasury bill, one-year treasury bill yield, cd rate, savings account, federal reserve, federal income tax, state tax, emergency fund, series i savings bonds, 24/7 Wall St.
- Source: 24/7 Wall St. — https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/savings-accounts/2026/11/14/the-4-52-benchmark-every-saver-should-check-before-accepting-their-banks-rate
- Author: Austin Smith
- Published: 2026-11-14T11:17:59+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: treasury bill, one-year treasury bill yield, cd rate, savings account, federal reserve, federal income tax, state tax, emergency fund, series i savings bonds
## Treasury Bill Yield
The U.S. government’s one-year Treasury bill yielded 4.52% as of November 12, 2026.
## CD Rate Comparison
The average 12-month CD rate was 1.76% in October 2026, a 2.76 percentage point difference from the Treasury bill.
## Treasury Bill Basics
Treasury bills are short-term loans to the federal government with maturities of 4, 8, 13, 26, or 52 weeks.
## Why Bill Yield Matters
The Treasury bill yield sets the benchmark for cash rates as it is government backed, liquid, and fixed until maturity.
## Fed Rate Context
The Fed’s target rate was 4.00% on November 13, 2026, up from 3.75% in September 2026.
## APY vs. Bill Yield
A $10,000 savings account at 1.76% earns $176 annually versus $452 at the 4.52% Treasury bill rate.
## Tax Differences
Treasury bill interest is taxed federally but exempt from state and local income taxes.
## Bank Rate Pressure
Banks that pay depositors less than the Treasury bill rate keep the difference for their own profit.
## How to Compare Rates
Check your bank's APY against the latest one-year Treasury bill yield and adjust for state tax if applicable.
## Treasury Bill Options
You can buy Treasury bills through TreasuryDirect or a brokerage account for immediate access.
## Savings Strategy
Place emergency funds in savings accounts and schedule bills for known dates like tax payments.
## Key takeaway

Savers can earn up to $276 more annually by choosing the 4.52% Treasury bill rate over the average 1.76% CD rate.