From 24/7 Wall St. · Austin Smith · · 1m 40s
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.
In brief
Savers should check the 4.52% one-year Treasury bill yield before accepting their bank's rate. Savers can earn up to $276 more annually by choosing the 4.52% Treasury bill rate over the average 1.76% CD rate. Originally reported by 24/7 Wall St..
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.
The short version
Savers can earn up to $276 more annually by choosing the 4.52% Treasury bill rate over the average 1.76% CD rate.
