Estimate your certificate earnings with current APY rates.
Total Balance at Maturity
$0.00
Total Dividends Earned
$0.00
Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Used
0.00%
Calculations assume monthly compounding of dividends. Actual returns from TruStone Financial may vary based on specific certificate terms, early withdrawal penalties, or changes in rates.
Investing in a Certificate of Deposit (CD)—or "Certificate" as they are commonly called at credit unions like TruStone Financial—is a secure way to grow your savings with a guaranteed return. Unlike standard savings accounts where rates fluctuate, a Certificate locks in a specific dividend rate for a set period.
Using the TruStone CD Rates Calculator allows members and potential investors to project the future value of their deposit. By inputting your initial investment amount, the term length in months, and the current Annual Percentage Yield (APY), you can see exactly how much interest (dividends) your money will accrue by the maturity date.
How Dividend Compounding Works
One of the most powerful features of TruStone Financial certificates is the power of compounding. When dividends are compounded monthly, the interest earned in the first month is added to your principal balance. In the second month, you earn interest on both your initial deposit and the interest from the first month. This cycle continues throughout the term.
The formula used in this calculator is:
A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt)
P: Principal (Your initial deposit)
r: Annual interest rate (decimal)
n: Number of times interest is compounded per year (typically 12 for monthly)
t: Time the money is invested for (in years)
Why Choose a Certificate?
Guaranteed Returns: Your rate is fixed for the entire term.
Flexible Terms: TruStone often offers terms ranging from short-term (6 months) to long-term (60 months).
NCUA Insured: Your funds are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.
Higher Yields: Certificates typically offer significantly higher APY compared to regular savings or checking accounts.
Optimizing Your Investment Strategy
To maximize your returns using this calculator, consider the following strategies:
CD Laddering: Instead of putting all your funds into one 5-year certificate, split the money into different terms (e.g., 1-year, 2-year, 3-year). This provides liquidity at regular intervals while capturing higher rates.
Check Promotional Rates: Credit unions frequently offer "Special" certificate rates for specific terms (e.g., 13-month or 25-month specials) that are higher than standard terms.
Reinvestment: When your certificate matures, use the calculator to compare the outcome of withdrawing the funds versus rolling the full balance (principal + earned dividends) into a new certificate.
function calculateCD() {
// 1. Get input values using specific IDs
var depositInput = document.getElementById('ts_deposit');
var termInput = document.getElementById('ts_term');
var rateInput = document.getElementById('ts_rate');
// 2. Parse values
var principal = parseFloat(depositInput.value);
var months = parseFloat(termInput.value);
var ratePercent = parseFloat(rateInput.value);
// 3. Validation
if (isNaN(principal) || principal <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid deposit amount.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(months) || months <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid term in months.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(ratePercent) || ratePercent < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid interest rate.");
return;
}
// 4. Calculation Logic
// Convert term to years
var timeInYears = months / 12;
// Convert rate to decimal
var rateDecimal = ratePercent / 100;
// Compound frequency (Monthly is standard for Credit Union CDs)
var n = 12;
// Compound Interest Formula: A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt)
var totalBalance = principal * Math.pow((1 + (rateDecimal / n)), (n * timeInYears));
// Calculate Interest Earned
var totalInterest = totalBalance – principal;
// 5. Formatting Results
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
minimumFractionDigits: 2,
maximumFractionDigits: 2
});
// 6. Update DOM
document.getElementById('res_total').innerHTML = formatter.format(totalBalance);
document.getElementById('res_interest').innerHTML = formatter.format(totalInterest);
document.getElementById('res_apy').innerHTML = ratePercent.toFixed(2) + '%';
// Show results section
document.getElementById('results').style.display = 'block';
}