Harborstone Credit Union is offering a 12-month certificate at up to 4.35% APY, and the special ends Nov. 20, 2026, according to the credit union’s promotion page. The certificate requires a $500 minimum opening deposit, and that money must be new to Harborstone. A money market special that pays a boosted rate for 60 days after an account is opened ends on the same date.
For savers with cash sitting in a low-paying account, the deadline is the practical detail. The page says the special ends November 20 and is subject to change at any time, so anyone who wants the rate has less than two weeks from now to open an account. The rate also depends on how the account is opened and whether the saver has a Harborstone checking account.
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What does the 12-month certificate pay?
Harborstone lists four rates for the certificate. It pays 4.35% APY when opened online with a Harborstone checking account, 4.25% in a branch with checking, 4.10% online without checking and 4.00% in a branch without checking. APY stands for annual percentage yield, the return over a year including compounding.
At the published APYs, a $10,000 deposit earning 4.35% would pay about $435 over 12 months, and the same deposit at the 4.00% rate would pay about $400. The minimum opening deposit is $500, which at the top rate earns roughly $21.75 over the term. Those figures are simple estimates based on the published APY.
The page lists the checking eligibility as new or existing PNW Premier or PNW Cash Back checking. It also states that certificate rates are subject to change before an account is opened, so the rate a saver sees today is not locked until the account is open.
What counts as new money?
Both specials require new money, which Harborstone defines as funds not currently on deposit with the credit union. Moving savings from an existing Harborstone account into the certificate will not qualify. The money has to come from outside, such as another bank, a brokerage account or a maturing certificate elsewhere.
A person who is not yet a member also has to join first. The page says a new membership must include a savings account with a minimum $5 opening balance.
How does the 60-day money market promotion work?
The money market special pays up to 3.75% APY when opened online and 3.50% when opened in a branch, with a $1,000 minimum opening deposit for personal accounts. The promotional rate applies for the first 60 days after account opening, according to the page’s disclosure, and the promotional APY applies regardless of the account balance.
After the 60 days, the account earns the standard 2.01% APY. At 3.75%, $10,000 would earn roughly $62 over 60 days, and the rate would then drop by 1.74 percentage points. The page ties the 60 days to the date each account is opened, not to the Nov. 20 deadline, and it notes that fees may reduce earnings without listing them.
What are the catches before locking money up?
Harborstone says an early withdrawal penalty may apply if funds are taken out of the certificate before maturity, but the page does not state the amount. Anyone who might need the money inside 12 months should ask for the exact penalty in writing before depositing.
Deposits at a federally insured credit union are covered by the National Credit Union Administration up to $250,000 per individual account, the agency says, and Harborstone’s page states that its deposits are insured by the NCUA to that amount. Joint accounts are insured up to $250,000 for each owner, and IRA accounts are insured separately.
The interest is also taxable. The IRS says interest on certificates of deposit and credit union dividends counts as taxable interest, and a payer generally issues Form 1099-INT when a saver receives $10 or more.
Harborstone also says IRA certificates and business certificates are available in branch only, and business money market accounts are likewise a branch product. Anyone hoping to open one of those online will not find that route on the promotion page.
How does this compare with other places to park cash?
The same savings can sit in a high-yield savings account, a Treasury bill or a longer certificate, and each has a different rate, penalty and tax treatment. A 12-month certificate makes sense for money a household will not need for a year, while a money market account keeps the cash available but pays a rate that can change.
The standard 2.01% APY on Harborstone’s money market after the promotion shows how quickly an introductory rate can fall. Comparing the full-term return, not just the headline number, is the safer way to judge any promotional offer.
A saver should also weigh how long the cash can stay untouched. A certificate that pays 4.35% for 12 months is only a good fit if the money is not needed for bills, taxes or medical costs before the term ends.
Opening a certificate by Nov. 20 and wondering where the rest of your cash should go?
Harborstone’s 4.35% special needs $500 of new money, ends Nov. 20 and carries an early withdrawal penalty the page does not spell out. A saver who puts cash into one 12-month certificate and then needs it in the spring can lose a share of the interest, and one who spreads money across banks without tracking limits can end up over the $250,000 insurance line.
Build a CD Ladder in an Afternoon is a guide that includes how a ladder works, with one plain example, and comparing rates the week you buy, with the questions to ask every bank. It also covers staying inside the $250,000 limit at every bank, plus a ladder worksheet listing bank, amount, APY, maturity date and your plan.
Get the CD ladder guide with the rate-comparison questions to ask before Nov. 20 →
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
