Melrose Credit Union continues to offer their highest cd rates for their midterm to long-term certificates of deposit. The current interest rates as of February 8 are the following:

1 year 1.81% APY
2 years 2.07% APY
3 years 2.57% APY
4 years 2.83% APY
5 years 3.39% APY

The top cd rates can be enjoyed if you open an account with an initial deposit of at least $5,000.

The credit union also offers IRA Certificates with the following interest rates:

1 year 2.07% APY
2 years 2.32% APY
3 years 2.83% APY
4 years 3.09% APY
5 years 3.65% APY

You can purchase an IRA certificate for $4,000.

All share certificates may incur early withdrawal penalties. New CDs and renewed certificates compound their dividends on a quarterly basis.

The certificate of deposit rates are in effect as soon as the credit union receives your initial funding. You can apply online but some readers have reported that they were asked still to mail some documents to complete the process.

One good way to expedite the process is sign up for membership and then get the funds of your CD from your share savings account. One friend shared that he was able to open and fund the cd at the same day by going to a local credit union service center.

Melrose Credit Union practically accepts everyone who wants to join because it has an open charter. By the way, one of our readers warned us that the credit union did a hard credit pull when he opened an account.

Melrose Credit Union has excellent ratings from BauerFinancial and bankrate.com. Both issued 5 stars for performance, soundness, and safety based on their June 2009 data.

Northwest Federal Credit Union offers consumers their best cd rates for their midterm and long-term certificate of deposits. The most competitive interest rates are offered for their 2-year CD earning 2.12% APY and 5-year CD with 3.25% APY. These require a minimum funding of $2,500 and have a cap of $25,000.

The other money in the bank deals has the following interest rates:

Term           $500 to $2,499     $2,500 to $24,999     $25,000 to $99K
6 months             n/a                   1.21% APY                   1.31% APY
1 year                 1.42% APY          1.47% APY                   1.52% APY
2 years               2.07% APY          2.12% APY                   2.17% APY
3 years               2.43% APY          2.53% APY                   2.58% APY
4 years               2.69% APY          2.79% APY                   2.84% APY
5 years               3.15% APY          3.25% APY                   3.30% APY

These cd interest rates are posted as of February 8 but may change any time. It will be best to visit their website or call the bank for the latest figures.

The credit union is still offering the add-on certificates of deposit. The 1 year add-on CD requires a minimum opening balance requirement of $500 and has a current interest rate of 1.52% APY. The 2-year add-on certificate has a 2.17% APY and also requires $500.

Details about the CD

Upon application for the certificate of deposit, you can fund your account via ACH when you apply online. You can also wire money to your share savings deposit and contact the credit union to open a CD for you. They also have shared branches which can accept your deposits.

The bank imposes early withdrawal penalties amounting to all dividends withdrawn for CD with terms of 6 months or less. CDs with six months or longer maturity dates, the penalty is at least equal to 180 days or less of earnings or all of the dividends of the amount withdrawn. They may also ask you to close the certificate in case you take out an amount and the balance falls below the minimum required of the certificate.

The credit union gives a 10-day grace period upon the maturity of the account. You can call the credit union and instruct them to roll over the funds to the existing cd, deposit the proceeds to a liquid account, or send the earnings to you as check.

Membership

Membership to the Northwest Federal Credit Union is basically via select employee groups. The credit union also accepts members from the American Consumer Council. The ACC does not collect any membership fee when you sign up. When you sign up for Northwest you can opt to join the ACC. The Northwest FCU requires a membership fee of $5. You can also use the website to open accounts like certificates of deposit.

The credit union has offices spread across Virginia. These branches are strategically located in Manassas, Herndon, Vienna, and Chantilly. The shared branches can also help you out with withdrawals, deposits, and other transactions with Northwest FCU.

Northwest Federal Credit Union is covered by the NCUA under the charter number 5500. This credit union is a large organization with assets amounting to about $1.7 billion and close to 100,000 members.

Alliant Credit Union is still pushing for competitive money in the bank deals through their certificate of deposit programs. The current interest rates are as follows:

12 – 17 months up to $25,000 2.00% APY
36 – 47 months up to $25,000 2.50% APY
48 – 60 months up to $25,000 3.00% APY

The top cd rates will be 10 basis points higher if you put in more than $25,000 into your certificate of deposit account. These highest cd rates are also available as Traditiona, Roth, and SEP IRA. Minimum balance to open an account is $1,000.

Interested consumers can enjoy the best cd rates by opening an account online, visiting a branch, or by opening an account over the phone. You need to be a member of the credit union with at least a $5 balance in your savings account to be eligible to open the CD. IRA accounts cannot be opened online.

The cd rates will be locked when you open the account. You can fund the account via ACH or transfer money through wire from your external account. You can also send a check via FedEx if you want to send your money overnight. You can find the address and routing number of the credit union on their website.

Interest rates are compounded on a monthly basis. Account holders can opt to withdraw the dividends of the CD without getting any penalty. You have to take note though that partial withdrawals are not allowed. The credit union gives you a 10-day grace period upon maturity of the CD.

You can have a joint owner or elect a beneficiary when you open an Alliant certificate of deposit.

Membership

The Alliant Credit Union welcomes members of the national and local PTA. The National PTA collects $25 for a membership fee. Your local PTA may cost less when you sign up.

Some of our readers have reported that the credit union did a hard credit inquiry when they signed up.

About the Credit Union

Alliant Credit Union has received commendations for their excellent customer service. Their CSRs answer the phone quickly and provide very helpful information. They are ready to answer your questions 24×7.

The credit union has offices in Elk Grove Township, Des Plaines, and Chicago, Illinois. They also have branches in Virginia, California, and Colorado.

Based on the June 2009 data of BauerFinancial, Alliant Credit Union is rated 5 stars for excellent performance. Bankrate.com however gives a 3 star rating for its soundness and safety. It is a large organization with about $6.13 billion in assets.

Alliant Credit Union is covered by the NCUA under charter number 67955.

The Island Federal Credit . Union offers their best certificate of deposit rates for New York. The top cd rates they are pushing for are very competitive at 2.40% APY for an 11-month term, 2.55% APY for a 24-month program, and 2.65% APY for an 18-month deal. They are also available as Education, Roth, or Traditional certificate of deposit.

Interested members can take advantage of these current cd rates for an initial funding of $1000. According to their customer service line, these rates may change any time.

Individuals who work, study, or reside in Suffolk or Nassau Counties are eligible to join the union. Shelter, Southampton, and East Hampton are not included in this offer. The FCU requires a $5 deposit to a regular savings account.

Island FCU has offices in Hicksville, Sayville, and Hauppauge in New York.

The credit union has a very history of solid performance. Using their March 2009 data, Bankrate.com and BauerFinancial issued 4 stars and 5 stars, respectively.

Island FCU is covered by the NCUA through charter number 10023.

The Eastman Credit Union . offers their best cd rates for the states of Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Tennessee. Some of the top rates they are pushing for are 3.10% APY (36 months), 2.75% APY (24 months), and 2.50% APY (12 months). Interested individuals can open the account for as low as $1000.

You can also get 10 basis points higher than the current interest rates by opening Jumbo Certificates of Deposit which require a minimum funding of $100K.

The credit union may change the rates any time so it will be wise to visit their website or call their office to have an update before signing up for anything. The rates that we have here though are a nice jump from the rates Eastman offered last month.

Membership to the credit union is open to residents, students, and workers from some counties in northeast Tennessee. They also welcome memberships from Harrison and Greg Counties in Texas, and several counties in the southwestern part of Virginia. Sign-ups can also be qualified through select groups of employers.

Eastman Credit Union has offices in TN, TX, SC, VA, and AR. BauerFinancial issued 5 stars while bankrate.com gave 3 stars when they reviewed the union’s performances using their March 2009 data.

The credit union reports a member base of about 110,000 and assets amounting to $2.1 billion. It is registered with the NCUA and covered under its charter number 68095.

The Workers Credit Union continues to give competitive interest rates for their certificate of deposit deals in NH and MA. The regular CD requires a $500 initial deposit while the IRA needs $1000 of funding to start.

The current interest rates are 2.50% APY for their 25-month CD, 2.10% APY for the 9-month CD, and 1.60% APY for a 4-month term.

Residents and people who work in Massachusetts or New Hampshire are eligible to join the credit union. They require a deposit of at least $25 into a share savings account.

The Workers Credit Union is listed with the NCUA under their charter number 66479.

If you are from Texas, you have good local certificate of deposit deals with the Neighborhood Credit Union . The best cd rates they offer are those with longer terms. A 60-month deal will earn your money 4.00% APY.

They also have mid-term certificate of deposits that have very competitive cd rates like their 12-month and 18-month CD at 2.00% APY. The union is also offering this top cd rate for their special 12- and 19-month certificates of deposits which also earn 2.00% APY.

Interested individuals can enjoy these best interest rates for an initial deposit of $2,500 for regular CDs. There are also Jumbo CDs which require a minimum deposit of $50K to enjoy interest rates which are 10 to 15 basis points higher. The CD are also offered as IRAs.

Youngsters who are 12 to 17 years old who want to start early can also invest in special certificates of deposit called Smart CD. Kids can open this with a $100 deposit and enjoy a ceiling interest rate of 10.00% APY for a max deposit of $1000.

Neighborhood Credit Union also invites members to take advantage of the flex scheme with a 12-month CD offering that earns 0.85% APY which only requires $500 to open. This allows additional deposits.

The interest rates may change any time. It will be wise to ask the union of any changes to the rates, and other factors which may affect your earnings.

Bankrate.com issued 4 stars while BauerFinancial gave 3 stars when they reviewed the credit union’s performance using their March 2009 data.

Neighborhood Credit Union is registered with the NCUA and covered under charter number 67681.

The Connexus Credit Union continues to offer good interest rates for their certificates of deposit. The union gives 2.50% APY for CDs with a 12-month term. Other programs earn 2.00% APY for 6-month deal and 3.50% APY for a 60-month term. Members who want to take advantage of these cd interest rates only need $1000 of initial deposit.

The top cd rates have fallen especially comparing them to their March Madness run. Despite that the current cd rates remain to be competitive in today’s market conditions.

Application for the certificates of deposit can be clicked on the website of the credit union. The earnings of the CDs are computed daily but posted on a quarterly basis. They also give you an option to transfer the gains to your other Connexus accounts like your checking, savings, or money market.

There is also an option to get a step-up certificate. Connexus offers them on a 24 or 36-month term. With a step-up or bump up, account holders can ask the institution for a one-time higher certificate of deposit rate. The website does not detail how one can apply for this but their customer service line can help you with regard to the details of the process.

It appears that anyone can join Connexus. Individuals can request for membership through the union’s website. All it takes is $10. Visit the online application page of the union and choose “other” so you can list the option for joining the Connexus Association.

Connexus Credit Union is headquartered in Wausau, Wisconsin. The union is insured with the NCUA through charter # 66538.

The New York Federal Credit Union offers several competitive certificates of deposit with the best interest rates in the market. A 12-month CD gains 3.00% APY according to an updated rates table last June 4.

Other cd rates that are really worth your attention are the following:

The rates have dropped like the other rates in the market but they remain to be among the top cd rates today.

It will be best to call the union with regard to the specifics of account opening and early withdrawal penalties. It appears though that an application form can be downloaded from their website.

The membership to the NYFCU is open to members of the SelfReliance Association of American Ukrainians. This organization will only accept individuals who have Ukrainian descents, members of Ukrainian religious orders and organizations.

The association has offices in Uniondale, Second Avenue, and Kerhonkson in New York. Selfreliance collects a $5 membership fee. Signing up for the New York Federal Credit Union requires for a balance of $50 in a share basic account.

The union has good ratings from BauerFinancial and Bankrate.com which gave 5 and 4 stars, respectively. The union is covered by the NCUA through charter number 7217.

Pentagon Federal Credit Union is still running their long term certificates of deposit and offer the best interest rates possible at 3.50% APY for a three year term.

They also have 4-year deal with cd rates running at 3.75% APY. The 5- and 7- year term has the top rates at 4.00% APY. These rates may change any time so it will be best to call the bank before you sign up for anything.

The top cd rates can also be enjoyed as traditional or Roth IRA or as education savings certificate. Some of the account holders have shared their experience of being offered by the bank a 0.25% if the renew the matured CD.

People can open a certificate of deposit account online. If you are not in the service or do not qualify based on family or employer, you can still enjoy the best cd rates by joining the NMFA or the National Military Family Association. If you are a volunteer of employee of the Red Cross, you are eligible to sign up for the PenFed.

NMFA collects an annual membership fee of $20. People can sign up immediately for the PenFed after joining the NMFA. Membership to the NMFA does not need to be renewed to continue enjoying the benefits of being a PenFed member.

If you are not comfortable doing everything online, Pentagon Federal Credit Union has offices in several states including Texas, Missouri, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, North Carolina, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC.

PenFed has a hefty asset amounting to $13 billion. It is covered by the NCUA under charter # 227.

The Canyon State Credit Union in Arizona is again running their March Madness CD deals that offer the highest CD rates for their 8-month program. The $1000 tier offers a good earning of 3.15% base APY while the $100K bracket gives out 3.15% base APY.

Like last year’s promo, the member can enjoy a 0.25% higher cd rates if he or she pics a Final Four team in the Division I of the NCAA. Pick the champion and you can enjoy an increase of 0.50% in your CD rates.

This certificate of deposits special should be opened by the member before March 18, 2009.

The credit union offered higher earnings for the same promo last year. The cd rates offered though are still very competitive given the current environment of the financial market.

People who live, attend church, or wok in most areas in Arizona are qualified for membership. A minimum savings account deposit of $25 is required for membership.

The union has branches in Tucson, Tempe, Payson, Goodyear, and Phoenix, Arizona. Charter # 66502 of the NCUA covers the Canyon State Credit Union.

The Connexus Credit Union offers their best CD rates with the Grand Opening Certificate promo for all members. These certificates of deposits earn 3.35% APY for their 24-month program and 3.50% APY for their 3-year special.

These CD rates can be enjoyed with a minimum deposit of $10000. The account also has a step up feature which allows holders to change the rate once in case the rates jump up during the term of the CD.

The Grand Opening CDs are still on the special promo page of the union as of February 26 but it will be best to call them to confirm before doing anything. You can also ask about minimum balances and any penalty that applies since they are not posted on the website.

The membership to the union is open to enlisted members of the Connexus Association. Anyone can join this association for a $5 scholarship fund donation.

Interested members can fill up the online application on the Connexus Credit Union website.

The union is headquartered in Wausau, Wisconsin. The NCUA covers the union through charter # 66538.

Austin Telco Federal Union offers fairly competitive rates for their certificate shares. For a minimum deposit of $1000, you may enjoy the accumulated yield of 3.24% at the end of the 24-month CD term. Higher rates are offered for longer CD terms for the same minimum deposit: 3.49% for 36 months; 3.60% for 48 months; and 3.80% for 60 months. They’re among the highest CD rates quoted this year for this deposit bracket.

The higher bracket of deposits shows a significant but not dramatic raise in APY. For a minimum deposit of $95,000, Austin Telco Federal Union lets its Jumbo certificate shareholder enjoy 3.19% APY after 12 months; 3.39% APY after 24 months; 3.60% APY after 36 months; 3.80% APY after 48 months; and 3.91% after 60 months. These might not be the top CD rates for a deposit of this size, but they still prove to be competitive rates considering the economic climate of 2009. The full details of their APY rates are listed on the bank’s rate table.

In other words, if you’re a big depositor, you can beat the inflation with a 3.19% accumulated interest from your CD funds. That’s 0.11% higher than the quoted APY you’ll enjoy in the same CD term should you choose to deposit $1,000 to $94,999. It may look like a small sum on paper, but it’s a big sum if you’re playing with a five-digit-investment in the short span of 12 months.

You need to be a member of the Austin Telco Federal Union to purchase a certificate share. Membership to the federal union is open to all students, employees, residents, and worshippers of Austin’s Metropolitan Area. To become a member, you need to open a savings account with a $25 initial deposit. Austin Telco is known to pull a hard credit upon membership.

The main branches of the federal union are located at the Central Texas cities of Austin, Bastrop, Round Rock, and Cedar Park. Telco Austin Federal Union is federally insured by the NCUA under Charter # 458.

Happy Valentines Day! Resource One Credit Union is offering a wide range of top cd rates. The most competitive deals are for 2.90% APY on an 18-month term, 3.10% APT for 2-year term, 3.50% APY for 36-month program, and a 4.00% APY for a 5-year deposit. The minimum deposit for this account is $1000.

There are also Jumbo and IRA certificate of deposits which have higher APYs on a range of 5 to 10 basis points. The rates here are effective as of January 29 but may change any time.

Resource One welcomes for membership residents and those who work in Northwest Harris or Dallas counties. The union requires a minimum deposit of $25 to a share savings account. An online application can also be accomplished through Andera and funding of the account via ACH transfer.

Interested individuals may visit their offices in Houston, Mesquite, Irving, Grand Prairie, Garland, Dallas.

The Resource One Credit Union has good reviews from BauerFinancial and bankrate.com. Both issued 4 stars when they reviewed its financial soundness using their September 2008 data.

The union is covered by the NCUA through its charter # 68439.

The Baptist Credit Union invites members to invest their money for a better yield through their certificate of deposit deals that include 3.42% APY for a 12-month term, 3.63% APY for a 2 year program, and 3.86% APY for a 3-year special. The minimum deposit to open the account is $500.

These rates may change any time so it will be wise to call in first before signing up for anything. The earning for these best certificates of deposits are compounded and credited on a monthly basis.

The rate table of union details the early withdrawal penalties for each term. A 1 year program will have a penalty worth 30 days of its interest, a 2-year CD will slash 60 days of interest, and a 3-year investment will collect 90 days of its interest.

Membership to the union is open to church attendees of the San Antonio and Dallas Baptist Association. The website details the requirements for membership. The union requires at least $25 of deposit to a share savings account.

BauerFinancial gave the union a rate of 5 stars while banrate.com issued a 4-star review using their September 2008 data.

Baptist Credit Union is a member of the NCUA, insured through its charter # 68358.

PTA members around the globe can reap the benefits of two long term CDs offered by Alliant Credit Union. Making it among the top CD rates offered this banking year are 4.00% APY offered for their 36-month CD and 4.25% for their 48-month CD.

The minimum deposit for these CDs, however, is pretty big. Both CDs require at least $25,000 to open. For smaller deposits ranging from $1,000 to $24,999, you might be given a slightly lower APY for the same terms. The full details of the bank’s CD rates are available in their rate table.

A significant drop of CD rates has been observed from banks in general during the last two months. Always check the website first before opening a CD account to see if the CD rates are the same. The CD rates for these particular terms, for example, used to be at least 0.25% higher last month. It’s advised to make CD deposits as early as possible in 2009 to enjoy the higher APYs. Yields are projected to drop as the year progresses.

Take note too that Alliant Credit Union uses the APY indicated in their website upon receipt of your funds. Even if you applied a month earlier and they’ve only received your funds today, they will use the APY indicated in today’s rate table. Wire transfers and electronic transfers are highly encouraged for faster transactions.

You need to be a PTA member before you can open a CD account with this credit union. It costs around $25 to be a member of your local PTA. For more information about membership eligibility, please visit the credit union’s eligibility page. Their costumer representatives are also available for your inquiries through their 24/7 live phone assistance. If you’re looking for excellent costumer service, Alliant Credit Union offers one of the best in the US.

Their branches are located in Chicago, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Township in Illinois, Colorado, California, and Virginia. The credit union has strong soundness ratings: 5 stars (superior) at BauerFinancial and 3 stars (performing) at Bankrate.com.

Alliant Credit Union is insured by NCUA under Charter #67955.

The Navy Federal Credit Union’s top CD rates showed significant changes within the month but remained competitive among other CD rates in the market. From 5.10% just last January, the 84-month CD dropped to 4.50% APY.

On the other hand, instead of offering its short term special easy starts 6-month CD (available last month), the bank now offers 4.00% for 1-year starter CD.

Just the same, both CD rates remain among the top CD rates offered this banking season. The full details of all their CD rates can be seen in the bank’s rate table .

The long term 84-month or 7-year CD requires a minimum deposit of $20K, while the short term 12-month CD only requires $100 minimum to open. Take note that the 84-month CD goes beyond the usual 5-year terms offered by most banks. This means that aside from higher APYs, you should expect bigger early withdrawal penalty fees from this 7-year CD.

As a matter of fact, this 7-year CD comes with a 365-day penalty for premature withdrawals. As in most banks, the Navy Federal Credit Union puts 180-day penalties to all of its CDs with terms ranging from 1-5 years.

However, the 84-month CD already falls under the “very long term” bracket. To protect the bank’s interests, they naturally doubled the penalty for premature withdrawal in this CD.

If you’re thinking of taking advantage of the 1-year high yielding (4.00%) CD, you should also know that the maximum deposit for this account is only 10K. Each member of the credit union is also only allowed to hold one “special starter” account. This means that you can only take advantage of the banks special promo one at a time.

Ideally, these promos are designed to attract new depositors, anyway. Make sure that you check their website every so often because the CD rates change almost weekly.

Based on my weekly monitoring, there seems to be a drop trend among CD rates. It’s advised for you to open a CD account as early this year as possible to enjoy higher APYs. Yields are projected to continue dropping as we near the middle of this year. A CD account should help you keep the value of your stagnant funds inflation-proof just in case the economic climate turns for the worst.

The Navy Federal Credit Union is not a commercial bank. Recently, it has opened its doors not only to members of the Navy, but the Army, Marine Corps, and Airforce too. Take note, though, that they’re generally tighter when it comes to membership compared to the Pentagon Federal Credit Union.

For the full details of membership eligibility, refer to the union’s eligibility checklist. You should also find special instructions about opening and closing Navy Federal certificates in the credit union’s website. As in all CDs, keep close watch of your funds’ maturation dates to avoid unnecessary penalties.

The Navy Federal Credit Union has branches all over the US and the world. It is an insured federal member of the NCUA under Charter #5536. The credit union is one of the largest credit institutions in the US, with $35.8 billion worth of assets and 3,142,637 members.

They might not be the highest CD rates in the market today, but they remain competitive among peers: Plus4 Credit Union in Houston offers 3.00% APY for their 60-month regular CD, and 3.20% APY for the mini-jumbo counterpart.

Although relatively intimidating for depositors because of its long maturation period (a total of 5 years), the 3.00% yielding 60-month CD still remains one of the top CD rates quoted this year. On the other hand, its mini-jumbo counterpart with 3.20% APY might turn depositors off with its high minimum deposit requirement.

The regular 60-month CD only asks for $1000 as a minimum deposit. Its mini-jumbo counterpart, on the other hand, requires at least $50000.

For a $50000 principal, the 0.20% added in the mini-jumbo CD’s APY could accumulate a hefty sum by the end of the fund’s maturation. There’s a big difference between letting a $50000 deposit age on a 3.00% APY and a 3.20% APY. If you’re investing that much money for five years, you might as well ask for a bigger yield.

As in all long term CDs, however, you still need to make sure that the APY at least makes up for the projected USD inflation hike within the CD’s term. In other words, you really need to shop around for high CD rates before putting your money in, especially when it involves long maturation periods like this one.

If the other bank offers a 4.00% APY for the same term with (60 months) more or less the same minimum deposit requirement ($50000), you should drop the 3.20% offer and invest on the higher yielding certificate.

To open a CD account, you need to become a member of the Plus4 Credit Union first. All residents, students, employees and worshippers in selected parts in Houston are eligible for membership. You can make the membership official by opening a basic savings account which should require a minimum balance of $5.

For more details about the membership, please refer to the bank website’s Membership Page. You may send your applications by mail, in person or through email. This credit union is insured by the NCUA under Charter #61457.

The Co-op Services Credit Union is pushing for their certificate of deposit special deals which give 3.50 % APY for their 15-month term. This requires a $1000 deposit to open. There are other top cd rates that are very competitive: 3.55% for $25K minimum and 3.60% APY for a deposit of at least $100K.

These CD’s are also available as IRA’s and the rates are bit higher. The APY for the $500 minimum is 3.85% APY, a $25K deposit earns 3.90% APY, and APY for $100K minimum is 3.95%.

The rates are effective as of January 26 according to the website. This may change any time so it will be best to phone the bank first before signing up for anything.

There are associations that can be joined so anyone can qualify for membership. Visit the union’s website to know the details about these associations.

The Co-op Services Credit Union has branches in Westland, Walled Lake, Southgate, Melvindale, Livonia, and Dearborn.

The union also recently merged with Priority Community Financial so these certificates of deposits are also available through them. Priority Community has branches in Westland and Southfield.

Co-op Services has fair ratings from bankrate.com and BauerFinancial. The former gave 3 stars while the latter issued 4 stars. These are based on their September 2008 data.

The union is a member of the NCUA through charter # 62426.

The United Consumers Credit Union is still running their certificate of deposit specials called 5-10-15 CD. The set cap for the deposit is $10000 with terms of 15 month. This top CD rates are good for new money only.

The promo may end any time but the promo is still on their website as of January 29.

The low ceiling for the deposit may be the downside of this deal but is better than other offerings with a low cap. Earnings for this offer can be $150 more compared to investing a 15-month CD with 3.75%.

The credit union welcomes residents, employees, and church goers of Cameron, Buchanan County, and Jackson County to sign up.

Their offices are located spread across Missouri particularly in St. Joseph, Raytown, Kansas City, and Independence.

The ratings given to the United Consumers Credit Union are favorable. BauerFinancial issues 5 stars while Bankrate.com gives 4 stars. These are based on their September 2008 data.

The United Heritage Credit Union is pushing for their best cd rates through their IRA promo that gains 4.30% APY on a 15-month term. The minimum funding is $1000 and does not have a set cap.

Account holders can fund the IRA certificate of deposits by putting in new money or by transferring funds from an existing IRA.

This offer is still on the website of the union and changes may be made any time. It will be wise to call their office to verify the on going rates.

Students, employees, and residents of Travis, Wood County, Smith, Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop, or Williamson in Texas are eligible to join. There are also select employee groups and family affiliation criteria to qualify for membership. The union requires a $1 deposit to a share savings account.

The United Heritage has offices in Round Rock, Tyler, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Austin.

The union is covered by the NCUA through charter # 68251.

The Valley Credit Union offers an attractive 60-month certificate of deposit with gains of 4.00% APY. They also have a 3 year term with the best cd rate of 3.50%.

The credit union was assumed by the CEFCU or Citizens Equity First Credit Union last December 2008. The arrangements of the NCUA as conservator paved the way for this move. CEFCU is headquartered in Illinois and services around 14 counties around the central part of the state.

The Valley CU will keep its operation through their branches and coverage of membership.

Membership to the union is open to residents, employees, and church goers in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties.

The CEFCU is insured by the NCUA through charter # 68448.

The Energy Credit Union in Massachusetts is offering several tiered, competitive certificates of deposits. Their 5-year term is very competitive with gains of 4.00% APY. They also have a 24-month program with 3.25% APY and a 36-month special at 3.50% APY.

The rates may change any time so it will be best to call the union first to verify the on going rates.

Residents and employees in certain communities in the state of Massachusetts are eligible to join. Retirees and active employees of Key Span Energy New England are also welcome to sign-up. Norfolk and Suffolk county residents and workers are eligible to join.

The Energy Credit Union has very good ratings from BauerFinancial and bankrate.com. The former issued 5 stars while the later gave 4 stars upon review of the union’s financial soundness using their September 2008 data.

Qualtrust Credit Union headquartered in Texas offers very competitive top cd rates. Their 1-year certificate of deposit gains 3.04%. A yield of 4% APY is given to their 30 month CD. Their 5-year CD is also very attractive at 4.18% APY.

These cd’s are available for a minimum of $1000. The small prints on their promo page disclose that higher rates may be gained by deposits of $50K or more.

The union imposes early withdrawal penalties equal to 3 months worth of interest for terms of 12 months or less. For CDs with terms of more than a year, a penalty of 180 days of interest is given.

Membership is eligible to residents, employees, or those who worship within a 10-mile radius from Qualtrust’s office in Grapevine, Irving, or Tom Green County. Membership requires a $5 minimum share savings account deposit.

The credit union has very good reviews from both bankrate.com and BauerFinancial. Using their September 2008 data, bankrate.com gave 4 stars while BauerFinacial issued 5 stars.

The union is covered by the NCUA through their charter # 68569.

The Provident Credit Union headquartered in California still gives their top cd rates of 3.3% APY for their 15-month special. The account holder can take advantage of this gain if he or she opens a checking account. The rate can be enjoyed at a competitive 3.10% APY without the checking account.

The account requires a minimum deposit of $1000 for regular certificates of deposits and $500 for IRAs.

The credit union is part of the Credit Union Service Centers so signing up will not be a hassle if you are not near any of their offices. They also have ATM services at 7 eleven stores across all states.

Membership to the union can be done through certain associations. Some nationally listed associations are that of the Sierra Club Foundation and the Cancer Society. The Sierra Club has a registration page on their website and any one can sign up for as low as $25.

California residents and employees in the counties of Humboldt, Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento, Monterey, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and San Mateo are eligible to join. Los Angeles residents can automatically qualify for membership. The union requires a $5 deposit into a share savings account upon membership.

The union has a declared asset of $1.6 billion and a member base of 96526.

The Provident Credit Union is covered by the NCUA through its charter # 66343.

In celebration of the opening of their Moorestown branch, the South Jersey Credit Union is still offering their 17-month CD special that gains their best cd rates of 4.17% APY. The minimum deposit to open an account is $1000 and has a ceiling of $70K per member account.

The offer is still listed on the rates table of the credit union and is available as an IRA or a share certificate.

Individuals who live, works, studies, or worships with Vineland, Salem, Pleasantville, Camden, Bridgeton, and Atlantic City are eligible to sign up for a membership. There are also select employer listings and family affiliation that can help interested parties to be accepted to the union.

The union collects a one time membership fee of $10 and a $25 minimum statement savings account deposit.

Membership application forms can be downloaded from their website and can be processed through their branches in Deptford, Voorhees, Vineland, Egg Harbor Township, and Pleasantville cities all in New Jersey.

The NCUA through its charter # 3951 covers the South Jersey Federal Credit Union.

The First Florida Credit Union offers their highest cd rates special at 3.75% APY for their 5-month program. A gain of 3.70% is very competitive for the 13-month certificate of deposit. Another promo at 3.5% APY is given for 22 month CDs. The best cd rates can be availed through minimum deposit of $1000.

Membership to the union is open to anyone who resides or works in Baker, St. Johns, Nassau, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Orange, Leon, Flagler, Duval, Clay, and Broward counties all in Florida.

Their offices are located in the cities of Jacksonville, Pembroke Park, Miami, Orlando, and Tallahassee.

BauerFinancial issued a 5 star review and bankrate.com gave a 3-star rating when they reviewed the union’s financial soundness. These are based using their September 2008 data.

Charter # 61170 of the NCUA covers the union.

The Atlanta Postal Credit Union still pushes for their top CD rates at 4% APY for 1-year program. Other certificate of deposit specials include a 6-month CD that gains 3.5% APY, 4.1% APY for a 2-year term, and 4.3% APY for the 36-month program. The certificates of deposits require a minimum deposit of $500 and are available as IRAs.

According to the union’s representative, these rates will be updated any time soon so it will be best to call them or visit their website to verify the going on rates.

The membership is open to select groups of employees. Several groups of employees are added to qualified active and retired employees of the US Postal Service.

The union has a very good rating from BauerFinancial and Bankrate.com issuing 5 and 4 stars, respectively.

The Atlanta Postal Credit Union is covered by the NCUA under charter # 67389.

Amid the drop in the certificate of deposit rates, Mountain America Credit Union still offers their 60-month CD that yields 4.75% APY. The account requires a minimum deposit of $1000. This term deposit, as the union coins it, is also available as Roth IRAs.

The union imposes early withdrawal penalties but is lower compared to what is going on in the market. They only take 3 months of interest for terms over one year. The penalty is applied on the funds taken out. It will be best to consult the union’s website for the details of the penalties in place. Withdrawals also require the approval of the union.

Membership to the union is open to enlisted members of the American Consumer Council. The council collects $12 for membership open to any interested individual. An online application is also available for interested individuals. The union requires a $25 minimum deposit to a share savings account.

The Mountain America Credit Union has offices throughout Utah. They also have branches in Las Vegas in Nevada and Phoenix, Arizona.

BauerFinancial issued a 3-star rating while the bankrate.com gave 2 stars based on their September 2008 data.

The union is covered by the NCUA under charter # 24692. They have a declared asset of $2.8 billion and member base of 313,553.

The Navy Federal Credit Union top certificate of deposit rates remain competitive despite its decrease this January. The 6-month CD gains 3.75% APY which is lower by 25 basis points. The minimum deposit to avail of the CD is $10000. The rate table shows 5.10% APY is still among the best cd rates for a 7-year term. The 5-year program is competitive at 4.4% APY. The latter requires a deposit of at least $20K. These certificates of deposits are also available as IRAs.

The Union still has the EasyStart CD offered at 4.25% APY for a 12-month program. The max cap for this is $10000. This is offered on a per individual basis and requires a checking account with the bank and direct deposit of at least $500.

Navy FCU has extended the eligibility for membership to connections with the Air Force, Marines, and the Army. There is still no way for people with no connections to people in the services to join.

They have offices across the United States and around the globe. It is the largest credit union in the US with a declared asset of $35.8 billion and a member base of over 3 million.

It is covered by the NCUA under its charter # 5536.