• 6 months        0.55% APY
• 9 months        0.75% APY
• 12 months      0.75% APY
• 18 months      0.75% APY
• 24 months      1.00% APY
• 36 months      1.41% APY
• 60 months      2.02% APY

This money in the bank deal requires a minimum of $1,000 to open an account and earn these best interest rates. All certificate of deposit account’s earnings are compounded and paid quarterly. The credit union may imposed a penalty on your account when you withdraw funds before the maturity date. The amount of penalty depends on the term of your certificate of deposit.

The credit union will be issuing a written notification weeks before the account matures. You will also be informed about the grace period that will be given to you so that you can make changes or withdraw funds on your account without penalty.

Aside from these regular CD rates, the credit union also offers a competitive interest rate with their 9 month Jumbo CD with an interest rate of 1.00% APY which requires a minimum balance of $5,000 and 9 month term Super Jumbo CD with an interest rate of 1.26% APY which requires a minimum balance of $25,000. Please note that the dividend rates are subject to change anytime without prior notice.

Membership with Miami Postal Service Credit Union is open to everyone who lives, worships, works, attend school within a 15 mile radius of the 3 credit union branches which is starting from Homestead and Leisure City to Tamarac and Wilton Manors City. Employees or retirees of the Federal Government and postal service are also eligible to join. Plus businesses in Broward and Miami Dade Counties are eligible as well.

Eligible individuals who want to apply may complete and print the application online, notarized the application form, include an initial deposit of $5 for your share savings account, and provide a copy of a government issued ID. Then submit documents to the credit union by visiting one of their branches.

To find out more about their certificate of deposit rates, membership eligibility, and requirements you may call the credit union’s Business Development Specialist at 786-369-7254 or 800-782-3630. Miami Postal Service Credit Union has branches located in the cities of Miami, Hialeah, and Pinecrest in the state of Florida.

Miami Postal Service Credit Union was established in 1991. They are considered as one of the largest credit union in the state of Florida and has reached 13,702 members with over $116 million in declared assets. The credit union is insured with the National Credit Union Association and has a charter number 67330.

• 3 months        0.20% APY
• 6 months        0.30% APY
• 12 months      1.00% APY
• 24 months      1.00% APY
• 36 months      1.50% APY
• 60 months      2.50% APY

You can start earning this highest CD rates when you make an initial deposit of $500 to open an account. You also need to maintain this balance to earn these best interest rates. The earnings of this money in the bank deal are compounded and credited on your account every month. Please note that the interest rate of this CD account is subject to change anytime without prior notice.

A penalty may be imposed on your account if you withdraw funds before the maturity date. The amount of penalty will depend on the term of your certificate of deposit account. This CD account automatically renews once it reaches it’s maturity. A written notification will be sent to you to inform you about the maturity date and the grace period that will be given to you, for you to be able to make changes or withdraw funds without being charged of any penalty.

Membership with Meritrust Credit Union are open to anyone who live, work, worship, or attend school in the counties of Cowley, Pottawatomie, Sumner, Riley, Butler, Geary, Sedgwick, Dickinson, Harvey, Saline, Douglas, McPherson, Osage, Marion, Morris, and Chase in the state of Kansas. If you belong to one of the credit union’s select employee groups then you are eligible to join. Immediate family are also welcome to join.

Individuals who wants to apply for membership may complete the online application. You must open a share savings account which requires a minimum deposit of $25. You also need to submit valid photo ID as part of their requirement. If you still have questions or concerns with regard to their certificate of deposit rate, field of membership, or requirements you may call their customer service line at 800-342-9278.

You may visit one of the credit union’s office located in the cities of Lawrence, Wichita, Junction City, or Derby in the state of Kansas.

Meritrust Credit Union was opened in 1935. They have reached over $717 million in declared assets. The credit union is a member of the National Credit Union Association and has a charter number 63283.

While they can still be considered some of the highest CD rates in the USA, they’re not as competitive as the 6-year CD. They do have shorter terms, though. If you’re interested, you can also look at these CD offerings:

• 1.26% APY for a 30-month CD
• 1.76% APY for a 48-month CD

Both CDs also have a $500 minimum deposit which is considered one of the lowest deposit requirements in the country. The bank accepts applications from depositors outside their market, but they do require branch visits to open an account. If you don’t mind driving to Tecumseh, Nebraska just to take advantage of these highest CD rates, you should grab the chance to do so.

Tecumseh Federal Bank is a very small financial institution with only about $46 million worth of deposits. It has been around since 1958, though, and has earned quite a high rating from DepositAccounts.com (four out of five stars). Bankrate.com has also given it a four out of five stars rating, pegging it “superior”. It is also federally insured so you can be sure your money is safe even if the bank closes. For more details, check FDIC Certificate # 30395.

Rates change without warning, and sometimes, dramatic falls could happen in a span of a week. This CD rate, however, is only available in St. Louise, which is a good thing if you work, live, study or worship in the metro area of the said vicinity. To confirm if you’re eligible for membership, a branch visit is necessary. The credit union has branches in Swansea, St. Peters and Florissant.

There are also shorter CDs offered by the credit union which also deserve to be considered as the top CD rates in the area. These are:

• 2.00% APY for a 4-year CD
• 2.25% APY for a 5-year CD

All 6-, 5-, and 4-year CDs have a minimum deposit and balance requirement of $1,000. The credit union is very transparent about early withdrawals. Members are allowed to withdraw early, but they must face the consequences which aren’t exactly mild, but aren’t brutal either. 270 days’ worth of interest will be deducted from a depositor’s earnings should s/he wish to withdraw early from a 6-year CD. 4- and 5-year CDs, on the other hand, come with a 180-day dividend deduction penalty for early withdrawals.

It must be noted that the minimum deposit requirement is very low. What depositors can do is invest only a manageable sum into the account and wait until the investment matures. This way, they can get the full earnings and not worry about any penalties to boot.

The website is specific about membership. It is open to residents, students, employees, and worshipers of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. It’s a pretty sound financial institution which is rated by DepositAccounts.com with four out of five (superior) stars. Bankrate.com only gave it three out of five stars (performing), but it is still a pretty sound financial institution to invest your money in. It’s a member of the NCUA and is federally insured through Charter # 24797.

While this is one of the highest CD rates in the country today, the term is not exactly ideal. If you would like shorter terms, the financial institution also has these shorter CDs on offer. While the interest rates are lower, they can still be considered as some of the USA’s to CD rates.

• 1.40% APY for a 2-year CD
• 1.75% APY for a 3-year CD
• 2.00% APY for a 4-year CD
• 2.25% APY for a 5-year CD
• 2.40% APY for a 6-year CD

These are considerably competitive rates, especially if you take into account the low minimum deposit requirement. Most accounts could probably give you the same yields, but on average, they would require anything between $10,000 and $25,000. The penalty for early withdrawal is also very mild. Should you choose to withdraw your money before the term ends, all you have to lose is 3 months’ worth of interest. Most banks ask for a least a year’s worth of dividends.

What’s the catch, though? These rates are, unfortunately, only available in the DC area of Virginia. These are very exclusive offers, so you’re lucky if you live, worship, work, or study in the Washington DC metro. This also makes sense as the 1st Commonwealth Bank of Virginia only has one branch which is located in Arlington. You will have to visit this branch to open an account.

This is a fairly new bank which was established only in 2009. The good thing about being formed at that year is that it was able to dodge the 2008 real estate problem which brought down banks at that time. It received mixed ratings from online reviewers. DepositAccounts.com gave it four out of five stars (superior), but Bankrate.com only gave it two out of five stars (below average). Your money is pretty safe with the establishment, though, as it is a member of the FDIC, and is insured via FDIC Certificate # 58773.

There are also shorter termed CDs offered by the bank, but their yields are not as tempting. They can be considered some of the best CD rates in Chicago, but not nationwide:

• 1.50% APY for a 3-year CD
• 1.75% APY for a 4-year CD
• 2.00% APY for a 5-year CD

Both of these top CD rates have a $1,000 minimum balance requirement as well. Depositors also love the lenient early withdrawal penalty set by the bank. According to the fine print of the bank’s rate table, the penalty is only 90 days of interest for all CDs with terms adding up to more than a year.

If there’s anything depositors must be wary of, it’s the financial institution’s weak health rating. It was only given two out of five stars by DepositAccounts.com and one out of five stars from Bankrate.com. The bank is federally insured, though, so while it seems risky, you’re not throwing your money to the sharks either. To know more about the bank’s insurance, check FDIC Certificate #58514.

Take note, though, that the minimum deposit is pretty high, as is expected of high yield share accounts. You will need at least $100,000 to enjoy this CD rate. If you don’t think you can maintain that much money in your account for five years but would still like to take advantage of the country’s highest CD rates, you might want to check the credit union’s other offerings:

• 1.30% APY for a 2-year CD
• 1.65% APY for a 3-year CD
• 2.01% APY for a 4-year CD
• 2.35% APY for a 4-year CD

All of these CDs have a minimum deposit of $100,000. If the minimum deposit, and not the term length, is what’s causing you to hesitate, you might want to check the lower yielding CDs offered by the institution:

• 1.20% APY a 2-year CD
• 1.55% APY for a 3-year CD
• 1.91% APY for a 4-year CD
• 2.25% APY for a 5-year CD

These lower yielding CDs have a friendlier minimum deposit of only $10,000. Among these top CD rates, the 5-year CD deal is the most tempting at it doesn’t fall too far from the $100,000 high yield jumbo interest rate.

You should look into the credit union’s disclosure, though, regarding early withdrawals. It’s quite stringent, and you could lose up to 180 days’ worth of your interests. Of course, it’s still a friendlier deal compared to what other financial institutions have on offer. Some would penalize and take money from your principal amount. Here, you will only lose the accrued interests you’ve earned for the amount you’ve withdrawn, as long as you close the CD before the 180th day after withdrawal. There is also a 10-day grace period upon maturity.

The credit union’s website doesn’t say much about membership eligibility. It suggests that applicants visit the branches if they wish to apply to find out if they’re eligible for membership or not. It’s suggested, too, that as long as you live, work, worship, or study close to any of the credit union’s branches, you may be eligible for membership. Aside from its branches in Alaska, the FCU also has branches in Washington and California. In other words, these best CD rates are available to more people compared to other tempting credit union CDs.

While the CD rates of this credit union are some of the best in the country, and they are the 17th largest credit union in the USA, the financial health of the institution is still wanting. They earned only three out of five stars from DepositAccounts.com, and three out of five stars as well from Bankrate.com. The credit union has $4.4M worth of assets since 2011, and is federally insured under NCUA Charter # 5913.

The only thing which could make one think twice about opening this CD is the minimum deposit. You have to have at least $100,000 in the bank to earn this yield. If you find this too steep, you might want to try their regular 5-year share CD whose rates don’t fall too far off. You can enjoy 2.02% APY for a minimum deposit of $1,000 with this regular CD account.

Please note, though, that these Certificate of Deposit rates may change at any moment. You might want to check the credit union’s rate page before opening an account. Note, too, that because this is a credit union and not a national bank, membership is open only to those who live, worship, work, volunteer, or study in Middlesex County, Hartford County, or Tolland County in Connecticut.

To be a member, you must maintain $5 in the credit union’s savings account. Online applications are welcome. The credit union’s website actually has a database for online applications. You can rest assured that all you personal information is kept safe when you apply.

Aside from the main website, you can also contact the credit union’s hotline at 860.513.5000 if you’re in Connecticut or 800.526.6933 if you’re anywhere else in the USA. Simply talk to one of the credit union’s representatives to take advantage of the top CD rates in your area.

Because these are long term CDs, you should also look into the credit union’s penalties for early withdrawals. Usually, early withdrawals from five-year CDs mean a year’s worth of dividends. You should be especially careful with Jumbo CD accounts because keeping $100,000 in the bank for five years, even if you’re taking advantage of the best CD rates in your area, is no laughing matter.

You will be glad to know, though, that aside from competitive CD rates, the Nutmeg State Credit Union is known for its financial soundness. DepositAccounts.com gave it a five out of five star rating, placing it on top of other credit unions in Connecticut. Bankrate.com only gave the financial institution three out of five stars (Performing), although Bankrate.com is notorious for giving stringent ratings. Still, your money is relatively safe with the credit union as they are federally insured through NCUA Charter # 855.

The bank’s two-year CD is not as competitive. However, it is also a good deal. Central Bank in Tampa, Florida is currently offering their 24-month CD with a 1.25% APY. If you can extend your investment for six more months, and you would like to take advantage of the added 0.10% yield, go ahead and choose this one Instead.

The minimum deposit for both CD deals is a bit steep. You will need $2,500 to continue enjoying these interest rates. CD interest rates have also been falling since December 2011, so it will do you good to take advantage of these still fairly decent Certificate of Deposit rates before they take a dive again. These rates change without so much as an announcement, so check the bank’s rate page first before applying for a CD. The rates mentioned here might no longer apply in a few days.

Also look into the bank’s early withdrawal penalty. Of course, 18 to 24 months is a short time to wait for the country’s best CD rates, but emergencies do happen. Find out how much they’re taking away from your earnings. It is standard for most banks to take away at least six months’ worth of dividends for CDs with these term Lengths.

While there is no limitation indicated on the website regarding who can open these accounts, a branch visit is necessary, so it is understood that the offer is targeted to people who live in Tampa, Florida. This is an intimate, one-branch bank which has a fairly decent health rating.

Over the years, it has improved in terms of financial soundness and is rated by DepositAccounts.com with five out of five stars. Bankrate.com has garnered it four out of five stars (sound). This is impressive for a fairly new bank. It has only been an FDIC member since 2007. Just the same, you can enjoy the fact that it has federal insurance under FDIC Certificate # 58377.

How do the add-on and bump-up features work? Anytime within the term, you could deposit money into your account to take advantage of the high locked-in rate. Some banks offer rates which are just as high, but they won’t allow for more deposits. CIT Bank also just recently added one more short term CD which could be considered one of the highest CD rates of this range in the country. The bank’s 2-year CD earns as much as 1.26% APY. It has the same minimum deposit requirement of $25,000 which is not at all steep considering the high rate. Before your first term ends, you can use the bump up option and take advantage of the significantly higher rate offered by the longer termed CD.

If you take advantage of the 1.25% 2-year CD offer, you can lock down that high rate even if the economy suffers in the future. The rates are continuously falling, and if the predictions are correct, even the top CD rates in the country today for the same term length won’t amount to more than 1.00% APY. You should also know that the CIT Bank is comparatively lenient with early withdrawals. For CDs with terms of a year or less, they only penalize their clients with three months’ worth of dividends. CDs with terms running for more than a year have a penalty that only amounts to six months’ worth of dividends. This is not a bad deal at all considering the high rate. Usually, high CD rates are offset by stringent terms and penalties.

CIT Bank should not be confused with Citi Bank which is owned by Citi Groups. CIT Bank shares the same solid reputation, though, when it comes to financial stability. DepositAccounts.com has rates it as “excellent”, giving it five out of five stars. Bankrate.com which is usually stringent with their ratings gave the bank four out of five stars. CIT Bank was only established in the year 2000, and these are impressive ratings for such a young bank. Your money is safe here thanks to the bank’s federal insurance under FDIC Certificate # 35575.