Local Interest Rates

The Bank of Denver is offering a 2.33% APY 1-year CD. Minimum deposit on this account is $5,000. In addition, the Bank of Denver is also offering a 2.79% APY 18-month IRA CD. These rates are current as of 8/24/2009.

The 1-year CD is an Option CD which allows a one-time bump-up of the interest rate during the term.

The bank provides instructions for applying for an account by mail, fax or in person. However, it states that accounts will only be opened for customers in the bank’s trade areas in Colorado. Branches are located throughout Denver.

Bank of Denver is FDIC insured.

PeopleFirst Bank is having a grand opening special with a 2.75% APY 13-month CD. Minimum deposit on this certificate is $2,500. This rate is current as of 5/15/2009.

It appears that a branch visit is required to open an account. Branches are located in Joliet and Shorewood, Illinois which are about 40 miles southwest of Chicago.

PeopleFirst Bank was established in 2007, and is currently FDIC insured.

Atlantic Southern is offering 3.0% APY on a 13-month CD (and 2.70% APY on a 7-month CD) with a minimum deposit of just $500.

It’s also more than twice the national average for one-year CDs.

These CDs are not available online, so you’ll have to visit a branch in Georgia or Jacksonville, Florida.

Keep an eye out for these local rates; they tend to have better rates than many nation wide banks.

NASA Federal Credit Union is offering 4.25% apy on an 11 month share certificate special. The minimum deposit requirement for this certificate is $5,000.

Field of membership in NASA Federal Credit Union is open to those who belong to any of a number of select employee groups in addition to those who belong to certain associations that anyone may join. See site for additional details.

Agriculture Federal Credit Union is offering rates as low as 3.74% APR on new car loans with terms of up to 36 months. This rate is lower than most car loans offered by banking institutions that I have come across recently. The credit union is also offering rates as low as 4.74% APR on new car loans up to 60 months.

Field of membership in Agriculture Federal Credit Union is open to all through membership in CityDance Ensemble. Membership in City Dance Ensemble is $20 and you can apply at the time you complete your online membership application for the credit union.

Georgia Heritage FCU is offering a special 5.00% APY 60-month certificate. The minimum deposit is $5,000. The special is listed in the rotating image on the credit union’s front page. Clicking this will open up a PDF with the details.

With the possibility of inflation forcing rates up, the early withdrawal penalty is an important feature for long-term CDs. If rates do rise substantially, you can always close the CD, take the penalty, and re-invest the money into a higher paying CD. The smaller the penalty, the less costly this option will be. Look for penalties of no more than 6 months of interest for terms of over one year.

Memberhip is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Chatham, Effingham, or Bryan Counties in Georgia. Please refer to the credit union’s Who Can Join Page for more details. Membership requires a minimum balance of $5 in the share savings account.

Branches are located in Savannah, Georgia.

Memphis Area Teacher’s CU is offering a reward checking account that pays 5.12% APY on balances up to $25,000 (1% for above) and refunds ATM fees if the following monthly requirements are met:

• 10 debit card purchases
• one direct deposit
• access online banking and receive e-statements

If these are not met, the rate falls to 0.05%. There are no monthly service charges.

Membership is open to any person who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in the Memphis City limits. Membership is also open to all Federal Employees and Retired Federal Employees. Please refer to their Eligibility Page for the full details. The credit union requires you to come into a branch with proper identification to join. Membership requires a minimum $25 balance in the Primary Share Savings Account.

Branches are located throughout Memphis, Tennessee and its suburbs.

Meriwest Credit Union is offering 7.50% apy on a 12 month new member share certificate. The minimum/maximum funding requirement for this special is $1,000 and this account must be opened with money new to the credit union. To be eligible for this promotion a new member must open a new Meriwest Credit Union checking account. Limit 1 certificate per member. Existing members who refer a new member who opens a Meriwest Checking Account are also eligible.

Field of membership in Meriwest Credit Union is extended to those who live, work, or study in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, or San Francisco county as well as employees and retirees any of a number of certain select employee groups including IBM. Family members and household members of eligible members are also eligible.

Pen Air Federal Credit Union is offering a special 6-month certificate with a yield of 3.65% APY. The minimum deposit is $500.

Field of membership includes active duty or retired military and their immediate families, current or retired federal civil service employees and their immediate families, and certain other select employee groups.

Branches are located in the Florida cities of Pensacoloa, Century, Pace, and Gulf Breeze, and in the Alabama cities of Robertsdale and Orange Beach. The credit union is federally insured by the NCUA.

iQ Credit Union is offering 5.25% apy on the first $25,000 on deposit in their Intelligent Checking Account. In order to qualify for this yield each month you must make at least 12 debit card transactions, at least one ACH or payroll deposit of $100 or more, use online banking and receive statements by eDelivery.

Field of membership in iQ Credit Union is extended to those who live, work or worship in the state of Washington or are school employees of Educational Service District #112.