Dime Savings Bank continues to have high mid term and long term certificate of deposit rates:

• 12 months           0.70% APY
• 15 months           0.85% APY
• 18 months           0.90% APY
• 2 years               1.25% APY
• 3 years               1.55% APY
• 4 years               2.00% APY
• 5 years               2.50% APY
• 7 years               3.00% APY

You can start enjoying this highest CD rates when you make an initial deposit of $500 to open an account. You can also manage your account at your own convenience by enrolling to online banking. Current CD rates are subject to change without prior notice.

In case you decide to withdraw money before the maturity date, you will have to pay for the early withdrawal fee. The earnings of this money in the bank is compounded daily and paid on a monthly basis or on the maturity date. The bank will automatically renew your certificate of deposit account once it matures, so make sure to inform the bank if you want to withdraw your money at least 10 days after the maturity date.

You can take advantage of this top CD rates by completing the application form online. You can also call customer service hotline in case you have other questions with regard to current certificate of deposit rates or requirements that you will be needing to open an account thru 800-321-3463.

The bank has offices located in the cities of Williamsburg, Whitestone, Westbury, Valley Stream, Sunnyside, Soundview, Port Washington, Midwood, Merrick, Marine Park, Long Island City, Kings Highway, Jackson Heights, Hillcrest, Greenpoint, Glen Oaks, Garden City Park, Flushing, Cedarhurst, Brooklyn Heights, Boro Park, Bensonhurst, Bellmore, Bayside, and Bay Ridge in the state of New York.

Dime Savings Bank was established in 1864. Currently, they have reached over $4.13 billion in assets. The bank is also insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation with certificate number 16012.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury said it will no longer sell paper savings bonds through financial institutions such as banks and credit unions as of Jan. 1, 2012. The move is part of the Treasury’s goal to increase electronic transactions with citizens and businesses and will save taxpayers about $70 million over the first five years.

Series EE and I savings bonds will still be available for purchase TreasuryDirect, which has offered savings bonds since 2002. “Savings bonds are very much a part of this country’s history and culture, and will remain a part of America’s future – but in electronic form,” said Public Debt Commissioner Van Zeck. “It’s time for us to take a 1935 model and make it a 21st century investment tool.”

It is free to open an account at TreasuryDirect. Services offered through the site include:

• Buy, manage and redeem savings bonds
• Convert paper Series EE and I savings bonds to electronic form
• Purchase savings bonds as gifts
• Enroll in a payroll savings plan for purchasing bonds
• Invest in other Treasury securities, such as notes, bills and TIPs

If you still have paper savings bonds you can continue to redeem them at financial institutions.

E-loan has a CD rate of 1.26 percent annual percentage yield (APY) for a 1-year term. The interest rate on this certificate of deposit is current as of June 1, 2011, and can change at any time. Other online CD rates and terms include:

• 1.05 percent APY for 9 months
• 0.75 percent APY for 18 months
• 1 percent APY for 2 years
• 1.15 percent APY for 3 years
• 1.35 percent APY for 4 years
• 1.9 percent APY for 5 years
• 2 percent APY for 6 years

Shorter certificate of deposit terms than those listed are also available. You’ll need a minimum of $10,000 to open a certificate of deposit at E-loan. The CD rates assume that the principal and interest will remain on deposit for the full term. Early withdrawal of funds results in a penalty fee.

E-loan also has an online savings account with tiered savings rates. The rates include:

• 0.2 percent APY for balances of $5,000 to $9,999
• 0.5 percent APY for $10,000 to $24,999
• 0.55 percent APY for $25,000 to $49,999
• 0.6 percent APY for $50,000 to $99,999
• 0.65 percent APY for $100,000 and up

E-loan offers banking services nationwide. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Banco Popular North America. Accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

KeyBank has a new checking account promotion with an iPod touch bonus. This offer is only available online to certain areas.

Here are the requirements to qualify for the iPod touch gift:

• Open a qualifying KeyBank checking account online and enter offer code ONTT0311 by June 24, 2011
• Make at least 10 payments and/or purchases per month for 3 months after account opening
• Make 3 direct deposits each of $500 or more within 3 months of account opening

The comparison chart tab in the promotions page shows the qualifying checking accounts. All have potential monthly service charges. The account that is easiest to avoid monthly fees is Key Express Checking. You can avoid fees by making at least $500 in deposits or initiating five transactions per statement cycle.

Here’s the small print from the offer:

Limit one gift per qualifying account. Limit one gift per individual. The value of your gift will be reported on Form 1099-INT. Your gift will be shipped within 90 days of meeting requirements. Qualifying purchase and payment transactions include checks, MasterCard signature, PayPass and PIN-based purchases, Key Bill Pay, debit card automated payments, PayPal transactions, and Automated Clearing House (ACH) direct payments. Direct deposit transactions are limited to payroll, Social Security, pension, and government benefits. Offer available to individuals without an existing checking account at KeyBank as of 3/25/11. Offer not available to individuals who have opened a KeyBank checking account in the last 12 months.

There are some additional details in the promotion’s FAQs.  If you close your account within 180 days of account opening, you will be charged a $25.00 account early closure fee.

When you apply online, you have to enter your zip code. Not all zip codes are accepted. Like previous KeyBank promos, it appears to be only available in areas where they have branches. KeyBank branches are located in the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.

The offer expires on June 24, 2011. Visit the promotions page for more information.

U.S. employers added jobs in April, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Gains in employment were spread across various industries, with nonfarm payroll employment adding 244,000 jobs and the private sector adding 268,000.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said in a statement:

April’s broad-based job gains were the largest we have seen in 11 months. Our economy has now seen private sector job gains for 14 months running. During this period, we have added 2.1 million private sector jobs, including 760,000 in the last three months alone. We have crossed an important threshold by creating more than enough jobs in each of the last three months to outpace growth in the labor force and put unemployed Americans back to work.

Despite the gains, the overall unemployment rate rose slightly to 9 percent from 8.8 percent.

Chase is offering a $125 bonus for opening a checking account. You can have a coupon emailed to you that can be used to open a Chase checking account or can apply online.

Details of the bank offer include:

• Minimum opening deposit of $100 with money from non-Chase banks
• Must set up direct deposit
• Free online banking and bill pay
• Free access to over 16,000 Chase ATMs in the U.S.
• Free text and email alerts
• 24-hour access with Chase Mobile on your phone
• To avoid a monthly service fee you must have at least one direct deposit of at least $500, keep a minimum daily balance of at least $1,500 or keep an average balance of at least $5,000 in qualifying accounts at Chase
• Requirements to earn the $125 bonus include making a direct deposit within 60 days of the account being opened
• The bonus would be posted to your account within 10 business days of the initial direct deposit
• If the account is closed within six months, the bonus will be debited

Current Chase checking customers and employees of JPMorgan Chase Bank are not eligible for the bonus offer.

The Total Checking Account offer is good through May 16, 2011.

Hudson City has a money market that earns 1.25% APY. This money market rate applies to balances of $2500 and more. If your balance fall below 2500 you’ll earn 1% APY. This rate is current as of 3/22/11. The Hudson City MMA account features:

• Interest rates are subject to change without notice
• Interest is compounded daily and monthly
• Statement format
• Limited withdrawals and transfers
• Insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC)
• Telephone banking

Hudson City also offers a money market checking account that earns interest. Balances of $25,000 and up earn a higher interest rate, which is currently 0.85 percent APY. Accounts with balances below $25,000 earn 0.6 percent APY. Money market accounts with balances of less than $10,000 are charged a $10 monthly fee. Accounts also have limited check writing and third party payments, unlimited deposits and in-person withdrawals and free debit/ATM cards.

Bank accounts at Hudson City are available to individuals who live or work in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Accounts can be opened online. Hudson City has been named by Forbes magazine to be among the best managed banks in America.

Dime Savings Bank is currently offering a 3.10% APY 7 year CD and a 2.5% 5 year CD with a minimum deposit of $500. Early withdrawal penalty is quite steep, however – if you withdraw early you’ll lose 2 years interest.

Dime is currently the long term CD leader, but they’re also offering a 1.65% APY 10 month CD. You can open an account online or over the phone; however, if you don’t open an account in person you will be required to send in a copy of your driver’s license and a bill to verify your address. Dime Savings Bank is located in New York. This is only available to residents of New York.

Dime Savings Bank has a 4 out of 5 star soundness rating from Bankrate and is insured by the FDIC.

Bank of America‘s featured CDs don’t have the greatest rates.

BofA is  paying 0.60% for 12-month CDs opened online with a $10,000 minimum deposit. The rate if you walk into one of Bank of America’s brick and mortar is 0.45% APY.

The only other above-average CD rates at Bank of America:

• 3-month CD rate is 0.28% APY versus an average rate of 0.20% APY.
• 60-month CD rate is 2.01% APY versus an average rate of 1.72% APY.

If you look closely at one of the big banks, you can almost always find a decent rate or two. However you’ll never usually find a rate thats comparable to the best online CD rates.