Bank Deals Weekly Summary for March 29, 2008

Mar 29, 2008 - 12:01 PM by Ken Tumin

Quick Link for Rates, Recap of this week's posts

Two more online banks that were offering 4%+ savings accounts made large cuts this week. Provident Direct cut its savings account rate from 4.50% to 3.75% APY, and ShoreBank cut its rate from 4.15% to 3.30% APY. Some of the other banks that cut their online savings account rates this week include WaMu, E-LOAN, Zions, UmbrellaBank and AmboyDirect. E-LOAN's online savings account rate is now at 2.75% APY which is the same as the rate at EmigrantDirect. Both are 25 basis points under ING Direct's Orange Savings rate. ING will probably do another cut soon, but it's interesting to see ING Direct being on top of these two banks which had a history of being rate leaders.

Alliant Credit Union is now the savings account rate leader with a yield of 4.35% APY (see post). Indymac Bank added another savings account called E-Money Market which has a yield of 4.05% APY for balances over $1,000. It looks like it's intended to be a competitor to Countrywide's savingslink account which still has a 4.05% APY for balances over $10,000. As I mentioned in this review post, this new Indymac account reminds me of their Internet First Rate Money Market Account. This had a top yield of 5.75% APY for balances over $25K back in August. Its top yield is now 4% APY which isn't too bad in today's rate environment, but the top yield now requires a balance of $75K.

I added two more online savings accounts this week. One is an online money market account offered by Nationwide Bank. It's offering a money market account with a yield of 3.90% APY. It has check writing and an ACH transfer service (their ACH has been reported to be very slow). I have my doubts that Nationwide will keep the rates near the top. Other insurance companies like State Farm and MetLife haven't done a good job at maintaining high rates on their online savings accounts (see post).

I also reported on the online savings account at Beverly National Bank. I did an account review on Monday, and I was hoping to include this as another 4% savings account. But the rate was just cut to 3.75% APY. It's still a competitive rate, but it requires a $5K minimum deposit and lacks an ACH transfer service.

Long-Term CD Deals

Like savings account rates, CD rates generally fell this week. However, there were some banks that raised their CD rates. Most tended to be for the longer terms. Examples include Capital One, GMAC, Transportation Alliance, E-LOAN, Bank of Internet and Navy FCU.

Capital One is now offering 5% APY on its 7 and 10 year terms. Its 4 and 5-year CD rates are also very competitive at 4.25% and 4.30% APY.

Ascencia Bank came out with a competitive long term CD rate of 3.97% APY for terms of 30 months and longer. I just added its long term CDs to my lists below. I've excluded these in the past since they've never been competitive.

Navy Federal Credit Union lowered its short-term CD rates this week, but it raised the rates on its terms of 48 months and longer. The 5-year yield is up to 4.90% APY and the 7-year yield is up to 5.00% APY. Unfortunately, membership is limited to those connected to the Navy.

National City Bank has once again extended its 5% 48-month CD special (see post).

Short-Term CD Deals

GMAC Bank increased the yield of its 12-month CD from 3.60% to 3.90% APY. Except for Countrywide and Indymac, this is the highest 12-month yield for a bank.

Two credit unions continue to offer the best short term CD deals. Alliant Credit Union is still offering the best CD rate for a 12-month term. This requires a $25,000 minimum deposit (see account review). Xerox Federal Credit Union has been offering its 5% APY 5-month CD special since February. This has a $500 minimum, and a maximum deposit of $25,000. A reader commented in my account review that it's scheduled to end on April 15th.

I posted on a great local deal this week at Andrews Federal Credit Union. It's offering a special 5.25% APY 15-month CD. Anyone in Washington DC can qualify for membership (see post).

Reward Checking Update and a Review of its Future

Reward checking accounts continue to maintain their rates better than online savings accounts. My nationwide reward checking list continues to have six 6% accounts. There are also many more local reward checking accounts that are still at around 6%. I reported on a new one this week at 6.10% (see below). Most of these limit the top yields to balances under $25,000.

I've been happy to see many reward checking account rates holding up in this rate environment. It gives savers another high yield alternative. Yes, it requires extra hassles, but it still gives people more choices. I look at it like a mail-in rebate for some product you buy at a store. The manufacturers expect that a significant percentage of buyers won't go through the hassles of mailing in the rebate. Customers who value their savings, go through the extra work.

I noticed something today that could give some insights into the future of reward checking. Presidential Bank has been offering an internet checking account called Checking Plus for the last 10 years. As you can see from Presidential's home page, its rates have been competitive for the last 10 years, but currently it's only 2.10% APY on the first $25K balance (1.75% for above). It also requires direct deposit. Sound familiar? However, it doesn't have debit card usage requirements, and it provides paper statements. So it would seem difficult for banks to offer checking account yields too much higher than what Presidential offers. The added debit card usage requirement may help, but it's hard to imagine it could help too much. Banks that limit the accounts locally may have a better chance to keep rates high since more average bank customers may sign up. Average bank customers will likely keep their balances far below the caps, will use the debit cards for many large purchases, and will be more likely to have overdrafts.

Rates will likely continue to fall so please check with the institutions to make sure the rates that I've posted are still available. If they're not, please leave a comment.

Recap for the Week

Savings Accounts - National

CD Deals - National

Checking/Savings Account Bonuses

Reward Checking Accounts

CD and Money Market Deals - Local

The rates listed below are based on Annual Percentage Yield (APY). No minimum balances are required unless noted. MMA next to the rates indicate a money market account. Most MMAs have check writing and ATM cards. Online savings accounts usually lack both of these. The top lists include banks and credit unions with broad availability and with minimums around $10K or less. Previous weekly summaries are available for Mar 22nd, Mar 15th, Mar 8th, Mar 1st, Feb 23rd, Feb 16th, Feb 9th, Feb 2nd and Jan 26th.

Quick Links: Refer to the following links for the savings accounts and CDs that interest you: Liquid Account Rates: Savings Accounts, Special rates, Local checking/savings, Bank alternatives CD Rates: 3 Mo CDs, 6 Mo CDs, 9 Mo CDs, 12 Mo CDs, 18 Mo CDs, 24 Mo CDs, 36 Mo CDs, 48 Mo CDs, 60 Mo CDs, 84 Mo CDs, CDs by state Comments: read and discuss

As of March 29, 2008

Checking/Savings/Money Market Accounts:


3-Month Certificates of Deposit:

6-Month Certificates of Deposit:

9-Month Certificates of Deposit:

12-Month Certificates of Deposit:

18-Month Certificates of Deposit:

24-Month Certificates of Deposit:

36-Month Certificate of Deposit:

48-Month Certificate of Deposit:

60-Month Certificate of Deposit:

84-Month Certificate of Deposit:

High Yield Reward Checking Accounts - Open to All

Checking and Saving Accounts at Local Banks/Credit Unions

CD Specials at Local Credit Unions/Banks Over the Last Month


Terms of 60 Months and Over

Terms of 24 Months to Under 60 Months

Terms of 12 Months to Under 24 Months

Terms of Under 12 Months

Bank Account Alternatives



Historical Rates from the Federal Reserve (Federal funds, Treasury bills, CD's)

In order of date posted. - Sort by votes
kate

kate (anonymous) - #1, Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 4:29 PM

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Tighe

Tighe (anonymous) - #2, Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 9:38 PM

Look for Alliant's rate to drop shortly.

Sadness.


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