3.25% 18-Month IRA CD at Dime Direct - Nationally Available

Update 3/29/09: The 18-month IRA CD rate has fallen to 3.00% APY.

Dime Savings Bank is offering a special 3.25% APY 18-month IRA CD. Minimum deposit is $500, and the maximum is $250,000. New money is required. It's only available as an IRA and not as a regular CD. This promotion is listed on the bank's front page as of 3/16/09.

I called their toll free number (1-800-321-3463), and according to the CSR, it's available to people in any state. There's an online application, and I was told the rate locks at the time the application is submitted. After you submit the application, they'll call you to get the IRA type (Roth or Traditional) and additional info. Then they'll mail you the paperwork to sign. You can fund the account with a check or an ACH transfer.

The small print on the promo page makes it look like it allows additional deposits. From what the CSR said, it appears this only applies to new contributions and not rollover or IRA transfers.

In addition to opening the IRA online, you can open it at one of their branches. Dime Savings Bank branches are located throughout the Greater New York metro area.

Dime Savings Bank has some solid financial ratings for soundness: 4 stars (excellent) at BauerFinancial (based on 12/31/08 data) and 4 stars (sound) at Bankrate.com (based on 9/30/08 data). It has been FDIC insured since 1943 (FDIC Certificate # 16012).

Thanks to the reader who mentioned this IRA in the comments.