Georgia Banking Rates and News

Atlantic Coast Bank is offering two internet CD specials with very competitive rates. These are a 1.25% APY 15-month CD and a 1.05% APY 7-month CD. Minimum deposit is $1,000. These rates are listed in the bank's rates page as of 10/20/2011.

These accounts can be opened online, and according to the application, they welcome all U.S. residents to apply. It does require that you are either a U.S. citizen or resident alien. One nice feature of the online application is that it allows for two POD beneficiaries. The link to the application is in...

Banks sometimes offer higher rates on IRA CDs than regular CDs. That's the case with United Central Bank which is offering IRA CD rates that are 25 basis points higher than its regular CD rates. The most competitive IRA CD rates are 1.51% APY for 18 months and 1.56% APY for 2 years. Even though the 18-month regular CD rate is 25 basis points lower, this still makes for a competitive CD with a 1.26% APY. Minimum deposit is $1,000 for regular CDs and $500 for IRA CDs. These rates are listed in the bank's rates...

Randolph Bank & Trust Company is offering a very competitive 3-year CD special. It's only available via an online application to residents of certain southeast states (see below). The 3-year CD has a 2.05% APY, and the minimum deposit is $5,000. This special is listed in the bank's CD page as of 8/31/2011. There's also a branch 3-year CD with a 1.85% APY with some special features and requirements. Thanks to the reader JasonLee who mentioned this deal in this forum thread.

In addition to this CD, Randolph also has good deals on its savings...

Affinity Bank recently increased its short-term CD rates. The three most competitive ones include a 1.46% APY 18-month CD, a 1.41% APY 1-year CD and a 1.14% APY 6-month CD. Minimum deposit is $10,000. The bank's tiered money market account rates have fallen since my last post, but they continue to be competitive. The top rate is 1.30% APY for balances of at leat $100K. These rates are listed at the bank's rates page as of 6/29/2011.

Online Application - Georgia Only

The bank has an online application based on the Andera service. The link is located on the top right...

Randolph Bank became popular last year when they launched a nationally available reward checking account called Extra-Mile Choice Checking with a yield of 4.75%. Unfortunately, the availability and the yield didn't last. The bank reduced availability to North Carolina residents, and in late December, the yield fell to 2.50% APY for balances up to $25K. However, I just noticed two favorable changes.

First, the bank is allowing more people to apply. According to their reward checking page, in addition to North Carolina, they're accepting applications from residents of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia....

SunTrust Bank continues to offer its special CD package with the competitive 2.40% APY. I first reported on this special in January. The special requires that you open both a 39-month CD and a 63-month CD with a $2K minimum deposit in both. Both CDs have a 2.40% APY. I have the full details in my SunTrust CD review.

SunTrust just came out with a new CD/IRA special with a higher rate. It's offering a 2.70% APY on a 66-month CD. Minimum deposit is $2K. This is listed at SunTrust's CD page as of...

For those who missed the short-lived high rates at Credit Union of Atlanta in February, you can still get some good CD and IRA CD deals. These are just the standard rates, but some of them are still very competitive. Two of the best ones are a 1.53% APY 1-year CD and a 2.52% APY 3-year CD. Minimum deposit is $500. These rates are listed on the credit union's deposit rates page as of 4/14/2011: According to the credit union's share savings certificates page the penalty for early withdrawal is 90 days dividends...

Affinity Bank continues to offer very competitive money market and CD rates. The money market rates have gone down a little since my last report of this bank in September. The money market's top rate is currently 1.40% APY on balances of at least $100K. Below is the full list of rate tiers:

Money Market Rates as of 4/11/2011:

• 1.11% APY $2.5K to $10K
• 1.20% APY $10K to $25K
• 1.30% APY $25K to $100K
• 1.40% APY $100K and above

Last September the bank's short-term CD rates were very high compared to what other banks were offering. Now they're more inline with the others, but they...

Resurgens Bank is offering a very competitive rate of 2.90% APY on its 5-year CD and IRA CD. Minimum deposit is $500. I was told by the bank that the early withdrawal penalty is 6 months of interest. This CD rate is listed in the bank's rates page as of 3/28/2011 and is subject to change at anytime.

A branch visit is required to open an account. It's a small bank with one office located in northeast Atlanta.

The bank has an overall health score at DepositAccounts.com of 5 stars (out of 5)...

Georgia Commerce Bank is offering a few competitive CD and IRA CD rates. The two best are a 1.50% APY 18-month CD and a 1.75% APY 2-year CD. There's also a decent 12-month CD with a 1.25% APY. Minimum deposit is $500. These rates are listed in the bank's rates page as of 3/22/2011.

It appears a branch visit is required to open an account. Branches are located in Atlanta and Marietta.

The bank has an overall health score of 4 stars (out of 5) with a Texas Ratio of 16.50% (average) based on December 2010...

Update 2/12/11: The CD and MMA rates have fallen. However, the 3-year CD rate remains the same.

Credit Union of Atlanta has made some large increases on its CD, IRA CDs and money market rates. Some of the best rates listed on the credit union's deposit rates page as of 2/9/2011 include:

• 1.75% APY Share Plus Money Market
• 1.78% APY 6-month CD
• 2.03% APY 1-year CD
• 2.53% APY 3-year CD
• 3.29% APY 5-year CD

When I last reported on this credit union in December, the 12-month CD yield was only 1.51% and the 5-year CD yield was only 2.78%. The rates went...

SunTrust Bank has brought back its special CD package. As you might expect, it's not as nice as what they were offering last year. Nevertheless, the current offer is competitive. The unusual feature is that it's actually two CDs: one with a 39-month term and one with a 63-month term. Both have a 2.40% APY. You must open both CDs with a minimum deposit of $2K for each CD for a total of $4K. Each CD must be funded with an equal amount. The special also requires that you have a SunTrust checking account. This can be opened at...