Crestmark recently added a CD FAQ page which has many of the CD details. They also improved their CD application which used to be an Excel document. It’s now a PDF document. The FAQ says you can either email, mail or fax the application. I’m not sure if email would be secure. The funds can be sent by check or wire transfer.

The bank is based in Troy, Michigan. Crestmark’s financial rating at Bankrate had a big drop this year going from 4 stars based on 12/31/07 data to 1 star (lowest) based on 3/31/08 data. It still has 3.5 stars (good) at BauerFinancial based on 3/31/08 data.

• 4.25% APY 13 to 18 months
• 4.75% APY 19 to 42 months
• 5.25% APY 43 to 54 months

Money Market Savings Special:

• 4.00% APY guaranteed for 180 days on $5,000 or more of new money

These have the typical National City requirement of an existing checking or savings account or a new checking (except Free checking) with a $1,500 minimum initial deposit. The maximum deposit limit is $500,000.

This savings account is listed at Bankrate.com , and it appeared to be available nationwide.

It appears the bank doesn’t provide any ACH transfer capabilities. According to the CSR, you can fund the account by check or wire transfer. The savings account does not offer check writing.

It looks like they’ve put all of their focus on CD rates rather than their savings accounts. Their original savings account, the e-Money Market account, now has a yield of only 1.50% APY for balances of up to $25,000. Even their newer e-Savings Account has a disappointing yield of 2.50% APY.

They also have some high CD rates on their long term CDs, with a 4.57% APY 4 year CD and a 4.81% 5 year CD. Minimum balance on CDs is $2,500.

Banking with discover could be useful if you already have other accounts with them.

The top yield on their 12-to-17 month certificate fell from 4.40% APY to 4.15% APY. This requires a minimum deposit of $25,000. However, the yield for the $1,000 minimum remained the same at 4.00% APY. The yield for $25K minimum deposits remained the same for the longer terms (4.15% APY). The yield for the $1K minimum deposits actually increased from 3.75% to 4.00% APY.

Branches are located in Chicago, Des Plaines, and Elk Grove Township, Illinois. There are also branches in Colorado, California and Virginia.

The $1K cap applies to a member and not a household, so having more than one person open an account could increase the cap.

Field of membership includes those who live, work or study in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, or San Francisco County. Select Employer Groups include IBM employees and retirees. Family members and other SEG’s can also qualify. Membership requires a one-time fee of $5.

Branches are located in California cities of San Jose, Milpitas, San Mateo, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Dublin and San Ramon. There are also two branches in Tucson, Arizona.

On top of this CD, they also have other certificates with rates ranging from 3.51% to 3.75% with 1 year to 5 year terms. Minimum deposit to open a CD with WaMu is $1,000.

To obtain the APY for the effective date on the day you apply, the Online CD account must be funded within seven (7) calendar days. If received on or after the eighth calendar day, the then effective date APY will be applied. Certificate of Deposit accounts earn a fixed interest rate and APY for the selected term. Fees may reduce earnings. Penalty for early withdrawals apply.

This online savings account account was originally called the UNITY Internet Savings Account and only required a minimum balance of $10 to open and earn interest. At the end of 2006, they created the UNITY Gold E-Savings Account with the $1,000 minimum.

OneUnited Bank is FDIC insured. The bank has $632 million in assets and $358 million in deposits. Bankrate.com’s review gives the bank 3 out of 5 stars.

FNBO used to offer a 6.00% APY on their savings account, but after the recent fed cuts many banks have been cutting their rates significantly, as well. FNBO Direct is FDIC insured.