Countrywide Bank has lowered their rates along with the rest of the market, but they still have pretty decent short term CD rates. Their 3 month CD yields 5.25%, 6 month CD yields 5.30%, and their 1 year CD yields 5.10% APY. Minimum balance on all Countrywide CDs is $10,000.

Countrywide is still having some problems due to the subprime mortgage lending crisis, and so I would be wary of depositing more than the FDIC insured $100,000 into any CD. Always diversify your assets.

Countrywide Bank currently has a 5.75% APY 12-month certificate of deposit for its financial centers in California. The minimum deposit is $10,000. You can see this rate by typing in a California zip code at Countrywide’s CD rate table.

Outside of California or through their website, the 12-month CD yield remains at 5.65% APY for deposits between $10k and $250k, and 5.75% APY for deposits of $250k and over.

With the issues Countrywide has been having in its mortgage business, it seems prudent to stay below the FDIC insurance limits. Note, there are many ways to extend your FDIC coverage over $100K. Countrywide Bank is FDIC insured.

First National Bank is offering a 5.50% APY 13-month certificate of deposit. The minimum deposit for this yield is $100,000. A yield if 5.25% APY is available for a $5K minimum. This deal was advertised in today’s Houston Chronicle. The ad is available online here.

This special CD may only be available at the bank’s Houston branches. The bank has branches in most major cities of Texas including Dallas / Fort Worth, El Paso, San Antonio, Austin, Laredo and Corpus Christi. The bank is FDIC insured.

Ohio Savings Bank, the parent of AmTrust, has an internet division called AmTrustDirect which offers CDs that can be opened online. All the certificates of deposit have a minimum of $1K. The current 6-month, 9-month and 12-month APYs are 5.00%, 5.10% and 5.20%.

Some key details:

• Online application allows for funding by ACH transfer or check
• IRA CDs are not available online
• The early withdrawal penalty is 3 months of interest for terms 11 months or less, 6 months for terms of 12 to 23 months, 9 months for terms 24 to 47 months and 12 months for terms of 48 months or more
• Accounts can be opened with up to two beneficiaries
• Instructions to close a CD at maturity must be mailed. A check will be mailed to you in the amount of the closed CD.

Ohio Savings Bank is rated 4 out of 5 stars at Bankrate.com. The bank has over $16 billion in assets.

VirtualBank recently increased the rate on its 12-month CD from 5.39% to 5.55% APY. The 5.55% APY is now the best yield for a one-year CD that’s available nationally. The 6-month CD rate also increased by 5 basis points to 5.44% APY.

VirtualBank CDs have the following features:

• $10,000 minimum to open
• Compounded daily and credited monthly
• Joint and Trust accounts can be selected
• A beneficiary can be included
• Can be reinvested or deposited into a VirtualBank eMoney Market Account

VirtualBank is a division of Lydian Private Bank which is FDIC insured. Bankrate.com’s review gives Virtualbank a 3/5 star rating.

Mutual Bank has again some very competitive rates on its certificates of deposits. The highest rate is a 5.47% APY CD with terms of 24 months and 36 months. The minimum deposit is $5,000. The 1-year CD is also competitive at 5.35% APY with a $2.5K minimum.

Mutual Bank has been FDIC insured since 1962. Bankrate.com’s review gives MutualBank a 3/5 star rating.

VirtualBank’s 12-month CD now yields a high rate of 5.55% APY. The 5.55% APY is currently the best yield for a one-year CD that’s available nationally. Their 6 month CD rate also increased by to 5.44% APY. Minimum balance required on their certificate of deposits is $10,000.

VirtualBank is a division of Lydian Private Bank which is FDIC insured. Bankrate’s review of the bank gives it a 3/5 star rating.

Sunfirst Bank of Utah (UT) is currently offering a high 6.00% APY 6-month CD. The minimum deposit is $500. In addition, a checking account with direct deposit is required for this rate. The offer is available through June. The rate was advertised in the shopLocal website.

Branches are located in the south Utah cities of St. George, Cedar City and Hurricane, and in Mesquite, Nevada. Sunfirst Bank is FDIC insured. For more information, email their customer support at info@sunfirstbank.com.

Blue Ridge Savings Bank of North and South Carolina (NC & SC) has several high yield certificates listed in there rate table. The highest yield available is 5.65% APY for a 30 and 36 month certificate of deposit. The APY’s for the 13, 18 and 24 month CDs are 5.50%, 5.54% and 5.59% respectively. All CDs have a minimum deposit of $1,000.

It appears that you must visit a branch to apply. Branches are located in several cities in western North Carolina including Asheville, Hendersonville and Stanley which is just northwest of Charlotte. There’s also a branch in Greer, South Carolina. The bank is FDIC insured.

IndyMac Bank has one of the highest rates available for 6 month CDs, coming in at 5.46% APY. They also have a great deal on their 1 year certificate of deposit, with a 5.45% APY. For a full listing of their CD rates, visit their rates page.

Minimum balance on all CD accounts is $5,000. They have a wide range of maturity terms, from 90 days to 5 years. This allows you to pick the best term to maturity for your needs, helping maintain some degree of liquidity. You can even get a customized CD by calling their customer center at 1-800-750-8521. See their terms and conditions for more information.

IndyMac Bank is FDIC insured. It has received mixed reviews from ePinions.com.