Savings and CD Rates Flat - Top CD Rate Steady at 3.41% APY

Unlike two weeks ago where we saw a steep drop in CD and savings rates, rates were mostly flat over the past week.

Savings Rates

Average savings rates held their ground last week, remaining at 1.37% APY. The top rates also remained the same with Southern Community Bank's Ready Saver 2% APY Savings Account leading the pack of non-promo rates. For promotional rates, Everbank remains on top with their 3-month introductory bonus rate of 2.25% APY. After the three-month period, the rate drops down to 1.26% APY for a blended one year APY of 1.51% APY

CD Rates

The average 1-year CD remained steady at 1.37% APY. First City Bank continued to hold the top spot with a 1.80% APY CD.. First City Bank is in bad financial shape and has been operating under a FDIC Cease and Desist Order since 10/09. Southern Commerce Bank has the next highest rate at 1.75% APY but as the BestCashCow rate tables show, it also has some financial problems.

The average 3-year CD rate, which had the biggest drop two weeks ago, remained at 2.52% APY. Bank United remains in the top spot with a 2.75% APY CD. Bank United is not yet rated because it is a relatively new banking entity, having emerged from the ashes of the old, failed BankUnited. The new bank has been recapitalized and appears to be in much better financial shape than it predecessor.

The average 5-year CD, which has been fairly steady since the beginning of the year, held steady at 3.19% APY.

USAA continues to have the top 5-year CD rate at 3.41% APY but it does have that $175,000 minimum balance. Everbank has the second highest rate at 3.39% APY. One thing to note about Everbank is their penalty for breaking a CD early. According to their terms:

"This penalty will be equal to one-fourth of the total interest that would have been earned on the principal balance of the account if funds had not been withdrawn prior to the maturity date." On a 5-year, 60 month CD, that's 15 months of interest.

The spread between average savings rates and 3-year CD rates rose slightly fro 1.14% to 1.15%. That means the average 5-year CD pays 1.15% more in interest than a savings account. The high for this spread was 1.24% in early March. The spread between 1-year CDs and 5-year CDs hit another record high last week. You can now earn on average 1.56% APY more in a high yield 5-year CD than a high yield 1-year.