MetLife Bank is offering a 12-Month Certificate of Deposit (CD) at 4.15% APY. The rate is competitive when compared to the best 1 year (12 month) cd rates on the BestCashCow rate table. The minimum deposit to receive this rate is $15,000.

You can apply online or via phone. If you use the online application you open the account online and fund the account via an ACH transaction. They will send you a signature card to mail back but the account can be opened before this is done. I was also told that they do a soft pull on your credit to make sure there is no fraud. Presumably this will not impact your credit score.

MetLife Bank is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc, a company best known for their insurance products (annuities, car insurance, homeowners insurance, etc.). The bank has more than 100,000 customers and is one of the top 150 commercial banks in the United States, with more than $4.5 billion in customer deposits (as of 10/1/07).

Bauer Financial gives MetLife bank a rating of 3 1/2 stars out of 5 (good) for safety and soundness.

Compare the best online 1-year CD rates here.

Both WaMu and Chase have started offering a 60 month CD paying 5% APY. While a 5% APY not the top 60 month (5-year) CD rate it is a competitive certificate of deposit rate, especially for big banks. WaMu was recently purchased by Chase so in essence opening in either is opening with Chase. But, there is a difference in the offer.

The WaMu offer only requires a minimum balance of $1,000 to open the CD while the minimum deposit via Chase is $10,000.

While I don't have any experience with Chase's online application, WaMu's has always received high marks.

Be careful if you have accounts at both banks. Depending on when the acquisition becomes final, deposits in both banks will be summed to reach your coverage limits. Thus, if you have $250,000 at Chase and $250,000 at WaMu under one social, you will be over the limit.

Thanks to Bank Deals for discovering this offer.

Compare the best online 1-year CD rates here.

Dime Savings Bank if offering a competitive 9-month CD at 4.25% APY. The account is available nationally and can be opened online. Once opened, it can be funded via a check or an ACH transfer.

As the BestCashCow rate tables show, the 4.25% APY falls right in the middle of the best 6 month cd rates (4.06% APY) and the best 12 month cd rates (4.26% APY).

Rating service Bauer Financial gives Dime 4 out of 5 stars (very good) for financial soundness. It is FDIC insured. The bank is based in Brooklyn, New York, and has $3.7 billion in assets.

Thanks to Bankdeals for pointing this out.

Compare the best online 1-year CD rates here.