When you say the name American Express, most people think of a credit card. That’s not surprising, considering there’s over $620 billion worth of purchases made on American Express cards each year, according to their website. Now, they’re also offering a High-Yield Savings account and CDs at very competitive rates.

The American Express High-Yield Savings account boasts a 1.00% APY, with absolutely no fees and no minimum balance requirements. The nice thing about this account is that you can easily link it up to three of your accounts from external banks, so there's no need to switch banks. If this 1.15% APY beats the savings APY at your regular bank, you can simply transfer money back and forth between this American Express savings account and your other bank accounts.

If you’re looking for something longer-term with a higher APY, American Express is offering a 3-year CD at 1.45%, a 4-year CD at 1.60%, and a 5-year CD at 2.15%. Before you open one of these CDs, you should be sure that you can invest it for the full-term of the CD. If you open an American Express CD with a term of more than 12 months, you can be charged a penalty of up to 6 months interest if you withdraw your principal or close the CD. However, since there is no minimum balance requirement to open one of these CDS, so you can invest as little or as much as you feel comfortable with.

These rates are some of the most competitive on the market today. While it's possible to find a slightly higher APY, the brand-recognition of America Express, the no minimum deposit, and the no maintenance fees make these accounts enticing. Just be sure to read all of the terms and conditions before opening the account, like you would for any financial product.

In a financial age where some of the best one-year CD's are barely earning 1.25% interest (and often require large deposits), it's nice to know there's another option for people who want to earn a CD interest rate, but with no minimum balance and some liquidity.

The SalemFivedirect eOne Savings account gives customers a 1.25% APY interest rate on balances from $0.01 to $1,000,000. Additionally, there are no monthly fees associated with this account, so you don't have to worry about maintenance fees eating up your interest earnings. You also receive a free ATM card and your deposit is FDIC insured up to $250,000. If you choose to open an EOne Checking account with Salem Five Direct, you can have immediate funds transfers between accounts.

Your checking account will also earn 0.55% APY on all balances up to $1,000,000. The EOne Checking account also has no maintenance fees, no minimum balance, free online bill pay, a free first-order of checks, unlimited ATM transactions, and Salem Five Direct will reimburse you up to $15 each month for any other bank's ATM fees you incur. Both accounts require a minimum $100 opening deposit.

This is a great offer, but it does some with a (small) catch. Although Salem Five Direct has brick-and-mortar branches, these accounts are geared towards for online use only. A $9.95 branch transaction fee may be assessed in any month during which transactions are conducted in a Salem Five branch. Also, if you do not enroll for online statements within 30 days of the account opening, a $2.95 per month statement fee will be assessed.

This offer is limited only to customers who apply online and do not have any existing checking or savings accounts with Salem Five Banking (there is one exception: customers who have an existing eOne Checking account are eligible for an EOne Savings account).Salem Five Direct is an online division of Salem Five Cents Savings Bank, a bank located in Salem, Massachusetts with over 150 years of banking experience.

If it seems like gas prices are creeping up higher and higher every time you go to fuel up, you’re not alone. According to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report, the average national gas price is over a dollar more per gallon than it was just a year ago. While there's not much you can do to change the price of gas, you can help keep little bit more cash in your pocket by having a good gas rewards card.

One to consider is the Discover Open Road card. This card gives you an automatic 2% cash back bonus at gas stations and restaurants. For example, for every $20 you spend in gas, you’ll get 40 cents back. While that might not seem like a lot, it can add over the long term. Additionally, you'll also get an extra $10 cash back bonus on each of your first five fill-ups of $25 or more made in the first 90 days (up to $50, total). The $50 bonus offer is in addition to the regular 2% cashback bonus that you'll be earning. Essentially, the first $125 you spend in gas can only cost you $72.50 once you add up the bonuses. You also don’t have to worry about interest rates for the first year as well, since card offers a 0% intro and balance transfer APR for the first 12 months. All balance transfers must post to your account before July 10, 2011 to be eligible for the 0% APR.

But, perhaps, the most important feature of this card is that it has no annual fee. You should always look for a gas rewards card that has no annual fee, since the annual fee could quickly eat up any gas savings the card provides. However, even though the card offers a 0% APR for the first 12 months, you should also make sure that you can pay off the entire balance by the end of the first year, when the intro APR rate ends. Otherwise, you'll be paying an 11.99% - 19.99% variable purchase APR. That APR will negate your cashback 2% bonus, so you should always aim to pay off your balance in full every month, if possible.