Are you always on the look out for competitive CD rates? F&A Credit Union is joining the ranks of banks and credit unions who are giving out competitive rates that allow your hard earned money to earn much more. Below are the current rates for F&A Credit Union:

Current Rates:

6-11 months – 1.16%
12-17 months – 1.26%
18-23 months – 1.36%
24-35 months – 1.46%
36-47 months – 1.77%
48-59 months – 2.07%
60 months – 2.43%

All rates and terms have a minimum deposit of $1,000 and are compounded daily and credited monthly at maturity.

How These Rates Compare:

Credit unions have always been known for giving out better rates than banks. F&A Credit Union is holding true to this reputation by offering rates at different terms that are consistently higher than the national average available at banks. In fact, most rates are higher than what the best rates at banks are offering. For example, the highest 1 year CD from banks is from CIT bank at 1.16%. F&A’s 1 year CD rate is being offered at 1.26%. The highest 2 year CD’s from banks is at 1.30% also from CIT, whereas F&A gives it at 1.46%. The trend continues with the 3 year CD rate and the 5 year CD where F&A’s rate are consistently higher than what the best of the banks can offer.

Another good thing to note is that the credit union provides more flexible terms. Usually other financial institutions would give rates for specific terms such as 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, etc. But F&A has a larger bracket for terms, if you think 2 years is too long, you can invest for only a year and a half. And if 6 months is too short, you can place your money for 10 and so on.

Membership

Credit unions usually have restrictive membership. F&A Credit Union offers its services to individuals who belong to any of the following institutions below:

* County of Los Angeles Fire Department
* Office of the Farm Advisory
* County of Los Angeles Agricultural Commissioner / Weights and Measures
* Cooperative AgriculturalExtension Program of the University of California
* Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014
* Los Angeles County Lifeguards

Eligibility is also extended to family members of members and to employees of cities which contract the L.A. Fire Department for protection.

About F&A Credit Union

F&A Credit Union was originally chartered in 1936 with a meager opening asset of only $26. Today it serves over 40,000 members with a whopping $1 billion in assets. The credit union is federally insured by the NCUA, insuring your money for the maximum amount allowed by the NCUA.

If you’re eligible for membership, then you may want to start thinking about putting some funds with F&A. With a sound reputation and tantalizing rates, investing shouldn’t be too hard a decision to make.

Nowadays it can be difficult to qualify for a good loan because of how our credit score looks like. Some people are unable to get good interest rates because they are forever haunted by bad credit built up in the past. Since it’s almost the start of a new year, it’s about time you rebuilt your credit. And the perfect way to do that is by using a card that helps you rebuild your credit score such as the First Progress Platinum Credit Card.

What is The First Progress Platinum Credit Card?

This credit card offers full feature platinum Master Card but with a credit line that is based on a security deposit rather than that of a credit score. The card is made in such a way that it reports your activities to all three of the major card bureaus every month, helping you establish a good record with them. Aside from this extra feature, the First Progress Platinum Secured card also offers the usual services available in other Master Card credit cards.

This card is being issued by Synovus Bank, Columbus, GA, which is a member of the FDIC.

How Does It Work?

This card prevents you from getting into credit card debt because the card’s limit is established by the amount of security deposit that is made. The minimum amount acceptable is $300 where it is maintained in an account in Synovus Bank that bears no interest. The initial maximum credit limit is at $2,000, which can be increased for up to $5,000 upon approval of the management at Synovus Bank.

More Information

APR for purchases with this card is at 14.99%, while balance transfers is at 19.99%. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must have a Social Security number. The card also charges an annual fee of $39 and a deposit of at least $300 must be maintained.

Synovus bank has been in business since 1888 and has been insured by the FDIC starting Januaray 1, 1934. It currently has 297 branches located all over the nation.

Christmas is just around the corner and although we each have our individual wish lists, there’s one thing that we’d all like to have – winning hundreds to thousands of dollars in cash! This holiday season, Citi Bank gives their credit card customers the chance to win something close to that. Instead of winning cold hard cash, their consumers can win “money” through a Citi Prepaid Card, which is well, just about equivalent to cash.

If you already have a credit card with Citi Bank, all you have to do is register and use your card for a chance to win $10 to $10,000 in Citi Prepaid Cards. Use your registered Citi card on any eligible purchase starting from November 1 to December 31st of this year. Each eligible online purchase will be worth 5 entries, while all other purchases will be worth one entry.

Some Fine Print

Eligible cards include any Citi branded credit card, AT&T Universal Card and/or Citi American Express card. This promotion will exclude the Citi Business Card and Citi Business Advantage Card in which the card is issued to a business establishment. Card holders must also be aged 18 and above.

It is also possible to enter the promotion even without a purchase by simply writing down your full name, complete billing address, day and evening phone numbers (including area code), email address, date of birth, plus the last four (4) digits of your Eligible Citi Credit Card on a 3″ x 5″ piece of paper and mail it, with proper postage to the postal address which can be found on Citi’s promotional page.

If you already have a card with Citi Bank then it would be advisable to register your card as soon as possible so you can already start earning entries with every purchase that you make. The more you buy gifts for your loved ones, the more you can expect money to come to you. After all, Citi Bank does promise thousands of winners every week. You might just get lucky.

Had a blast with Cyber Monday? If you still haven’t had enough of the deals and sales, there’s still a little something you can scrape to wrap up your pre-December shopping. Discover bank is currently giving out $150 on their Discover More card. This promotion is set to end in November 30th, so you’ve got a little more time left before this deal closes out on you. Here’s what you need to do to get the card and the extra $150:

* Open a Discover More Credit Card
* Spend at least $1,000 on the first 90 days of account opening

Easy right? And if you really do the math, getting $150 while purchasing the things you love and need with your $1,000 actually gives you a 15% return which beats most other investments. Plus, you can avail of the different perks that the card has to offer. The Discover More Card is best known for the following perks:

* 5% Cash back on rotating categories such as travel, gas, shopping, groceries, home improvement, and more.
* 1% Cash Back on other puchases
* 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers for the first 6 months, varied interest from 11.99 to 20.99% will apply after the introductory period.
* No annual fee, no additional card fees, no redemption fees

20% Cash Back from Online Retailers

And if the regular perks and the extra $150 aren’t enough to brighten up your holiday season, Discover even adds more to the benefits that their card holders can receive. If consumers shop at Discover’s online shop, ShopDiscover.com, they are eligible to get a huge 20% cash back on their purchases. Plus, it won’t be difficult to find what you need to buy since Discover’s network of affiliate retailers is definitely large and growing. You can enjoy online shopping at Sears, BestBuy, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sears, and many more.

About Discover Card

Card holders from Discover certainly won’t be disappointed since Discover has ranked #1 in customer loyalty for 15 years straight according to Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index Reports.

Considering how good the deal sounds, there’s really no time to waste. This limited time offer will expire in two days (November 30th), so go ahead and sign up to Discover’s promotional link and enjoy the wonderful benefits that Discover More has to offer.

If you open a Kids Savings and MONEY Account for your kids, you don’t only save for future use but you also teach them where money should be kept and how it earns interest. ING Direct not only gives their Black Friday deals to adults, but also to kids. Here are some of the perks:

• No minimums
• No fees
• Great rate

This holiday season, you can give your kid an extra $27 in cash or get a $27 bonus if you open an account this November 25th – 27th. Take note that you can only avail of this once you open a new account with at least one new Customer, which will be either you or your kid to sign up.

The $27 bonus automatically adds up into your account the moment you become a member, and the bonus will be available for withdrawal after 30 days.

EXTRA Deals

• $100 bonus once you open a new ShareBuilder account on November 25 – 27 and by January 31 you completed two trades. This isn’t insured by the FDIC mainly because it is an investment account. To add, stock and ETF trades cost $9.95.
• Once you roll over your old 401(k) into a ShareBuilder IRA, get up to $100 bonus. Again, this is an investment account, thus, it isn’t insured by FDIC.

$32 bonus for Teens

Get your teens into the saving habit, open MONEY and get a $32 bonus.

• No minimum or fees
• Access to over 35,000 Free ATMs
• Manage online or get text updates

How MONEY works

• This November 25th – 27th, open MONEY and make 1 Card transaction (either signature, PIN-based or with PayPassTM) using the MONEY Card within 30 days, and the $32 bonus will automatically be added into your new account. Take note that the teen gets the Card.

• On day 35, the $32 bonus will be automatically deposited into your account.

What are you waiting for? Just because it isn’t Friday anymore, doesn’t mean that the deals have to end. Today is the last day to avail of these interesting deals, so head on to ING Direct’s website for more information.

Velocity Credit Union is presently offering promotional CD rates that are higher than the national average and what other banks and credit unions are offering. This promotion was extended up until November 30, 2011.The promotional rates are as follows:

1.51% for a 2 year CD
2.12% for a 3 year CD
2.83% for a 5 year CD

How These Rates Compare:

The highest rates for 2 year CDs that are nationally available from banks is 1.30% from CIT Bank and AloStar Bank of Commerce. Velocity Credit Union’s promotional rates are considerably higher at 1.51% APY. The same also rings true for their 3 year CD rates where the highest available from banks is 1.65% from Doral Bank, and 5 year CDs are at 1.99% from Intervest National Bank. The large gap just goes to show that there’s a good reason why Velocity Credit Union’s rate is called a promotion.

Customer Feedback

According to one consumer, the promotional rates are not available online. Because of how the website is set up, the link from the promo takes you to a 2.32% rate instead of the 2.83% promotional rate. The consumer had to call customer service to verify that he got the promotional rate. His initial rate was set to only 2.32%, but after he called, the customer service representative immediately changed his rate.

About Velocity Credit Union

The credit union was originally chartered in 1947 to serve employees of the City of Austin. Today it is one of the largest and strongest financial institutions in Texas. It has over 70,000 members with $500 million in assets.

Membership

Credit unions have always been somewhat restrictive in membership. For this case, Velocity Credit Union is open for those living in certain areas, and employees and members of certain companies and organizations. Relatives of existing members may also join. For a complete list of companies and locations, you may visit their website and click on the membership category.

These rates are some of the highest available for long term CDs. The promo has already been extended and will run only until November 30 of this year. For those who are looking to get great returns while capitalizing on safety, Velocity Credit Union may just be the place for you.

Nationwide Bank gives the highest CD rates nationally available for deposits over $100,000 for the 5 year term. Currently their rate for 5 year jumbo CDs is at 2.00% which beats what other banks are offering.

Jumbo CD Rates from Nationwide Bank

3 month – 0.40%
6 month – 0.60%
9 month – 0.65%
12 month – 1.10%
18 month – 1.20%
24 month – 1.25%
36 month – 1.55%
48 month – 1.85%
60 month – 2.00%

How Their Rates Compare

Right now Nationwide Bank offers one of the best rates for 5 year CDs with their 2.00% rate. Other competitive rates are from Intervest National Bank at 1.99% and Discover Bank at 1.90%.Their rates for 3 year jumbo CDs are slightly lower than the highest nationally available which is 1.65% from Doral Bank. Their 12 month jumbo CD also remains competitive at 1.10%, which is just a few points lower than the highest nationally available from Popular Bank and Doral Bank at 1.15%.

About Nationwide Bank

Nationwide Bank is part of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, one of the largest insurance and financial services providers in the United States. They have over 80 years of experience and it is ranked as 108 among the Fortune 500 list of companies based on 2007 revenue. One of the advantages of Nationwide Bank is that it is an online and direct bank, acquiring lesser overhead costs as compared to traditional brick and mortar banks. The bank is also a member of FINRA which is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms which are doing business in the United States.

Highlights of Nationwide Bank

Since June 2008, Nationwide Bank has been given a 4 star rating which signifies it is a financially sound institution in terms of performance and stability. Their money market account and CD rates also consistently offer competitive rates that oftentimes beat competitors and the national average.

There may be higher rates available from credit unions however, Nationwide Bank still remains at the top among banks. For businesses who are looking for areas to park their cash while the economy is still recovering, Nationwide Bank might prove to be a good choice.

Where can you get 25,000 bonus miles for free, enough to get a round trip ticket anywhere in the United States and Canada? That’s only with Continental Airlines OnePass Plus Credit Card. This card is currently offering a way for their consumers to immediately enjoy a free trip anywhere within the country. In order to get the 25,000 bonus miles, all the customer has to do is make a first purchase. And that’s not the only benefit that the OnePlus Card has in store. Here’s what consumers expect to get:

* 25,000 bonus miles after the first purchase is made
* Another 5,000 bonus miles after the first purchase when you sign up as an authorized user within the first two months of account opening.
* A $50 statement credit after your first purchase
* A $85 waiver of the annual fee for the first year

With perks such as these, consumers can not only get 25,000 bonus miles, but 30,000 bonus miles in total. Plus you can also earn $50, while saving an extra $85 in annual fees. And these are just the bonuses. The OnePass Plus Card benefits don’t stop after the first purchase. Here’s what consumers can expect after all the first time treats:

* 10,000 bonus miles every year if the consumer makes at least $25,000 in purchases
* 2 miles per $1 spent on a direct ticket from Continental
* 1 miles per every $1 spent on all other purchases
* In addition to flight purchases, miles may also be redeemed for car rentals and hotel usage.
* First checked bag is free for every flight you fly, giving a savings of up to $50 for every round trip
* Two Presidents Club Passes worth $100 for every Card member Anniversary

OnePlus Protection and Services

Here are some of the extra benefits that the card can offer:

* Travel Protection – waivers on car rental collision or damage is offered, reimbursement for baggage delay and lost luggage, insurance for trip cancellation, and roadside assistance.
* Concierge Protection – Reservations for dining, events, entertainment plus personalized assistance anywhere in the world.
* Purchase Protection – Purchases have extended coverage, return protection, price and purchase protection.
* Fraud and Theft Protection – Zero liability for unauthorized purchases, plus fraud alerts.

For those who are considering getting a miles card, the Continental Airlines OnePass Plus Credit Card may be the one that gives out the best offers. This card is offered by JP Morgan Chase.

The most common long term certificates of deposit are 5 year CD’s, and often this term also gives out the highest CD rates available. Right now, one of the most competitive rates for 5 year CD’s come from Intervest National Bank. They are offering the 5 year term at a considerably high 2.00% APY. This is the highest nationally available among banks, and Intervest National Bank shares its seat only with First Internet Bank of Indiana.

Intervest National Bank CD Rates

6 months – .50%
1 year – .82%
18 months – 1.00%
2 years – 1.12%
30 months – 1.20%
3 years – 1.33%
4 years – 1.70%
5 years – 2.00%
6 years – 2.00%
7 years – 2.00%
8 years – 2.00%
9 years – 2.00%
10 years – 2.00%

As can be seen, Intervest National Bank also offers terms that are longer than 5 years, but at an interest rate the same as the 5 year term.

How Intervest National Bank Rates Compare

The current highest 6 month term is offered by OneWest Bank and Asencia of PBI Bank. Both banks give a rate of 0.85% APY. This is moderately higher than what Intervest is offering. Intervest National Bank also falls behind in the 1 year CD category since the Popular Bank and CIT are giving the 1 year CD at a rate of 1.15% APY. However, Intervest does lead in the long term rates with 2.00% APY for the 5 year CD which is again the highest nationally available among banks. Credit unions on the other hand are notorious for providing generally higher rates than banks, and currently Alliant Credit Union is giving the same term away for 2.20% APY.

About Intervest National Bank

The bank holds its headquarters in New York City but also has branches in Florida. Intervest National Bank is a subsidiary of Intervest Bancshares Corporation, which is a publicly listed company that is trading in NASDAQ. The bank offers the usual products and services, offering tools such as financial calculators to help calculate savings bond redemption, mortgages and rate of savings. The bank is also FDIC insured, insuring cash for a maximum of $250,000.