One-year CD rates are averaging 1.54%, but Colorado Federal Savings Bank has some certificates of deposit that can beat that. The bank’s online CD rates include:

• 1.5% annual percentage yield (APY) for 6 months
• 2% APY for 1 year
• 2.05% APY for 18 months
• 2.25% APY for 2 years
• 2.5% APY for 3 years
• 3% APY for 5 years

These CD rates are accurate as of Oct. 2, 2009, but can change at any time. CD accounts automatically renew at maturity unless you choose to close the account during the grace period.

Certificates of deposit require a minimum deposit of $5,000. There are no monthly fees. If you withdraw money before the maturity date you pay a penalty. You are allowed to withdraw money six times without a fee during each monthly statement cycle. After that the bank imposes a $25 fee for each withdrawal.

You can use a non-Colorado Federal Savings Bank to fund a certificate of deposit. The account won’t become active until the funds are actually received by Colorado Federal Savings Bank. If the funds are not received within 10 days of your application, the certificate of deposit gets cancelled.

Certificates of deposit at Colorado Federal Savings Bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) for up to $250,000 per depositor through Dec. 31, 2013.

Competitive credit card offers from banks can be tough to find these days. But if you’re into rewards programs, the Chase Sapphire credit card offers 10,000 bonus points after your first purchase or use of the account. Here are some of the details:

• No annual fee
• Earn one point per dollar spent
• Earn up to 10 bonus points per dollar when shopping at over 300 merchants featured at the Ultimate Rewards Mall
• Earn double points on airfares booked through the Travel Booking Tool
• 10,000 bonus points can be used for a $100 gift card

The credit card can be used to get cash at more than 1 million ATMS at banks and other locations. There are daily and transaction limits at ATMs.

The one-time bonus offer is only good for first-time cardmembers. It takes six to eight weeks for the bonus points to post to your account after the qualifying transaction.

There is no pre-set spending limit with the Chase Sapphire credit card. Charges that exceed the revolving credit access line are evaluated based on your account history and track record with other creditors. Chase has the right to decline a transaction at any time for any reason.

The credit card offers other benefits that include trip cancellation insurance, travel accident insurance, and lost luggage reimbursement.

BankOn has a money market with a 2.05% annual percentage yield (APY), plus a $50 cash bonus. Money market accounts are available only to residents of Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Wyoming.

• Money market accounts only available online
• Automatic transfers from BankOn checking accounts
• No minimum balance after opening
• No checks
• Online statements only
• Mobile banking and telebank
• Use U.S. checking account, credit card, or debit card to fund money market

You must open both a BankOn money market and checking account to receive the $50 bonus. The $50 bonus is paid within 10 days of opening the account. Each household is limited to one bonus offer.

BankOn checking account requires a $100 minimum opening deposit and allows you to have an unlimited number of transactions. The checking account also must be opened online with the money market account. Other checking account features include free Visa check card with cash back rewards, Visa credit cards subject to credit approval, and free bill pay.

You must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien to open an account. Resident aliens need two forms of ID to open an account.

BankOn accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The bank is part of Pinnacle Bank.

New rules from the Federal Reserve will prohibit banks from charging overdraft fees unless customers consent to overdraft service on ATM and debit card transactions. That’s good news to people who want to keep more funds in savings and checking accounts.

“The final overdraft rules represent an important step forward in consumer protection,” said Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke in a statement. “Both new and existing account holders will be able to make informed decisions about whether to sign up for an overdraft service.”

Changes coming about because of the new rules include:

• Banks must send customers notices that explains overdraft services, fees, and the right to opt out
• Banks can’t discriminate against customers who choose to opt out of overdraft services
• Customers who don’t opt in must receive the same terms and conditions on savings and checking accounts

Banks have come under fire for charging unsuspecting customers overdraft fees. Last year banks received almost $37 billion in overdraft fees, according to Moeb Services Inc., a research firm. The Federal Reserve said consumer testing indicates most people don’t want overdraft protection on ATM and one-time debit transactions unless they opt in first.

Two large banks, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, recently changed their procedures for collecting overdraft fees to deal with the backlash from customers and legislators.

SmartyPig combines the features of a savings account with  social networking. The savings account is aimed at folks who want to put money aside for a specific goal. With savings rates averaging 1.32%, the 2.01% annual percentage yield (APY) being offered by SmartyPig is a pretty good deal. Here’s how the savings account works:

• Automatic transfers from your checking account
• Set up as many goals as you want
• Family and friends can contribute to your savings to help you reach goals faster
• Open a savings for free
• Savings goals can be a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $250,000
• Minimum deposit of $25 to begin savings goal
• Recurring monthly contributions must be a minimum of $10 to a maximum of $50,000

Once you meet your savings goal, the automatic monthly contributions stop. You can transfer the money into an existing savings or checking account for free. The savings also can be used to purchase gift cards from a variety of retailers. The bank does not charge monthly fees, load fees, or ATM fees.

All money in SmartyPig savings accounts is held at West Bank of Des Moines. Money in savings is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) up to $250,000 per depositor.