Open a Bank of Greene County checking account and get a free 8GB iPod Touch. The offer is good until Sept. 30, 2010, for any new personal checking account. Bank of Greene County is based in Catskill, NY and you must visit a branch to open an account. The terms of the iPod Touch offer require that you sign up for direct deposit and use your Visa Check Card twice.

All Bank of Greene County checking accounts include:

• Free online banking
• Free bill pay
• Free Visa Check Card and Visa Rewards

The Bank of Greene County has several checking accounts to choose from. They include the Free e-Checking account, which has no minimum balances and competitive interest rates. The Totally Free checking account has unlimited check writing and no minimum balance. The Tech/Image Checking has no service charge with direct deposit and check images are available upon request. Green Plus Checking offers detailed monthly statements, competitive interest rates, and check images available upon request. The Premiere Checking is a high-yield account that offers free unlimited checks, free American Express Travelers Cheques, free money orders and bank checks, and free Internet Bill Pay Plus.

Hopkins Federal Savings Bank has several savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) that can help grow your money. The bank is based in Baltimore and new accounts are only available to residents of Maryland.

The Max passbook has a savings rate of 1.51% annual percentage yield (APY). The savings account requires a minimum daily balance of $1,000. The Statement Savings also requires a minimum balance of $1,000 to earn interest, but offers different savings rates depending on the balance. The savings rate for a minimum balance of $1,000 is 1.11% APY. A minimum balance of $10,000 has a savings rate of 1.51% and a minimum of $25,000 earns 1.51%. The savings rates are current as of May 27, 2010. Interest is compounded daily and credited monthly.

Hopkins Federal Savings Bank also offers CDs with a variety of terms. The CD rates include:

• 1.36% APY for 6 months
• 1.56% APY for 1 year
• 1.76% APY for 18 months
• 2.1% APY for 30 months
• 2.85% for 60 months

CDs renew automatically unless you notify the bank. Interest is compounded daily and credited monthly. Early withdrawals from a CD results in a penalty.

First Southern State Bank of Stevenson, AL has competitive certificate of deposit (CD) rates this week. The bank has a 13-month special CD rate of 1.6% annual percentage yield (APY). The 13-month CD requires a minimum opening balance of $1,000. Interest on the CD is paid monthly or at maturity. Other CD rates include:

• 1.15% APY for 6 months
• 1.51% APY for 1 year
• 1.6% APY for 18 months
• 1.81% APY for 2 years
• 2.27% APY for 3 years
• 2.52% APY for 4 years
• 2.73% APY for 5 years

The CD rates are current as of June 2, 2010. CDs require a minimum opening deposit of $500. Withdrawing funds early results in a penalty of one month of interest for CDs with terms of 12 months of less. The penalty is three months interest for CDs with terms greater than 12 months.

First Southern State Bank also has a regular checking account with no monthly fees as long as you maintain a minimum balance of $500. Balances that fall below $500 are charged a monthly fee of $6, and balances below $250 are charged $7. The minimum deposit to open the regular checking account is $50.

Dollar Bank has a savings rate of 2% annual percentage yield (APY) on balances up to $20,000. The FreeMoney Savings must be linked to a FreeMoney Checking or e-Checking account, which are free checking accounts. Other details of the savings account include:

• $50 minimum to open
• No monthly service charge
• No minimum balance
• Insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC)

Interest on the FreeMoney Savings is subject to change so check with the bank for current savings rates. Interest is compounded and credited monthly. When non-cash deposits, such as checks, are made, interest begins to accrue the same day.

The FreeMoney Checking and e-Checking accounts earn up to $150 each year in rewards. You can earn 10 cents each time you sign for a debit purchase with a MasterCard. You can earn 5 cents for each bill paid online and get free access to more than 37,000 ATMs. The checking account requires a $50 minimum to open. The checking accounts also offer unlimited check writing and 50% off checks. The account also offers immediate access to direct deposits.

Dollar Bank operates more than 60 branches and loan centers in the Pittsburgh and Cleveland metropolitan areas.

Open a 5-year certificate of deposit (CD) at Melrose Credit Union and you could earn a CD rate of 3.29% annual percentage yield (APY). You must open a savings account to become a member of the Briarwood, NY-based credit union. There are no other restrictions for joining so it doesn’t matter where you live or work. Other requirements for opening an account include a $1 one-time membership fee and $25 minimum opening deposit.

CDs require a minimum investment of $5,000. If you are opening an IRA certificate, the minimum opening balance is $4,000. You earn dividends only when you maintain a minimum balance of at least $500. Dividends are compounded on a quarterly basis and can be transferred to another share account.

CD rates are subject to change at any time so check with Melrose Credit Union for the most current information. CD rates as of June 30, 2010, were:

• 1.76% APY for 1 year
• 2.02% for 2 years
• 2.52% for 3 years
• 2.78% for 4 years

Money deposited at Melrose Credit Union is insured up to $250,000 per depositor by the National Credit Union Administration.