Doral Bank Direct has one of the best certificate of deposit (CD) rates this week. The bank is offering a 1.9% annual percentage yield (APY). Other details of the CD offer include:

• $1,000 minimum to open
• Principal and interest must remain on deposit to earn promotional CD rate
• 1.9% CD rate only available for new accounts
• Insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

You also must maintain a minimum daily balance or $1,000 to earn the CD rate, which is guaranteed for the entire term. Interest on CDs is earned daily and compounded quarterly. You can withdraw earned interest without a penalty. However, early withdrawals are subject to a penalty. Other CD rates as of Dec. 2, 2009, are:

• 1.25% APY for 6 months
• 1.4% APY for 9 months
• 1.5% APY for 18 months
• 1.75% APY for 24 months
• 2% APY for 36 months
• 2.25% APY for 48 months
• 2.5% APY for 60 months

You can open a CD online or by mail. You must be at least 18 and either a U.S. citizen or resident alien.

Doral Bank Direct is the online unit of Doral Bank FSB, based in New York.  The bank began operating in 1999 with a goal of bringing financial services to under-served communities, including the growing Hispanic population in the U.S.

If you live in or near Pickens County in Georgia there are a some bank deals you may be interested in. The Community Bank of Pickens County has some of the best certificate of deposit (CD) rates this week. The small bank is based in Jasper, Ga., and you must visit a branch to open an account.

CD rates as of Jan. 16, 2010, include:

• 1.25% APY for 6 months for balances under $50,000
• 1.5% APY for 6 months for $50,000 and up
• 1.9% APY for 12 months for under $50,000
• 2.15% APY for 12 months for $50,000 and up
• 2.05% APY for 24 months for under $50,000
• 2.3% APY for 24 months for $50,000 and up
• 2.15% APY for 36 months for under $50,000
• 2.4% APY for 36 months for $50,000 and up
• 2.45% APY for 60 months

The bank has CD rates for other terms, too. Those rates include a variable 12-month CD with a 1.75% APY for deposits under $50,000 and a 2% APY for $50,000 and up. CD rates can change at any time so contact the bank to get the most current information on any deals.

Opening a CD requires a minimum deposit of $500. Withdrawing money early results in penalties, which can reduce total earnings.

Community Bank of Pickens County has two full-service branches and 10 ATMs throughout the area. The bank also offers access to accounts online and you can elect to receive electronic statements.

La Jolla Bank has a 24-month certificate of deposit with a 2.3% annual percentage yield (APY). The CD rate is only available when you open an account online. Other CD rates include:

• Six months for 1.5% APY
• 12 months for 1.8% APY
• 36 months for 2.45% APY
• 60 months for 3.2% APY

Other requirements for a La Jolla Bank CD include:

• Minimum balance of $10,000
• CD rates can change at any time
• CD rates are simple interest calculated on a 365 day basis
• Interest is credited to accounts monthly
• Substantial penalty for early withdrawal
• No minimum balance fees

To receive the APY,  principal and interest must remain on deposit at the same rate for a year. Interest begins to accrue on the business day that non-cash items, such as checks, are deposited.

You can choose to receive interest payments. You must make a request in writing to have accrued interest debited from your account each month. If you elect to do this, a check is mailed each month except for the month in which the CD matures.

CDs automatically renew at maturity unless you request otherwise. You get seven calendar days after the maturity date to withdraw money without paying a penalty.

You receive a monthly statement by mail for Internet CDs.

Earning  interest on savings with the option to increase the interest rate isn’t usually an option when investing in a certificate of deposit (CD). But Pacific Trust Bank offers CD rates that can adjust.

The bank has a “Peace of Mind” CD that offers an adjustable rate. It is geared toward people who may be concerned about depositing money, only to see CD rates rise later while their money is tied up. Details of the CD offer include:

• Minimum initial deposit of $5,000
• 3-year term
• Annual rate adjustment can increase CD rate but never lower it
• Combine maturing CDs into one higher-rate account

The CD allows you to add funds in increments of at least $1,000 at any time during the first year. When adding money the CD rate and maturity date stay the same.

As of Jan. 4, 2010, the CD rate for the Peace of Mind certificate is:

• 1.71% annual percentage yield (APY) for balances of $5,000 to $49,999
• 1.76% APY for balances of $50,000 to $94,999
• 1.81% APY for balances of $95,000 and up

Pacific Trust Bank CDs are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) up to $250,000 per depositor.

The bank is based in Chula Vista, Calif. You can open a CD at a branch or online.

If you can tie up your money for several years, City National Bank has certificate of deposit (CD) rates that are competitive in the current market. The bank has a five-year CD with a 3.5% annual percentage yield (APY). Other CD rates include:

• 3% APY for four to five years
• 2.5% APY for three to four years
• 2.25% for two to three years
• 1.5% for one to two years
• 1.25% for 182 days to 364 days
• 1% for 91 days to 181 days

The APYs for the CDs assume that the the interest rate remains the same for one year, any interest credited to your account remains on deposit, and the minimum daily balance requirement is maintained for a year.

You need to make a minimum investment of $500 to open a CD. Withdrawing money early from a CD results in a penalty. Online access to your account is free.

City National Bank is based in Newark, N.J. You can open a CD by visiting one of its branches in New York and New Jersey.

The bank also allows you to open a socially responsible CD and have the funds placed in the City National Urban Fund. Doing this allows your CD deposit to go toward loans to socially conscious projects in urban areas in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.