Sovereign Bank has CD rates for saving for the short term and investing for the long term. The bank has a limited time offer for the save and invest CD package, which requires a minimum deposit of $5,000 to be split evenly between a six-month and 36-month certificate of deposit.

The deal requires you to deposit at least $2,500 into a six-month certificate of deposit with a 2.25% annual percentage yield (APY). There are no fees or penalties for early withdrawal after the first six days.

You also must deposit at least $2,500 in a 36-month invest certificate of deposit that matures on Nov. 30, 2012. Each year on the review date of Nov. 30, you earn a good rate if the S&P 500 Stock Index rises. If the S&P 500 declines, you may not receive an interest payment, but your principal is guaranteed so you won’t lose any money. There is a penalty for early withdrawals from the invest CD.

Call the bank or visit a local branch by Nov. 27, 2009, to find out more about the CD rates and to sign up for this deal. You can deposit a maximum $499,999 in the save and invest CD package.

Money in these CDs is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC).

Flagstar Direct has one of the best certificate of deposit rates for 36 months. The bank is offering a 3-year CD with a 3% annual percentage yield (APY). Flagstar also has a 1-year CD with an APY of 2.01%. The details of the offer include:

• Minimum opening deposit of $500
• Interest is fixed for term of CD
• Insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC)

You cannot make additional deposits into the account before maturity. You can withdraw interest anytime after it has been credited to the account. However, withdrawing interest before maturity affects the APY earned on the CD.

If you withdraw principal before the maturity date, you pay a penalty. The 1-year CD has a penalty of 180 days interest, whether it is earned or unearned. The 3-year CD has a penalty of at least 180 days interest, depending on how the penalty is calculated.

CDs automatically renew upon reaching maturity unless you notify the bank in writing before that date. The interest you received is based on rates being offered on new CDs. Flagstar also has the option of preventing the CD from being renewed if it notifies you in writing 30 days before maturity.

Open a checking account at Webster Bank and receive a cash bonus of up to $100. The bank offer is for residents of New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Other details of the offer include:

• Customer must complete one direct deposit, five Visa Check Card Signature purchases, or five online bill payments by Dec. 31, 2009
• Customer cannot have had a Webster checking account in the past 60 days
• Free online banking
• Bonus to be received by Feb. 19, 2010

Three checking accounts are eligible for the bonus promotion.The bank deals include a $25 bonus for opening a Totally Free Checking, which has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. This account requires a minimum opening deposit of $50.

The WebsterOne Relationship Checking offers a $50 bonus. This account has free ATM access at any bank with no Webster fee. However, there may be a charge from a non-Webster bank for using its ATM. The minimum opening deposit is $50 and deposits earn interest.

The Premier Checking offers a $100 bonus. The minimum opening deposit for this account is $500, and deposits earn interest based on current rates. If you are charged for using a non-Webster ATM, Webster Bank rebates the fees to you.

Money market rates are averaging 1.22% for deposits under $10,000. However, Nationwide Bank is offering rates of 1.7% on all of its money market accounts as of Oct. 26. Nationwide money market accounts include:

• Free online banking and online statements
• Free first order of checks
• Free ATM card
• Two free ATM transactions a month at non-Nationwide Bank ATMs; after that they are $1.50 per transaction
• Free transfers between money market account and other banks
• $1,000 minimum opening balance

The money market is required to have  a $1,000 minimum daily balance or an $8 monthly maintenance fee is charged. Money markets also allow six pre-authorized withdrawals during each monthly statement cycle. That includes telephone or electronic transfers, check, or point-of-sale transactions.

Nationwide Associate and Agency Banking Program members don’t have a monthly maintenance fee and are allowed a minimum opening balance of $250. They also get free transactions at non-Nationwide Bank ATMS, although there may be a surcharge from the ATM owners.

Nationwide money market accounts offer Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) insurance up to $250,000 per depositor through 2013.

Nationwide Bank is based in Columbus, Ohio, and provides a range of insurance and financial products. The company is rated A+ by A.M. Best.

If you think you’re paying a lot of interest on your credit card, it may not be as bad as one being offered by First Premier Bank. The Sioux Falls, S.D.-based bank  recently sent a mailing to a potential customer for a pre-approved credit card that offers 79.9% interest and a $300 limit, according to WKYC.com.

Credit card offers with interest rates that high don’t seem to be that common. But such offers from banks are usually targeted at people struggling with their credit. Gordon Hageman, who received the offer, said he doesn’t have the best credit but didn’t think it was that bad. He discovered the high interest rate when reading through the terms of the offer.

In addition to the high interest, First Premier Bank credit card offers can have up to $180 in start up fees, according to Consumer Affairs. Those fees include:

• A $29 set-up fee
• $95 program fee
• $48 annual fee
• $72 participation fee

An important lesson to learn from this situation is to always read through all the terms of any credit card offers you receive from banks. The terms should break down all fees, interest rates, and other features of an account. Also look for information on the grace period for payments and how interest is calculated.