Locating  online Bank CD Rates can be a tough task.  However, a few well thought out searches can return some of the best CD interest rates in the country.  Just pick your favorite search engine and try a few of these.  However, be sure to verify the banks are FDIC insured and the credit unions are NCUA insured.

First identify the type of online bank CD you are looking for.. Do you need %link1% for amounts less than $50,000? Are you looking for higher yielding interest rates interest for your IRA CD? Do you need rates for Jumbo CDs? If you go to Google and type "CD Rates", the top pages will give you access to high online CD rates available for amounts as low as $500.00 You will see a site for bankaholic and bankrate at number one and two. You may even see a site for jumbocdinvestments in number 6.  Because of their authority, the top 3 spots don't change very often.  But they should look out, I'm gunnin' for them. Each of those websites gives you access to top rate CDs.

If you are looking for the highest current IRA CD interest rates, try typing "best IRA CD Rates". This time bankrate and jumbocdinvestments have the top spots. For Jumbo CDs (usually CDs that are greater than $100,000), you can give "Jumbo CD Rates" a shot. Bankrate and jumbocdinvestments once again have earned the top spots.

Between those sites, you should have uncovered the top Online CD Rates. If you aren’t comfortable working with online banks and companies, you can always print out the offers you find and see if your local bank or credit union will match or come close to the online rates. But, I'll assume you are since you are reading this.  And there is Gold in them thar hills.

As of 10/03/08, the FDIC increased the insurance limit to $250,000 at each bank you have deposits with. Your savings, checking, money market accounts, and CDs are added together and considered together. The increased limit is only temporary, however. It is set to expire on 12/31/09 unless Congress makes it permanent or extends it. IRA, Joint, and Revocable Trust accounts are considered separately for insurance coverage. So it is possible to have quite a bit of money insured at one bank. The $250,000 coverage for IRAs is permanent. Those online certificate of deposit searches can sure come in handy at that point. Since the Congress hasn't made the change permanent, however, be careful of your CD terms. You can only safely invest in 6 to 8mo CDs at this point with amounts that are above $100,000.00

These days it is also a great idea to also do a little bit of checking on the bank's health. Bankrate[dot]com has an awesome star-rating system that rates banks and credit unions from the lowest 1-star to the highest 5-star. With the FDIC closing a bank a week these days (they closed two last week), I would stay away from 1-star and if you can find a 3-star or higher rated bank with a rate that is close, stick your funds into a CD there.