Amtrust is now paying 4.15% APY for a 6-month CD, up from 3.51% APY. This is now the best 6-month cd rate according to the BestCashCow rate table. Of the top cd rates, it also has one of the lowest minimum balances at $1,000. Amtrust is also offering a high yield 12 month cd at 4.30% APY, a top rate on 18 month CDs at 4.38% APY, and 2 and 3 year cds at 4.35% APY.

Amtrust has been hit hard by the housing meltdown and is currently rated 2 stars by Bauer Financial. As with any bank, we recommend you stay within FDIC limits when deposting money into Amtrust.

WaMu raised the rate on its 12 month CD back to 5% APY after briefly dropping it to 4.5% APY. This is the top 1 year cd rate in the nation according to the BestCashCow rate table.

WaMu has suffered greatly from the housing decline and credit crisis and yesterday fired their CEO Kerry Killian. The companies stock has dropped from $40 to under $5 over the past year. They are hungry for deposits and will pay high rates for them. Depositors though should be aware that the bank is experiencing problems and to be safe should keep deposits below the FDIC insurance limit of $100,000 for each individual deposit holder.

It's already been written on the site but I wanted to reiterate this deal. JP Morgan Chase today bought Washington Mutual. Washington Mutual is offering a 12 month CD for 5%. Opening the CD with WaMu is now like opening it at Chase. Get it while you can.

See the best online 12-month CD rates here.