The interest rates for Synchrony CDs are competitive. Each of the CD terms offers competitive interest rates. They are competitive with other online CD accounts. Synchrony rates are much higher than typical bank rates. They are not tiered, so any balance over $2,000 earns the competitive rate.

There are a good variety of CD terms available through Synchrony Bank. The CDs range from 3-months to 60-month terms. There is a total of nine CD terms available. Synchrony Bank also offers a Special Rate 15-month CD term.

Synchrony encourages CD laddering to earn more interest. By laddering CDs, you earn competitive rates from investing in longer-term CDs. Laddering means one long term CD matures each year. This means you can access your money more often, without paying a fee. Your money earns the best rate, but one CD matures each year in case you need to access it.

When you open a CD with Synchrony, you receive the interest rate the day you open the account. If the rates increase during the time Synchrony receives and processes your deposit you will receive the higher rate. The window for the rate to increase is 15 days for regular CDs. IRA CDs have a 60-day window. Once Synchrony determines the rate, it is locked in for the life of the CD term.

If you open a Synchrony account and quickly change your mind, there is a fee for closing the account. Customers can close their CD within six calendar days after the CD funds. The fee for withdrawing money within the first six days is seven days of interest. If you close the account after one day, you are still charged seven days of interest.

The minimum required amount to open any of the Synchrony CDs is $2,000. The deposit must be from one single transaction. With the $2,000 you can open any of the CDs offered, including the 15-month CD. You cannot open a CD with Synchrony Bank without at least $2,000.

Synchrony offers a 15-day rate guarantee for regular CDs and a 60-day rate guarantee for IRA CDs. The rate guarantees do not apply when you renew a CD after it reaches maturity. The interest rate guarantee only takes effect when you open a new CD.

Synchrony offers perks to each of its customers. To earn the best perks, you must be a Diamond member and meet those set requirements. To be a Diamond member, you must have account deposits over $250,000 and be a customer for more than five years.

Read the full Synchrony Bank review.

Union Bank offers a variety of CD terms. The terms range from 91-days to 60-months. They provide standard CDs as well as agricultural CDs. These are for the farmers of Michigan who have their business accounts with Union Bank.

The Union Bank CDs offer interest rates that are competitive with other online CDs. They offer a special 15-month and a 36-month terms. These terms earn more competitive interest rates. These two CDs are promotional. The other CDs are not promotional and earn competitive rates.

The initial required amount to open standard Union Bank CDs is low. Each of the CD terms only requires $500 to open. The interest rates are not tiered. Any balance over $500 earns competitive interest rates.

You can choose how to receive the interest you earn off Union Bank CDs. You can have the interest added to the CD balance. You can have the money mailed to you in the form of a check. You can also have the interest deposited into another checking or savings account.

Union Bank CDs cannot be opened entirely online. You fill out the initial application online. Once the bank reviews your information, they will contact you. You then set up a time to go into a branch location to finish the account opening process. When you visit the branch, you will pay the initial opening amount.

Union Bank CDs do not offer an interest rate guarantee. If the rates increase shortly after you open a CD, you will not receive the higher rates. Union Bank CD rates are competitive with other online CDs.

The only deposit you can make into Union Bank CDs is the initial deposit when you open the CD. After that, you must wait until the CD reaches maturity to add money to the account. The CD will automatically renew unless you contact customer service to make changes.

The only personal CDs Union Bank offers are standard CD terms. They do not offer IRA, educational, no-penalty, or add on CDs. The standard CD terms range from 91-days to 60-months.

Read the full Union Bank review.