Normally when we write one of these weekly reviews of CD rates at big institutions, we hint — sometimes strongly — that you’re better off taking your money elsewhere.

Big banks and, to a lesser extent, big credit unions typically offer terrible deals. They don’t really want your money if they have to pay for it.

Not so for Navy Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in the United States by both members and assets with 4.3 million predominantly military members.

Can you find better deals elsewhere? Yes, but Navy Federal’s rates are fairly competitive. Click here to read more

Memorial Day is a great time to take a road trip. Who’s up for going to Cincinnati?

If you travel to this Ohio city, you’re more likely to find a 5-year CD rate well above average than in any other city in the country.

Cincinnati is one of two of the nation’s largest 25 cities where you can find an average CD rate above 1%, according to our most recent survey of certificate of deposit rates at banks and thrifts. Click here to read more

Sharonview Federal Credit Union has top 36-month CD rates for its 65,000 members in the Carolinas and New Jersey.

It pays 1.50% APY with a $10,000 minimum deposit.

That matches the top nationally available 36-month CD rate on our CD Rates Leaderboard But there’s a way to grab an even higher rate. Click here to read more

Salem Five has introduced several new eCD Specials that have vaulted the big Massachusetts bank to the top of our CD Rates Leaderboard in two terms.

With a minimum deposit of $10,000, you’ll earn:

• 1.25% APY on 24-month CDs.
• 1.50% APY on 36-month CDs.

That’s the highest nationally available 3-year CD rate we’ve seen since mid-March. Click here to read more

We don’t write about deals in the Gem State often, but it’s hard to ignore Idaho Central Credit Union’s 60-month CD rates.

It pays 2.00% APY with a $500 minimum deposit.

If that wasn’t good enough, this is one of the credit union’s Freedom CDs, which allow you to raise the rate once during the term should interest rates increase. Click here to read more

Four months after it joined our list of top savings and money market accounts, we’re removing Florida-based CSBdirect.

The online division of Citizens State Bank in Perry, Fla., has posted a notice on its website that its savings and money market accounts are “only offered in branch at this time.” (Thanks to the reader who alerted us to this change.) Click here to read more

Earlier this month, we warned of some erosion among the top 60-month CD rates.

Well, it’s only gotten worse.

Green Bank, a Texas-based bank with 12 locations, today cut its 5-year CD rate from 1.85% APY to 1.50% APY.

The rate cut means we have a change at the top of the CD Rates Leaderboard. Click here to read more

We’ve found two intriguing offers from a Massachusetts-based bank with 77 branches.

Rockland Trust, based in Rockland, Mass., has both an interesting rewards program through its Eco Checking account and a competitive rate on its money market savings account, an account that is offered exclusively through the bank’s online division. Click here to read more

Let’s be honest: 3-month CD rates are in the toilet and have been for years.

In fact, the last time we saw an average rate that even came close to matching inflation, George W. Bush was still in office and “American Idol” was the hottest show on TV, not limping along as it is now.

There’s no star power in these rates. Click here to read more