I've read through the active and archived CD threads and didn't find this topic addressed in a distilled manner. Here is my question--In your opinion what are the best banks or credit unions for CDs, considering rate, customer service, and accessibility. For example, Discover Bank has good rates, but the forums are littererd with complaints about Discover customer service as well as their unfriendly roll over tactics. In regard to accessibility, I have in mind banks that let you open a CD completely online via ACH (perhaps with the seemingly required mail-in signature card).

Thoughts?

Alliant CU. They currently offer 2.15% for 12-17-month jumbo CDs (25k and up). Link: http://www.alliantcreditunion.org/services/rates/. No problems with their CS.

I'll second Alliant. I've not dealt with their CS that I recall (either that or it was painless enough that it didn't stick in my mind), but their rates are pretty good and the site is easy enough to deal with. The opening process also was painless enough that I don't remember it.

A nice feature is that you can pick specific days to end your CD. The range for dates is really a range. You can make a 13 month 10 day CD if that is what you want.