Today at Peak Personal Finance, our subject is TD Bank as we look at online banking at TD Bank.

TD Bank electronic banking allows all customers of TD to view their balances and pay bills online rather than going to the bank personally and get the information from a teller during business hours.

TD Bank online banking provides all the information and services of the regular bank and the website is intelligently designed so that even those customers who are not very internet savvy can handle their transactions online without any problems at TD Online banking.

The TD Bank Online banking website is smartly categorized into various services and products that the bank offers and that really makes the website simple and efficient because the customers can decide what kind of information or services they are looking for. Under the My Accounts section there is detailed information on how to open your new account and what kind of benefits and facilities will be provided by the bank after the account is activated.

Most TD Bank internet banking customers will find the services offered through online banking at TD Bank to be top notch and convenient. TD Online Banking is an excellent resource for customers of TD.

TD Bank is fully FDIC insured, to the extent of the law. Online banking at TD Bank is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Today at Peak Personal Finance, we’re once again looking at CDs. This time, we’re looking at TD Bank CD rates to show you the best offers at this institution.

There are several TD CD rates offers available and the best CD rates will probably depend on your situation and needs. All require a minimum $250 deposit to open and maintain without fees.

For a Basic CD, the TD Bank certificate of deposit rates are 0.65% APY for a 9 month term. Some branches will have more terms and offers individually as well.

No Catch CDs are popular and offer CD rates in 6 month terms, auto-renewing to another six months, with one penalty-free withdrawal allowed per term. The first six months yields 0.45% while the second gives 0.40% APY.

Step Rate CDs are also offered and becoming popular. These TD Bank CD rates are in 3 or 5 year terms with CD rates changing over time during the term. The 3 year term averages 1.08% APY with the first year giving 0.90%, the second 1.09%, and the third 1.24%. The 5-year term CD rates average 1.80% APY with the first year giving 0.75%, year 2 giving 1.00%, third year giving 1.74%, year four with 2.23%, and the fifth year with 3.20% APY.

Most of the TD Bank certificate of deposit rates listed here are also available as IRA investments as well. TD Bank is fully FDIC insured. If any of these CD rates appeal to you, lock yours in today as today’s best CD rates could change tomorrow.

Since we were having a look at Susquehanna CD rates yesterday, we here at Peak Personal Finance thought we should also give you an idea of how the Susquehanna Bank internet banking system stacks up against most national competitors.

First, for those unfamiliar with this bank, a broad overview of Susquehanna is in order. This bank has over 230 branch locations in the mid-Atlantic region and assets of about $14 billion ranging in services from branch banking to investments and mortgages. This includes an insurance and benefits company as well as other loan institutions within the bank itself.

Susquehanna Bank electronic banking is the simple banking you expect from most established online banks. Once you have a login/password, you can access all of your accounts at Susquehanna through both Susquehanna Bank Online banking as wells as their separate investment arm.

Transfers, balance inquiries, recent transaction histories, and the like are all there with online banking at Susquehanna Bank. Extras like transfers, opening new accounts, and so forth are also available.

Other services such as Bill Pay and convenience banking services are there for use through Susquehanna Bank Online Banking.

Overall, the system is easy to use, works well, is uncluttered, and saves a lot of time over visiting a branch for every need.

Susquehanna, of course, is fully FDIC insured.

Here at Peak Personal Finance, we regularly like to see how certificate of deposit accounts and offers are doing at various banks our readers frequent. Today, we’re going to have a look at Susquehanna Bank CD rates and show you what kind of savings options they’re offering now.

CD rates at Susquehanna range in terms from 7 days to 120 months. For the very short term investment, a 7-31 day term yields 0.05% (minimum balance of $20,000), 0.10% ($50,000) or 0.15% annual percentage yield (APY, $100,000). From 32-90 days, rate are the same for the same balance tiers.

For a slightly longer term, Susquehanna CD rates are a little better with 3-5 month rates starting at 0.20% APY ($2,500 minimum deposit), 0.25% APY ($50,000), and 0.30% APY ($100,000).

Still considered short term, the 6-11 month savings tier gives Susquehanna Bank certificate of deposit rates at 0.35% APY ($1,000 minimum deposit/balance required), 0.40% APY ($50,000), and 0.45% APY ($100,000).

Moving beyond a year into longer-term Susquehanna Bank CD rates, there are a lot of offers, most of which are somewhat competitive nationally, but aren’t the best CD rates available. All of these CD rates require only a $500 minimum to get in the first tier then $50,000 and $100,000 for the next two tiers (listed in order here).

For 12-17 months, tiers start at 0.50% APY, then go to 0.55% and 0.60% APY. At 18-23 months, they rise to 0.65% APY with 0.70% and 0.75% APY in the next tiers. At 24-35 months they are 1.00%, 1.05%, and 1.09% APY in each tier. 36-47 months gives 1.49% APY, 1.54%, and 1.59% APY. 48-59 months yields 1.59%, 1.64%, and 1.69% APY in each tier of Susquehanna CD rates.

60-71 months gives 1.69%, 1.74%, and 1.79% APY. 72-83 months gives 1.93%, 1.98%, and 2.03% APY while 84-119 months gives the same. 120 months gives 2.28%, 2.33%, and 2.37% APY in respective tiers of deposit.

Susquehanna is FDIC insured.

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For a long time, we have thought of home ownership as part of the American Dream. You could own your own little patch of ground, and make it your own. However, things may be changing. Home ownership may no longer be considered a huge part of the American Dream. Indeed, some may prefer to rent.

I read recently in a CNN Money article that there are some new “normals” that are likely to remain, thanks to the latest recession. And one of those may be that renting is preferable to buying.

Buying a Home May Not Be an Investment

For years, real estate agents and others have said that your home is an investment. (Personally, I’ve always thought of it as a purchase; after paying interest, maintenance and other expenses on it for years, it is very difficult to truly come out ahead, even with tax advantages.) However, the CNN Money article points out that home price fell more than 32% between 2006 and 2009. If the recession taught us anything, it’s that real estate — especially residential real estate — does not always appreciate.

With home values falling, it is little surprise that some are not so enamored with home buying. It shifts the costs of maintenance and repair to the home owner. Plus, there are property taxes to pay, and other expenses. Many are finding that renting, with its decreased responsibility for upkeep, might not be such a bad thing.

What if You Were Renting?

According to the CNN Money article, renter households increased 10% between 2004 and 2009. Some think that renters might be here to stay. And many renters have their reasons. In some markets, it is easier to get a nicer house through renting than it is through buying. And, with some of the stigma gone from renting, it does not seem as though you have to keep up with your neighbors through buying. Plus, when you are renting, you are not tied down to a home, forced to try and sell it. And you are not under threat of foreclosure when you are renting.

Another reason that some give for renting is that they can then invest their money elsewhere. Over the years, according to many estimates, stocks offer better real returns. So instead of putting that money in a home, many decide to invest the difference between their lower monthly rent payments and a higher mortgage payment in order to see more solid returns. Yes, there is market volatility with stocks, but over time, those bumps tend to smooth out to some degree. Over the course of 30 years, you could be building a solid portfolio, rather than putting your excess into home equity that you can only tap if someone decides that you are “creditworthy” enough for a home equity loan.

Bottom line: In the end, whether you rent or buy a home is a decision you make depending on your personal goals and your situation. Some still like the idea of buying, and being able to do what they want with a home. Others, though, prefer the flexibility of renting. And, it appears that renting is starting to become a larger trend that may soon nudge home ownership out of its prominent place in the American Dream.

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Getting out of debt can be a tricky proposition. There are a number of programs that purport to help work through your debt issues, but you need to be careful. While some can provide needed assistance, others are little more than scams. One of the distinctions you should make when deciding what debt plan to go with is that between debt management and debt settlement. It is important to note that your mortgage obligation is usually not included in these types of arrangements.

Debt Management

With debt management, you have a third party help you create a repayment plan for your debt. You pay down the principal at a reduce interest rate, and possibly with your fees waived. Interest you have accumulated to the point of debt management is usually added to the principal. You make one payment to the (hopefully reputable) debt management company, and the company makes payments to your creditors. What you pay to the management company is figured based on how much you are paying to your creditors, plus administrative fees charged by the company, and what your budget can handle.

Debt Settlement

Another option is debt settlement. These services are generally advertised as a way for you to pay less than you owe. The debt settlement company sets you up on a payment plan, so that you pay the company, and not your creditors. Your money accumulates in an account during this time (while your credit score plummets, since you aren’t making debt payments to creditors), and the company begins negotiating with your creditors. They try to settle your debt for a specific amount, which may not cover all you owe. However, you usually have to pay up front fees for this service, and not all of your creditors may agree to the debt settlement offer. (They may not agree to the debt management, either.)

Do It Yourself

Of course, there is another option: You can handle a debt repayment plan yourself. If you are having trouble making your payments, you can call your creditors individually and negotiate lower interest rates, as well as work out a repayment plan. While it might be easier to hire someone else to manage your debt repayment plan, the truth is that you can do many of the things that third parties do on your own. However, it requires a little time and planning.

You can also engage in aggressive debt reduction with the help of a debt snowball type plan. This way, you are still making your payments on time, and your credit score is not suffering. One of the issues with getting involved with debt management and debt settlement programs is that you may have to close your accounts, and the payments from the company may not always arrive on time. Even if you negotiate a payment plan with your creditors yourself, you may be required to close a current credit account — something that may affect your credit score.

If you are concerned about your credit score, and you have enough to keep making payments, you might set up a debt snowball (or avalanche or whatever) to more quickly pay down your debts. And if you have been a good customer, you can even try to call and ask for a lower interest rate, so that more of your payments are going to principal.

Before you decide on a course of action related debt repayment, it is a good idea to consider your goals, and study the consequences of debt settlement, debt management, and doing it yourself.

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There has been a great deal of talk and speculation about the Social Security program lately — and for good reason. Social Security is projected to be insolvent relatively soon, and it does not help that government accounting practices are constantly “borrowing” from Social Security. As a result of some of the tricky math going on, we may not even have until 2037 before the system goes bust.

While Congress scrambles to try and fix the problem (which would be nice because 2037 shows up a little bit before I am likely to retire), here are 5 things for you to think about when it comes to Social Security:

1. It Was Never Meant to Replace Income

We have become extraordinarily dependent on Social Security as a society. Indeed, many people plan retirement around Social Security. However, when the program was first introduced, it was meant to be supplemental only — it was never meant to replace your income. Additions like adding disability and spousal benefits also came later, even though the original program was designed to pay benefits only to the retired worker. In light of this history, and looking to the future, it becomes especially important for you to plan your retirement without relying too much on Social Security.

2. The Self-Employed Pay Twice as Much Into the System

I love being my own boss, but being self-employed can have its challenges. One of those challenges is what is paid into the system. The self-employed pay 12.4% of their taxable incomes into the Social Security system. Others only pay 6.2%. Why? Because employers pay a matching amount for each employee. Before you quit your day job, consider the added cost of Social Security payments, and consider that lower pay in a regular job may be more about the benefits you get.

3. The Longer You Wait to Collect, the Higher Your Payment Will Be

One of the things to consider as you plan your retirement is how long to wait before you begin collecting Social Security benefits. You can begin receiving payments at age 62, but you will not be eligible for as much as you could get if you can wait until you are 70. For those closer to retirement, waiting longer can be a good thing. If you have a way of working part time, or using alternative income streams, it is possible for you to collect higher payments by waiting longer.

4. You May Not Get Cost of Living Increase

Before 1975, it took Congress to provide cost of living increases to Social Security payments. Now, Social Security is tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). But that does not mean that there will always be an automatic cost of living increase. If the CPI does not move higher, neither will Social Security benefits. Additionally, there is nothing to stop Congress from working some of its legislative magic and doing away with a cost of living increase each year. You will probably need to find some other way to protect yourself against inflation.

5. Social Security is About to Go Paperless

In an effort to save $300 million over five years, Social Security is about to go paperless. Paper checks will be abolished by March 1, 2013. You will need to set up a direct deposit for Social Security payments, or use the government’s Direct Express Debit MasterCard. The switch begins next year, on March 1, 2011.

One of the banks that has really affected the financial lives of Americans, especially in the Southern states, is SunTrust Bank. While we here at Peak Personal Finance understand that many have not heard this name, but SunTrust is one of the leading and top banks that have been working in the United States since the 19th century.

SunTrust Bank was established in 1891 in Atlanta, Georgia and to date this remains the headquarters of the bank. Today, the bank has more than 1,700 branches all over the U.S. and has penetrated into states like Washington D.C., Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland and Mississippi. Since SunTrust Banks have been into banking from a long period of time you will find that they cover almost every type of banking. The bank provides you facilities like retail and commercial banking, credit cards, mutual funds, mortgage banking and asset management. They also have SunTrust online banking. Today, we’re looking at online banking at SunTrust Bank.

SunTrust Bank has come up with their own SunTrust online banking services that allows all kind of facilities to their customers who would prefer to complete their transactions online rather than going to the bank personally. The website has been designed in a simple way so that people from all walks of life can use their SunTrust Bank internet banking facility.

Every customer who would like to make use of SunTrust online banking needs to have a UserID and a password that they can use to access the account. Each of the SunTrust websites have been linked to each other intelligently that allows the customers to switch from one service to another without wasting any time. Each domain is secured and has the best encryption technology to ensure that there is no data theft.

All SunTrust Bank standard banking accounts are fully FDIC insured.

Here at Peak Personal Finance, we know that many are struggling through these uncertain financial times and looking for ways to save money that aren’t too risky or unproven. Safe savings with guaranteed returns are to be found in certificates of deposit and finding the best CD rates is paramount to finding success with this type of savings. Many of you are SunTrust customers, so we thought a review of SunTrust Bank CD rates right be in order.

SunTrust has five CD rates offers which have a guaranteed, fixed rate of interest and are fully insured by the FDIC up to $250,000. These SunTrust CD rates require a $2,000 minimum opening deposit to maintain without fees and are for fixed terms from 10 months to 69 months.

For a ten month term, the annual percentage yield (APY) return is 0.50%. A special thirteen month CD requires a phone call or visit to a branch to get specific CD rates for, but today has best CD rates of 1.20% APY.

A 29 month term gives a 1.40% APY and a 49 month term gives a 2.00% APY. Best CD rates are on the 69 month term at 2.50% APY. All of these are also available as IRA CD options, so talk to a financial adviser if you wish to diversify your IRA savings into a certificate of deposit.

All SunTrust Bank certificate of deposit rates are subject to change, so if you see any SunTrust CD rates that appeal to you, lock yours in today.

Here at Peak Personal Finance, we know that online banking is an important part of today’s fast-paced lifestyle. As busy people, we like to be able to check on our accounts, do simple banking tasks, etc. at any time, day or night, without the hassle of having to find a branch and walk in. So today we’re going to look at online banking at State Farm Bank.

State Farm Bank was chartered in 1998 as an extension of State Farm Insurance Company. The bank does not have branches in its insurance offices, though agents are available to help answer product questions. Customer service is provided through the Internet and a call center. State Farm Bank online banking offers all the accounts and services you would expect from any bank direct to your home or office computer through online banking. Because they are almost exclusively an online bank, State Farm has a leg up on many other banks.

Every major type of banking service you’d expect is available from State Farm online banking. Certificates of deposit, savings, money markets, checking, and more are all there. They are, however, limited in some respects and offerings and numerous consumer complaints about unusual and large fees and bad customer service have been spread around the Internet.

State Farm Bank Internet banking does not offer accounts comparable to the online bank units of other insurance companies or other online banks. All accounts are FDIC insured which does create confidence in knowing that all accounts are insured up to $250,000. They also offer the Coverdell Education Savings Account CD, a tax free way to fund your child’s education and the Health Savings Account, a tax free way to offset a high deductible. While these two accounts distinguish them, their other accounts are lacking the high yield rates of their competitors and State Farm Bank seems to have more restrictions and fees than the competition.