Savings Accounts. The old-fashioned passbook account has moved to the Internet. HSBCdirect.com1, ingdirect.com2, and EmigrantDirect.com3 generally vie for supremacy here, playing a cat-and-mouse game of one-upmanship with occasional special sales thrown in to confuse matters further. Right now, HSBC has the edge, with an annual percentage yield (APY) of 4.80% on both new and current deposits. That rate is only good until April 30 though; after that, the bank says the new one will be "competitive." Emigrant's rate is 4.5% and doesn't have an expiration date.

Here's a strategy some investors use: Link savings accounts to lower-interest checking accounts at a local bank and transfer money back and forth online. The goal is to maximize the money earned by keeping as little money as possible in the checking account without bouncing a check.

Checking Accounts. If you want a one-account solution, consider the humble checking account. Bank of Internet USA has a 3.15% APY. EverBank offers even more if you keep more than $25,000 there.

As with any checking account, it's imperative to ask about any required account minimums, all fees and whether there are any restrictions on how often you can transfer money in or out to other institutions.