Remember when CDs always offered the best interest rates, followed by money market accounts, savings accounts and the lowly checking account?

The financial crisis has turned all of the old rules upside down.

The high-yield checking accounts at hundreds of community banks across the country now offer the most lucrative returns.

You can earn a respectable 4% or 5%, if you're willing to put up with some extra rules and regulations.

But here's the sorry fact for anyone looking for more traditional certificates of deposit, savings and money market accounts -- average returns have plunged to four-year lows.

Finding a bank willing to pay even a meager 3% for your savings is hard.

The government is providing commercial banks with so much cheap money that they don't need your money, and the interest rates on virtually every type of deposit reflect that.

What you need is a strategy to earn a better-than-average return during these tough times and be ready to withdraw your money on a moment's notice when rates turn around.

Our 5 smart moves for finding the best CDs can help you with those.

The advantage to CDs is that the rate you sign up for is the rate you'll get.

Savings and money market accounts pay variable rates, and we can't tell you how frustrated savers have been with banks that offer a great return to lure new customers through the door and then lower everyone's rates after a few months.

That said, you can always search our extensive database for the latest savings and money market rates from hundreds of banks.

Here are the best deals available nationwide:

Bank of Internet USA, out of San Diego, offers a top-paying 2.50% APY on savings accounts with balances from $1 on up. But you have to make a $100 deposit to open the account.

Tennessee Commerce Bank, located in Franklin, pays a 2.30% APY on savings with no minimum deposit required.

Money markets, which used to pay better than savings accounts, are now paying less than most deposits. Ally Bank, formerly GMAC Bank, pays a relatively high 1.85% APY on money markets, with no minimum deposit needed to open the account.

Always be sure to check the offers from local banks and credit unions that are only available to their community and members. They can be as good, or even better, than the best deals available nationally.

Whether you put your money into a CD, savings or checking account, it remains safe, thanks to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which insures credit unions.

Last year's bank bailout resulted in the basic insurance limit per depositor per insured bank or credit union being raised to $250,000 from $100,000, at least through Dec. 31, 2013.

Savings in Individual Retirement Accounts, or IRAs, also are guaranteed for as much as $250,000.

All of the banks and credit unions you'll find on Interest.com are insured.

By Carolyn Siegel

Interest.com Associate Editor

Special offers like these can change quickly. If you find one of these deals is no longer being offered, let us know at editors@interest.com.