BankShout looks at the top 1-year certificate of deposit rates as of Thursday, May 6, 2010. Annual percentage yields (APY) are for national and Internet banks based in the U.S. Banks listed below are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

In our BankShout survey of the top yields for 1-year CDs, there is a new national leader: Sallie Mae. The student loan-maker is advertising a 1-year term at 1.55% annual percentage yield (APY), surging past rivals who either cut yields or held steady from April. Sallie Mae requires no minimum deposit for its certificates.

Aurora Bank, FSB, held its 1-year term at 1.54% APY on minimum deposits of $1000. Nexity Bank is third on this week’s list, continuing its recent trend of cutting yields; Nexity’s 12-month CD, also with a $1000 minimum balance, went to 1.51% APY from 1.53% last month. NewdominionDIRECT.com held pat at 1.51% APY for a 1-year term at $3000 minimum.

Also holding steady from April is American Express Bank, FSB, which stayed at 1.50% APY with no minimum balance. Joining them at 1.50% APY for the 1-year offering is Discover Bank, which requires at least $2500 to open. Ally Bank also stayed with the same yield, 1.49% APY with no minimum balance.

As I wrote in a post from earlier today, Sallie Mae (not to be confused with troubled home-lender Fannie Mae) is making a bold move into the consumer deposit business, with striking new advertising and high-interest yields. Maybe the competition from this big loan-player will push some of these meager deposit rates up over the next few weeks. Let’s hope so.