Rollover Your IRA to Optionhouse and Get a $200-$600 Bonus!

We were just notified of a limited time promotional offer from the popular online discount brokerage “Optionhouse” that’s currently providing new customers (either rolling over an IRA or starting a new IRA) with between $200 and $600 depending on the amount funded.

Get the Bonus Here!

This offer now tops E-Trade’s IRA Bonus which provides new IRA consumers bonuses up to $500 and a certain number of free trades.

Don’t know who Optionhouse is?

Optionhouse is a discount brokerage that enables consumers to trade more effectively with a fast, streamlined online trading platform. They offer a full suite of online “smart tools,” free data and research as well as the lowest brokerage fees of any competing institution of just $3.95 per trade. If you frequently make trades from your smart phone they also have a number of tools and customized alerts in which you can set up to better inform you on companies or organizations you’re researching and investing in.

How to earn the $200 – $600 bonus for rolling over your IRA:

The bonus is straight forward with no strings attached, it’s simply based on the amount your IRA is worth. Here is the breakdown…

- Rollover or start a new IRA with $25,000 and get $200. Use the promotional code ROLL200

- Rollover or start a new IRA with $50,000 and get $300. Use the promotional code ROLL300

- Rollover or start a new IRA with $100,000 and get $400. Use the promotional code ROLL400

- Rollover or start a new IRA with $250,000 and get $600. Use the promotional code ROLL600

Get the Bonus Here!

List of Bank Deals with Cash Bonuses Still Available!

Since the beginning of last summer bank deals have been fairly abundant when compared to the two most previous years. Both new credit card holders and new checking account consumers have been subject to a number of lucrative rewards in 2011. Credit cards were offering their best deals in the summer and checking accounts seem to just be peaking now.

Top 2 Credit Card Offers with Bonuses For the Holidays:

1) Chase Freedom® MasterCard – $200 Bonus Cash Back – This offer has been on the table for a little while now but is certainly one of the most lucrative. With a new Chase Freedom MasterCard customers can get $200 in cash back after just $500 in purchases. The card comes with no annual fee and has a recurring rewards structure that is fairly generous as well. For this holiday shopping season you’ll be able to get 5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 spent on dining, department stores, movie theaters and charitable organizations from today through 12/31/11. After the new year you’ll get another set of categories in which the 5% cash back will apply, and so on, with rewards rotating every quarter.

2) Discover® More® Card’s Limited Time $150 Holiday Bonus – The Discover More Card regularly tops our charts for the best cash back credit card on the market. And since they’ve decided to sweeten the pot with a $150 cash bonus this Holiday Season, we’re guessing these cards are flying off the shelves. Currently new card holders can nab 150 bucks after opening the card and spending $1,000 with it in 3 months. You’re also entitled to 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months. Plus you can take advantage of their famous 20% cash back program when you shop online with “ShopDiscover” which includes a number of well known retailers. Outside of that you’ll earn a similar 5% cash back rotating rewards structure as the Chase Freedom Card (listed above) plus 1% cash back on everything else.

Top 2 Checking Account Bonuses For the Holidays:

Before we mention our favorite checking accounts with cash bonuses, we’d like to remind you that these offers are available nationwide. We’ve seen a number of geographically exclusive checking bonuses from regional banks and the like come through our inbox, so you may want to stop by your local bank or CU and see if they have any specials available as well.

1) ING Direct Checking Account with $50 Sign-up Bonus – This offer has been very popular over the holidays thus far. This likely came from a bump in consumers looking to switch from their big bank due to the imposition of new fees. Not only does this checking account come with a $50 sign-up bonus but it also boasts zero overdraft fees, zero monthly fees and no ATM surcharges. The account itself is a relieving alternative for consumers looking to switch from their old account(s) with pricey fees. The $50 sign up bonus just may be the tipping point.

2) Huntington Bank’s $100 Checking Account Bonus – Here’s a fantastic checking account that’s only available until the end of today! To get the $100 bonus you must first open the account then make at least 5 debit card purchases and set up one direct deposit. Slightly more commitment is involved with this checking bonus than the one offered by ING, but if you’re looking to make this your new primary checking account and you reside near a few Huntington Bank branches this may be perfect for you. You can also open the account and get the bonus online.

Another Checking Account Bonus, This Time From MB Financial Bank

We’ve been getting tipped off on new checking deals right and left this week as Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals continue rolling in.

Since the drastic increase of these bonuses we’ve updated our checking account promotions page to include all of the top offers currently available throughout the country. When we disclose checking account deals here, we not only take into account actual monetary incentives (cash bonuses) for signing-up but also the fees associated with the accounts, minimum balance requirements, ATM fee reimbursement, and all other requirements generally smothered in the bank or credit union’s fine print.

Today, we’d like to quickly highlight the newest offer to roll in. It’s not particularly our favorite due to the vast amount of strings attached to the cash bonuses, but it does come with the potential to net new customers $200 if you can meet requirements.

The deal comes from MB Financial based out of Chicago and is only available to residents within it’s geographical borders. This includes citizens of Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania. Although just a regional bank, MB is publicly traded (Nasdaq: MBFI) and controls roughly $10 billion in assets.

Terms for Checking Account Bonus:

The $200 checking bonus is broken up into segments which, when completed, will net you a portion of the overall $200. Here is the breakdown of these individual segments:

- Earn $100 for setting up a recurring monthly direct deposit of at least $500.

- Earn $50 for setting up a recurring automatic money transfer of at least $50 to another MB Financial personal savings account or money market account or certificate of deposit.

- Earn a $25 account credit when you pay at least one bill of $25 or more to non-individuals via bill pay at ibankmb.com

- Earn the final $25 when you enroll in e-statements.

So while a $200 bonus sounds quite enticing and lucrative, generally speaking new customers are rarely able to cash in on these types of tiered bonuses as it essentially requires you to make the new bank your primary bank.

For a more simple bonus, check out ING Direct’s limited time checking bonus. It’s only 50 bucks but it comes with no strings attached and zero fees.

Time Sensitive $100 Checking Bonus from Huntington Bank

Here’s a pretty nice Black Friday checking account offer from Huntington Bank.

From November 25 to November 29 ONLY new customers can set up a Huntington Bank checking account and cash in on a $100 bonus as long as they can meet the 2 requirements.

Requirements:

1) Make at least five debit card purchases from the account in 60 days.

2) Set up at least one direct deposit.

How to Open?

1) Visit this URL – Huntington.com/100dollars

2 or stop by a local branch.

Other Checking Account Promotions:

There are a few new checking account offers on the table as of November. Chase Bank has their infamous $125 offer available through January 7, 2012. This bonus comes with relatively few strings attached as you’ll just need to set up a direct deposit and make an initial deposit of $100. If you’re looking for a checking bonus that doesn’t require a direct deposit you may want to review ING’s checking bonus. It’s requirements for the bonus are minimal. Plus the account comes with zero overdraft fees, zero monthly fees and no ATM surcharges.

Best Black Friday Bank Deals for 2011

A number of new checking account promotions have come out towards the end of 2011, however any avid bank deal hunter knows that Black Friday in particular is a prime time to scoop up substantial deals from banks and credit unions.

This year’s number one institution with the best Black Friday rewards comes from Service Credit Union out of New Hampshire. So for all you New Hampshire residents – have at it!

As for everyone else, scroll down to find the best nationwide bank deals available this Black Friday.

Service Credit Union’s Black Friday Bank Deals:

1) 3 month CD yielding 10% APY! – Here is a phenomenal savings account promotion especially for first time savers or students. It comes with a minimum deposit requirement of $250 and a maximum deposit of $1000. If you’re able to maximize the benefits of this offer by depositing $1k into this account, you’ll have earned almost $25 in just 3 months from your investment!

2) Open a Savings Plus Checking Account with Service Credit Union and set up a direct deposit and get a $150 bonus! This could end up being quite the lure for those looking to switch from big banks. The end of 2011 has been huge for credit unions with the threat of new checking account fees by some of the nation’s largest banks.

3) 1% off auto loans with Service Credit Union. Rates as low as 2.24% APR depending on credit history.

4) $25 new gift card with each new visa credit card opened with SCU.

Bank Deals (2011) Available Nationwide:

1) CitiBank Checking Accounts paying new account holders either $200 or $400 in gift cards depending on which checking account you sign up for.

2) ING Direct has a $50 sign up bonus for new online checking account holders. ING is well known for being a Black Friday specialist! With this checking account, you’ll get a very respectable interest rate on your balance, the largest network of free ATM’s, zero fees, and a cool 50 bucks!

3) EverBank has a $60 sign up bonus for new account holders, but you’ll need to maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 with this account to avoid fees. There is also an interest rate associated with this account. Get the run down here.

$150 to switch to a KeyBank Checking Account. Is it worth it?

KeyBank has once again issued their $150 bonus for new checking account holders. This offer comes around every so often (especially around the holiday season) and if you’re one of the many thousands of consumers that have been hit with fees by your big bank, you may want to explore some of Key Bank’s checking options – although you still wont escape fees.

Here are the four checking accounts that are accompanied with a $150 bonus:

1) Key Express Checking – No frills checking account that comes with a debit MasterCard. Avoid monthly maintenance service fees by making at least $500 in deposits or initiate five transactions per statement cycle. $40 yearly maintenance fee applied regardless.

2) Key Coverage Checking – Another no frills checking account which imposes a plethora of fees. First you’ll nab a $10 monthly service charge for simply owning the account. You’ll also have an annual $30 maintenance fee, plus an $18-per-item overdraft fee if you overdraw your account by $10.01 – $100 based on your end-of-day balance. This is a fairly pricey overdraft fee since it’s based on a per-item assessment. This fee has also been recently reduced.

3) Key Advantage Checking- These accounts require a $10,000 minimum balance to avoid fees and generally come with an interest rate, but considering our current landscape for money market rates, their rates today aren’t even worth mentioning (but we’ll do it anyway – 0.05% APY). You’ll also get dinged with the annual $30 maintenance fee.

4) Key Privilege Checking – Like the Key Advantage Account this one is essentially a money market account. You’ll get dinged with a $25 monthly fee (first 3 months waived) even though you’ll need to keep a whopping $25,000 tied up. You can keep the $25k in a number of savings-type accounts such as: CDs and savings, or in equity through a loan side account such as: credit cards and/or auto loans. So for example, if you have $5k in outstanding credit through a Key Bank credit card, $5k left to pay on your auto loan, and $15k in CDs and checking, you’ll be in compliance with Key Bank’s requirements.

Despite the enticing $150 sign up bonus for a new Key Bank Account, you should keep in mind this $150 bonus wont come easy. First, you’ll need to decide whether or not you even want a checking/money market account with Key Bank given their unavoidable fee structure (mentioned above). Second, you’ll need to do the following:

• open a qualifying KeyBank checking account online and enter offer code ONFT1011 by December 30, 2011, and
• make at least 30 payments and/or purchases within 3 months of account opening, plus
• make 3 direct deposits each of $500 or more within 3 months of account opening.

What say you? Is the $150 bonus worth signing up for?

ING Direct’s Online Checking Account: $50 Cash Bonus!

ING Direct has just sweetened the pot to their already popular “Electric Orange Checking Account” which features an above average interest rate (especially for larger sums) and free checking with absolutely no fees or ATM surcharges.

For a limited time new customers opening this online checking account can now snag a $50 bonus for signing up and making a total of 3 Card purchases or Person2Person Payments (or any combo of the two) within 45 days of account opening. Once the requirements have been completed, ING will deposit a $50 bonus into your account automatically on day 50.

Sign up for the Account and Get the $50 Bonus Here!

Even without the $50 sign up bonus, this checking account from ING has been one of the most popular amongst US retail banking consumers. In a time where the nation’s largest banks are making unprecedented moves to impose fees on consumer checking accounts and debit card usage (ie Bank of America, Wells Fargo and now CitiBank) checking accounts like the “Electronic Orange Checking” from ING Direct are refreshing alternatives.

Why is the Electronic Orange Account so popular?

1) N0 overdraft fees. The national average for overdraft fees from United State’s banks sits at $30.

2) N0 ATM surcharge. The national average for ATM surcharges throughout the country sits at $2 per withdrawal.

3) No monthly fees.  The current national average for monthly fees is on the rise. While it currently sits at $13, many major banks are beginning to impose larger monthly fees if individual checking accounts don’t keep a required minimum balance. ING imposes no minimum balances nor fees for their checking accounts.

Interest Rates on ING Electronic Orange Checking:

- If your account holds less than $50,000 you’ll receive a variable rate of 0.25% APY.

- If your balance is between $50,000 and $100,000 you’ll receive a variable rate of 1.10% APY.

- If you balance exceeds $100,000 you’ll receive a variable rate of 1.15% APY.

ING is member FDIC and all accounts are federally insured up to $250,000.

To put the interest rates above in perspective, the national average for interest checking accounts are between 0.50 and 0.80% APY depending on your balance. The accounts composed in the survey of national averages may, however, impose monthly fees and minimum balance requirements as well as limit the amount of withdrawals per month. ING’s checking account has no restrictions or minimum balance requirements.

Limited Time Offer – Earn a $50 bonus when you open an Electric Orange℠ checking account from ING DIRECT

Best Cash Bonus offered for a new Checking Account

Over the weekend we were sent a link to a pretty sweet cash bonus for a new checking account from Chase Bank. Chase is notorious for these bonuses but releases them rather secretly and only for limited periods of time. From today until October 7th of this year you can snag yourself $125 in cash simply for opening a new Chase checking account and making a $100 deposit into the account.

Related: Compare this offer to our rundown of the best checking account promotions of 2011.

This seems like Chase Bank’s go to move especially when they need to shore up new accounts. And after the month of August’s tumultuous downhill ride for JP Morgan Chase’s stock price, they are probably looking for a plethora of new accounts to ease stockholders fears.

Check out the graph (below) to see the sell-off incurred this month from JPMorgan Chase’s stock price.

Regardless of whether or not you believe Chase to be in any serious trouble, the checking account bonus is still a lucrative offer and nice way to more than double your money in a short time (deposit $100 into new account and receive $125). Also keep in mind the account is FDIC insured.

Features of Chase Checking Account:

- FREE access to 16,100 ATMs nationwide

- FREE Online Banking & Online Bill Pay

- FREE Chase Debit Card with built-in security

- FREE Text and E-mail Alerts

- 24/7 access with Chase Mobile^SM on your phone

You’ll need to click on the “email my coupon” button, then Chase will send you a code to use at either a local branch or online. You’ll then need to open your new account with $100 and make one direct deposit within 60 days of opening. After your direct deposit has been received they will issue the $125 bonus within 10 business days.

We think they are having these coupon codes emailed to potential customers now rather than placing one code online for everyone to see. This gives them better control on the number of accounts they receive. When Chase Bank has issued these checking bonuses in the past their promotional codes were syndicated and featured on countless blogs which combined with social media had them spreading like Texas bush fire.

Get the Bonus Here.

OR see how this compares to our number 1 rated online checking account of 2011. Visit our Perkstreet Checking Account Review to see how that checking account can net you $600+ year in cash back!

US Bank Personal Savings Account – $50 Bonus

Below is a solid savings account bonus from US Bank (thanks to BankVibe.com reader Jennifer for tipping us off on the offer!). Currently US Bank is giving away $50 Rewards Visa Cards for those that can stash away $1,000 in the account (as well as meet a few other account requirements). That’s equivalent to a 5% APY – try getting that from a CD rate!

Here’s how it works:

Step 1

Visit a participating branch, call us toll-free at 800-593-6087 or enroll now and choose the U.S. Bank Package that works best for you.

Step 2

Enroll in S.T.A.R.T. and create your savings plan. Set up one or more of the following qualifying transfer options from your Package Checking account to your Package Money Market Savings account:

Transfer an amount you choose on a specific day of the month, OR

Transfer an amount you choose for each U.S. Bank Check Card purchase, OR

Transfer an amount you choose for each U.S. Bank Credit Card purchase.

What you get:

Enjoy rewards from US when you reach one or both S.T.A.R.T. goals:

• When your savings balance reaches $1,000, we’ll recognize your achievement with a $50 U.S. Bank Rewards Visa® Card⁴.
• Maintain a balance of $1,000 or more in your account for one year, and earn another $50 U.S. Bank Rewards Visa Card.

To help accomplish your goals, you will also receive:

• S.T.A.R.T. goal progress and transfer summary information within U.S. Bank Internet Banking
• S.T.A.R.T. details on your monthly account statement
• 24/7 assistance from our bankers

Go the the promotional offer here.

ING Direct’s Financial Independence Day Promotion

About this time every year we receive notice from a number of our readers as well as ING Direct representatives themselves about the “Financial Independence Day Sale” offered through ING Direct. During the fourth of July weekend they typically offer a number of promotional products as well as new account bonuses for some of their already existing financial products.

Here is the most recent note we’ve received from Diana over at ING Direct:

“As a 4th of July celebration, ING DIRECT is urging savers to make a personal declaration of financial independence with its annual Financial Independence Days Promotions. For 2 days only (July 1st & 2nd) ING DIRECT will be offering Independence Day themed promotions, including:

Checking: New Electric Orange checking account customers will receive the traditional opening bonus of $50 when they make three purchases within 45 days of account opening. Those that then set up and make at least two direct deposits of $250 will receive an additional $76 bonus for a total savings of $126. Think of all the BBQ that could buy!

Investing: Investors who open a new ShareBuilder account will receive a $76 account bonus after their first investment. Uncle Sam would be proud!

These promotions and four other offers are available to consumers, and will be announced at July 1st 12 a.m. EST.”

We’ve got a hunch that they’ll also throw in a mortgage or refinance offer which features a major savings off of closing costs. To review ING’s mortgage products use the previous link.

You can check out their promotions when they become available at ingdirect.com/independence.