$60 Sign-Up Bonus for EverBank Checking Account!

- Offer No Longer Available -

As of today we’ve got a new leader in promotional checking account offers. From now until November 30, 2011, EverBank is offering consumers $60 in cash to switch to their already popular “yield pledge checking account!”

This checking account offer couldn’t have come at a better time. With the much hyped news regarding Bank of America, Chase and Citibank beginning to impose fees for use of their checking accounts and debit cards, this is a very enticing lure for already frustrated customers of these big banks. In our opinion, this limited time offer from EverBank should shore up a ton of new accounts for them due to the fact that many consumers who currently hold checking accounts with the nation’s largest banks are actively seeking alternatives.

Unlike the new fees imposed by some of the nations most well established banks, EverBank has ZERO ATM Fees, Zero Debit Card Fees and provides an interest rate for your balance.

The Yield Pledge Checking Account which has the $60 sign-up promotion promises to (err…pledges to) provide a yield within the top 5% of all competitive banks. Currently this yield sits at 0.61% APY. To put this in perspective the national average for money market accounts sits at roughly 0.50% APY.

Terms and Conditions to Receive $60 Bonus:

1) This must be your first checking account with EverBank

2) Account must be funded with at least $1,500 by Nov 30, 2011 – the promotion’s deadline.

3) You must set up a direct deposit and receive at least one payment of $500 before the end of January 2012.

4) You need to maintain the average daily balance of $1,500 for the statement period ending December 31, 2011.

5) You must keep the account open until at least the end of February. They will drop the $60 into your account no later than February 28, 2012.

The reason banks typically require a waiting period before providing the cash bonus to new customers is because many customers attempt to simply open the account for the cash then close it immediately following the bonus.

Yields on savings accounts are low across the board lately, but in the past Everbank’s CD rates have also featured noteworthy APY’s on BankVibe.com.

Community Bank of Pleasant Hill’s Rewards Checking Account

Another high interest checking account came in to our inbox yesterday – this time from Community Bank of Pleasant Hill, based out of Missouri. As of last December any member of Community Bank of Pleasant Hill can receive 2.51% APY on checking account balances of $0 – $25,000 as long as the given criteria are met. This account, while lucrative, is providing lower returns than most of the rewards checking accounts we’ve covered in the past. If you’re in the market for one of these accounts and are not yet a member of Community Bank, I’d suggest searching through our archives for “best checking accounts in Missouri” to compare this offer to other similar accounts.

Details of Rewards Checking with Community Bank of Pleasant Hill:

• 2.51% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) paid on balances between one penny and $25,000, and 0.50% APY paid on all amounts above $25,000 each monthly cycle the minimum requirements are met.
  
• To qualify for the higher rate the account must be enrolled for E-Statement, have one direct deposit or ACH transaction and have 10 debit card transactions post per cycle.
  
• If you do not meet the requirements per cycle, your account will still function as a free checking account earning 0.10% APY.
  
• Interest rates were effective December 31st, 2009.
  
• They may change the interest rate and APY at any time after the account is opened without notice.
  
• Fees may reduce earnings.
  
• No monthly service charge.
  
• No minimum balance required.
  
• Must deposit a minimum of $100 to open this account.
  
• ATM fees incurred at non-Community Bank machines anywhere in the U.S. will be refunded if the requirements are met.
  
• Rewards Checking is available to personal accounts only and has a limit of one account per customer.

Heartland Community Bank’s Interest Checking Account: 4.02%

Here is another great interest checking account available to customers nationwide! Currently Heartland Community Bank out of Arkansas has an “interest plus checking” account which is yielding 4.02% APY on all balances up to $30,000 (1.31% APY paid on all balances above $30k). They also offer free ATM use nationwide in the form of ATM reimbursements. Typically these high interest checking accounts will reimburse a portion of your foreign ATM fees, however, Heartland Community Bank will reimburse all of them.

Benefits of Checking with Interest through Heartland Community Bank:

(as seen on their website)

• Free ATM’s Nationwide
• Write as many checks each month without a per-check charge.
• Earn high-interest yields on your account
• No minimum balance
• No service charge
• Overdraft privilege available
• Free ATM or Visa check card
• Telephone Banking
• Free Internet Banking

Requirements to earn interest rate and free foreign ATM use:

• Make at least 10 check card transactions
• Receive a monthly Electronic Statement
• One direct deposit or ACH Auto Debit
• Access Online Banking

4.0% dividend rate from Pacific Resource Credit Union

Another high yield checking account just came in to our inbox, this time coming from a not-for-profit credit union out of California. Currently Pacific Resource Credit Union has a “high flying checking account” yielding an APY of 4.00% for balances of $25,000 or less. For balances of $25k to $250k you can still earn 1.329% APY if all conditions are met.

Even though Pacific Resource Credit Union is located in Las Angeles, California, US residents nationwide can take advantage of this financial product.

One noteworthy aspect of their high flying checking account is the “dividend rate range” associated with balances of $25k or more. With $25k or less you are clearly set to earn an APY of 4.074%, however with balances of $25k to $250k you can earn APY’s anywhere from 1.329% to 4.25%. Currently the yield is 1.329, however this is a variable rate and can change at anytime (but will not dip below 1.329%).

Checking Account Requirements:

• 10 debit card transactions per cycle
• eStatement required
• 1 direct deposit or ACH auto debit per cycle

Checking Account Benefits:

• Earn up to 4.074% interest every month
• No minimum to open
• No minimum balance
• Up to $25 in ATM fees refunded per cycle
• Free Online Banking
• Free Resource Bill Pay
• Overdraft Protection Available
• Free Visa Debit Card
• Free eStatements

United Federal Credit Union’s Interest Plus Checking: 6.01%

Last week’s theme on BankVibe tended to revolve around the nations best interest-bearing checking accounts, therefor I found it necessary to point out THE BEST of the best.

Currently United Federal Credit Union (Arkansas) has an “interest plus checking” account which is yielding an unheard of 6.01% APY on all balances up to $25,000 (0.25% APY on balances above $25k). One very noteworthy aspect of this interest rate is that United Federal Credit Union has guaranteed it until at least 2010! If you have been researching interest checking accounts lately then you have undoubtedly noticed the fact that they typically come with variable interest rates that are subject to change without notice, thus making this offer pretty lucrative in comparison.

How to qualify for the 6.01% interest rate:

• Enroll in eStatements – receive your statements electronically
• Have One Direct Deposit OR One ACH (Electronic Payment)
• Conduct a minimum of ten (10) Debit Card Swipe and Sign purchases (Credit transactions/Non-PIN based).

An important note from their fine print: A debit card purchase using your PIN will not count as a Debit Card Swipe and Sign purchases. All direct deposit, ACH and Debit Card Swipe and Sign purchases must post to your account by 6:00pm (EST) on the last business day of the month to count towards that month.

Additional benefits from this account:

• A whole range of FREE electronic services: Online Banking (PowerLink) with Bill Pay, instant eStatements and e-mail alerts, and online account aggregation.
• Your savings are insured to at least $500,000; a combination of $250,000 provided by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a U.S. federal government agency, and $250,000 by Excess Share Insurance (ESI), a private deposit insurance company.
• Overdraft protection from your savings account(s), along with Courtesy Pay protection up to $1,000 is available to save you embarrassment and expense of Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) items!
• Free private and personal Financial Planning and Financial Seminars
• Free Medallion (Signature Guarantee) and notary services

Progress Bank’s “Digital Checking” Account: 5.05% APY

Earn more green by going green! That is what Progress Bank (of Tampa, Florida) is currently offering it’s prospective customers. They call it a “Digital Checking Account,” and it is yielding an APY of 5.05% for all balances less than $25,000. If you want to stash more money in this account you can but all balances above $25k will only yield an APY of 1.01% (which still crushes the national average).

This is a paperless checking account and must remain that way to earn the advertised interest rate.

Progress Bank’s High Interest Checking Account Features:

(as seen in this PDF)

Requirements to earn the 5.05% APY on your checking balance: (per 30 day billing cycle)

Bank of the Sierra’s Rewards Checking Account: 4.51% APY

These high interest checking deals keep flowing into our submission’s inbox! The latest offer is from the Bank of the Sierra out of California. Currently they have a “Rewards Checking Account” which is yielding a whopping 4.51% APY on all balances up to $25,000 (1.01% APY on balances above $25k).

Bank of the Sierra Interest Checking Account Features:

(as seen on their website)

• Earn 4.51% APY on balances up to $25,000
• Earn 1.01% APY on balances above $25,000
• If monthly qualifications are not met, you still earn .12% APY
• Free eStatement every month
• Free Sierra Bill Pay
• Free Sierra Check Card
• No monthly service charge
• Overdraft protection available with a savings account or apply for a line or credit.
• Only $50 to open

Monthly Requirements to earn the advertised interest rate:

• Minimum 12 Sierra Check Card purchases per month
• Minimum one direct deposit or automatic payment from your account each month
• Make at least one bill payment online
• Receive eStatements
• Must be opened online

Verity Credit Union’s Interest Checking Account

Just got word of another decent high interest checking account this weekend. Verity Credit Union of Washington state has a “Cartwheel Checking Account” yielding an APY of 3.05% on all balances up to $10,000 (0.75% APY on balances above $10k).

Verity Credit Union’s Interest Checking Features:

(as seen on their promo page)

• Free Checking Account
• Pays 3.05%* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on balances up to $10,000
• Pays 0.75% APY on all amounts above $10,000 each cycle the account qualifications are met.
• Refunds any ATM fee you might be charged from using an ATM worldwide **
• No minimum balance requirement
• Free Cartwheel Debit Card
• Free Online Banking and Bill Payer
• No Monthly Service Charge

Requirements to earn interest rate:

• 12 Debit and Point of Sale transactions each cycle
• receive eStatements
• Home Banking one time per cycle

Rocky Mountain Bank Cash Rewards Checking Account

We just got tipped off on another great high interest checking account. This time through Rocky Mountain Bank out of Montana.

Currently they are running a “Cash Rewards Checking Account” (similar to other Rewards Checking Accounts we’ve covered) in which you can earn 4.01% APY on all balances up to $20,000 (1.01% APY on balances above $20k).

One thing I noticed about this Rewards Checking Account that is different from most of the others is that you are allowed 2 per house hold. Essentially you can earn 4.01% APY on balances up to $40,000 if your spouse signs up as well, however your monthly requirements will then double (see below).

Along with the 4.01% interest rate on your checking account, here is what you are entitled to with this account:

• Free Checking
• Free Debit Card
• Free Online Banking
• Free Bill Pay
• No Minimum Balance Requirement
• No Monthly Fees
• ATM Fees Automatically Refunded

Requirements to earn 4.01% APY:

• Use your FREE Debit Card – Make purchases without writing checks using their FREE VISA Debit Card. Must have 15 or more signature-based purchases posted within the monthly qualification cycle.

• Sign up for direct deposit

• Have one or more direct deposits each month.

Altra Federal Credit Union’s High Interest Checking Account

Altra Federal Credit Union has done an excellent job keeping the interest on their “A + Checking Account” fairly high while most other banks and credit unions have been continually lowering their interest rates. Currently, if you meet all of Altra Federal Credit Union’s requirements you are eligible to receive an APY of 4.0%.

Altra Federal Credit Union “A + Checking” Account Features:

(as seen on their website)

• No minimum balance
• No monthly fee
• No charges from Altra for ATM withdrawals at any U.S. ATM
• Free inbound and outbound Online Standard Funds Transfer upon request
• Free ID Theft 911 protection and resolution service

Requirements to receive the advertised interest rate:

• Receive your eStatement and A+ Checking Report card at a valid email address
• Sign on to Altra’s Free Online Banking
• Make a Direct Deposit into your A+ Checking account ($50 minimum required)
• Make 10 Altra Check Card purchases/transactions (ATM withdrawals do not qualify)

Terms and Conditions:

If you do not meet the four account requirements, your account is considered non-qualifying and will earn 0.25% APY on your entire account balance for that cycle. To qualify for the next cycle, simply complete the four A+ Checking account requirements.

A+ Checking available for personal accounts only. Qualifying accounts earn currently posted Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on balances up to $25,000; Portion of balance over $25,000 earn 1.00% APY. Rates subject to change monthly.