$50 Checking Account Bonus (Maybe $1K...)

If you can find a better checking account than First National Bank and Trust's Ultimate Free Checking Account, the bank will give you $1,000. However, you'll have to find another checking account from a bank in Indiana that beats all of this account's features . I wouldn't hold much hope of receiving the $1K. It's easy for the bank to claim that some feature isn't better. There might a chance if the other bank didn't have to be in Indiana.

Ignoring this marketing ploy, the Ultimate Free Checking account has some good features. In my opinion, the top four are:

• $50 bonus with direct deposit
• One box of checks free per year
• Free wire transfers
• First two overdraft or NSF fees waived

However, it could be better. Some things it lacks include:

• No interest is earned
• No mention of rebates of fees for using other banks' ATMs.

The bank also has some very nice CD specials (see post).

Branches are located in several Indiana cities including Indianapolis, Kokomo, Brazil and Richmond.