1.25% Reward Checking Account at a Nevada CU - $25K Max (Clearstar Financial)

Update 6/07/09: The top yield has fallen to 1.25% APY. Please refer to the bottom of the post for the rate history.

Clearstar Financial Credit Union is offering up to 1.25% APY on its Reward Checking account. This is another one of those checking accounts that offer a high yield on the first $50K in return for debit card usage and some other activities. Here is the full list of requirements:

• Use your debit card 12 times
• Receive e-statements
• Receive at least one direct deposit or make one direct payment

In return, you'll receive 1.25% APY on balances up to $50K (0.25% on balances above $50K) and ATM fee refunds of up to $7 per transaction and $25 per month. Plus, the account has no minimum balance requirements and no monthly fees.

Clearstar Financial's field of membership includes those who live, work, worship or attend school in the any of the 13 northern Nevada counties. See site for details. Branches are located in Reno and Sparks, NV.

The credit union is federally insured by the NCUA. It has $154 million in assets and 17,884 members.

Rate History:
06/01/09: 1.25% APY up to $50,000
05/07/09: 1.50% APY up to $50,000
03/25/09: 1.90% APY up to $50,000, 0.25% over
02/06/09: 2.26% APY, 0.49% for above $50,000
12/30/08: 2.51% APY, 0.74% APY for above $50,000
9/01/08: 3.04% APY
4/02/08: 4.35% APY, balance cap increased to $50,000
2/07/07: 6.10% APY, balance cap of $25,000, 1.24% APY for above cap

Tags: Nevada, checking account, reward checking account