Reward Checking Account at a West Michigan CU (Lake Michigan)

Update 10/1/2011: The top rate has fallen to 3.00% APY.

Lake Michigan Credit Union has started a reward checking account it calls Max Checking which pays 3.00% APY on balances up to $15K and refunds up to $15/month in ATM fees if the following monthly requirements are met: 1) 10 debit card purchases, 2) direct deposit, 3) 4 home banking logins, and 4) receive eStatements. There are no fees or minimum balance requirements regardless if the above requirements are met.

The $15K balance cap is not as good as the average reward checking which has a $25K cap. But as the reader mentioned who posted a comment on this, it gives those in Western Michigan access to a reward checking account from local branches.

Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon or Allegan counties of Michigan (and recently expanded to many more MI counties). Also eligible are persons who are donors to the ALS Association, West Michigan Chapter. See their field of membership page for the full details.

Update 6/12/08: The ALS Association, West Michigan Chapter has an online donation form. The credit union also has an online application so it appears this reward checking account has nationwide availability.

Branches are located in Grand Rapids and several other Michigan cities. The credit union is federally insured by the NCUA (Charter # 62514). It's a large credit union with $1.2 billion in assets and 121,783 members.

Thanks to the reader Mike for mentioning this account in the comments of the finding deals post.

Other Reward Checking Accounts

For other reward checking accounts available nationally and in other parts of the country, please see my reward checking account page and my best checking account post.

Rate History:
10/01/11: 3.00% APY up to $15K
05/01/09: 4.00% APY up to $15K
08/14/07: 5.00% APY up to $15K

Edit 6/14/09: FOM has been expanded to many more MI counties.

Tags: Michigan, Lake Michigan Credit Union, checking account, reward checking account