Georgia Banking Rates and News

I learned of this promotion on Friday when the FDIC announced CertusBank had assumed all deposits of the failed Parkway Bank. As I reviewed the CertusBank website, I noticed it was offering a checking account bonus of up to $125. Both new personal and business accounts are eligible. The details are listed in CertusBank’s promotion page as of 4/29/2013.

To earn the full $125 bonus, the following is required:

• $100 for opening a new checking account with direct deposit and bill pay
• Additional $25 for using your debit card five times in the first 60 days

Below is a copy...

Regions Bank is again advertising a checking account promotion in which you can earn $125. This is another big bank that lacks free checking so you'll have to be careful to avoid monthly fees. The offer requires a new customer open a LifeGreen Checking Account online with the promo code 125, have at least $500 in total direct deposits and at least 10 Visa check card purchases in the first 60 days. Offer is scheduled to end on 4/7/2013. The offer is listed in this Region's promotion page.

There's no mention of this offer on Region's home...

Just two weeks ago I posted on a BB&T $100 checking account bonus. Now it's offering a $125 bonus with the same requirements. The nice aspect of this bonus is that you can qualify for it without direct deposit. The downside is that BB&T's checking accounts have potential monthly service fees. So if you open the checking account for the bonus, you have to make sure to avoid the fees.

To qualify for the $125 bonus, customers must open a BB&T checking account and set-up and receive 2 direct deposits of at least $100 OR make 3 online bill payments...

BB&T is again offering a $100 bonus for opening a checking account and performing some additional activities. Just like most large banks, BB&T's checking accounts have potential monthly service fees. So if you open the checking account for the bonus, you have to make sure to avoid the fees.

To qualify for the $100 bonus, customers must open a BB&T checking account and set-up and receive 2 direct deposits of at least $100 OR make 3 online bill payments of at least $25. The offer is scheduled to end on 3/1/2013. Here's the link to the BB&T...

In the good old days, it was easy to find reward checking accounts paying over 4% for balances up to $25K. Those days are over. In today's environment, if you can find 2% for balances up to $25K, you should consider yourself lucky. CBC National Bank should help more people have access to this type of reward checking account. Its reward checking account is called Advantage Checking, and it has the following rates and features as of 11/13/2012:

• 2.00% APY for up to $25,000
• 0.36% to 2.00% APY for balances over $25,000
• No interest paid if requirements are not met
• Rebates of up to...

BrandBank has started a checking account promotion which is guaranteeing a 1.07% APY through June 30, 2013. A minimum balance of $50,000 is required. The rates are much lower for smaller balances (0.25% for $10K to $50K and 0.10% for under $10K). There's also another requirement. One of the following criteria must be met within 60 days of account opening: 1) sign up for recurring Direct Deposit on this account; 2) enroll in Brand Bill Pay; or 3) open a CD with at least $25,000 in new money not currently on deposit with BrandBank. If this requirement isn't met,...

Regions Bank is advertising a checking account promotion in which you can earn $125. This is another big bank that lacks free checking so you'll have to be careful to avoid monthly fees. The offer requires a new customer open a LifeGreen Checking Account online with the promo code Online125Bonus, have at least $500 in total Direct Deposits and at least 10 Visa CheckCard transactions in the first 60 days. Offer is scheduled to end on 9/30/2012. The offer is listed in this Regions promotion page.

There's no mention of this offer on Region's home page. I...

It has been a while since I reported on Atlanta Postal Credit Union. Some other Georgia credit unions had higher rates in 2011, but this year Atlanta Postal Credit Union is on top with competitive CD and IRA CD rates. Two of the best rates include a 2.00% APY 5-year CD and a 1.25% APY 2-year CD. Below is a summary of the certificate rates listed in the credit union's rate sheet as of 4/30/2012.

• 2.00% APY 5 years
• 1.75% APY 4 years
• 1.50% APY 3 years
• 1.30% APY 30 months
• 1.25% APY 2 years
• 1.00% APY 1 year
• 0.85% APY 6 months
• 0.75%...

Many banks may have ended their free checking accounts, but at least a few are still offering new account bonuses. Customers will have to be more careful if they plan to take advantage of these promotions. That's the case with BB&T which is offering a $100 bonus for opening a checking account and performing some additional activities. Last year BB&T ended its free checking account, so those interested in this promotion will have to make sure they can avoid the fees.

To qualify for the $100 bonus, new customers must open a BB&T checking account and set-up direct deposit OR...

SunTrust Bank has a CD and IRA CD special with a competitive rate. It's a 6-year (72 month) CD with a 2.00% APY. Minimum deposit is $2,000, and the maximum opening deposit is $250,000 per CD. A new or existing checking account is required. This is a limited time special, and the rate may vary by location. This special rate and term are listed at the SunTrust CD rates page for several zip codes as of 2/28/2012.

I wasn't able to find an account disclosure online, so I used SunTrust's online chat service to find out about...

Atlantic Coast Bank is offering two internet CD specials with very competitive rates. These are a 1.25% APY 15-month CD and a 1.05% APY 7-month CD. Minimum deposit is $1,000. These rates are listed in the bank's rates page as of 10/20/2011.

These accounts can be opened online, and according to the application, they welcome all U.S. residents to apply. It does require that you are either a U.S. citizen or resident alien. One nice feature of the online application is that it allows for two POD beneficiaries. The link to the application is in the rates...

Banks sometimes offer higher rates on IRA CDs than regular CDs. That's the case with United Central Bank which is offering IRA CD rates that are 25 basis points higher than its regular CD rates. The most competitive IRA CD rates are 1.51% APY for 18 months and 1.56% APY for 2 years. Even though the 18-month regular CD rate is 25 basis points lower, this still makes for a competitive CD with a 1.26% APY. Minimum deposit is $1,000 for regular CDs and $500 for IRA CDs. These rates are listed in the bank's rates...