Iowa Banking Rates and News

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...

Bank of the West has recently brought back its $150 checking account promotion. It looks like the same promotion they were offering last summer. Just like the last one, there's also a $200 bonus, but that requires a checking account with high monthly service fees that can't be easily waived. These promotions are listed on Bank of the West's home page.

Details for the $150 bonus are listed in this Bank of the West promotions page. The checking account must be opened by 3/8/2013.

To qualify for the full $150 requires the following:

• Must open a new Easy...

Iowa is one of the best states for savers. Several Iowa credit unions offer top deposit rates. I found another one of these, but it's also available in parts of Missouri. It's Community 1st Credit Union. The best deals are its long-term CDs and IRA CDs. These include a 2.10% APY 5-year CD, a 1.90% APY 4-year CD and a 1.70% APY 3-year CD. Minimum deposit is $50,000. The rates are 10 bps lower for a $500 minimum deposit. These rates are listed in the credit union's rates page as of 12/20/2012.

Credit union membership is open...

AnchorBank is offering another checking account promotion with a bonus of up to $150. The bonus is larger than its summer promotion. This latest offer is listed in the bank's promotion page. It's scheduled to end on December 15, 2012.

The required activities include:

• $50 for setting up direct deposit
• $50 for enrolling in e-statements
• $50 for making three debit card purchases

The direct deposit, e-statement enrollment and debit card purchases must be completed within 60 days of account opening. Existing checking account customers are not eligible for the bonus. Another important note mentioned in the small print is that...

When I first reviewed the reward checking account at Treynor State Bank in 2010, the account was only available to Iowa residents. It's now open to residents of several mid-western and western states. Like many other reward checking accounts, both the rate and balance cap have fallen, but the account remains competitive. One thing that helps offset the low balance cap is a linked savings account. These reward checking and savings accounts are under the Kasasa brand. The reward checking is called Kasasa Cash and the linked savings account is called Kasasa Saver. These accounts have the following rates...

University of Iowa Community Credit Union has changed its CD specials. One of the CD specials have changed to a shorter term and a higher rate. However, two of the longer-term specials had rate cuts. Even with these rate cuts, these special CD rates remain very competitive. The following are the 3 special CD rates for a $1,000 minimum deposit as listed at the credit union's rates page as of 8/16/2012:

• 2.00% APY 33-month CD special
• 1.50% APY 22-month CD special
• 1.25% APY 10-month CD special

You can get an additional 20 basis points on these rates for a $250K...

I came across this deal while reviewing the Friday bank failure. First Midwest Bank was chosen by the FDIC to purchase Friday's failed bank. While looking on the bank's website for useful Q&As about this closure, I noticed that the bank is offering a nice checking account promotion. It's one of the few that has no direct deposit requirement. New checking account customers can earn $100 for opening any checking account by 8/31/2012 and for making 5 debit card purchases of at least $50 each within the first 30 days of account opening.

More details of this offer are...

Bank of the West has just started a new checking account promotion with a bonus of up to $150. There's also a $200 bonus, but to qualify you must open a checking account that requires a large balance to avoid a high monthly service charge. These promotions are listed on Bank of the West's home page.

Details for the $150 bonus are listed in this Bank of the West promotions page. The checking account must be opened by 8/31/2012.

To qualify for the full $150 requires the following:

• Must open a new Easy Checking, Choice Interest Checking, or 55...

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 almost 3 years since I first reported on the reward checking account at Heritage Bank, N.A.. It's now called the eCentive Account, and the account continues to be available nationwide. The rates were always a little low compared to other reward checking accounts, but its current rate is more competitive today especially when compared to other nationally available reward checking accounts from banks. Below are the rates and features if certain monthly requirements are met (as of 6/27/2012):

• 1.71% APY on balances up to $25,000
• 0.10% APY on portion of balance over $25,000
• 0.10% APY base rate if requirements...

AnchorBank is offering another checking account bonus. It's not as nice as the promotion that ended in April, but it's still a good deal. In this new promotion customers can earn up to $100 for opening any new personal checking account and performing certain activities. This offer is listed in the bank's promotion page. It's scheduled to end on 6/30/2012.

The required activities to qualify for the $100 bonus are as follows:

• $50 for direct deposit
• $25 when you sign up for free e-statements
• $25 for making three debit card purchases

The direct deposit, e-statement sign-up and debit card purchases must...

University of Iowa Community Credit Union has come out with a new 5-year CD special. This is in addition to two other CD specials that have been available for some time. All have very competitive rates. The following are the 3 special CD rates for a $1,000 minimum deposit as listed at the credit union's rates page as of 5/21/2012:

• 2.35% APY 5-year CD special
• 2.00% APY 35-month CD special
1.50% APY 22-month CD special

You can get an additional 20 basis points on these rates for a $250K minimum deposit or an additional 10 basis points for a $100K...