Kentucky Banking Rates and News

PNC Bank continues to offer a $100 bonus for opening its Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend and for performing certain activities. PNC has made it a little easier to qualify for the $100 bonus compared to last year. However, customers will have to be careful to avoid fees. The Performance Spend is an "upgraded" version of Virtual Wallet, and it has potential monthly fees.

Here's the link to PNC's promotion page. The offer is scheduled to end on 6/30/2012. You can open the account online or choose to have them email you a coupon to take to...

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...

On Friday US Bank did something that's rare these days. It raised the rate of its competitive long-term CD. The rate of the 59-month CD special increased from 2.00% to 2.25% APY. The two other special CDs with shorter terms are not nearly as competitive. One is a 1.25% APY 37-month CD and the other is a 1.01% APY 19-month CD. Minimum deposit is $1,000, and the maximum is $249,999. These rates are listed in US Bank's CD page as of 10/31/2011. Rates could change at any time, but they typically change on Friday mornings.

PNC Bank's Virtual Wallet has changed quite a bit since I first reviewed it in 2009. The good news is that it's still easy to keep it free without monthly fees. Considering how many of the large banks have added monthly fees and debit card fees to their checking accounts, PNC's Virtual Wallet is noteworthy. The bad news is that you don't get rewarded like you used to. Another downside is that it has become more complicated. Virtual Wallet has never been simple. It's composed of three different accounts:

• Spend Account (checking)
• Reserve Account (for short-term savings & overdraft protection)
• Growth...

Update 2/17/2012: PNC has extended the promotion to 3/31/2012. Here's the new promotion page link. Also note, the full $100 bonus no longer requires the use of online bill pay.

PNC Bank has another $100 bonus for opening a new qualifying checking account and for performing certain activities. This is being advertised on their home page. Here's the direct link to their promo page. The offer is scheduled to end on 10/22/2011. Here's a summary of the requirements for the first $75:

• Open a new Virtual Wallet Performance or other select PNC Personal...

Huntington Bank has been offering a very competitive rate on its Premier Plus Money Market Account. It has a 1.25% APY for balances from $20K to $2M. No interest is paid on balances under $20K. This is listed in the bank's rate finder page as of 9/29/2011.

One worrisome issue for money market accounts is the question about how long the competitive rates will last. I contacted the CSR via the online chat, and I was told the typical reply that the rate could change at any time. We do have the rate history of this account. You...

KeyBank is again offering an iPod touch as part of a checking account promotion. One thing that has changed since the last one is that you have to make twice the number of payments and/or purchases. So if you want the free iPod touch, it will require some work. Like before it's an online-only offer, but the online application only accepts certain areas which appear to be in their market area (see below).

Here's the new KeyBank promotions page. The offer is scheduled to last until July 22, 2011. The following are the requirements...

Fort Knox Federal Credit Union just increased its 5-year CD rate from 2.65% to 3.05% APY which makes it the highest rate for a nationally available 5-year CD. All other of Fort Knox FCU CD rates remained the same, and many are still competitive including a 2.15% APY for a 3-year CD and a 1.60% APY for a 2-year CD. Minimum deposit is $500. These rates are listed on the credit union rates page as of 6/17/2011.

One thing that hurts this deal is how this credit union claims it can change early withdrawal penalties...

Yesterday I reviewed the top online CD rates at Focus Bank. The bank also offers a reward checking and savings account. The reward checking is called MAXimum Free Checking. I first reviewed this account in 2007 when the top rate was 6.01% APY. The rate has fallen, but it remains competitive with a 3.01% APY for up to $25K as of 6/14/2011. Balances over $25K earn 0.51% APY. The monthly requirements include 10 debit card purchases, online access and e-statements. I have more details in my Focus Bank reward checking review.

If you...

Focus Bank is offering four competitive CD rates: 2.07% APY 37 months, 1.61% APY 19 months, 1.26% APY 14 months and 1.10% APY 7 months. Minimum deposit is $1,000. These are listed at the bank's CD page as of 6/13/2011.

On the bank's CD page, there's a FAQs tab which provides many details of the CD. I wish more banks provided this many details on their websites. Some notable features include:

• Early withdrawal penalties: CDs 12 months and under = 1 month's interest penalty, CDs 13 – 35 months = 3 month's interest penalty, and...

Update 11/16/2011: The offer has been extended. However, based on the comment below, you may first want to call Key to ensure your application will qualify for the bonus.

KeyBank has checking promotion in which you can earn $150. It's very similar to KeyBank's iPod touch checking promotion that I mentioned last month. It should appeal to those who don't want an iPod touch or who just prefer a cash bonus in which you don't have to worry about the gift value that the bank reports to the IRS. Like before it's an online-only offer, but...

KeyBank has a new checking account promotion with an iPod touch bonus. It's similar to what they were offering last year, but this one requires more work. It's an online-only offer, but the online application only accepts certain areas which appear to be in their market area (see below).

Here's the KeyBank promotions page. The offer is scheduled to last until June 24, 2011. The following are the requirements to qualify for the iPod touch:

• open a qualifying KeyBank checking account online and enter offer code ONTT0311 by June 24, 2011
• make at least 10 payments...