New York Banking Rates and News

We’re now seeing some large banks raising their long-term CD rates. The latest is Fifth Third Bank which is offering a special 4-year CD with a 1.50% APY. You can get a higher 4-year CD rate at a few internet banks and credit unions, but this 1.50% APY is competitive especially for large banks. There are also shorter-term CD specials: a 1.25% APY 38-month CD and a 1.00% APY 28-month CD. Minimum deposit is $5,000, and a new or existing checking account is required. These rates are listed in Fifth...

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...

It has been awhile since I reviewed a new reward checking account. Most new reward checking accounts haven't been worthy of a blog post due to their disappointing low rates and/or balance caps. This one at Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) is good enough to make it worthy of a blog post. CFSB's reward checking account isn't really a new account. We have been tracking its rates since 2010. However, the reward checking account name has recently changed from free eRewards Checking account to Kasasa Cash. The bank has also...

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...

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....

If you haven't been turned off by what Fort Knox Federal Credit Union did in 2011, you may want to consider its current CD specials. These include a 1.50% APY 23-month CD, a 1.20% APY 14-month CD and a 1.00% APY 6-month CD. Minimum deposit is $500. These rates are listed in the credit union's Term Share Certificate Rates page as of 12/28/2012.

Even though Fort Knox FCU makes it easy for anyone in the nation to join, not everyone can qualify for these special CDs. Only long-time members or residents...

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...

Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union is offering a competitive certificate special. There are actually two specials, but I only consider the longer-term CD rate as competitive. That's a 1.60% APY 34-month CD. The shorter term CD special only has a 0.85% APY for a 17-month term. Minimum deposit is $5,000. These rates are listed in the credit union's specials page as of 9/12/2012.

Based on the name of the credit union, it might appear that membership is limited to just employee groups. However, membership is also open to many other people....

Earlier this month I reported on BancVue's latest campaign in promoting Kasasa. In its free gas promotion, it highlighted several banks and credit unions offering Kasasa accounts. Some of these were banks that have just have recently launched Kasasa accounts. One of these is Sycamore Bank which has a Kasasa Cash account and a Kasasa Saver account. Like most new Kasasa accounts, the balance cap is a little disappointing. Nevertheless, the interest rate is high enough to make it noteworthy. Below are the rates, features and requirements of these accounts...

I just noticed a new reward checking account that we began tracking in June. It's a Kasasa Cash account that's being offered by Mountain Valley Bank in Tennessee. Like many of the new Kasasa Cash accounts, the balance cap is a little disappointing. However, the rate is competitive. There's also a Kasasa Saver account. Below are the rates and features of these accounts as listed in the bank's Kasasa Cash page and in the Kasasa Saver page as of 8/22/2012:

Kasasa Cash Account

• 3.00% APY on balances up to $15,000
• 0.35% APY on...

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...

When I noticed the rate had increased on this reward checking account, I thought it might be combined with a reduction in the balance cap. However, that's not the case. The rate went up without a cut in the balance cap. It's at Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union, and its reward checking account is called Super Yield Checking. Last week the yield increased by 77 basis points to 3.04% APY for balances of $500 to $25,000 (1.01% APY for portion of balances over $25,000). These rates are listed in the...