Oregon Banking Rates and News

KeyBank has another checking promotion in which you can earn $150. It's very similar to the $150 bonus that it was offering last year. 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).

KeyBank doesn’t have the best reputation among many DA readers. You can read the problems customers have experienced in the comments of my 2012 KeyBank post and in my 2011 KeyBank post. If you have experience with KeyBank promotions and checking accounts, please leave a comment below.

Here's the

Washington Federal is offering a special short-term CD. It's a 7-month CD with a 1.00% APY. Minimum deposit is $1,000, and the maximum is $250,000. Thanks to DA reader Pearlbrown who first noted this special in the forum. I found this special mentioned at this Washington Federal deposit rates page on 3/5/2013.

In 2011 Washington Federal had offered top rates on its 5-year CDs. Most of its current standard CD rates are not too competitive.

A branch visit has been required to open accounts. For those who prefer opening a CD in a branch, this bank may...

As I was reviewing old promotions looking for those that may still be available, I came across HomeStreet Bank which is still offering a checking account bonus of up to $300. It's also still offering a $50 refer-a-friend bonus. I last reviewed this promotion two years ago. The promotion details continue to be the same, and the bank still has a free checking account that qualifies for the promotion.

One thing that has changed in the last two years is the financial health of the bank. Two years ago it had a 2-star rating (out of 5) at DepositAccounts.com...

Union Bank is offering a good deal on a money market promotion which guarantees 1.00% APY until December 31, 2013. To receive this rate, you have to open a new MoneyMarket Extra Account with a $10,000 minimum and a checking account. New money is required. This promotion doesn't appear to be listed at Union Bank's website. A reader received a mailer on this promo and emailed me (thanks!). I emailed Union Bank for additional details. According to the Union Bank CSR, this promo is available at all of Union Bank branches as of 2/13/2013.

Update: A reader found the

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...

KeyBank has another checking promotion in which you can earn $150. It's very similar to the $150 bonus that it was offering last year. 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 KeyBank promotions page. The offer is scheduled to last until September 28, 2012. Like last year, it requires quite a bit of work:

• open a qualifying KeyBank checking account online and enter offer code ONFT0912 by September 28, 2012, and
• make at least 30 payments and/or purchases within 3...

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...

With so many banks and credit unions cutting their reward checking rates, I thought it would be a nice change to highlight a credit union which did the opposite. On July 1st Advantis Credit Union increased the top rate of its reward checking account (called Fusion Checking) from 2.00% to 3.00% APY. This rate continues to apply to balances up to $25,000. The portion of the balance over $25,000 earns 0.20%. These rates are earned only if the monthly requirements are met. If they're not met, the rate falls to 0.10% for the entire balance. Hat tip to DA...

Union Bank, N.A. is offering two competitive CD rates for residents in Oregon and Washington State. These are a 2.00% APY 5-year CD and a 1.50% APY 3-year CD. Minimum deposit is $350. These rates are listed in the Union Bank CD rate chart as of 5/24/2012. These are only shown when you select the states of OR or WA. The rates are much lower for California and other states.

I wasn't able to find a CD disclosure online which lists the early withdrawal penalty. I called Union Bank yesterday (1-800-796-5656), and asked about the EWP. The...

In the last few weeks I've been taking new looks at some of the old reward checking accounts that continue to be good deals. Today's updated review is on the reward checking account at TwinStar Credit Union which it calls Accelerator Checking. I first reviewed this account in March 2007 when it had a 6% APY for all balances. The rate has fallen, and there's now a balance cap. Nevertheless, it remains competitive for reward checking accounts.

Accelerator Checking has the following rates and features if certain monthly requirements (as of 5/22/2012):

• 2.50% APY on balances up to...

It has been a while since I reported on First Republic Bank. Its CD rates have finally changed for the better to make it noteworthy. The bank now has a few competitive CD rates. The two best ones are a 1.30% APY 2-year CD and a 1.20% APY 18-month CD. Minimum deposit is $5,000. Below is the list of all of the competitive CD rates as listed at the bank's rates page as of 5/2/2012:

• 1.75% APY 6-year CD
• 1.60% APY 5-year CD
• 1.50% APY 4-year CD
• 1.40% APY 3-year CD
• 1.30% APY 2-year CD
• 1.20% APY 18-month CD
• 1.00% APY 1-year CD

Rates...

Northwest Resource Credit Union recently launched a reward checking and savings account. New reward checking accounts haven't been as common in the last year so it's nice to see a new one. These accounts are branded with the Kasasa name which ensures that they are free accounts with no monthly service fees. The reward checking is called Kasasa Cash, and the savings account is called Kasasa Saver. These accounts have the following rates and balance caps as of 4/26/2012 if monthly requirements are met:

Kasasa Cash

• 3.00% APY for up to $15,000
• 0.50% APY over $15,000
• 0.05% APY for entire balance if requirements...