Bank 21 Offers Competitive Rewards Checking/Savings In Western MO
Bank 21 added the Kasasa brand to its product line about four years ago. The Kasasa Cash’s initial 2.50% APY on qualifying balances up to $25k is still in effect. Qualifying balances over $25k earn 0.25% APY, with non-qualifying balances earning 0.05% APY
The monthly qualifying requirements are quite basic and do not include a direct deposit or ACH transaction.
- Have at least 12 debit card purchases
- Enroll in eStatements
- Enroll in and log into online or mobile banking
The Kasasa Cash Checking account has no monthly service fee or minimum balance requirement, and can be opened with a $25 minimum deposit. Unlimited check writing is available and a free debit card will be issued following account opening. Nationwide ATM fees will be reimbursed up to $25 per month, if the qualifying requirements are met. There is a limit of one account per Social Security number.
Kasasa Saver
The Kasasa Saver account currently earns 1.00% APY on qualifying balances up to $50k. Qualifying balances over $50k earn 0.25% APY, with non-qualifying balances earning 0.05% APY.
Kasasa Cash/Kasasa Cash Back earned rewards are automatically transferred monthly to a linked Kasasa Saver account. Like the Kasasa Cash Checking, the Kasasa Saver has no monthly service or minimum balance requirement, and requires a $25 minimum opening deposit. There is a limit of one Kasasa Saver account per Social Security number.
Annual Earnings of Combined Kasasa Cash/Kasasa Saver Accounts
The potential combined annual earnings of the Kasasa Cash (2.50% APY/$25k) and the Kasasa Saver (1.00% APY/$50k) is approximately $1,125 (1.50% APY/$75k). The blended 1.50% APY is unusually high for a large balance in a rewards checking/savings combo.
Kasasa Cash Back
Bank 21’s Kasasa Cash Back account currently earns 4.00% cash back on the first $250 in monthly debit card purchases. If you are planning on maintaining a balance of less than $4,800, the Kasasa Cash Back account would probably be a better deal than the Kasasa Cash account, as the maximum annual earnings for the Kasasa Cash Back account is $120 ($10 per month).
The Kasasa Brand
For those not familiar with the Kasasa brand, Kasasa Cash is a type of Reward Checking Account (RCA) developed by the Texas company, Kasasa, Ltd. According to the Kasasa website,
Kasasa: the free checking account that rewards each month for doing things you already do.
By performing certain actions valuable to your bank or credit union, like using your debit card or online banking, your institution makes more money, which they share with you in the form of rewards.
In case you were wondering, “Kasasa” is just a made-up word.
In a world where real-life people are too often taken for granted as account numbers,
we didn’t want to be the next [INSERT GENERIC NAME] checking account.
Availability
Headquartered in Carrollton, Missouri, Bank 21 has a brick-and-mortar presence in the western Missouri counties of Carroll, Jackson, Pettis, and Saline. CSR stated that any Missouri resident who can come into a bank is eligible to open a Kasasa brand product. (It would probably be a good idea to contact Bank 21 to confirm eligibility before traveling a long distance.)
Opening a Kasasa Cash, Kasasa Cash Back, and/or Kasasa Saver must be done at any of four Missouri branches located in Blue Spring, Carrollton, Marshall, and Sedalia. Bank 21’s “1-2-3 Switch Kit” is available as a PDF that can be downloaded and filled out before opening an account in-branch.
Bank Overview
Bank 21 has an overall health grade of "A" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas ratio of 5.32% (excellent) based on December 31, 2020 data. In the past year, Bank 21 has increased its total non-brokered deposits by $9.28 million, an excellent growth rate of 8.14%. Please refer to our financial overview of Bank 21 (FDIC Certificate # 8560) for more details.
Bank 21 opened its doors for business in 1903 with the not-so-original name of The Farmers Bank. As the name suggests, this locally-owned and operated bank’s first clientele were the many farmers surrounding the town of Bogard, located in Carroll County. The Farmers Bank name remained in place for more than 90 years, and in 1996, the Bank 21 rebrand occurred.
How the Kasasa Cash Compares
When compared to High Yield Reward Checking Accounts tracked by DepositAccounts.com, which are available within the market area and have maximum qualifying balances of at least $25k, Bank 21’s Kasasa Cash APY currently ranks second.
The above information and rates are accurate as of 5/21/2021.
To look for the best Reward Checking Account rates, both nationwide and state specific, please refer to our High Yield Reward Checking Account Rates Table page.
