Bank Deals Blog: Checking & Reward Checking Deals

At the beginning of July, TBA Credit Union (TBACU) introduced a rewards checking account (RCA). The new Cash Reward Checking earns 5.00% APY on qualifying balances up to $10k. Interest is not paid on qualifying balances above $10k or on non-qualifying balances.

Qualifying Requirements

• At least 25 debit card transactions.
• At least four online or mobile banking logins.
• Deposit(s) totaling at least $1k through direct deposit or remote capture deposit...

About 2½ years ago, Lakeside Bank began offering a Kasasa Cash account, earning 2.25% APY up to $25k at the time. Earlier this year, this rewards checking account (RCA) experienced a couple of favorable changes, with a new 2.50% APY on qualifying balances up to $25k. Qualifying balances between $25k and $125k now earn 0.50% APY, while non-qualifying balances earning 0.02% APY....

Encompass Credit Union (Encompass CU) is offering 3.04% APY on its 24-, 36-, 48-, and 60-month CDs. The minimum opening deposit is $500, with no maximum balance cap. While these rates have been in place for some time, they’ve become more competitive in the past few months, as the rate climate has been cooling down.

According to CSR, the Early Withdrawal Penalty (EWP) is based on the amount...

Massachusetts-based Envision Bank (formerly Randolph Savings Bank) is now offering a large portion of its product line in 49 states through its online application (New York State is excluded). Envision Bank’s Preferred Plus Money Market, Savvy Savings, and Envision Max Checking accounts can all be opened online and funded by ACH transfer.

Preferred...

It’s been more than two years since I last wrote about Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union’s (ETFCU) rewards checking account, which, at the time, earned 3.00% APY on qualifying balances up to $15k. Nothing about the Vertical Dividend Checking had changed since it was introduced in late 2014 … until now.

• New name – Vertical Checking
• New rate – 3.30% APY
• New balance cap – $20k

No dividends are paid on...

Indiana-based Elements Financial began July by raising the rate on its High Interest Checking account: qualifying balances up to $20k now earn 3.00% APY. Qualifying balances over $20k continue to earn 0.10% APY, with non-qualifying balances earning 0.05% APY.

In 2012, the High Interest Checking earned 4.00% APY, but only on qualifying balances up to $1k. While the rate was lowered to 2.00% APY in 2016, the qualifying...

Tennessee-based Andrew Johnson Bank’s (AJ Bank) rewards checking account, Sky High Checking, currently offers 3.05% APY on qualifying balances up to $25k. Qualifying balances of greater than $25k earn 0.25% APY, with non-qualifying balances earning 0.10% APY.

DA has been tracking the Sky High Checking account since late 2009, when the rate was 4.75% APY on qualifying balances up to $25k....

In celebration of its new Center City Philadelphia branch, Ardent Credit Union (Ardent) has a couple of limited-time offers that can only be opened at the Center City branch. Now through July 3, 2019, Ardent is offering a 9-month CD/IRA earning 4.00% APY. The minimum opening deposit is $1k of new money (funds...

It’s been more than three years since I wrote about XCEL Federal Credit Union’s (XCEL) Kasasa Cash account. In January 2016, the Kasasa Cash was restructured, with the qualifying balance cap increased to $50k (previously $15k), while the 2.01% APY remained in effect. The $50k cap was offered for about six months before it was reduced to $25k, effective June 1, 2016.

This week saw another reworking of the Kasasa Cash...

Consumers Credit Union (Consumers CU) recently introduced a new rewards checking (RCA) account, the Serious Interest Checking, which earns 4.00% APY on qualifying balances up to $15k. Qualifying balances over $15k and non-qualifying balances both earn 0.01% APY. The Serious Interest Checking has no minimum opening deposit requirement.

Note: Don’t confuse this RCA with the Free Rewards Checking account offered on a nationwide basis by the Illinois-based Consumers...