Best Bank Deals

Looking for bank deals that put money back in your pocket? Get up to $500 for referring friends and family to Citibank to open a checking account. You must have a Citibank checking account to qualify for the offer. Other details of the bank deals for checking include:

• Earn $100 for each new Citigold or Citibusiness account
• Earn $50 for each new Citibank account
• Earn $25 for each new Citibank EZ checking account
• Only five referrals per customer
• Cash bonus deposited within 120 days of verification of new customer’s account opening
• New bank customer also receives a bonus

New customers who open an account must deposit $1,000 or more ($500 for EZ Checking) within 60 days to receive the cash.  Depending on the account opened, the customer receives a bonus of $100, $50, or $25. The bank’s terms also require one direct deposit, two electronic bill payments, or five or more qualifying non-PIN transactions with the bank’s debit card. The account must be open and in good standing to receive the cash bonus.

The bank deal is only available in Citibank branches, and only one offer is allowed per Citibank customer. You also must be a resident of the U.S. or a resident alien with a valid U.S. taxpayer identification number to qualify for the bank’s deal.

Bank of America is currently giving away $75 in bonuses for opening a personal checking account, for customers who open a checking account by September 30, 2009. Check link below for more information: (source Bank of America promo page)

Here are some of the details of this bank checking deal:

• This offer is available only to new customers who open a qualifying personal checking account with a minimum balance of $500
• The new checking account must be open for at least 30 days
• You must make a minimum of one transaction with the newly assigned check card
• To take advantage of this offer, you must use the Offer Code provided to open your qualifying new Bank of America personal checking account by 09/30/2009
• To open a new checking account, apply online or go to a banking center and reference offer code AOU260709

For more information on this bank deal, check the Bank of America promo page.

Open a new Chase Bank checking account before June 30 and get a $150 bonus. This promotion was delivered via direct mail, and there doesn’t seem to be any mention of it on Chase’s website.

The bank has heavily promoted similar deals there, including last winter’s $50 bonus for new personal checking accounts and $200 bonus for new business checking accounts.

You’ll also need a “coupon code” from the mailing to qualify for the bonus. It appears that the bonus codes are one time use, so if you didn’t get a mailer you’re out of luck. Hopefully they will open this bonus up to everyone else soon!

The fine print says you have 60 days from the time you open the account to deposit at least $100 in new money. Within 10 days of doing that, the $150 bonus will be added to your account.

If you try and close the account in less than six months, Chase will retract the $150 bank bonus.

ING Direct is offering a $25 Bonus for opening their Electric Orange Checking account by May 31, 2009.

In order to receive the $25 bonus, you have to complete the following:

• Open the account – enter reference code “EM255″
• Activate your electric orange debit card
• Use your debit card to make 3 transactions within the first 45 days

Once these requirements have been met, your $25 bonus will automatically be added to your account.

Citibank is currently running a $100 checking account bonus.The promotional code for this bank bonus is CY73.

In order to qualify for the bonus you must:

• Open a qualifying Citibank regular checking account
• Fund it with a minimum of $1,000 by 12/31/2008
• Make at least one direct deposit into your account within the first month or at least two electronic bill payments from your account each month for three consecutive months

The offer only applies to new Citibank checking customers. You will receive your bonus in the checking account within $100 days. The offer is only available to Citi members who are the primary account holders. See site for more details.

Washington Mutual (WAMU) recently raised the rate on their online savings account to 4.00%, which is one of the highest savings rates currently available.

Here are some of the details on this great deal:

• No minimums or fees
• Only a $1 deposit required
• ATM cards are available
• Free checks for life
• Cash back on debit card purchases
• No hard credit pulls

It’s true that WaMu has had some problems recently–this is part of the reason they are offering such great rates. However, WaMu is FDIC insured for the standard $100,000, and if you keep your deposits below 100k you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. I recently opened this account a 3.75% and was pleasantly surprised when they announced an increase to 4.00%.

By opening a savings account instead of a CD, you keep your assets liquid and have them ready if and when you need to make a withdrawal.

Wells Fargo Bank currently has a checking account promotion where you can receive a $50 bank bonus for applying for a checking account.

Here’s some details on the checking account:

• Free checking – no monthly service fees, minimum balance requirements
• Free access to Wells Fargo Online
• Limit one $50 bonus per household
• Minimum initial deposit of $100 required
• The $50 bonus will be deposited to your new Wells Fargo checking account within 45 days of opening
• The $50 bonus is available with all Wells Fargo checking accounts, including non-interest-earning checking accounts, except for Wells Fargo College Checking^®, Wells Fargo Teen Checking^SM and Wells Fargo Opportunity Checking^® accounts

iGOBanking.com is currently offering a $50 gas card bonus for opening a checking account. In order to receive the bonus the following qualifications must be met:

• Open a iGOChecking account
• Pay 3 bills online using Bill Pay and Presentation
• Be one of the first 400 accounts to fulfill the bill pay requirement

The checking account in question is a no-minimum checking account without paper checks, with an interest rate of 2.65% APY. iGOBanking is a division of Flushing Savings Bank, FSB.

First Federal is offering a bonus of up to $75 for opening a checking account online. To receive the $75, you must complete the following:

• Complete 2 or more online bill payments
• Make 10 or more debit card purchases
• Keep $500 or more in your account
• Sign up for electronic e-statements
• Make two or more in-branch transactions
• Make a $50 opening deposit

Their “Moolah” checking account is eligible for this offer, and it currently has a yield of 4.26% APY on balances up to $25,000.

Keybank currently has a iPod giveaway promotion where you can get a free iPod Nano or iPod Touch for opening a checking account with them.

To get the iPod nano, you need to complete the following:

• Open a qualifying checking account by 8/15/08
• Make one debit card transaction
• Make 2 direct deposits or automated payments of $100 or more by 10/31/08

To get the iPod Touch, you must open the Key Privilege, Key Privilege Select, or other business checking accounts with KeyBank, and complete the same steps.

You can apply at a KeyBank branch, Key.com or through 1-877-888-3658. However, based on the online application, it appears you have to live in a state where they have branches. This includes the following states: AK, CO, ID, IN, KY, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, UT, VT, or WA.