Best Bank Deals

Meriwest Credit Union is offering up to a $100 bonus when you initiate Direct Deposit and sign up for and utilize online Bill Pay. You’ll receive $50 for initiating Direct Deposit of over $1,000 per month and $50 for making at least two Bill Pays made within a 60 day period. Payments must be made within 90 days of signing up for Bill Pay.

Field of membership in Meriwest Credit Union is extended to those who live, work, or study in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, or San Francisco county as well as employees and retirees any of a number of certain select employee groups including IBM. Family members and household members of eligible members are also eligible.

KeyBank is currently running a $100 bank checking promotion if you open a checking account by 4/25/08. You must make two direct deposits or automated payments of $100 or more. Upon completing the requirements, you’ll receive a $100 MasterCard gift card. Here’s some of the details of this bank deal:

•  Qualifying checking accounts include Key Express Free Checking and Key Advantage
• Direct deposit transactions are limited to: payroll, social security, pension and government benefits
• Automated payments exclude Key Bill Pay, debit card automated payments, PayPal transactions and account to account balance transfers
• Not available to those that have opened a checking account with KeyBank
• Closing your account within 180 days will result in a $25 early closure fee

Patelco Credit Union is offering a $50 checking account opening bonus when you open a new checking account with the credit union. The account must receive direct deposit of $100 or more per month for three months in order to earn this bonus.

Field of membership in Patelco Credit Union is open to a wide variety of groups and organizations. Anyone who isn’t otherwise eligible for membership can become eligible by joining the California Association for Older Americans which is open to anyone regardless of age or geographic location. Simply indicate California Association for Older Americans on your application for Patelco credit union membership.

Open a new account at Discover Bank to earn a cash bonus offer. The amount of the deposit determines the amount of the bonus. A minimum deposits of $2,500 will earn a bonus of $20; a minimum deposit of $50,000 earns a bonus of $50; and a minimum deposit of $100,000 earns $50.

Discover Bank’s Discover Bank Money Market Account currently earns an annual percentage yield (APY) of 3.61% on balances of $2,500 to $24,999, 3.66% (APY) on balances of $25,000 to $49,999, and 3.71% APY on balances of $50,000 and more.

Funds must remain on deposit for at least 90 days.

Offer runs until 3/31/08.

Flagstar Bank is still offering a $100 gas card for opening a checking account and establishing direct deposit of at least $250/month.

• Limited to new checking account customers only
• To qualify, customer must open a Flagstar checking account and establish direct deposit of at least $250 per month
• The account must remain open and active for a minimum of six months
• If checking account is closed within the first six months, Flagstar reserves the right to reclaim the value of the gas card.

Click Open an Account to view our checking products. After selecting the checking account you would like to open, enter the promo code GC100 into the promo code field of the account opening form. If you prefer to open an account at a branch, use the Find a Local Branch button to locate the branch nearest you and mention promo code GC100.

Bank of America is offering a $100 bonus for opening any new business checking account before March 31, 2008. The promotional code is BTB0100. You can open online or at a branch. Here’s a coupon page to be printed if you open at a branch. Here are some of the promotional details:

Offer applies to any new business checking account opened with a Visa Business Check Card before March 31, 2008. Limit one $100 incentive per business every 6 months. If opening the account online, you must enter the code BTB0100 to ensure you receive the bonus. If opening your account in a Bank of America banking center, you must provide the coupon to receive the bonus. Your bonus will be deposited directly into your new account within 60 days of account opening. If your account is closed within the first 60 days, you will not be eligible for the bonus.

One good checking account option is the Business Economy Checking. You can avoid monthly maintenance fees for at least 2 years if you have a personal checking account with BofA .

TD Ameritrade is running a $100 savings account bonus that is scheduled to end on March 31. Here are some of the details of the promotion:

• Open a Save Yourself account by 3/31/2008
• Set up electronic monthly deposits of at least $50 within 30 days of account opening
• After 12 consecutive months of electronic deposits, TD AMERITRADE will verify that the deposits have been made and add $100 to your account.

One thing to keep in mind is that you can withdraw the money before the end of the 12-months, but you’ll forfeit the $100 bonus. The current yield of the account is pretty low at 2.75%, so I wouldn’t deposit more than the minimum amount.

Webster Bank is currently running a bank promotion where you can get a $100 bonus by opening a checking account and meeting all their requirements.

In order to qualify for this deal, you must make a direct deposit, pay 3 bills online, and make 3 purchases with your Visa check card. The account must be opened by March 7, 2008. This offer is only available to new customers. See their website for more information.

HSBC currently has a banking deal where you can get a $50 bonus for opening a Premium Money Market Plus savings account, or $25 when you open a regular savings account. You must deposit at least $3,000 for this deal to be valid.

In addition, HSBC also has a deal where you can get $75 bonus for opening a checking account with direct deposit.

Add flexibility to your life with an HSBC Interest Checking Account. It’s free with direct deposit** and you’ll earn interest on your checking balance. Plus, you can get the added convenience of Free Personal Internet Banking with Bill Pay and an HSBC Debit MasterCard® with PayPass™.

Both offers end February 29, 2008.

Flagstar Bank is advertising a $100 new checking account bonus. Customers who open and maintain an active Flagstar checking account and establish direct deposit of at least $250 will receive a $100 Gas Card.

The checking account must remain open for a minimum of six months. Flagstar Bank has locations in Georgia, Indiana, and Michigan.