RateNerd

4.01% Free Checking Account Up To $25K – Daily Deal

Rate Nerd — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:29:04 PDT

Earn 4.01% APY and save the planet at the same time.

Freedom Green Checking from South Division Credit Union pays high interest and is paperless.

Qualification for this high interest checking account is monthly, from the first to last day of the month. During the month you must:

Use E-Statements as opposed to a printed and mail paper statement.
Use your VISA Checkcard for 12 or more “credit” (non-PIN) transactions.
Use online Bill Pay to pay a minimum of one bill.
Use Direct Deposit and/or ACH to fund your Checking Account with a monthly deposit of $250.

The monthly requirements for this high interest checking account include:

12 VISA debit signature purchases
One direct deposit or ACH into account ($250 minimum)
One Matrix21 bill pay (online banking)
Receive electronic checking account statements

Additional features of the checking account regardless of the monthly requirements include:

$50 to open; $300 required after 6 months, otherwise charge a $6 fee
No minimum balance requirement
No monthly service charge
Nationwide network of surcharge-free ATMs (STAR, CO-OP, CASH AMERICA)

About South Division Credit Union

Membership is open to Children (Kid’s Club), Student’s (Student’s First Checking and Savings), and Adults (Full line of products and services). This credit union is a nationwide family community that accepts members from any U.S. neighborhood of family and friends with a household USPS Zip code from 01000 – 99999. Refer to the online secure membership/application link. Once submitted and reviewed, the credit union will contact you for the next steps.

Branches are located in Evergreen Park, Midlothian and Chicago.

The credit union’s ratings for safety and soundness are strong: 4 stars (excellent) at BauerFinancial and 4 stars (sound) at Bankrate.com. The credit union is both privately insured by the ESI and federally insured by the NCUA (Charter # 65550).

4.01% Checking Account Up To $10K – Daily Deal

Rate Nerd — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:14:43 PDT

Earn 4.01% APY on this high yield checking account on balances up to $10,000.

Capital Bank of North Carolina offers a high yield checking account with ATM Fee refunds, and no monthly service fee.

Smart Checking from Capital Bank is easy to like. Here’s what you get with this high yield checking account:

Exceptional interest rates earned on daily collected balance.
Minimum opening deposit is only $100.00 and no minimum balance is required.
No monthly service fee
Non-Capital Bank ATM fees refunded nationwide at the end of each statement cycle if monthly account conditions are met (up to $20 per statement cycle).
Unlimited transactions.
Monthly electronic statement includes free check images.

Monthly qualifications for this high yield checking account include each of the following:

One direct deposit or draft
Ten debit/check card transactions
View your statement online

ATM refunds up to $20 per checking account statement cycle. 4.01% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on checking account balances between one penny and $10,000, and 0.30% APY on all amounts above $10,000 for each cycle that the following requirements are met: view electronic statements (valid email), ten debit/check card transactions and one direct deposit or draft. If you do not meet these requirements, your checking account will still function as a free checking account earning 0.10% APY, however it will not receive ATM refunds for that cycle. No minimum balance required; $100 required opening deposit for this checking account. Personal accounts only, limit one account per ownership agreement, not to exceed three accounts per household. Businesses, including DBA’s will not be eligible to have Smart Checking. No monthly service charge.

About Capital Bank

Capital Bank is a full service, community bank with 32 branch offices in ten counties throughout North Carolina. With more than 390 associates, Capital Bank is committed to providing quality, personalized banking to its personal and business clients.

Free Shredder And 10% Off LifeLock Identity Theft Protection – Daily Deal

Rate Nerd — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:08:21 PDT

Use this promotion code to get a free shredder and 10% off of LifeLock Identity Theft Protection.

Shredding documents with credit card numbers, account numbers, full names, social security numbers etc can help prevent identity theft.

LifeLock is offering 10% off its service and a free shredder through August 31, 2010. To take advantage of this promotion, click on this link for LifeLock and use the promotion code “shreddercj” at checkout. You must put in this code to get the free shredder.

LifeLock provides a proactive identity theft service, specializing in the prevention of identity theft rather than the reporting of it. LifeLock was founded in 2005 and is considered the industry leader.

How LifeLock Works

LifeLock helps protect your identity – even if your information falls into the wrong hands. LifeLock provides you early notification of identity threats, searches the web for the illegal selling of your information, helps cancel and replace the contents of your lost or stolen wallet, verifies change of address requests and much, much more.

New Cashback Options, Free Shipping on Rewards – Daily Deal

Rate Nerd — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:50:01 PDT

Discover has revamped its Cashback Bonus rewards program.

The company now allows cardmembers to redeem cash rewards for more than 400 products, including iPods, coffee makers, tools and exercise DVDs.

Customers are not charged shipping fees or taxes on their merchandise selections. Consumers also have the option of partially paying for an item using their Cashback Bonus and charging the remainder of the cost to their cards.

Customers, who receive 5% cashback on select purchases and 1% on other charges, can also continue to redeem their rewards for partner or Discover gift cards, direct deposits, balance payments, charity donations and statement credit. Redemption options will still start as low as $20. And cardmembers now can choose a split-pay option on select merchandise, allowing them to pay for a portion of the price with their Cashback Bonus and put the remaining balance on their Discover or Diners Club cards.

“It’s just another way in which we can continue to enhance the experience,” said Dana Traci, Discover’s VP of rewards and product management.

Discover also has added features to the rewards section of its website, including a search function and personalized recommendations, which are determined using a customer’s rewards-redemption and buying histories.

New cardholders can get $50 Cash Back Bonus with the Discover More Card after making just $500 in purchases in the first 90 days.

Strategic Mortgage Default’s Long Term Impact

Rate Nerd — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:43:14 PDT

What it means to “walk away” from an upside-down mortgage

Owing more on your mortgage than your house is worth may seem like a bad investment. But the alternative – choosing to default on your mortgage even if you can afford the monthly payments – will take a significant toll on your credit rating.

“Strategically defaulting – deciding to stop paying your mortgage regardless of your ability to actually carry the debt – will have a far-reaching, long-lasting impact on your ability to secure future credit,” says Maxine Sweet, vice president of public education for global information services company Experian, one of the three large credit reporting companies that receive and update consumer credit histories which are scored to help predict risk. “It’s by no means a move to be undertaken lightly.”

About 355,000 borrowers strategically defaulted in the first half of 2009, according to research conducted as part of the Experian-Oliver Wyman Market Intelligence Reports. Interestingly, Experian and Oliver Wyman found that the homeowners most likely to strategically default were also those with the highest credit scores.

While it may seem like a good move to simply stop paying and walk away from a bad investment, keep several factors in mind when you consider strategic default:

It’s very final. Strategic default will lead to foreclosure by the lender. Foreclosure will negatively impact your credit report and scores. In fact, only bankruptcy will affect your scores more adversely than foreclosure.
The default will remain on your credit report for seven years. Since credit scores are based on information in your credit report, the foreclosure will greatly impact your credit scores during those seven years. Securing other credit at reasonable terms and rates will be very difficult, if not impossible, during that time. Even the best credit repair firms can’t erase this one.
Potential lenders aren’t the only ones looking at credit reports these days. Insurers, employers and even cell phone companies are considering the creditworthiness of those who want to do business with them. By impacting your credit report, a strategic default may affect your ability to get a job, secure insurance and enter into important service contracts.
No more loans for you. Fannie Mae, the government-controlled mortgage giant, announced on June 23 policy changes that will make you ineligible for a new Fannie-Mae-backed mortgage if you walk away from a current mortgage that you actually could afford to pay. The ineligibility will last for seven years from the date of foreclosure.
You may owe taxes. Finally, in some cases, the debt that foreclosure “erases” may be recorded as income, which means you will have to pay taxes on it.

“Strategic default may seem like ‘walking away’ from a bad debt, but it’s really anything but,” Sweet says. “While you will no longer have to pay the actual debt, you’ll almost certainly ‘pay’ in other ways, in the form of lowered credit scores and a drastically curtailed ability to secure future credit for the next seven years. Higher interest rates and unfavorable terms could end up costing you more in the long run than continuing to pay on an upside-down mortgage.”

What should you do if you cant pay your mortgage?

If you are having trouble and need help to pay your mortgage, you first need to contact your loan servicer. This is the company that you make your monthly payments to, not always the same place you got your mortgage home loan. Have your loan number and property address ready when you call, along with any other important documentation you may have. When you call, you will need to give them a brief explanation of your current circumstances, recent income documents (such as pay stubs; benefit statements from Social Security, Disability, Retirement, or Public Assistance and unemployment benefits), and bank statements and tax returns for past 2 years. If you are self-employed, have your tax returns or a year-to-date Profit and Loss statement available for reference. To see all your options, read our article on What To Do If You Need Help To Pay Your Mortgage.

To learn more about credit management, credit repair, credit reports, credit scores and the factors that affect them, visit the Credit section of RateNerd.com, or find local credit repair companies at ConsumerCreditGuide.org.

– Article Courtesy of ARAcontent

7.00% APY Checking Account – Daily Deal

Rate Nerd — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:54:03 PDT

Does 7.00% APY on a checking account seem too good to be true?

Believe it – it’s real. But as you would expect, there is a catch….

iChecking from TrustBank is an innovative, high interest checking account that pays up to 7.00% APY on your account balance. With easy-to-use Online Banking, a TrustBank iCard debit card, Online Bill Pay and E-Statements, this paperless, web-based account can be accessed and managed from anywhere. All you need is an Internet connection.

iChecking is geared toward tech-savvy customers who want to enjoy the ease and convenience of online banking. The account is also virtually paperless, making it more environmentally friendly.

When you open your new iChecking account, you’ll receive all of these benefits:

Earn 7.00% APY on balances up to $1,000
Earn 0.20% APY on balances over $1,000
TrustBank iCard with Allpoint Nationwide Access and Ca$h Back
Online Banking
Online Bill Pay
E-Statements
No Monthly Maintenance Fee
No Minimum Balance Required
You may choose to have your interest paid to your iSavings Account.

It’s easy to qualify for iChecking from TrustBank:

Make at least 10 TrustBank iCard transactions per month. You’ll receive a free iCard – which acts as a debit or check card – with your account.
Make at least one monthly direct deposit.
Make two Online Bill Pays or automatic payments each month.
Receive E-Statements.
Access Online Banking at least one time per month.

If any of the criteria are not met, 0.02% APY will be paid on the entire balance.

They also offer CD’s. Open iChecking online and receive a TrustBank T-shirt and a coupon for an additional $25 deposit into a DreamBuilder Certificate of Deposit opened online. Must open DreamBuilder CD within 3 months from date of opening iChecking. Deposit made when coupon is received. Value of bonus is subject to tax.

About TrustBank

TrustBank was established in 1912 and will celebrate its 98th year of operation in 2010. TrustBank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rich Land Bancorp, Inc., a one-bank holding company. As of March 31, 2010, total assets were $157.8 million, with capital of $18.0 million. The capital to asset ratio is 11.4%.

Five Bank Fees You Should Never Pay

Rate Nerd — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:28:06 PDT

If you’re tired of getting nickeled and dimed by your bank, it’s time to switch.

Irritation with unnecessary fees is the No. 1 reason consumers switch banks, according to a recent survey by Javelin Strategy and Research.

“Stopping useless fees forever is a smart way to make your money go further,” says J.J. Montanaro, a certified financial planner with USAA. “The savings can add up to hundreds of dollars a year, which can be used to pay your bills instead of your bank.”

To get a grip on what fees your bank is charging, Montanaro suggests carefully reviewing your most recent checking and savings account statement.

If you’re paying these five fees, it’s time to look for a bank that doesn’t charge them.

1. Overdraft fees

While the new overdraft rules that went into effect on July 1 requires financial institutions to notify customers of their options to opt-in to overdraft fees, finding a bank that chooses to opt-out of the “opt-in” legislation can save you cash. Some banks – like USAA Federal Savings Bank – have eliminated overdraft fees on ATM and debit transactions entirely.

However, if you’ve decided to opt-in to overdraft fees, you’re not out of luck. Many banks provide overdraft protection – allowing purchases exceeding your account balance to be pulled from your savings account or put on your credit card. Check with your bank to see if this service is free. If so you’ll avoid overdrafts and avoid having your purchase declined.

If you choose a credit card as your back-up payment option, be sure to pay off your balance immediately to avoid paying interest, Montanaro adds.

2. ATM fees

If the ATM you use is not affiliated with your bank, that ATM’s bank may charge you for ATM/debit card withdrawals or other transactions. While a $1.50 to $3 ATM fees may seem nominal when you really need to access your cash, they can add up quickly.

Some banks allow you to use any ATM without charging fees. If your bank doesn’t, plan ahead and only withdraw money from ATMs affiliated with your bank. Or you could take advantage of fee-free, cash-back options now offered at some local grocery or convenience store chains when making a purchase.

Better yet, switch to a bank that reimburses you those fees. For example, USAA rebates up to $15 a month in ATM fees – a perk that could add up to $180 a year in savings. Many of the best checking accounts featured on RateNerd.com refund ATM fees each month.

3. Check fees

Cut fees by quitting checks, or at least using less of them. Unless your bank offers free checks, switch to paying bills electronically. This usually fee-free service allows you to pay bills anytime and anywhere you have access to a secure Internet connection. Paying electronically can also save on postage – if you have 15 bills a month that can save you up to $80 a year.

4. Minimum balance fees

Your bank may expect you to keep a minimum balance in your account and charge you a fee if you slip below. You can side-step these fees by carefully matching your situation with the account requirements. For instance, look for an account that waives the fee for direct deposit of your paycheck, or find an account with no minimum balance requirement.

“In addition, take advantage of helpful tools such as free online financial management tools, account alerts sent via e-mail or text messages that are triggered when your account runs low,” Montanaro says.

5. Fine print fees

Are you charged a fee for monthly account maintenance, or does that bill you receive in the mail each month cost extra? “It pays to sweat the small stuff and fully understand what your bank is charging you,” Montanaro says. “Instead of paying your bank to send you a paper bill each month, see if you can sign up to receive it electronically for free. This option will save you money and can make it easier to keep track of your statements.”

Montanaro adds that investing time to manage banking needs and find a bank that doesn’t overwhelm you with fees can add up to real savings of potentially hundreds of dollars each year. “In times like these, it’s important to make every dollar count and ensure it’s working for you – not your bank.”

– Article Courtesy of ARAcontent

$100 Chase Business Checking Account Coupon – Daily Deal

Rate Nerd — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:42:51 PDT

Get $100 to open a new business checking account at Chase.

Click the link below and Chase will e-mail you a $100 coupon to open a Chase business checking account at your nearest Chase branch. You’ll need a deposit of $1,000 or more. Offer expires 8/20/10.

How to qualify for the $100 Chase Business Checking Account offer:

To qualify for this offer, open a Chase BusinessClassic Checking, BusinessClassic Checking with Interest, Chase Advanced BusinessChecking, Advanced Business Checking with Interest, Commercial Checking, Commercial Checking with Interest, or Chase BusinessPlus Extra Checking account and deposit a minimum of $1,000 or more into your new business checking account within 30 days of account opening with funds not currently on deposit with Chase or any of its affiliates. Account opening and award of premium are subject to approval (interest bearing accounts available only to sole proprietor-ships, non-profit organizations, and government entities). Limit one business checking account-related premium per customer per calendar year.

How to qualify for Chase Free Business Checking Account

Requirements are either:

(a) when 5 or more debit card purchases are posted to your checking account each statement period (withdrawals from the ATM or cash advance transactions do not qualify);
(b) linking the checking account to a Chase Business Credit Card that is not delinquent, closed, charged off, or revoked and as long as the card balance exceeds $0 at least once during the current checking account statement cycle;
(c) linking the checking account to a Chase Premier Checking or Chase Premier Platinum Checking personal checking account; or
(d) maintain a monthly average balance of $4,000 to $7,500 (depending on region) in the checking account. All accounts are subject to approval. Linking for pricing purposes will not affect your statement and does not link accounts for overdraft protection. Overdraft protection must be requested by you.

Click here to get your $100 Chase Business Checking Account coupon.

Chase Checking Coupon 25,000 Miles – Daily Deal

Rate Nerd — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:29:00 PDT

It’s easy to get up to 25,000 bonus miles!

This new Chase Checking Account Coupon deal gets you up to 25,000 miles on Continental Airlines.

Here’s how this Chase Checking Account Promotion works:

Get 10,000 bonus miles when you open a new Chase Checking account and make 5 debit card purchases or set up direct deposit.
Get another 15,000 bonus miles after your first qualifying purchase if you open a Chase Continental Airlines Preferred Debit Card (annual fee applies).
Continue to earn 1 mile for every $1 in qualifying purchases with the Chase Continental Airlines Preferred Debit Card, plus get:
FREE access to 15,000 Chase ATMs
Zero Liability protection with your Chase Continental Airlines Preferred Debit Card
Your first checked bag free on all Continental Airlines flights—save up to $50 round-trip per person, per trip

Offer valid through September 30, 2010. To qualify for the reward you must open a new Chase Checking account with a $100 minimum opening deposit of new money (money not currently held by Chase or its affiliates). Also, to qualify for the first 10,000 bonus miles you must make 5 debit card purchases with any Chase debit card linked or used to access the new account or initiate a repeating direct deposit such as payroll, Social Security or other government benefits. The 5 debit card purchases or first direct deposit must be completed within 60 days of account opening to earn the bonus miles. Initial 10,000 bonus miles will be deposited in your OnePass® account 6-10 weeks after the 5 debit card purchases or initial direct deposit has posted to the new account.

This bonus mile offer is not available to customers with an existing Chase checking account. Limit one personal checking account-related reward per customer, per calendar year. Limit one 10,000 bonus miles per checking account. Offer not available on account conversions or in combination with any other offer. Customers are still eligible for the first 10,000 miles even if they do not get the Chase Continental Airlines Preferred Debit Card. Account is subject to approval.

The second 15,000 bonus OnePass miles will be credited to your OnePass account after the first qualifying purchase is made. Please allow 6-10 weeks after your first qualifying purchase for bonus OnePass miles to post to your OnePass account. This bonus mile offer is not available to customers with an existing Chase checking account. Limit one 15,000 bonus OnePass miles premium per customer per calendar year. Chase reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time without notice. Attempts to earn multiple premiums will be voided by Chase.

To sign up, visit Chase.com.

Free Rewards Checking Account Offer Pays 4.00% – Daily Deal

Rate Nerd — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:45:18 PDT

Earn 4.00% APY on accounts up to $10,000 with this free rewards checking account offer.

WICHITA REWARDS CHECKING is a free personal checking account that offers a high interest rate of 4.00% APY. No minimum balance is required.

WICHITA REWARDS CHECKING offers the added convenience of a Bank of the Wichitas VISA CheckCard to access ATMs worldwide and for secure debit card purchases with free ATM fees.

Benefits of a WICHITA REWARDS CHECKING account:

4.00% APY
FREE Online Banking
FREE Checking
FREE Bank of the Wichitas VISA CheckCard
FREE Customer Service
FREE Daily Email Notification if Overdrawn
FREE ATM Transactions Worldwide
Overdraft Privilege Available
NO MINIMUM BALANCE

The only requirements for this free rewards checking account are:

Make 10 Bank of the Wichitas VISA CheckCard sales transactions
Receive all statements electronically

At the end of your statement cycle, ATM fees charged by any bank worldwide are automatically refunded in one lump sum. At the same time, you will be paid interest earned by your account. Interest earnings of 4.00% APY are calculated on your average daily balance of up to $10,000. Amounts over $10,000 will earn 1.00% APY. If requirements are not met your interest rate will be .25%

About Bank of the Wichitas

Bank of the Wichitas was established in 1913. It has four locations in Snyder, Cache, Elgin, and Medicine Park, OK. Bank of the Wichitas has been operated by the same family since 1943, and is insured by the FDIC.

Bank for the Wichitas also operates Redneck Bank, the Internet Banking Division of Bank of the Wichitas.