Checking Account Deals

what banks have the best sign up deals for a new checking account?

trying to decide who to go with like what banks offer a cash ensentive...i mean every bank offers free checking now im looking for somthing better i guess

Public Comments

1. With Bank of America you can open up a free checking account online.
2. >"Checking account best sign up deals" Like what, giving away a "toaster"? Probably you should check into some local credit unions.
3. I opened a Bank of America checking account about 3 weeks ago. They offered a $100 bonus to open an account online. The first, a $75 bonus is achieved by funding the account with a $250 initial deposit. There is no minimum balance on the account, and the checking account is free, however, you must put in a $250 (or greater) initial deposit. Once you do that, you can let the account go back down to zero if you want. Then, you must make one purchase of any amount with the new check card that comes with the account. It should arrive within about a week. Both of these things must be done within 30 days of opening the account online. That will get you the $75. The second, a $25 bonus is achieved by using Bank of America's free bill pay service and using it to pay two bills. Whether you continue to use the bill pay service after that, or even want to continue using the checking account for that matter, is up to you. You just have to use the service two times for the extra $25. There is no direct deposit requirement on the account either. You can bank online and transfer funds from your current bank to your new account to make deposits without a fee. You may also make deposits at B of A ATM's that accept deposits. Transferring from your new B of A account to an outside account will incur a fee however. I simply deposited enough money to cover my car payment and a cell phone payment and a purchase of $7 at a grocery store to cover the requirements of the $100 in bonuses. I don't plan to use the account after that because I am happy with my current checking account with J.P. Morgan Chase. I just wanted to make a little money. I'm not sure if this bonus is still available or not, but if it is, it is a pretty good deal to open an account.
4. http://www.ibankbonus.com/bank/nationwide/index.php and http://www.bankingdeals.com/category/bank-deals/ has some of the latest deals listed. Above and beyond the immediate gratification.... First, prioritize what's important to you. Here are some common features: * Overdraft protection * Online access * Maintenance fees waived with direct deposit * Internet bill pay * Rewards program with debit card use * Fee-free withdrawals at any ATM * Low balance requirement * Interest bearing Make a list of the top four or five things you absolutely have to have. Second, do your research. Not every bank will offer every option. You may have to get an account with some useless features in order to get the ones you really want. Look not only at large banks like Bank of America, US Bank, Wells Fargo, but also look at smaller ones. Check out each bank's website to gather information quickly. Don't forget about credit unions. If proximity to the branch isn't a priority, they can often provide more bang for the buck since they are generally not-for-profit and exist to provide their members with services at affordable prices. Membership is usually restricted to a certain segment of the population (employer, neighborhood, church, etc.) but there are so many around that you likely qualify for membership in at least one. Consider non-traditional money management accounts. Fidelity offers a "cash-flow" account that functions like a checking account but can be tied to a standard brokerage account for ease of investing. A bonus feature of their account is that they waive and/or reimburse you for all ATM withdrawals, regardless of the bank. If you need only to occasionally withdraw money or write checks, a money market account will provide superior interest. Many banks require a large initial deposit and/or high minimum balance, but some, like GMAC, have low deposit and balance requirements. Finally, consider the bank's reputation and financial condition. Some provide great customer service while others seem to exist only to suck in people's money. Too, although the federal reserve insures deposits up to certain limits, they can be tied up indefinitely if a bank goes belly up.