tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-111038402009-11-21T23:54:36.169-08:00Bank Deals was started by a guy who enjoys searching for the latest banking deals and the best rates.Banking Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14297114614529324881noreply@blogger.comBlogger5000125BankDeals-BestRatesAndDealshttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103840.post-83078340539108550842009-11-21T17:10:00.000-08:002009-11-21T17:17:06.490-08:00

Hot Deals, Quick Link for Rates, Recap of this week's postsHow long of a CD term should should you choose? It's a tough question when rates are very low, and no one knows when rates will start rising. A commenter provided a good review of some statements made this week by the head of the Fed's St. Louis branch:This week, the head of the Fed's St. Louis branch, James Bullard, caused a stir when he

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Only one small bank failed today. It was Commerce Bank of Southwest Florida which had only one branch in Fort Myers. The FDIC arranged for another bank, Central Bank in Minnesota, to assume all deposits, even those above the FDIC limit.Last Friday I missed a credit union liquidation. Ensign Federal Credit Union of Henderson, Nevada was closed by the NCUA on 11/13/2009. The NCUA arranged for EDS

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ING Direct is having a Black Friday Sale on Friday November 27th. There are no details yet on their Black Friday promo page, but I've been told by an ING Direct representative that the one-day promotion will include specials on their CDs and Electric Orange checking account. The rep didn't disclose the rates, but he said he will next week. It looks like they're trying to participate in the Black

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First Entertainment Credit Union is offering another CD promotion with two competitive rates: 2.09% APY for 18 months and 3.00% APY for 3 years. The 3% also applies to 4- and 5-year CDs which are not quite as competitive. These rates are listed in the credit union's rates page as of 11/20/2009.First Entertainment Credit Union also has a savings account called Firt500 Savings in which you can earn

Banking Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14297114614529324881noreply@blogger.com0http://bankdeals.blogspot.com/2009/11/209-18-month-cd-300-36-month-cd-at.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103840.post-83358903951057057572009-11-20T06:27:00.000-08:002009-11-20T06:40:11.210-08:00

For those who opened the 6.25% CDs three years ago that mature in January 2010, PenFed has a good deal for you. PenFed is offering the following roll-over CD rates:4.25% APY 7 years4.00% APY 5 years3.50% APY 3 yearsThese rates are listed at PenFed's Certificates Reservation page as of 11/20/2009. The page states that this offer expires when $250 million has been reserved or on 1/31/2010.For those

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Northwest Federal Credit Union continues to offer some competitive CD rates. The most competitive is currently the 5-year CD with a 3.54% APY for a minimum balance of $25,000. Lower rates are available for smaller balances, and a 3.64% APY is available for a $100,000 minimum. In addition, higher rates (up 0.25%) are available to Premier Checking members and Heritage Club members. These rates are

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First Independent Bank has a money market special with some competitive rates. They're adding 1.01% to their standard rates for 6 months. The rate tiers are listed in this bank's promo page as of 11/20/09:1.92% APY $100K to $500K1.72% APY $25K to $100K1.27% APY up to $25KMinimum $1,000 of new money is required, and a minimum $1,000 is required to avoid a $7.50 monthly service charge. Offer is

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South Florida FCU continues to offer a very competitive rate of 2.52% APY on its money market account. Minimum balance of $2,500 is required to open the account and is required to avoid a $6 monthly fee. Limited check writing is available. Rate is subject to change. The rate is listed at the credit union's rates page as of 11/20/09.My last post on this money market account was in September. When

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I'm happy to report that Google has restored this blog. It has been about 24 hours since the blog was mysteriously removed by Google. I'm not sure why it was removed. I did not receive any details about what the problem might have been.When problems occur on blogger, there's no one person you can contact. Your only option is to submit a help message on the blogger help forum. Fortunately, Google

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First National Community Bank is offering some competitive long-term CD rates. The following rates are listed as of 11/18/09 at the bank's rates center page:4.00% APY 7-year3.50% APY 5-year3.25% APY 4-yearMinimum deposit is $1,000, and these are available as regular and IRA CDs. The bank used to have competitive short-term Maximum Earnings CDs, but these rates are now under 2%.One thing to note

Banking Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14297114614529324881noreply@blogger.com0http://bankdeals.blogspot.com/2009/11/350-5-year-cd-400-7-year-cd-at-first.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103840.post-37401445957778230472009-11-18T06:29:00.000-08:002009-11-18T06:32:20.478-08:00

First Security Trust Bank is offering a high-yield reward checking account called Free Extreme Checking. The account has the following rates and features if certain monthly requirements are met:4.50% APY on balances up to $25,000 (guaranteed to 9/01/2010)1.01% APY on portion of balance over $25,0000.10% base rate if monthly requirements are not metRefunds ATM fees worldwide up to $25 per cycleThe

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I received confirmation that the FDIC's new rate cap rules are starting to impact reward checking accounts. In May the FDIC issued a final rule "to prevent banks that are less than well capitalized from soliciting deposits at interest rates that significantly exceed prevailing rates." The FDIC now publishes weekly national deposit rate averages and rate caps that will be used to enforce this new

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The FDIC just released its Fall 2009 Consumer News. Some excerpts that I thought would be useful to highlight include:Safety of FDIC Insured Deposits:If a bank fails, the FDIC has always paid every penny of insured deposits, up to the insurance limit, including principal and any accrued interest through the date of the closing.I've noted this because I've seen so many commenters who think that

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Colonial branches of BB&T is again offering a very competitive 11-month CD special with a 2.25% APY. I last reported on this in September. That one ended in mid-October, and it appears they brought it back a couple of weeks ago. As before this special isn't listed at the bank's website. A reader emailed me info on this, and I just called three branches to confirm. I received confirmation from

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I have had accounts for several years at Ally Bank (formerly GMAC Bank), and I've been very happy with their bank-to-bank ACH transfer service. Like the typical transfer service, you have to go through a verification process when you link to external accounts. One method is the trial deposit method in which the bank makes two small deposits into your external checking or savings account, and you

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Cattleman's National Bank is offering a high-yield rewards checking account with the following rates and features if certain monthly requirements are met:4.01% APY on balances up to $35,0001.25% APY on the portion of the balance over $35,0000.15% base rate if qualifications are not metATM fee refunds nationwide without limitThe monthly requirements include:12 Visa check card purchasesOne direct

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Atlas Savings and Loan Association continues to offer competitive CD and IRA CD rates. The most competitive CDs as listed in the bank's rate table as of 11/17/2009 include:2.07% APY 12 months2.27% APY 18 months2.48% APY 24 months2.79% APY 30 monthsSimilar rates are available for IRA and ESA CDs except for the 3-year term which has the very competitive rate of 3.25% APY. Minimum deposit is $2,500

Banking Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14297114614529324881noreply@blogger.com0http://bankdeals.blogspot.com/2009/11/248-24-month-cd-207-12-month-cd-at.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103840.post-8656025221867065872009-11-16T07:02:00.000-08:002009-11-16T07:11:13.868-08:00

Cornerstone Bank is offering a promotional 13-month CD with a rate of 2.50% APY. This rate is listed in a ticker-tape format on the bank's front page as of 11/16/09. It's scheduled to end on 11/30/09.Based on past reports, this bank requires new customers to come into the branch to open accounts. Branches are located in Atlanta, Decatur and Sandy Springs, Georiga. Financial/FDIC InfoThe bank's

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Service Credit Union has made a change to its certificate promotion, but the rates remain very competitive. The 26-month special has been replaced with a 19-month certificate that has a 2.25% APY. The 2.00% APY 9-month certificate continues. Minimum deposit is $1,000. These are also available in an IRA. The rates are listed in the credit union's savings rates page as of 11/16/09.10% 3-Month

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Bank of Granite has a new CD promotion with three competitive CD rates: 2.45% APY for 15 months, 2.25% APY for 12 months and 1.95% APY for 9 months. Minimum deposit is $5,000. These specials are listed on the bank's front page as of 11/16/2009.Bank of Granite continues to offer a reward checking account that pays 4% APY on balances of $25K as of 10/16/09. I have more details on this account in

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Texas National Bank is advertising a 2.15% APY 12-month CD. Minimum deposit is $1,000, and the maximum is $1 million. This special isn't listed at the bank's website. It was advertised in the 11/15/09 edition of the Tyler Morning Telegraph. The ad is available online here.It appears that a branch visit is required to open an account. The ad lists the branch at Bullard, Texas. The bank also has

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Darby Direct is offering another good online CD deal. It's a 2.50% APY 18-month CD. It's called a breakable CD since it has an option to withdraw any amount without a penalty once during the term (after 90 days from the issue date). Minimum deposit is $500, and it has no maximum deposit. This special is listed at this Darby Direct webpage as of 11/15/2009.Darby Direct continues to offer a

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National City is offering up to $300 for opening a checking account with direct deposit and using your check card. Earning the full $300 will take some time. The promotion doesn't seem to be listed at the bank's website. It was advertised in the 11/15/09 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The ad is available online here. The offer ends November 28, 2009. I wasn't able to read the fine print

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Workers Credit Union continues to offer three competitive CD and IRA CD specials: a 1.60% APY 4-month CD, a 2.10% APY 12-month CD and a 2.50% APY 25-month CD. Minimum deposit is $500 ($1,000 for the IRA). These specials are listed in the credit union's deposit rates page as of 11/15/09.These promotional CDs are very close to what the credit union was offering in August. The only difference is

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Centera Bank is offering a reward checking account with the following rates and features if certain monthly requirements are met:4.01% APY on balances up to $25,0001.01% APY on balances over $25,0000.25% base rate if requirements are not metReimburses all ATM fees nationwideThe monthly requirements include:10 Visa debit card purchases1 direct deposit or automatic paymentReceive

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