Best rates of U.S. checking accounts - Do I miss any?

[markber]

Hello,

I am trying to compile a list of banks that offer interest checking accounts with APY > 3.00% for balances between $0.0 and $50K. If you know a bank that offers checking accounts with such terms, could you please post its URL here? Below is a list of banks that I have found so far but I guess there should be more of these around.

Thanks,

Mark




Insured by FDIC or NCUA

• Interest Checking accounts:
  
  (APYs for balances below $50,000, APY treshold is 3.00%)
  
  
• 4.52% - nBank, nPower XL - (min. balance to avoid a fee is $2,5K)
• 4.25% - Presidential Bank, Internet Checking Plus (for balances up-to $25K, direct deposit is required)
• 4.15% - First Community Bank, Net Checking (for balances above $35K)
• 4.03% - City National Bank of Taylor, Reward Checking Account (for balances up-to $25K; 10 debit card transactions per month is required)
• 4.02% - First National Bank in Cameron, Reward Checking Account - 10 check card transactions are required, for balances up-to $25K
• 4.01% - Quantum National Bank, Hi-Rate Checking (for balances above $10K)
• 3.30% - Zions Bank, High Yield Checking (for balances between $25K and $100K)
• 3.25% - Everbank, FreeNet checking (for balances between $25K and $50K) -
• 3.15% - Bank of Internet, Freedom Checking (for balances up-to $25K) -
• 3.15% - PCBanker, eChecking - (for balances below $10K, min. balance to avoid a fee is $1K)
• 3.05% - City National Bank of Taylor, NetAdvantage Checking Account (4 debit card transactions per month is required) -
• 3.01% - Iberville Bank, Free checking (10 debit card transactions per month is required)
• 3.00% - AmTrust, Titanium Checking (10K balance is required to get the rate)
• 3.00% - eBank, ePremium Checking ($2,500 min. daily balance or $5,000 average daily balance to avoid monthly fee)

[Ima saver]

Are ;these regular checking account. I have a money market checking that pays above 3% but you are only allowed 3 checks per month.

[markber]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

Are ;these regular checking account. I have a money market checking that pays above 3% but you are only allowed 3 checks per month.

Yes, these are regular checking accounts.

[JPWRana]

what does insured by NCUA mean? is that better than FDIC?

Do any of the big 3, ED, ING, or HSBC have online checking accounts, AND good ones?

[markber]

Originally Posted by JPWRana

what does insured by NCUA mean? is that better than FDIC??

It is just an insurance that covers credit unions. FDIC insures only banks.

Do any of the big 3, ED, ING, or HSBC have online checking accounts, AND good ones?

HSBC has a free checking account. However, HSBC does not consider many "customer-initiated" transactions (e.g. ACH transfers) as "customer-initiated" transactions and, as a result, its free checking accounts get often converted into a fee based checking account after 2 or 3 months of absence of "customer-initiated" transactions.

[Snoopy2645]

Well I dont know of any that offer a return I was happy to get free checking with free checks & no charges for anything!! But I dont keep much of a balance in it but for a checking account I cant find anything better.

[sweeps]

The nPower XL account looks like a good deal. 4.52% APY. Reasonable minimum ($2500). And they reimburse up to $8/month in ATM fees. Does anyone have this account? How is the service?

[JPWRana]

Originally Posted by markber

HSBC has a free checking account. However, HSBC does not consider many "customer-initiated" transactions (e.g. ACH transfers) as "customer-initiated" transactions and, as a result, its free checking accounts get often converted into a fee based checking account after 2 or 3 months of absence of "customer-initiated" transactions.

what does ACH mean? and ACH transfer? So bottom line is the HSBC free checking account any good? Or what does this mean to an average joe shmoe like me?

[ken1706]

Looks like nBank's nPower XL Checking didn't last long. It's no longer being offered. nBank's highest checking account now listed is only 3.37% for balances over $5K.

About, ACH and ACH transfer, these provide a way to make electronic transfers between banks. With ACH transfers, you don't have to write checks to make deposits or withdrawals.

HSBC free checking is okay but it doesn't offer any interest. Most free checking accounts are like this. However, HSBC's premium checking only pays 0.35%. It's usually better to stick with free checking accounts rather than get tiny interest and have to worry about fees. However, if you can get 3%+ interest like those shown above, it can be worth it.

[Crystallas]

Depends on what POV you have for the "Best."

https://www.53.com/wps/portal/personal

Who I will be adding an account with shortly, offers interest on checking, but only requires $100 maintainable ballance. Im pretty sure it was above 3% the last time I checked aswell. Unfortunately they dont provide a curent list of rates on the site.

[Crystallas]

Dont forget Paypal. You can get a debit card with paypal, aswell as earn interest. Right now they say 4.45% and Im pretty sure you dont need a minimum ballance to get interest. Prolly one of more genius things, as long as you dont fall for phishers emails.

[wyett3]

Online checking with billpay too! And I thought my .35% free interest checking with billpay was real good clearing house for my monthly bill money. Presidential is now at 4.37%; with only a $1000 balance to avoid fees I'll have to consider this. I wonder if it would link to one of the no minium balance online savings accounts. Anybody tried it?

[joseblanco]

Best Rates: presidential.com has a 4.87 apy for savings & 4.5 apy for checking (minimums 5k & 1.5k respectively) and GMAC bank has 4.8 apy (500 minimum)