CHECKING ACCOUNTS » High Yield Checking

If you're looking for a great rewards checking rate, Keystone Bank in Alabama is offering 4.04% APY on its Rewards Checking Account. The following rates and features are available if you meet the account's requirements:

• 4.04% APY on balances up to $25,000
• 1.15% APY on balances over $25,000
• 0.25% APY base rate if requirements aren't met
• ATM fees nationwide automatically refunded

Here are the account's monthly requirements:

• 10 Mastercard debit card transactions
• Set up 1 direct deposit or ACH debit from your account
• Enroll and receive e-Statements

There is no minimum balance required to open the account. There are also no monthly fees. Apply online.

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Other Terms and Conditions may apply to this offer - please contact the financial institution to review.

In May, the FDIC established new rate cap rules that would prevent banks that were considered less than well capitalized from seeking deposits in exchange for interest rates that significantly exceeded the FDIC's rates. Now, according to a recent post from Bank Deals, some customers are seeing rate cuts that mirror the FDIC's weekly national deposit rate averages.

According to the site, some customers have seen reward checking rate decreases from 4.01% APY to 0.88% overnight. The reason banks are giving for their sudden decrease in rates is that they've received cease-and-desist orders to ensure they reduce their rates. Some, like Libertad Bank, have even opposed the rule in writing because they don't believe that reward checking accounts should be considered high-cost accounts.

Because the FDIC appears to be enforcing its rule more aggressively, it may be time to determine whether your bank is less than well capitalized. One way to tell is by seeing if it has any public enforcement actions against it or checking its financial health. If your bank doesn't seem to be in the best standing, it may be time to consider a new one before your current rate gets threatened.

>> Checking Account Rate Deals

Centura Bank is offering a competitive 4.01% APY for its reward checking account . The following rates are available if monthly requirements are met:

• 4.01% APY - balances up to $25,000
• 1.01% APY - balances over $25,000
• 0.25% base rate if requirements are not met
• Reimburses all ATM fees...

If you're looking for some cash back opportunities and live Missouri, you could take advantage of a $300 cash back promotion from National City Bank . The promotion is actually not listed on the site, but can be found on the St. Louis Post Dispatch's website . Here are the details of the...

BBVA Compass is offering an impressive checking promotion that brings with it an 8 GB iPod Touch. You get the iPod if you open a new Build-to-Order Free Checking account by Dec. 15, 2009 . See the promotion page for more details and don't forget to first register so that you can receive the claim...

Bank of the West is offering a $100 promotion for its checking accounts . The promotion ends Dec. 11, 2009.

How the promotion works:

1. Choose to open either the Free Checking Account or Choice Interest Checking with deposit of $100 from another financial institution.
2. Enroll in direct deposit of at...

The Green Checking Account at South Division Credit Union can give customers a competitive 4.01% APY . The following features are available for accounts if requirements are met:

• 4.01% APY - balances of up to $25,000
• 0.00% APY - balances over $25,000
• 0.o5% APY - if qualifications are not met
• ...

CharterBank is offering a competitive 5.01% APY on its RewardsChecking Account . Here are the rate tiers and features on the account based on meeting monthly requirements:

• 5.01% APY on balances up to $25,000
• 1.01% APY on the portion of the balance over $25,000
• 0.101% APY base rate if the monthly...

Neighbors Credit Union is offering an impressive 5.00% APY with its Green Checking Account . Here are some details of the account:

• 5.00% APY on balances up to $25,000
• 0.50% APY on balances over $25,000
• ATM refunds of up to $10 if requirements are met

The following requirements must be met each...

Louisiana residents can benefit from an impressive 5.01% APY on balances up to $30,000 with the Reward Checking Account from Pelican State Credit Union . In order to receive this rate, you must meet the following requirements each month:

• 15 debit card purchases
• 1 direct deposit or payroll...