I was recently going through my mail including that “value pack” mailing which I consider junk mail. I usually just toss that piece of junk mail in the garbage but I decided to go through it to see if there were any coupons on restaurants in my area. Well I didn’t find any coupons but one offer jumped out at me from Chase Bank, a $125 Certificate to open a Chase Total Checking Account.

I just happened to be looking to switch banks and getting a $125 to do so is icing on the cake! This offer ends on February 9, 2013, so you have plenty time to take advantage of the offer. Of course with any cash offers like this there are requirements that have to be meet.

The requirements are not a big deal if you planned to open a checking account anyway and don’t mind dealing with the largest bank in the country. This offer also has a coupon code associated with it and you also have to setup direct deposit to get the $125.

The coupon code on my $125 certificate is: Coupon Code: FX223276EXP7A9LW. You can try using this code or just look in the coupon mailing you receive in the mail. I don’t know if Chase Bank is offering this deal in the entire country or just in certain areas. The bank is so big I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a national offer.

After you open the checking account you have 60 calendar days to have your first direct deposit posted in the new checking account. Once the first direct deposit is made the $125 will be deposited into the account within 10 business days. Not a bad deal if you’re looking for a new checking account for a direct deposit.

This offer isn’t available for existing Chase Bank customers. This offer also isn’t available to anyone who has closed a Chase account within 90 days for closed an account with a negative account balance.

You also have to keep this account opened for at least 6 months otherwise Chase will deduct the $125 when you close the account. The bonus is considered interested and you will receive a 1099-INT from chase. If you have your own certificate you can take it to a branch location to open the account, of course you can also do it online.

If you don’t have your own certificate try using the coupon code at chase.com/checking. You can also try using some variation of it which might work. When you’re on chase.com/checking under “Chase Total Checking” click on “open now”, then select “I’d like to start a new application”. At that point you will be promoted to enter a coupon code if you have one.

Try the one above and good luck. Again if you’re in the market to open a checking account to setup direct deposit than you might as well earn $125. Otherwise it’s probably not worth the hassle to do so. If you’re just looking for a checking account without setting up direct deposit you can search for the best checking account rates by using our rate table here: Checking Account Rates.

Small banks and credit unions are offering deals (including an 11.5% 6 month CD rate) in response to the Bank Transfer Day movement. Although the official transfer day has past some of these financial institutions are still offering deals to entice you to switch your accounts over. 

Whether or not the movement was successful was debatable but according to a survey by Credit Union National Assocation (CUNA), at least 650,000 consumers have joined credit unions within the last four weeks. The CUNA release a report titled “Early reports show Bank Transfer Day success”, which you can read here: Read More.

Below is al ist of some of the offers on Bank Transfer Day:

WV United FCU Offers 11.5% CD Rate

New members who move their account relationships to WV United FCU will be eligible to open a 6-month CD with an APY of 11.5% on balances up to $2,000. To qualify, the new CU member must open a checking or debit account, initiate direct deposit of their paycheck, get a debit card, and move their auto withdrawals or utilize EasyPay bill pay: 11.5% CD Rate Information.

American Heritage FCU Offers Cash Bonus

American Heritage Federal Credit Union is offering new CU members up to $130. New members who open a checking account by 11.30.2011 with direct deposit will earn $50 and an additional $50 for their first bill pay. They will also receive a $25 Independence Check Card reward and $5 e-Statement reward. $130 Offer Information.

Cash Bonus Offer at MidFlorida Credit Union

MidFlorida Credit Union will have free drinks and snacks on 11.05.2011 to celebrate Bank Transfer Day. Additionally, new customers who open a checking account by 11.30.2011 and sign up for direct deposit of at least $500 will receive a $127 cash bonus. $127 Cash Bonus Information.

Co-op Services Offers $105 for Switching

New Co-op Services customers who shred their bank debit card and open a free Co-op Services checking account with direct deposit, e-Statements, and debit card will receive $105. $105 Offer Information.

Citibank is currently offering up to $400 in gift cards when you open a checking account by 10/31/11. You must open a new Citibank checking account in the Citigold or Citibank account package and enroll the new checking account in Citi ThankYou Rewards by 10.31.2011. You must also make one direct deposit and complete one electronic bill payment for two consecutive months.

To qualify for 40,000 ThankYou Points, open a new regular checking account in the Citigold Account Package redeemable for $400 in gift cards. 

To qualify for 20,000 ThankYou Points, open a new regular checking account in The Citibank Account Package and enroll it in Citi ThankYou Rewards, redeemable for $200 in gift cards.

You can take advantage of this deal online here: CitiBank $400 Deal, at your local branch and by phone. To apply by phone, call 1-866-422-0312 and mention code CGEF.

Search and compare the highest CD rates by searching our CD rates list. You can also get the best savings account rates and a list of mortgage rates today from several different lenders.

First Tennessee Bank is offering new customers a chance to earn $396 by opening several different accounts with the bank.

When new customers open a checking account with a $300 minimum deposit and make a direct deposit within 60 days of account opening, you earn a $100 bonus.

New customers can also earn $100 when they open a new Money Market Savings account with at least $10,000 and a $100 Visa Gift Card when they open a real estate secured portfolio loan. If all three types of accounts are opened by 11.30.2011, you will earn an additional $96 bonus.

First Tennessee Bank’s interest rates are not the most competitive. Current savings account rates on the Money Market Savings Account are tiered but the best savings rate is only 0.25%. Opening a certificate deposit account isn’t part of this deal but to show you how low the bank’s rates are, 12 month CD rates are at 0.35%.

If you’re interested in more details about these deals and would like to open account(s) go to the bank’s website here: First Tennessee Bank $396 Deal.

Citibank is promoting saving by offering a change to win weekly prizes of $1000 as well as a grand prize of $10,000. Citibank customers who complete an auto save transfer of at least $25 from their Citibank checking account to their Citibank money market or savings account by September 9, 2011, will be entered into the Citibank Auto Save Sweepstakes. One grand prize winner will get $10,000 and eight first prize winners will get $1,000.

Setting up Auto Save is easy if you already have a checking account and savings account or money market account with Citibank. All you have to do is sign onto Citibank Online and click on “Transfers”, select “Set up a Recurring Transfer”, choose the account you want to transfer funds from and to choose the frequency and duration of transfers.

As with any sweepstakes there is an alternative method of entry if you want to spend the time and energy to enter. Here is the alternative method of entry from Citibank’s website.

Eligible entrants who wish to enter without becoming a Citibank customer or using the Auto Save feature may enter by mail. To enter by mail, hand print your full name, complete address, day and evening phone numbers (including area code), email address (if any), and date of birth on a 3″ x 5″ piece of paper and mail it with proper postage affixed to “Citibank Auto Save ‘Sit Back, Save and Win!’ Sweepstakes,” PO Box 5046, Dept. 575258, Kalamazoo, MI 49003-5046. You will receive one (1) entry into the applicable drawing. Limit: one (1) mail-in entry per envelope. All mail-in entries must be handwritten. All mail-in entries must be postmarked and received by the dates listed in Section 3 above to be eligible for the applicable drawing. All entries become the exclusive property of Sponsor, and none will be acknowledged or returned. Proof of sending or submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor.

If you’re already a Citibank customer and have a checking account and a savings account or money market account I would setup Auto Save to start an automatic savings plan, plus the chance to win.

You can read more of Citibank’s sweepstakes here: Citibank Sweepstakes.

If you don’t have accounts with Citibank I would bother opening accounts just for the sweepstakes since Citibank’s interest rates are so low. You can easy find higher savings account rates and checking account rates by searching our rate tables.

Savings accounts rates/money market account rates won’t be going higher until later this year or early next year since the economy is stuck in the doldrums and the Fed’s Charmin, Ben Bernanke, doesn’t expect things to pick up until later in 2011. Right now the current national average savings account rate for account balances of at least $2,500 is averaging only 0.21 as reported by MonitorBankRates. You can find savings account rates and money market account rates higher than the national average rates.

Looking for the best rates? Search our savings rate/MMA rate tables to find the best rates in your state or zip code: SavingsAccount.MonitorBankRates.com.

Right now three different banks are listing having the best savings account rate in California. Discover Bank, American Express Bank and Sallie Mae Bank are all offering online savings account rates at 1.14% with a savings yield of 1.15%.

Flagstar Bank has the second highest rate on our California rate list. Flagstar Bank is offering savings account rates at 1.10% with a yield of 1.11%.

The third best interest rate is from Nationwide Bank. The bank’s current money market account rates is 1.04% with a money market account yield of 1.05%.

Here are the highest savings account rates and MMA rates in California.

Savings Account/MMA APY 1.00% and Above

• Discover Bank 1.14% Yield 1.15% Min $500 
• American Express Bank FSB 1.14% Yield 1.15% Min $0
• Sallie Mae 1.14% Yield 1.15% Min $ 1 
• Flagstar Bank 1.10% Yield 1.11% Min $ 1 
• Nationwide Bank 1.04% Yield 1.05% Min $10000 
• EverBank 1.01% Yield 1.01% Min $ 1 
• Zions Bank 1.01% Yield 1.01% Min $1000 
• WTDirect 1.10% Yield 1.01% Min $10000 
• FNBO DIRECT 1.00% Yield 1.00% Min $ 1 
• ING DIRECT 1.00% Yield 1.00% Min $ 1 
• First Internet Bank of IN 1.00% Yield 1.00% Min $100 
• Ally Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% Min $ 1 
• AIG Bank 1.00% Yield 1.00% Min $10000 
• Salem Five Direct 1.00% Yield 1.00% Min $ 1 Must have a checking account

Savings Account/MMA APY Below 1.00%

• OneUnited Bank 0.90% Yield 0.90% Min $1000 Available to Internet customers only
• Giantbank.com 0.85% Yield 0.85% Min $1000 
• Bank of Internet USA 0.80% Yield 0.80% Min $100 
• EmigrantDirect.com 0.80% Yield 0.80% Min $ 1 
• HSBC Advance 0.80% Yield 0.80% Min $ 1 
• Capital One Direct Banking 0.75% Yield 0.75% Min $10,000 
• Allstate Bank 0.70% Yield 0.70% Min $100 
• Tennessee Commerce Bank 0.65% Yield 0.65% Min $ 1 
• Ameriprise Bank FSB 0.60% Yield 0.60% Min $10,000 Must be an Achiever Circle Elite member to receive higher rate.
• Milford Bank 0.50% Yield 0.50% Min $ 1 
• E-LOAN.com 0.50% Yield 0.50% Min $10,000 Must make monthly deposits of at least $100 to qualify for rate. If monthly deposits not met, standard savings rates apply.
• Peoples Bank 0.40% Yield 0.40% Min $10,000 Requires a Plus Checking or e-Plus Checking. Must have a combined balance of $3K.
• Webster Bank 0.35% Yield 0.35% Min $10,000 Account only offered with Premium Checking.
• E*TRADE Bank 0.30% Yield 0.30% Min $ 1 
• Bank of America 0.30% Yield 0.30% Min $10,000 Must have an automatic transfer of $250 or more from your Bank of America account, an automatic transfer of the monthly interest payment from your Bank of America CD or a direct deposit of $250 or more to earn the bonus rate.
• Citizens Bank 0.30% Yield 0.30% Min $10,000 
• First County Bank 0.25% Yield 0.25% Min $2500 
• Liberty Bank 0.25% Yield 0.25% Min $ 1 
• Chase 0.25% Yield 0.25% Min $10,000 Must have a Chase Premier Platinum or Chase Premier Checking account.
• PenFed 0.20% Yield 0.20% Min $10,000 
• Bank of America 0.20% Yield 0.20% Min $10,000 Must have one of the following each calendar month: auto transfer or $250 or more from a BOA checking account, auto transfer of the monthly interest payment from BOA CD or a direct deposit of $250 or more. Must have an Advantage Checking account.
• Citibank 0.20% Yield 0.20% Min $10,000
• Wachovia Bank 0.20% Yield 0.20% Min $10,000 Requires a PMA Prime Checking account.
• Farmington Savings Bank 0.20% Yield 0.20% Min $ 1 
• BankDirect 0.15% Yield 0.15% Min $10,000 
• Union Savings Bank 0.15% Yield 0.15% Min $ 1

Right now on our checking account rates database for Dallas, Texas, FNBO Direct has the best unrestricted checking account rate. FNBO Direct’s checking rate is at 1.09 percent with a checking yield of 1.10 percent. FNBO Direct’s rate is more than four times the current national average checking account rate of 0.248 percent as reported by Monitor Bank Rates.

On checking accounts list for Dallas, TX, two banks are offering rewards checking rates higher than FNBO Direct’s rate. Legacy Bank of Texas’ rewards rate is 1.99 percent with a yield of 2.00 percent. Amegy Bank of Texas’ rewards rate is 1.76 percent with a yield of 1.77 percent. Each of these checking accounts have monthly transaction requirements that have to be met to earn the rate and yield.

The fourth best rate on our list in Dallas is from Capital One Direct Banking.  The bank is offering online checking account rates at 1.01 percent with a checking account yield of 1.01 percent.

Flagstar Bank rounds out the top 5 checking rates on our list. Flagstar is offering checking interest rates at 0.85 percent with a yield of 0.85 percent.

Checking Account Rates – Dallas, Texas

Legacy Bank of Texas 1.99% Yield 2.00% Min $ 1
Amegy Bank of Texas 1.76% Yield 1.77% Min $ 1
FNBO Direct 1.09% Yield 1.10% Min $500
Capital One Direct Banking 1.01% Yield 1.01% Min $ 1
Flagstar Bank 0.85% Yield 0.85% Min $ 1
First Internet Bank of IN 0.75% Yield 0.75% Min $500
Bank of Internet USA 0.71% Yield 0.71% Min $ 1
EverBank 0.51% Yield 0.51% Min $ 1