Best High Yield Interest Rewards Checking Accounts
Find the highest yield interest rewards checking rates available.
What is a High Yield Interest Rewards Checking Account?
High yield rewards checking accounts are becoming increasingly popular with smaller banks and credit unions. These checking accounts offer significantly higher yields if you fulfill certain monthly requirements. These requirements typically include:
- Around 10 debit card transactions (non ATM). There are typically no dollar requirements per debit card purchase.
- Direct deposit or auto debit. Any ACH transfer often satisfies this requirement.
- Electronic statements - They won't mail you a paper statement.
What's the catch?
If you fail to meet these requirements, you won't earn the high yield for that month; instead, you'll default to the base interest rate which is typically under %1. As a result, these high interest checking accounts do require a bit of micromanagement to make sure that you get the yield every month.The other catch for these rewards checking accounts is that there usually is a top limit to the amount you can deposit. Most banks set this limit at $25,000 - any additional deposits over $25,000 will earn a much lower yield.
One other bonus that these rewards accounts offer is refunds of ATM fees charged when you use another bank's ATM. You can usually get up to $25 per month refunded back into your account at the end of each statement cycle.
Given the requirements of these accounts, it is important to make sure you are on top of things. Missing out on a month of interest prove to be quite costly. The high yield interest checking account isn't for everyone, but if utilized correctly it can be a great way to maintain liquidity while earning a top rate of return on your money.
Current Top Interest Checking Accounts
| Bank | Rate | Maximum |
| First State Bank | 5.01% | $10,000 |
| Countybank | 4.75% | $25,000 |
| Bank of the Sierra | 4.51% | $25,000 |
| First National Community Bank | 4.51% | $25,000 |
| First Arkansas Bank & Trust | 4.44% | $50,000 |
| Royal Banks of Missouri | 4.30% | $25,000 |
| Liberty Bank | 4.25% | $25,000 |
| Connexus Credit Union | 4.15% | $25,000 |
| Consumers Credit Union | 4.09% | $25,000 |
| Pacific Resource Credit Union | 4.07% | $25,000 |
| Coulee Bank | 4.04% | $25,000 |
| Heartland Community Bank | 4.02% | $30,000 |
| Danvers Bank | 4.01% | $25,000 |
| Capital Bank | 4.01% | $25,000 |
| Ouachita Independent Bank | 4.01% | $25,000 |
| Charter Bank | 4.01% | $25,000 |
| Charter Bank | 4.01% | $50,000 |
| Liberty Savings Bank | 4.01% | $25,000 |
| People's Bank of Kankakee Count | 4.01% | $50,000 |
| Patriot Bank | 4.01% | $50,000 |
| Lake Michigan Credit Union | 4.00% | $15,000 |
| Southern Community Bank & Trust | 4.00% | $25,000 |
| ViewPoint Bank | 4.00% | $50,000 |
| Atlantic Coast Bank | 4.00% | $25,000 |
| Evantage Bank | 4.00% | $10,000 |
| Bank of the Wichitas | 4.00% | $10,000 |
| AmericaNet Bank | 4.00% | $10,000 |
| Jeff Davis Bank | 3.82% | $25,000 |
| First New England Federal Credit Union | 3.65% | $15,000 |
| CornerStone Bank | 3.60% | $50,000 |
| Addison Avenue | 3.51% | $25,000 |
| First City Bank | 3.51% | $50,000 |
| Bank of Fayetteville | 3.50% | $50,000 |
| Libertad Bank | 3.50% | $25,000 |
| City National Bank | 3.28% | No Cap |
| State Bank of Toledo | 3.01% | $70,000 |
| Provident Credit Union | 3.01% | $25,000 |
| CornerStone Bank | 3.01% | $25,000 |
| Community Bank of Pleasant Hill | 3.01% | $25,000 |
| CBDirect Bank | 3.00% | No Cap |
| Champion Bank | 2.25% | $25,000 |
| Heritage Bank | 2.24% | No Cap |
| West Texas National Bank | 2.01% | $25,000 |
Get a $150 bank bonus for opening a checking + savings or money market account with Sovereign Bank.
This offer is available to residents in the following states: ME, VT, NH, CT, RI, MA, NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE, and District of Columbia
In order to qualify for the $150 bank bonus, you must:
Open a Sovereign Interest [...]
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Chase Bank currently has a $200 bank bonus for opening a business checking account by 1/3/10. You can open the account online or take the coupon code to one of Chase’s physical branches, or call Chase at 1-800-CHASE24 (1-800-242-7324).
Even though this promotion is for businesses, you can open it as a sole propietor [...]
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Capital One currently has a $300 bank bonus available for opening a new Capital One Rewards checking account.
A $50 minimum opening deposit is required. Here are some details on the bank deal:
Direct deposit must be set up on a recurring basis and is subject to your employer or other payor offering the direct deposit [...]
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Bank of America is offering a $100 bank bonus for opening a new qualifying checking account with a initial deposit of $500. This bank offer is only available to new customers, and the new checking account must be open for 30 days before the bonus is deposited. In addition, you need to make at least [...]
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Citizens Bank is currently offering a $100 bank bonus for opening a checking account. This holiday promotion expires on Dec 15, 2009. In order to get the full $100 bonus, you have to complete the following:
Set up direct deposit for a payment of at least $50 – $50 bonus
Make 5 online bill payments – $25 [...]
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*UPDATE: This deal is no longer available*
ING Direct is running a Black Friday promotion where they are giving away $121 for signing up for their Electric Orange Checking Account.
ING Direct chose $121 as their bonus amount as it is the average amount the consumers pay in overdraft fees annually.
To get this bonus, you must complete [...]
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First Tennessee Bank is currently offering a $150 checking bonus for opening a new checking account. This bank deal is valid until 12/31/09.
Here’s a few details about the bank bonus:
To receive bonus, you must open your new checking account at a financial center and present a copy of this ad or open online at https://www.firsttennessee.com/150 [...]
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Key Bank is currently offering a few of the best checking account bonuses available. You can earn either $125 or $225 in cash by opening a new checking account with Key Bank.
To get the $125 bonus you need to open the Key Express Free Checking Account or Key Advantage Money Market Checking Account. The money [...]
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State Farm is well known for their insurance division, but they also have offer banking services through State Farm Bank, which does not have physical branches and is primarily an online bank, with direct customer interaction through state farm agents.
State Farm has various CDs with terms ranging from 3 months to 5 years. Their rates [...]
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AmericaNet Bank is offering a rewards checking account with 4.00% APY interest on balances up to $10,000. This interest checking rate is current as of 8/26/2009.
In order to earn this rate, you must fulfill the following:
Make 10 AmericaNet Bank VISA CheckCard sales transactions
Opt in to electronic statements
The AmericaNet rewards checking account also features:
Balances over $10,000 [...]
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EverBank is offering a 3 month promotional rate at 2.51%, which is one of the highest money market rates currently available. This 3 month promo rate is only good for new customers and only applies to balances up to and including $50,000 in the Yield Pledge Money Market Account, and up to $100,000 in the [...]
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Bank of the West is currently running a $100 checking account bonus. Open any new personal checking account, and either establish a monthly direct deposit of at least $250 to your new account or pay 10 bills online and receive a $100 bonus. This promotion ends on 10/2/2009.
Some additional fine print details on the promotion:
The [...]
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Many of you may know H&R block as the tax preparation service. But H&R also has a bank that accepts online deposits, with certificate of deposits, savings accounts, and checking accounts.
The best CD rate they are offering is a 1 year CD at 2.00%. Minimum deposit is $250. The rest of their CD rates are [...]
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Third Federal Savings & Loan has several high long term CD rates available online. Their current CD rates include:
6 month CD – 1.40%
12 month CD – 1.65%
18 month CD – 1.75%
24 month CD – 2.00%
30 month CD – 2.25%
36 month CD – 2.50%
48 month CD – 3.00%
60 month CD – 3.25%
72 month CD – 3.50%
Minimum [...]
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GiantBank is an online only division of Landmark Bank, NA. Because the bank is entirely online, they are able to offer some of the best CD rates, savings accounts, and money market rates.
They offer a wide range of products including small business CDs, business money market, and business interest checking accounts.
Their small business CD rates [...]
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