Chase’s $125-ish Sign-Up Bonus for Checking has been Extended

Chase has extended its $125 bonus offer for opening an eligible checking account to October 7, 2011, though to be eligible now you have to set up direct deposit and deposit $100 into the account within 60 days from opening. Again, the Chase Total Checking account qualifies for the promotion, but the Chase College Checking [...]

$125-ish Sign-Up Bonus for Chase’s Total Checking Account

A couple of weeks ago I reviewed checking options from the bigger banks out there, and while I strongly recommend PNC’s Free Checking and Bank of America’s eBanking accounts over any Chase checking option, this deal still deserves a mention since it’s the only sign-up bonus currently being offered for any of the 7 checking [...]

Check Again: A Look at Current Checking Account Options

After finishing a harrowing first year of graduate school, I finally have time to pick up Money Under Your Futon again. Kathy and I both had crazy (academic) years, but we are glad to be back here, learning and writing about personal finance tips for people with entry-level jobs (or stipends) who want to live [...]

Rewards in Checking: Bank of America

Barring the rare interest-yielding accounts, it is hard to get much out of your checking account besides the money you already deposited into it and some checks.  But using programs associated with you bank may get you a little more.  Two weeks ago, I wrote on how to make the most of your Citibank account [...]

Rewards in Checking: Citibank

This is Money Under Your Futon’s 101st post!  To celebrate this occasion and thank our readers, we are announcing our new e-mail address: moneyunderyourfuton [at] gmail [dot] com.  Please feel free to send us your money-related questions, and we will try to respond to them in future posts. * * * It is hard to [...]

Tip of the Week: When is the Smartest Time to Pay Your Bills?

Everyone knows that it is important to pay your bills on time, but did you know that it pays to pay your bills as close to their due dates as possible? Your money works best for you when it stays in your savings account collecting interest.  Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to pay your bills [...]

An Added Bonus to a Checking Deal

When we wrote about the ING Electric Orange Checking Account two months ago, it was offering interest rates of at least 1.60% (APY) on balances over $50,000.  Since then, those rates have fallen slightly to 1.50-1.55% (APY).  However, balances below $50,000 continue to earn 0.25% (APY) in interest, which might be low compared to the [...]

More Checking Accounts that Give You Miles

Earlier this month we wrote about a growing group of checking accounts that pay interest or give miles, offers that used to be in credit card territory.  Here are three more debit card options that can help you earn miles.  All three of them have two tiers, which differ by their annual fee and earnings [...]

Check Cards Advance into Credit Card Territory

With consumers trying to rein in their spending by using credit cards less frequently and credit card issuers trying to limit their exposure to increased delinquency by decreasing solicitations – as found by market-research firm Mintel and reported by Progressive Grocer in May, – check cards, or “debit cards,” may earn a new status among [...]

Check It Out: Finding a Checking Account that Works for You

You need a checking account that works for you, not against you. Look for accounts with a very low minimum balance requirement and no maintenance fees. I know that many banks waive maintenance fees as long as you set up direct deposit, but, in this economy and depending on your circumstances, I don’t think you can count on that direct deposit protection. You shouldn’t be paying maintenance fees while you’re looking for a job or if you go back to school, or, even worse, you don’t want to lose your job, and, on top of that, pay for it.