Bank Deals & Rate Specials
Our editors have hand-picked current bank deals being offered by financial institutions around the country for you to review. We choose some of the best rate specials, bank deposit promotions, and current credit card offers. Please check back often as we scour the web and look for the best offers to share with you.
If you find an especially great bank or credit card offer, please let us know by emailing us at bankdeals@moneyrates.com - many of our updates come directly from readers like you.
British Airways Signature Visa Credit Card
April 30, 2012
Account Type: Credit Card
Special Type: Points
Issued by Chase, the British Airways Signature Visa credit card, which features smart-chip technology, offers numerous opportunities to earn rewards points, which they call Avios. New card-members can earn up to 100,000 bonus Avios in the first year, and there's no limit to the number of Avios you can accumulate over time.
To use the credit card, you must be a member of the British Airways Executive Club program. If you aren't a member but get approved for the card, you'll be enrolled automatically.
What you get:
- 50,000 bonus Avios after first use of the card
- 25,000 bonus Avios after $10,000 in purchases in the first year
- 25,000 bonus Avios after an additional $10,000 in purchases in the first year
- 2.5 Avios for every dollar spent on British Airways purchases
- 1.25 Avios for every dollar spent on all other purchases
- No cap on Avios
- Smart chip technology for using the card for chip-based purchases in Europe
- Travel Together Tickets
What they require:
- $95 annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Citi Forward Credit Card
April 12, 2012
Account Type: Credit Card
Special Type: Bonus Points/Rewards Points
Wouldn't you like to be rewarded for your good credit card behavior? The Citi Forward Credit Card awards bonus Thank You Points up to 1,200 per year for paying your bill on time and staying below your credit limit. You can also earn bonus Thank You Points for making $650 in purchases and signing up for paperless statements within the first three months of accepting the card and an APR reduction on purchases when you pay on time, make a purchase and stay under your credit limit for three billing periods.
What you get:
- $100 in gift cards - When you redeem the 10,000 bonus ThankYou Points received after you make $650 in purchases and sign up for paperless statements within the first 3 months
- Zero percent introductory APR for twelve months on balance transfers and for seven months on purchases
- Five points for every dollar spent at restaurants and on books, movies and music
- One point for every dollar you spend on all other purchases
- APR reduction on purchases when using credit wisely
- No annual fee
What they require:
- Excellent credit
- Must be 18 or older
- Must provide valid identification
Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage Visa Signature Card
April 12, 2012
Account Type: Credit Card
Special Type: Airline/Travel
If you would like to earn more airline miles, consider this promotion for first-time holders of the Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage Visa Signature Card. You can earn 30,000 Airlines AAdvantage reward miles after charging $1,000 in purchases to the credit card within the first three months of card ownership.
This is more than enough miles for a domestic round-trip flight. Miles are good for travel on American Airlines, stays at hotels worldwide and car rentals with the AAdvantage program. There are no blackout dates on award travel on American Airlines, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection carrier.
In addition, the $95 annual fee is waived for the first twelve months.
What you get:
- Earn 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership*
- Your first eligible checked bag is free*
- Priority Boarding* and 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases*
- Earn a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount every cardmembership year with qualifying purchases and cardmembership renewal*
- Double AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases*
- Earn 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage® miles back – up to 10,000 AAdvantage(R) miles each calendar year*
- No mileage cap* and your miles may never expire*
What they require:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must have a valid Social Security number
Citibank, National Association was established on June 16, 1812 and has been FDIC insured since Jan. 1, 1934. It has 1,331 branches located in 19 states and 281 foreign offices. Its headquarters is in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage Visa Signature Card
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EverBank Yield Pledge Checking Account Bonus Rate
March 8, 2012
Account Type: Checking Account
Special Type: Rate
When you open an EverBank Yield Pledge Checking Account, you'll receive a bonus interest rate of 1.05 percent for six months -- nearly seven times the national average rate of about 0.152 percent. With its Yield Pledge, the bank also promises its interest rates will always remain among the top 5 percent nationwide.
With your new checking account, you'll get other perks, too, like no monthly service or debit card fees. Online and mobile banking also are free.
What you get:
- Interest rate of 1.05 percent for the first six months
- Yield Pledge promise
- No monthly account fees
- No debit card fees
- Free online and mobile banking
- Free remote check deposits, from home or your cellphone
- ATM reimbursements nationwide with a minimum balance of $5,000
- Around-the-clock customer service
What they require:
- $1,500 opening balance
Based in Florida, EverBank was established on Oct. 1, 1998 and has been FDIC insured since.
EverBank Yield Pledge Money Market Account Bonus Rate
March 8, 2012
Account Type: Money Market Account
Special Type: Rate
If you open as a new customer a EverBank Yield Pledge Money Market Account, you'll receive a bonus interest rate for six months of 1.05 percent, which is well above the national average. Further, the bank pledges to keep its interest rates among the top 5 percent nationwide of competitive accounts offered by leading banks.
Other features of this money market account are free online and mobile banking and free remote deposits from home or your cellphone.
What you get:
- 1.05 percent interest rate for six months
- Yield Pledge promise: interest rates will stay in the top 5% nationwide
- Six withdrawals or transfers per month
- Free online and mobile banking
- Free remote check deposits, from home or mobile phone
- Paper checks
- Availability as an IRA
- 24/7 customer service
What they require:
- $1,500 opening balance
- $8.95 monthly fee when your balance dips below $5,000
- $10 excess transaction fee
Florida-based EverBank was established on Oct. 1, 1998 and has been FDIC insured since.
United MileagePlus Explorer Credit Card from Chase
March 1, 2012
Account Type: Credit Card
Special Type: Miles
If you travel often on United Airlines and have excellent credit, you're an excellent candidate for the UnitedMileage Plus Explorer Credit Card from Chase.
Not only can you earn extra miles for flights booked on United with this credit card, but you can earn 25,000 bonus miles the first time you use the card, 5,000 bonus miles for adding an authorized user to your account and 10,000 bonus miles each year if you spend at least $25,000 on the card. Best of all, there are no limits to the amount of miles you can earn and your miles will never expire.
What you get:
- 25,000 bonus miles after using the card the first time
- 10,000 bonus miles each year that you spend more than $25,000
- 5,000 bonus miles for adding an authorized user
- Annual fee of $95 waived for the first year
- Two miles per $1 spent on Continental and United airlines
- One mile per $1 on all other purchases
- Miles never expire
- Unlimited accrual of miles
What they require:
- Excellent credit
- Annual fee of $95 after the first year
- Applicant must be at least 18 years old
- Applicant must have valid Social Security number
Discover More Credit Card
March 1, 2012
Accuont Type: Credit Card
Special Type: Cash
Discover credit cards are well-known for their cash-back rebates, and the Discover More Credit Card is currently paying cardholders 5 percent cash back on purchases made in spending categories that rotate throughout the year, such as gas, restaurants and holiday shopping.
In addition, the More card also offers a 0 percent APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
What you get:
- 5 percent cash back on categories that rotate throughout the year
- 1 percent cash back on all other purchases
- 5 percent to 20 percent cash back on purchases from the online shopping mall
- Redeem rewards for cash, gift cards, merchandise or charitable contributions
- 0 percent APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months
- No annual fee
What they require:
- Must be 18 or older
- Must meet Discover card credit requirements
Blue Sky from American Express Credit Card
March 1, 2012
Account Type: Credit Card
Special Type: Bonus Points/Rewards Points
If you love to travel, the Blue Sky from American Express Credit Card may be right for you. This rewards credit card earns one point for every dollar you spend and offers an additional 7,500 points if you spend $1,000 in the first three months of owning the card. You'll also receive discount offers that can save you more money.
What you get:
- Earn one point per dollar on all purchases
- Earn an additional 7,500 points if you spend $1,000 in the first three months
- No blackout dates for travel
- Instant approval for qualified applicants
- No annual fee
- 0 percent APR on all purchases for the first 12 months
What they require:
- Must be 18
- Must be U.S. resident
- Must meet credit qualifications of American Express
Hyatt Credit Card from Chase
March 1, 2012
Account Type: Credit Card
Special Type: Travel
Are you a fan of Hyatt hotels? If you love to stay at Hyatt properties around the world, the Hyatt Credit Card from Chase may be the best travel rewards credit card for you. You'll earn two free nights the first time you use the card, and you can also earn Hyatt Gold Passport Points to redeem for more hotel nights. Every year, you'll also earn a free hotel night at a category 1-4 property on the anniversary of your card approval.
What you get:
- Two free nights at a Hyatt with first use of card
- One free night at a Hyatt category 1-4 property each year on your card anniversary
- No foreign transaction fees and Smart Chip protection on international purchases
- Earn three Hyatt Gold Passport points per $1 spent at a Hyatt
- Earn one Hyatt Gold Passport point per $1 for all other spending
- Unlimited rewards points can be redeemed for hotel stays
What they require:
- Annual fee of $75
- Must be 18 or older
- Must meet Chase credit qualifications
American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card
February 28, 2012
Account Type: Credit Card
Special Type: Bonus Points/Rewards Points
If you are looking to maximize your credit card spending with rewards, the American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card may be your ideal credit card. The current promotion offers 25,000 rewards points, redeemable for gift cards valued at $250, to users who spend $2,000 in the first three months of card membership.
In addition, you can earn three points per dollar on all airfare; two points per dollar on gas and groceries and one point per dollar on all other purchases. In addition to the benefits of Gold Card status, you'll also earn up to 10 points per dollar when you shop through the Membership Rewards website.
What you get:
- Three points per dollar for airfare
- Two points per dollar for gas and groceries
- One point for all other purchases
- Up to 10 points per dollar for purchases through Membership Rewards
- Gold Card benefits such as insurance, premium tickets at venues around the world
- Pay with points or transfer to a frequent flyer account
What they require:
- Must be 18 or over
- Must meet American Express credit guidelines
- $175 to upgrade to this card from another American Express card
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $175/year
