From October 6-18, you’ll be able to collect a $75 bonus from PNC Bank when you open up a new PNC Personal Checking Account with qualifying direct deposit. 

Here’s how you get your $75 –

• The payout of $75 will be deposited within 7 days of your first direct deposit, which must be by 12/31/2008.
• According to PNC, a direct deposit is of a paycheck, pension, social security or other regualr monthly income.  It must be at least $500.
• Offer is only made to NEW customers only.

To get more information on this deal, check out PNC’s bonus page.

For a limited time you can get a $100 cash bonus from Provident Bank when you open up a checking account.

Here’s what you need to do –

Open up a new Totally Free, Regular, Interest or Platinum Checking Account by 11/21/2008 that has direct deposit and a Provident MasterMoney(TM) Debit Card by 12/31/2008.

Minimum opening deposit is $25.

As of 8/22/08, the Interest rate with this checking account is .15%, Platinum: 30%.  Yields will vary.

This offer is only open to those that reside in DC, MD, PA, VA or WV.

To get more information on this deal, visit Provident Bank’s website to get all the detals.

Omni Bank raised it’s rates over the week that everyone should check out.

Founded in March 1976, Omni National Bank is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are a subsidiary of Omni Financial Services, Inc., a publicly traded bank holding company.  Omni Financial Services, Inc.’s common stock trades via the Pink Sheets under the symbol “OFSI.PK”.

Here are the rates as of 10/7/2008

2 year - 4.60% - $5,000 minimum

3 year - 4.75% - $5,000 minimum

5 year - 5.05% - $5,000 minimum

To get more information on this bank or sign up for a rate, simply visit their website.

Some people have e-mailed me asking if this bank is safe or no, etc.  I’m going to use BankRate.com’s bank rating system (the one we use on the site) and I’ll list all the banks that are in the Top Ten as of October 2008 with a rating of 4 or higher.  Here’s the list –

EverBank - http://www.everbank.com 
[3 month CD @ 4.02%, $1,500 min]

Ascencia - http://www.ascenciabank.com
[6 month CD @ 4.07%, $500 min]

Giant Bank - http://www.giantbank.com
[6 month CD @ 3.56%, $2,500 min]

AmTrust Direct - http://www.amtrustdirect.com
[1 year CD @ 4.30%, $1,000 min]

Advanta - http://www.advanta.com
[18 month CD @ 4.50%, $10,000 min]

Discover Bank - http://www.discoverbank.com
[18 month CD @ 4.39%, $2,500 min]

iGObanking - http://www.igobanking.com
[18 month CD @ 4.30%, $1,000 min]

1st Source Bank - http://1stsourcebank.com
[2 year CD @ 4.45%, $5,000 min]

OnBank - http://www.onbank.com
[3 year CD @ 4.70%, $500 min]

M+T Bank - http://www.mandtbank.com
[3 year CD @ 4.50%, $5,000]

Capital One - http://www.capitalone.com
[5 year CD @ 5.05%, $5,000]

There you have it, all of these banks have a star rating of 4 or higher.  Generally, when a bank has a 4 star rating or higher, they tend to have a pretty safe outlook.  This doesn’t mean you should avoid the lower star rated banks.  As long as you keep your accounts under the FDIC limits, your money will be fine.