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Bank deals that offer cash or freebies are always nice to find. TD Bank has a gift card promotion for debit card users. Register your TD Bank Visa Debit Card and get a $10 TD Bank gift card for every $100 you spend on groceries. The details of the offer include:

• Must sign for grocery purchases with debit card between Jan. 17 - March 6, 2010
• Earn up to $50 in gift cards
• Must use debit card at eligible grocery stores
• Purchases made as superstores, warehouse stores, or discount stores are not eligible
• Purchases must post to your account during the offer period to qualify
• Online purchases do not qualify unless the merchant identifies them as grocery store transactions

The total amount of grocery purchases using your debit card get totaled up at the end of the promotion period. The total purchase amount includes tax. TD Bank mails the gift card to the address you used when signing up for an account.

TD Bank deals also include a Consumer Debit Card Instant Win Game. You must register your debit card for a chance to win a $500 TD Bank gift card. You can play the game once a day for a chance to win the gift card.

Forbes.com points out that you need to keep in mind that some bank deals for gift cards may include certain fees. Banks can charge dormancy fees for not using cards or for checking a card balance after a certain number of months.

Five more banks failed on Friday.  Two of those banks had assets over $1 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. So far this year nine U.S. banks have failed. Even the best banks continue to struggle in the weak economy and are dealing with customers defaulting on loans.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) seized the assets of five banks on Friday, including:

• Premier American Bank, based in Miami, which had its assets sold to a unit of Bond Street Holdings LLC of Naples, FL.
• Bank of Leeton, based in Leeton, MO– Sunflower Bank of Salina, KS bought $20.4 million of the failed bank’s deposits.
• Charter Bank of Sante Fe, NM had most of its $1.2 billion in assets sold to Beal Financial Corp.
• Evergreen Bank in Seattle, WA had all its deposits and most of its assets transferred to Umpqua Bank of Roseburg, OR.
• Columbia River Bank of The Dalles, OR–Columbia State Bank of Tacoma, WA acquired $1 billion of its deposits and $1.1 billion of its assets.

About 174 banks have failed since 2008. You can search for point of contact information for failed banks on the FDIC website. More banks are expected to fail this year.

Doral Bank Direct has one of the best certificate of deposit (CD) rates this week. The bank is offering a 1.9% annual percentage yield (APY). Other details of the CD offer include:

• $1,000 minimum to open
• Principal and interest must remain on deposit to earn promotional CD rate
• 1.9% CD rate only available for new accounts
• Insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

You also must maintain a minimum daily balance or $1,000 to earn the CD rate, which is guaranteed for the entire term. Interest on CDs is earned daily and compounded quarterly. You can withdraw earned interest without a penalty. However, early withdrawals are subject to a penalty. Other CD rates as of Dec. 2, 2009, are:

• 1.25% APY for 6 months
• 1.4% APY for 9 months
• 1.5% APY for 18 months
• 1.75% APY for 24 months
• 2% APY for 36 months
• 2.25% APY for 48 months
• 2.5% APY for 60 months

You can open a CD online or by mail. You must be at least 18 and either a U.S. citizen or resident alien.

Doral Bank Direct is the online unit of Doral Bank FSB, based in New York.  The bank began operating in 1999 with a goal of bringing financial services to under-served communities, including the growing Hispanic population in the U.S.

Redneck Bank has more than a colorful name. It has a couple of competitive bank deals for money market and checking account customers.

The bank offers a Mega Money Market account with a 2% annual percentage yield (APY). Details of the offer include:

• No minimum balance required
• No monthly maintenance fee
• 2% APY on balances up to $35,000
• 1% APY on amounts over $35,000

The money market account also allows six free withdrawals each month. There is a $5 fee for each additional withdrawal.

The money market also comes with a free Visa CheckCard and free online banking. You can also sign up for overdraft services.

The Rewards Checking is a free account. Redneck Bank is currently offering checking customers a 4% APY for balances up to $10,000 and 1% APY on amounts over that. Details of the checking account include:

• No minimum balance
• Must receive statements electronically
• Must make 10 sales transactions with Visa CheckCard each month
• Free daily notification if you overdraw account
• Free online banking and customer service
• Overdraft protection available

Redneck Bank is an online bank that is owned by the Bank of the Wichitas, which has been in business since 1913. The bank is based in Snyder, OK. Accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC).

If you live in or near Pickens County in Georgia there are a some bank deals you may be interested in. The Community Bank of Pickens County has some of the best certificate of deposit (CD) rates this week. The small bank is based in Jasper, Ga., and you must visit a branch to open an account.

CD rates as of Jan. 16, 2010, include:

• 1.25% APY for 6 months for balances under $50,000
• 1.5% APY for 6 months for $50,000 and up
• 1.9% APY for 12 months for under $50,000
• 2.15% APY for 12 months for $50,000 and up
• 2.05% APY for 24 months for under $50,000
• 2.3% APY for 24 months for $50,000 and up
• 2.15% APY for 36 months for under $50,000
• 2.4% APY for 36 months for $50,000 and up
• 2.45% APY for 60 months

The bank has CD rates for other terms, too. Those rates include a variable 12-month CD with a 1.75% APY for deposits under $50,000 and a 2% APY for $50,000 and up. CD rates can change at any time so contact the bank to get the most current information on any deals.

Opening a CD requires a minimum deposit of $500. Withdrawing money early results in penalties, which can reduce total earnings.

Community Bank of Pickens County has two full-service branches and 10 ATMs throughout the area. The bank also offers access to accounts online and you can elect to receive electronic statements.