Atlantic Coast Bank has a high interest savings and checking account that work together to help you save more. The bank’s Kasasa Cash checking account has a 3.25% annual percentage yield (APY). The Kasasa Saver is a high interest savings account with a 2% APY and is linked to the checking. Details of the offer include:

• Nationwide ATM fees up to $25 refunded on checking account are automatically deposited into savings account
• Free checking
• No minimum balance or monthly fees
• Minimum opening deposit of $100 for checking account and $5 for savings

To qualify for the bank rates you must:

• Make a minimum of 10 debit card purchases
• Set up one direct deposit of ACH automatic payment from your checking account
• Receive electronic statements

Even if you don’t meet the requirements to earn the bank rate on the savings and checking, both accounts are free. During that time you earn a base rate of 0.1% on the checking account, which gets automatically deposited into the savings. The combined balance earns a base rate of 0.3% APY.

Once you meet the requirements again, you can earn the 3.25% APY on checking and 2% APY on savings. Bank rates are accurate as of Nov. 16, 2009.

Atlantic Coast has branches throughout northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. But residents of other states can apply online for a bank account

Provident Bank has a free Smart Checking Account with a 3.26% annual percentage yield (APY) on balances up to $25,000.  To receive the bank rate on the checking account you must meet the following requirements:

• Must  make 10 Provident Visa debit card signature purchases during each statement cycle
• Receive one direct deposit or process one automatic ACH debit per statement period
• Receive statements electronically

The checking account also has the following features:

• 0.75% APY on portion of balance above $25,000
• ATM fees nationwide are refunded if requirements met
• No monthly service fees

If you don’t meet all the requirements of the account, the bank rate falls to 0.25% on the entire balance. However, you can start over during the next statement period to meet the requirements to earn the higher bank rate. During this time the checking account is still free.

Interest on the checking account can change at any time. The daily balance method is used to calculate interest, which is paid monthly and posts to the account on the last day of the statement period.

You don’t have to do anything to receive a refund of ATM fees as long as you meet all the requirements of the account. However, only ATM fees in the U.S. are refunded, not those incurred abroad.

Provident Bank is based in Jersey City, N.J.

Open a Citibank checking account by March 31, 2010 and receive a $100 bonus. You must be a new Citibank checking account customer and make a minimum deposit of $1,000.

Within the first month of opening a regular checking account you must begin making at least one direct deposit, two electronic bill payments, or five non-PIN debit card transactions each month for three consecutive months.

Eligible purchases must be made through the MasterCard Network and include those you sign for or small dollar purchases that do not require a signature. Purchases made made through other payment processing networks do not qualify.

Other details of the bank deal include:

• Free ATM access at over 26,000 Citibank ATMs in the U.S., including machines at 7-Eleven stores
• Free online bill pay
• Free mobile banking
• Free identity theft solutions

Existing Citi credit card customers received this offer, which requires a code of C2CA to open an account and qualify for the deal. You can apply online or by phone, but check to make sure you qualify for the $100 bonus. The bonus is deposited into your account within 120 days from the end of the statement period that you meet all the requirements.

This offer is only available to people 18 and older, and is limited to one per customer.

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Many banking customers have noticed more fees being tacked onto their checking accounts. It seems like no matter where you look it’s tough to get away from rising fees at banks for everything from overdrafts to ATM use to just maintaining an account.

Some financial experts say that people with checking accounts could see even more fees because of changes in credit card legislation, according to USA Today. “This is Business 101. If you take losses in one area, you try to offset them in other areas of operations,” Adam Levitin, a law professor at Georgetown University, told USA Today.

Banks have searched for new revenue streams during the troubled economy, which in some cases has resulted in higher fees for things like overdrawing multiple times or using a debit card for foreign transactions. A 2008 study by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) found that overdraft fees accounted for 74% of service fees on bank accounts.

Fees can really eat into the amount of money you have stashed in a bank account. If you feel that your bank is nickel and diming you, it’s probably time to shop around and compare bank deals. Get the fee schedule for accounts you are considering and ask if they have recently increased any fees or plan to do so.

Residents of certain states can take advantage of a checking account deal at Sovereign Bank that offers a cash bonus. The bank deal requires you to open a Premier Checking Account and Premier Money Market account to qualify for a $150 cash bonus.

Details of the checking account offer include:

• $100 minimum deposit
• Must enroll in free online banking when opening account
• Set up and receive one direct deposit within 60 days of opening account
• Use a Sovereign Debit Card for five purchases within 60 days of opening checking account
• $150 bonus deposited to your account within 75 days once requirements are met

Sovereign Bank doesn’t charge a fee to use ATMs at other banks. However, a fee may be imposed by non-Sovereign Bank ATMs.

The money market account offers a 1.5% annual percentage yield (APY) for three months for balances between $10,000 and $499,999. The money market also has no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement as long as you have a Premier Checking Account.

You must be a resident of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, or the District of Columbia. New money market and checking accounts must be opened by March 13 to qualify for the $150 bonus and 1.5% APY.