• 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

If you apply for a mortgage loan to purchase or refinance a home, you get a shot at winning $250,000 to pay off your mortgage. Details of the offer include:

• Apply for a loan between March 7 and April 30, 2010
• Existing TD Bank mortgage customers are automatically entered into the drawing
• Six weekly winners get $2,500 toward their mortgage payment
• Grand prize winner to be announced in May

“As an Aaa-rated bank that is safe and sound, TD Bank does not sell our conforming or jumbo mortgage loans, creating an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our customers,” said Michael Copley, Retail Lending Senior Vice President at TD Bank.  ”Additionally, we continue to originate high quality performing loans. We are very excited to pay someone’s mortgage off and help our customer obtain the American dream despite the tough economy.”

If you plan to take advantage of the bank deal and apply for a mortgage, don’t forget to see if you are eligible for the homebuyer tax credit of up to $8,000.

• 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.

All of those banks aren’t necessarily going to fail, but bank failures are expected to reach a high point this year. Total assets of the troubled banks rose during the quarter to $402.8 billion from $345.9 billion. The FDIC did not release the names of the 702 troubled banks.

The agency says it has cash and marketable securities that total $66 billion. The FDIC required most insured banks to prepay about three years worth of deposit insurance premiums at the end of 2009 to help provide funds needed to handle bank failures this year and into the future. Those prepayments totaled $46 million.

Last year 140 banks failed, the highest number since 1992. You can search for failed banks here.

The FDIC is an independent federal agency that was created in 1933. When banks have failed, the agency has helped insured depositors recover their funds promptly. You can find out if your accounts are fully insured by the FDIC in case of a bank failure.

• Savings rate of 1% annual percentage yield (APY)
• No fees
• No minimums
• No service charges
• FDIC insured up to $250,000

You must open a business savings account by March 15, 2020 and use the reference code BSA326 to receive the bonus. The cash bonus is deposited into the account when it is opened and can be withdrawn after 30 days.

The 1% savings rate is effective as of Feb. 24, 2010, but is a variable rate that can change at anytime. Interest on your savings accrues daily, is compounded monthly, and credited to your balance each month.

The savings account is available to many kinds of businesses, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations, and not-for-profit organizations. You can set up the account for you and two other people to have access with separate logins and customer numbers.

You don’t have to change banks to open a business savings account at ING Direct. You are required to link a business checking account from another bank with your ING Direct savings.

ING Direct offers 24-hour banking online and has customer service representatives available to speak to you from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  every day of the week.