scottjm's Content

#8964 $50 - ebank : for checking and MMA

Posted by scottjm on 08 October 2005 - 03:10 PM in Expired bank bonuses

seems these banks are getting a little more aggressive in marketing. Usually I find these bonuses here and other online sources, but in my mail today I received the MetLife and E-Trade bonus offers

#18482 0% offers from banks

Posted by scottjm on 25 January 2006 - 02:02 PM in General

If you suddenly have a big jump in your credit card debt it will lower your FICO. Unless your planning on getting a mortgage or other loan soon should not be a problem as it will come back up after paying down

#8867 10% 1 year CD from Allen Bank, local offer only

Posted by scottjm on 30 September 2005 - 11:29 AM in CD rates

Even if the offer is good nationally would hardly seem worth the trouble of opening an account and having yet another 1099 form, for $8.50 a month in interest Just a silly leader offer

#18168 4.23% APY with $50K Saving

Posted by scottjm on 07 November 2005 - 06:45 PM in Online banks

http://www.centennialrates.com/
4.23% Passbook savings. Problem with most Passbooks accounts is you need to go into the bank.

#18520 5% 5-month CD from BCP Bank (Astoria, Union and New Bedford North Branches only)

Posted by scottjm on 30 January 2006 - 12:00 PM in CD rates

Looks like you must go in to open. Saw this equally good offer on FW and open to everyone. Looks very easy to open online and they are a nice size bank at over 3 Billion in assets and Bankrates Safe&Sound give them 4*.

https://www.dimedirect.com/6mocd5.htm

Dime Savings Bank - 5.00% APY 6 month CD
$500 min, 250K max, expires on February 21, 2006
One account per household

https://www.dimedirect.com/6mocd5.htm or call 800-321-3463
PROMO CODE 3169615

#18775 5% emigrant direct 9 mo CD

Posted by scottjm on 17 March 2006 - 11:51 AM in CD rates

QUOTE(vivyip @ Mar 16 2006, 09:53 PM)

credit goes to lahen from FW

https://www.emigrant...cation/Form.jsp

Called the American Dream ‘My Way CD’ should have been called "No Way CD" 5% for 18 month CD is horrible and ranks way down on CD rates. Would have thought ED would have come out with something better.

#8358 6 month CD - 3.93% from CORUS Bank

Posted by scottjm on 30 July 2005 - 03:23 PM in CD rates

Just opened up a 4 month 4% CD at AMTrust a division of Ohio State Bank. Has to be a jumbo but was very easy to open
http://www.amtrust.c...ter/default.asp

#8952 Anyone converted US bonds from paper to electronic

Posted by scottjm on 07 October 2005 - 01:12 PM in General

My brother gave me a 1,000 U.S savings bond 7 years ago when my Daughter was born. I have searched high and low for it but seems it's lost for good. Someone told me there is a way to provide info to get a replacement. Anyone here ever done it ir know how to? Thanks in advance scott

#18766 Best CD rates in U.S. (updated on 03/15/06)

Posted by scottjm on 16 March 2006 - 11:15 AM in General

Can not beat Middlesex Savings Bank CD offer for any term from 3 months to 71 months at 5.25%.
Another great thing is they have DIF so could put in as much as you want, Also they are 4 Star rated and over 4 Billion in size

http://www.middlesex...l/rates_cds.asp

#18060 Best CD rates in US (Thanks Vivyip & uppchy!)

Posted by scottjm on 26 October 2005 - 01:18 PM in Bank lists by feature

State Farm bank offering nice 3 month CD. under $100,000 4.25% over $100,000 4.35%

http://www.statefarm...ank/fixrate.htm

#17951 Best CD rates in US (Thanks Vivyip & uppchy!)

Posted by scottjm on 18 October 2005 - 08:05 PM in Bank lists by feature

4.25% for 9 month no-penalty CD , $10,000 Min. Best thing is you can close and withdraw if better rates come along. Also they have DIF which covers any amount over FDIC
http://salemfive.com/

Transaction Limitations: You may close your account without penalty at any time after the first six days. You may not make deposits into the account during the term and no partial withdrawals.

#8477 Best rate for over 50k deposit w/FDIC

Posted by scottjm on 05 August 2005 - 12:33 PM in Bank Best Rates

For 100,000 and short term CD of only 4 month try AmTrust, a division of Ohio Savings bank. I just did one and was very easy to open
http://www.amtrust.com/

#17947 Comments on ING's new 'Video Game' log-in process?

Posted by scottjm on 18 October 2005 - 01:03 PM in Online banks

Read this in the Boston Globe this morning. Maybe ING is just trying to follow Fed guidelines? I look forward to better security in all my accounts. I know when it comes to Credit Card fraud you are not responsible, But have read very little concerning Bank account fraud. Anyone know how responsible you are and what is a Banks liability if someone hacks into your account? I subscribe to McAfee anti-virus and firewall and update daily. Anyone know if any of those other devises mentioned in this article are available?

Regulators tell banks to fortify Internet security
By Associated Press | October 18, 2005

Federal regulators will require banks to strengthen security for Internet customers through authentication that goes beyond mere user names and passwords, which have become too easy for criminals to exploit.

Bank websites are expected to adopt some form of ''two-factor" authentication by the end of 2006, regulators with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council said in a letter to banks last week.

In two-factor authentication, customers must confirm their identities not only through something they know, like a PIN or password, but also with something they physically have, like a hardware token with numeric access codes that change every minute.

Other types of two-factor authentication include costlier hardware involving biometrics or ''smart" cards that would be inserted into designated readers on a user's computer. Banks might also issue one-time passwords on scratch-off cards or require ''secret questions" about a customer's account.

#17928 Comments on ING's new 'Video Game' log-in process?

Posted by scottjm on 16 October 2005 - 12:12 PM in Online banks

Have not logged into ING for a few months so I just gave it a try and found it not bad. I keep an eye on all my bank, investment accounts and credit cards by using a portfolio gateway program from one of my banks. One login and all my accounts come up refreshed and shows any activity for the past week. Only time I would need to log directly into ING is if I want to do a transfer. If it does offer more security I am for it. Some accounts have become a little more difficult to get you extra security, Like when I did a CD thru AmTrust, They told me I will need to send a notarized letter to close account and get funds transferred out. Kind of pain but I guess necessary in today's World

#17946 EmigrantDirect 4%, Any Bonus???

Posted by scottjm on 18 October 2005 - 10:07 AM in Online banks

Does this count as a bonus? In my mail yesterday (10/17) I had a box from Emigrant , Had a nice hat in it and a letter thanking me for opening my account, Which I did about 4 months ago. Also the letter stated my rate just went from 3.25% to 3.50%. Guess either mail is very slow or they are a little behind.

#8606 Feedback about ING Direct

Posted by scottjm on 23 August 2005 - 09:58 PM in Online banks

My only problem I had with ING is that because I did not use for awhile the account went into a dormant status and i had to call to get it active again. So for anyone just parking money they should do a small transfer every few months

#17966 How can we join to get ING to raise their rate?

Posted by scottjm on 19 October 2005 - 06:09 PM in General

My Corus account just joined the 4% club with 4.01%, ING will have to move soon or I am in on telling them I will close

#18311 Indus American Bank

Posted by scottjm on 15 December 2005 - 11:04 PM in New Jersey

They just opened their doors this month, So seems they are not ready. What kind of rates were they offering?

History:

Nov 2004: Indus American Bank founded in New Jersey by Deepak Khanna & Meenu Khanna, Sharad & Lalita Wagle, Anil & Kumud Bansal, Pankaj & Sheetal Kapur, Amita Desai & Tom Birch, Umesh & Sonia Gidwani, Baleshwar & Ina Khanna, Andrew & Valerie Krieger
Dec 2004: Kevin Lenihan joins as the President and CEO of Indus American Bank
Aug 2005: Stock offering of $11.5 million
Nov 2005: Raised $12.5 million in Private Placement Offering
Dec 2005: Received Final Charter approval from State of New Jersey Dec. Received Final FDIC approval
Dec 2005: Opened the doors for business

#18343 Indus American Bank

Posted by scottjm on 24 December 2005 - 12:10 PM in New Jersey

Thought this sounded a little funny also
"I was sweet talked into opening an account at this bank by one of their employees at the local eatery"

#8941 ING Direct fires its customers

Posted by scottjm on 06 October 2005 - 10:01 PM in Online banks

I agree with ING firing high maintenance customers, More money they make better rates we get. Most of us here just park money in these online accounts anyway. That is why even though I have numerous online accounts I still depend on my local B&M bank for my banking needs and yes their rates are slightly lower they are the ones I wil go in for "maintenance" problems

#8942 ING Direct fires its customers

Posted by scottjm on 06 October 2005 - 10:03 PM in Online banks

I agree with ING firing high maintenance customers, More money they make better rates we get. Most of us here just park money in these online accounts anyway. That is why even though I have numerous online accounts I still depend on my local B&M bank for my banking needs and yes their rates are slightly lower but they are the ones I will go to for "maintenance" problems

#8963 ING Direct fires its customers

Posted by scottjm on 08 October 2005 - 11:11 AM in Online banks

Then I don't know why people are complaining about ING, Seems they are just following the rules. If you want great service go to your local bank, In most cases they will give the service but not the high rates. There is a trade off for going with the best rates

#8951 ING Direct fires its customers

Posted by scottjm on 07 October 2005 - 10:44 AM in Online banks

Ing calls the account a savings account and I am not sure if the rules for a savings are the same as a Money Market account. But Federal law does restrict withdrawals on a MM. Only problem I have ever had with ING was them freezing my account because of inactivity, now I just make sure I transfer out a small amount every few months. Below was copied from Bankrate.com site

Discipline through limits
The discipline derives from a cap. By law, you are allowed to make no more than six withdrawals and transfers per month if the transactions are overdraft protection transfers, automatic bill deductions, wire transfers, telephone transfers and PC banking transfers. However, money market account holders are usually allowed to make unlimited free deposits and withdrawals from ATMs in their network.
Money market account holders are allowed to write up to three checks per month. If the owner exceeds the allotment, a bank often will charge between $5 and $15 per check. Repeat offenders may have their accounts closed.

#17974 Is better login security worth spent time?

Posted by scottjm on 19 October 2005 - 08:03 PM in General

I voted yes, Am nervous with online accounts. I will never fall for a phishing scheme, I don't answer anything online and if it's real figure someone from the bank will eventually call. I subscribe to two different credit monitoring services that would alert me in minutes if any credit was opened in my name but there is not much in the way of banking protection available. Still trying to determining your liability if your account is hacked. Did notice a statement on an online agreement that said something about them not being liable for unauthorized use of your password and user ID

#17993 Is better login security worth spent time?

Posted by scottjm on 21 October 2005 - 02:30 PM in General

Wow, 4 votes. Seems security not a big issue. Should be as I read a couple million accounts a year have had sort of fraudulent usage. Phishing was the main culprit but keylogging has been a growing problem. Not worried about phishing and only safeguard I know of for keylogging is by keeping up to date on Firewall and Virus protection, Plus I type password really fast

Found there is protection for us under Federal Regulation E.

Below shows some of it points:

What's covered
Any transfer initiated through an "electronic terminal, telephone, computer, or magnetic tape for the purpose of ordering, instructing, or authorizing a financial institution to debit or credit an account." These include point-of-sale transfers, automated teller machine transfers, direct deposits or withdrawals of funds, transfers initiated by telephone, and transfers resulting from debit card transactions, whether or not initiated through an electronic terminal

Consumer liability
When a debit card or other "acccess device" is lost, such as an online banking password, consumer liability is capped at $50 for those who notify banks within two business days. Consumers who notify the bank within 60 days have their liability capped at $500. After 60 days, if the consumer doesn't inform the bank, any charges which occur become the consumers' responsibility. If no access device is lost, and fraudulent charges mysteriously appear on a consumer's account, the liability clock begins when the bank notifies its customer of the activity, usually through regular monthly statements.