scottjm's Content

#18134 Top rates for Savings and Money Market accounts

Posted by scottjm on 03 November 2005 - 11:17 AM in Bank Best Rates

ING bumps up to 3.5%, Not much but enough to keep me there awhile longer. Is still a better rate than what I can get from most local banks, Including large banks like BOA or Citizens. Am looking at opening an interesting new account with Salem Five bank. It's called the Platinum Cash account. Rate is tied to the 1-month Libor rate that is posted on the first of every month in the Wall street Journal. Has unlimited check writing and withdrawals, Free worldwide ATM and bunch of other perks. Does have a $200,000 Min but it is currently paying 4.17% and Libor rate moves pretty much with our FED rate so could simplify the process of chasing rates. And since they have DIF you are covered for any amount

#18095 Top rates for Savings and Money Market accounts

Posted by scottjm on 30 October 2005 - 12:57 PM in Bank Best Rates

WFB bumps up to 3.68/3.75. Not a lot, but more pressure on ING?

#18014 Top rates for Savings and Money Market accounts

Posted by scottjm on 22 October 2005 - 11:53 PM in Bank Best Rates

Highest MM in Country, 4.50% For $25,000 and above
http://www.superiorsavings.com/

#18004 Top rates for Savings and Money Market accounts

Posted by scottjm on 22 October 2005 - 12:45 PM in Bank Best Rates

AmTrust is offering 4% for $50,000 and over and 3.75% for over $25,000
http://www.amtrust.com/

#17949 Top rates for Savings and Money Market accounts

Posted by scottjm on 18 October 2005 - 06:33 PM in Bank Best Rates

http://www.salemfive.com/
This CD could be considered a MM. They are offering a 9 month No Penalty CD at 4.25%, 10,000 Min. You can withdraw anytime with no penalty after 6 days. I have used this bank for awhile and they offer DIF which covers any amount over FDIC.

#18151 Top rates for Savings and Money Market accounts

Posted by scottjm on 04 November 2005 - 01:37 PM in Bank Best Rates

Found this nice deal at a local Cooperative Bank.
They are offering a Passbook saving account at 4.07% with 25K Min. Rate guaranteed till 05/01/2006. Might only be good as a local deal, Located just North of Boston, as I don't know if you must go in for a Passbook account. Also offering a 8 month CD at 4.5%. Another plus is they have SIF which covers any amount over FDIC, Might now be time to take some $$ out of ING to open with them
http://www.equitable...com/intsav2.htm

#8785 Top rates for Savings and Money Market accounts

Posted by scottjm on 20 September 2005 - 11:17 AM in Bank Best Rates

Eastern bank 4% Money Market with min of 10,000. Rate guaranteed through 3/31/06
Nice for me as local bank and I allready have accounts there

1 Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is based on average daily balance of $10,000 or more. For balances less than $10,000: 0.50% APY applies. A minimum of three Select Checking transactions per statement cycle required to earn Maximum Money Market Account (MMMA) APYs. APYs quoted are accurate as of 9/12/05 and are guaranteed through 3/31/06, thereafter rates are subject to change. Minimum of $10,000 in non-Eastern Bank funds required to open MMMA; deposits limited to $250,000. Certain transaction limits apply. Fees may reduce earnings. Select Checking Account with $50 opening deposit required. Three months from Select Checking account opening, a $5,000 combined balance among designated accounts required to avoid monthly service charge. Personal accounts and MA residents only.

#18177 Top rates for Savings and Money Market accounts

Posted by scottjm on 08 November 2005 - 01:33 PM in Bank Best Rates

WFB bumps again to 4%. Making ING's .10% bump up look pretty sad

#8789 Top rates for Savings and Money Market accounts

Posted by scottjm on 20 September 2005 - 10:39 PM in Bank Best Rates

Woopie I also have Emigrant . With Fed not taking a Katrina break today and signaling further hikes ahead looks like we will see more banks going up. Great time to be liquid

#18212 Top rates for Savings and Money Market accounts

Posted by scottjm on 18 November 2005 - 09:46 PM in Bank Best Rates

WFB moves up to 4.25%

#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.

#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"

#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

#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/

#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

#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

#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

#18794 List of Institutions that pull hard credit inquiries when opening a NON-CREDI...

Posted by scottjm on 20 March 2006 - 11:18 AM in General

QUOTE(markber @ Mar 19 2006, 05:24 PM)

Since questions about hard credit inquiries was asked here, I thought it would be useful to copy a list SUCKISSTAPLES's thread on FW regarding this issue. If you know a bank that does this and is not not listed below, please post bank name (and URL) in a reply to this thread.

Here they are:

American Express Co. pulled Experian for a One Financial account without margin (combination brokerage/savings).
ATTWS - equifax
Bank of America pulled Trans Union for a checking account.
Bank Of America - Pulled a hard enquiry after applying *only* for savings account.
Bank of Atlanta
Bank of New York pulled Experian for a checking account and a savings account.
Brookline Bank pulled Experian for a checking account.
Brown & Co. pulls a hard one for EACH account that you open with TransUnion.
Charter One Bank pulled Equifax for a checking account under the name St. Paul Bank Corp.
Chase Manhattan Bank pulled Trans Union for a checking account.
Cingular Wireless
Citibank pulled Equifax (for opening 6-month CD)
Citibank pulled Trans Unions for a checking and savings account opened at the same time.
Citizens - checking - equifax
Comcast cable TV and HSI
Costco AMEX car insurance ran a hard Inquiry on me
Countrywide
DCU (Digital Federal Credit Union) pulls a hard inquiry from Equifax when applying for membership.
Directv
Everbank pulled Experian for a Money Market Account.
Flagstar Bank
HARRIS BANK -- CD
Indiana Members Credit Union
Johnson & Johnson by Yale & Associates on Experian- employment
local gas & electric utility (We Energies - Wisconsin)
Local Honda dealer- check + 5K credit card
local Nissan dealer (Coral Springs Nissan Auto Mall) pulled a hard one when I browsed their inventory
Local Toyota dealership- cash transaction
MARQUETTE NATIONAL BANK -- CHECKING, SAVINGS, CD AND SAFE DEPOSIT BOX
Meadows Credit Union pulled Trans Union for a checking account.
mechanics bank (sf) did hard pull from equifax for a checking account.
Muriel Siebert & Co. pulled Experian for a brokerage account without margin.
Pentagon Federal Credit Union
Presidential Bank pulled Equifax for a checking account under the name Presidential Savings.
Principal Bank pulled Equifax for a checking account.
Progressive Insurance
Salem Five pulled Equifax for a checking account.
Schwab did hard pull from equifax for a checking account.
SCOTTRADE did a hard on my Equifax CR
Suntrust pulls an Equifax for opening of a checking account
T-Mobile for cell phone service on Transunion.
UFBDirect.com - 3.30% on High Yield Money Market Savings
US Bank
Verizon
Wells Fargo

source: fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=52&threadid=260724

AmTrust http://www.amtrust.com/ Did a hard pull on a CD I did with them
Not sure why you listed utilities like Verizon. Comcast and Cingular, Those would be considered credit accounts. I was surprised recently when my home phone thru Verizion suddenly showed on my report after having it for over 10 years, Did not mind as it made my FICO go up. Anyone interested in maintaining a good credit score had better now treat utilities bill payments just like credit card and loan payments

#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

#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

#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

#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.

#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