Looking for a new checking or savings account?  Unhappy with your bank and want to switch?  Just like credit card companies compete with one another with their rewards programs, banks compete with each other for new customers by offering sign-up bonuses.  Here are several institutions, banks, and online payment companies that are offering cash bonuses when you open a new account with them:

IngDirect Savings and/or Checking Accounts: 

If you are referred by a current ING account holder, you can get a $25 bonus for opening either a savings or a checking account through ING (with a minimum opening deposit of $250).  I have an ING account with both a savings and checking account and love them both.  It’s online banking at it’s best.  For the few bills I pay each month that don’t actually let me pay online, I just fill in a “check” through my ING account online, and they physically print and mail it for me (I don’t even pay for the stamps).  There are a number of other benefits with the ING bank accounts, including above average interest rates you earn on your money, and the ability to make direct deposits into other people’s bank accounts without paying any fees (like an e-check).  If you want to get a referral to receive your $25 sign up bonus, email ggreenblog@hotmail.com and let him know!

Bank of America Personal Checking Accounts

Open a Bank of America personal checking account before July 31st, 2008 and use offer code AOU260508 to receive a $75 sign up bonus.  You can apply online or at your nearest Bank of America location, but you will only qualify if you do not already have a Bank of America account.  Student checking accounts also will not apply.

Wachovia Checking Accounts

Have a Wachovia account?  Refer a friend and you both get a $25 bonus, in the form of a Wachovia prepaid Visa card, when the friend opens their checking account.  If you don’t have an account already, find someone who does to give you a referral certificate (printable right from the Wachovia website) and you can both earn $25 for the time it takes to print out the form and fill it in.  Can’t find anyone with a Wachovia account?  This person will find one so you can get the bonus (and so can the other guy!): maximizingmoney@gmail.com

Keybank Student Checking Accounts

Need a student account?  Students who sign up for the Keybank Free Student Checking Package (pretty much everything you need, including a checking account, debit and credit card) will receive a free 4GB iPod nano.  Offer expires August 28, 2008.

Midwest Bank

New customers opening a checking and relationship savings account with Midwest Bank get a $100 bonus when you set up the checking account to have a direct deposit.  Only one $100 bonus allowed per household.

 Sovereign Bank

Students who open a checking account with Sovereign Bank with a minimum of a $10 deposit and sign up for the Visa CheckCard are rewarded with a $24 iTunes gift card bonus.

Westbridge Bank and Trust

The Westbridge Bank and Trust wants to help you pay for your gas.  Open an interest checking account (current interest yield of 3.55%) and receive a free $50 BP gas card as a sign up bonus.  If you have some money to store in a CD, open an 18 month CD with a minimum of $5,000 (at 3.65%) and receive a $100 BP gas card bonus.

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