We need all the help we can get during these difficult economic times, and the latest offering from Citibank for those who currently own an AT&T Universal Credit Card delivers just that, as they’re giving away a $100 checking account bonus for those who open up a new checking account with them.

Now if you already have a checking account with Citibank and also use an AT&T Universal Credit Card, unfortunately you won’t qualify for the $100 bonus.

Among what are called the ‘qualifying activities’ to receive the $100 bonus, is to make a minimum deposit in the checking account, after you open it, of $1,000 by January 31, 2010. That’s not the only qualification, but it will be the major one for most of those looking to participate in the program and receive the bonus from Citibank.

Other activities you must participate in to receive the bonus would be to make a minimum of five signature debit card purchases for three straight months, or one direct deposit for three consecutive months, or make two electronic bill payments for three months in a row.

Understand that you don’t need to do each of the above, but you do have to perform one to qualify, along with the $1,000 deposit required by the end of January.

This offer is made to AT&T Universal Credit Card, and so you’ll receive the offer via your AT&T Universal Card statement. That’s the best place to look for it, although you can call the company or visit a nearby Citibank branch to sign up for it.

Remember that this deal ends by January 31, and if you’re interested in making an extra $100 over a relatively short period of time, this is a good chance to do it.

Nationally available, the Wise-Choice Checking account through Venture Bank Direct is an internet banking option with reward checking. The APY is 3.5% up to balances of $25,000, with balances greater than $25,000 earning 1% interest. In order to get this interest rate, you must meet three typical requirements of reward checking accounts. Venture Bank Direct reward checking account monthly requirements include the following:

1) You must use your VISA check card to make 10 purchases each month

2) Have a minimum of one direct deposit or automatic debit

3) Receive e-Statements rather than print statements.

This means you must be in the habit of using your Venture Bank Reward Checking regularly throughout the month in order to meet the 10 purchase requirement – and you will not be able to simply use the account as a save-it and forget-it option since if you simply make a direct deposit each month to the account but forget to use your VISA check card, you’ll miss out on the whole point of having a Venture Bank Reward Checking Account because the interest rate falls from 3.5% to a measly .25%!

Opening a Venture Bank Reward Checking Account requires a small minimum deposit of $100, but there are no minimum balance requirements to maintain or monthly account fees. You do not receive your checks for free – but you are not required to get your checks through Venture Bank if you want to shop around for lower cost options.

When you apply for Venture Bank Reward Checking, you will automatically open a Wise-Choice Savings Account as well (if you don’t already have one). This works out well, as you can only initiate ACH transfers through the savings account, and not the reward checking account and as there are no monthly fees for either account, you can benefit from having both.

In addition to earning interest on your checking account balance, the Venture Bank Reward Checking gives you free bill pay, free online banking, free e-Statements and any national ATM fees are refunded as long as you maintain the requirements listed above for receiving the 3.5% interest rate. The bank is FDIC insured.

It may be worth mentioning that Venture Bank has a troubled rating through both BauerFinancial and Bankrate due to it’s financial ‘soundness’ based on September 30, 2008 data. In March, the bank had a 3.5 star rating with BauerFinancial and 2 stars with Bankrate, so it seems the bank could be facing some difficult times due to their loss in investments with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

eLife checking is a reward checking account offered through Endura Financial FCU. It offers 4.5% APY on balances up to $25,000 and will refund up to $15 in ATM fees per month as long as you meet the monthly requirements of the account. Almost all reward checking accounts have minimum requirements that must be met in order to qualify for the ‘rewards’. eLife Reward Checking requirements include:

• Making a minimum of 12 electronic transactions per month. Electronic transactions include online banking, debt card purchases, ACH withdrawals (transferring money to another bank), and bill pay.
• One direct deposit made per month minimum
• Receiving e-statements instead of paper statements.

These three requirements are required in order to earn the 4.5% APY on your balances. If you fail to meet any of the minimum requirements, your interest earnings will drop to .25%. You do not have to maintain a minimum balance, though, which is a great incentive for people to save even if they tend to run their accounts down to the last few dollars occasionally! You can open an Endura Financial FCU eLife Reward Checking with as little as $25.

When you refer a friend to the credit union, you and the person joining will each receive a bonus of $50 in your reward checking, which is a big incentive to get on the phone and call your friends and family.

Membership is limited to people who live, work, worship or attends school in any of the of the following Minnesota cities: Brooklyn Center, Crystal, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minneapolis, New Hope, Robbinsdale and St. Louis Park. It also includes those in Jackson County, Missouri. You may be able to join via Select Employer Groups and family. For questions about eligibility for joinning the credit union, check the details on their Who Can Join page: https://www.endurafinancial.com/join.asp?DocID=111. The membership requires a $5 deposit into a share savings account. The credit union is FDIC insured.