While I appreciate the kind words, above . . . . . . .
Fair warning:
Posts over on Ken’s page create concern about endurance of the current Ascent MM interest rate.
The rate continues to show at 1.25% this morning. This is July thirty-first and tomorrow is first of August.
Do not count your chickens.
Only seeing one drop today so pretty darn good for a Friday that is also the last day of the month!!
PenFed Premium Online Savings was 1.00% now 0.90%
I’ve been following this thread from afar for years.
I think most people are moving around very large sums in this thread, but in this low interest rate environment, I wanted to at least highlight a few low limit options with super high interest rates. Most of these I’ve had for several years and the rates have stayed same or gone up, so these are not “teasers” per se although no one can predict the future.
Options (all nationwide, although some require sign up for an “affiliated organization” first; all FDIC insured):
Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) - 6.17% up to $1k per person, this one has small referral bonus as well ($20 for referred, $10 for referring) for the associated checking account
Service Credit Union (this one has been around but I’ve only signed up recently) - 5% up to $500 and additional 3% up to $3k, this one has a fairly generous referral bonus ($100 for referred and referring, very easily triggered even with mobile check deposit from self to self or ACH transfer despite requiring direct deposit in terms) for the associated checking account
Netspend Card and its associated family members (ACE Elite, H-E-B Netspend, Western Union NetSpend, Brinks) - 5% up to $1k on each card (these used to be up to $5k on each card years ago); these are not “bank accounts” per se but the linked savings account is FDIC insured and held by a bank. They do require avoidance of “inactivity fees” with regular ACH transfers (I do $1 from Ally automatically transferred every 2 months). The card itself has all sorts of fees if you use it, but you can avoid this simply by not using the card for anything and just using these for the savings account. It is a little bit of a hassle to open up 5 of these given the $1k limits for each, but as rates keep dropping, it becomes more favorable. These also have a small referral bonus (although can only use once across the family), most it is $20 for referrer and referred.
Hope that helps and sorry if these are too low limit for most people here.
Also, from memory, DCU doesn’t allow beneficiaries at all (they say needs to be a trust account if you want beneficiaries) and Netspend products also don’t have such an option. Not sure about service credit union but I’ve seen reports that, if you do request beneficiaries, you should do this after you are finished with any referral bonuses, etc.
Happy to share more information in the post or via direct message if someone is interested, let me know.
On their website it looks like its just 3% up to 3k rather than 5% on up to 500.
Primary Savings Account has 5% up to $500:
Holiday Club Account has 3% up to $3k which is completely separate from above:
Interesting. Thanks for the clarification.
Happy to help!
I found my old Service CU account with $10.06. So I opened the Holiday Club Account. 3% for $3000 is not peanuts
I’m going to check on the Savings Account @ 5% for $500.
Thanks for the information.
Happy to help!
Baxter Credit Union - 2% up to the first 15k, if you make 15 transactions and $500 direct deposit, per month.
Just signed up for Service Credit Union myself, through a referral for the $100 sign up bonus, and to use Citi double cash credit card funding of $249. Happy to refer as needed (P2K0423960256); Obviously, I also did the holiday account at 3% up to $3k and savings at 5% up to $500.
I am very pleased with the service and plan to stay a member. For eligibility to join the credit union, one can join American Consumer Council for free using the promo code “consumer” at Membership. Then join via referral code in the paragraph above at Checking - Service Federal Credit Union. You will likely need to send in documents/photos of Dr license for proof of identity, but a mobile deposit of $500 to your checking has triggered the bonus on the same day, if a biz day. Good luck and let me know if you need more info!
Wish I had had the referral before hand, but to bad. I’m already signed up now. Thanks for the offer.
Sounds like you signed up a while ago; did they have a signup bonus for the checking account then?
No I am a previous Service CU member with a small balance $10+. Today I signed up this promotion, but didn’t have a referral for the $100 bonus.
Pretty sure the bonus is for new members, not new accounts for existing members. So you wish couldnt be granted regardless. 
That’s what I thought too, but when you read the T&C, it reads like it’s actually for referring the checking account.
I believe DCU requires a hard credit pull to join. Has anyone joined recently that can weigh in? How about Service Credit Union - does anyone know if it’s a hard pull to join?
FWIW, DCU hasn’t required a hard pull in some time. When I joined at the end of 2018 there was already no hard pull.
Service CU is soft pull also.
Both do pull ChexSystems and will show up on your Chex report.
Yes. The referral is for checking account. I received that one when I signed up fairly recently for Service CU which is nice but I like the high interest accounts.
With that, the checking account is somewhat intriguing as they have an “International Bill Pay” (although maybe not strictly for checking don’t know) and some kind of “V Card” that works in Europe. Won’t be using either for some time though as no travel.
For the last several weeks, last couple of weeks anyway, I have been wrong about Northern Bank (NBD). So wrong. I do not enjoy being wrong it cost me money being wrong.
I’ve no clue what is supporting their high interest rate on liquid funds (1%) . . . even for balances as low as a buck!
Sure, you can get 1% elsewhere. At Bellco, for example, they will pay you 1% on your liquid MM funds. But they require you to have a balance of fifty grand to obtain that rate of interest. Drop below that lofty number and your interest rate falls off a cliff.
So how is NBD pulling this off? And how much longer can their interest rate house of cards, if that is what it is, endure before it collapses?
I certainly wish I knew. But I clearly have no clue. I thought the NBD interest rate would decline several weeks ago.