Comments on: Get a Checking Account That Offers Interest (48/365)

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:15:07 +0000

Yeah, Kai, I think we can infer that you’re correct about the interest rate. I’m willing to bet the photographer was working out of the printed copy of the book rather than Trent’s posts. So maybe she took this picture without any future knowledge of what Trent was going to say here.

This is going to sound dumb, but as much as I don’t mind the 1, I really didn’t like the 3 at all. Perhaps because it seems like a lazy attempt at a series of alike photos, or the 3 is ambiguous enough that when you turn it on its side, it looks like a letter instead of a number. That picture came across more as an attempt at seeming artful rather than having an artful element to it.

By: Kai

Kai — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:19:16 +0000

It’s an okay photo of a number stuck to a wall. What we all can’t figure out is what on earth the subject is supposed to indicate. Especially given the same photo with a different number on the next post.
Is this the best she could come up with to theoretically represent 1% interest? (My guess since the other post has a 3).

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:58:01 +0000

Bah I don’t mind the picture, or the article either for that matter(what interesting insight about the discussion with the editor, and the follow-up that even now a 0.5% interest rate on a regular checking account would be something to brag about). The picture has depth-of-field, interesting color contrast, and unique composition of the subject. It is certainly not the perfect picture, but its not wretched either.

By: Tristan

Tristan — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:34:43 +0000

Seriously, I can appreciate that you want to improve your quantity of posts, and bring in new readers (these are good “Googleable” topics after all) but you’re really alienating your readers by offering the same stuff we’ve been hearing for 5 years.

By: Kai

Kai — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:24:51 +0000

I think the numbers are taped to a wall with old paint.
I’m equally baffled as to what that is to represent.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:57:26 +0000

All else being equal, of course it’s better to earn interest on your checking account. But all else is rarely equal. Every interest bearing checking account I’ve ever seen has had more restrictions, requirements, or fees than the no-interest account at the same bank.

By: elyn

elyn — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:50:16 +0000

Okay, I was holding back from saying anything snarky about the photos on this site, but they’ve been wearing me down. Honestly, I get a little depressed now when I click on The Simple Dollar, and a lot of that is the photos. They just have this blah feel that gets to me. But this one? What the what? A number one in the mud? Why???????? It is both perplexing AND depressing.

By: Jen

Jen — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:44:35 +0000

Boring…where is Johanna?

By: Kristin

Kristin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:25:06 +0000

If you can find an interest rate on a checking account at 1% right now, I’d be completely astounded. It’s hard to find high-yield savings accounts, even ones that are online, that even get percentage. ING Direct’s Electric Orange Checking account only gives you 0.9% if you have a whopping 100k in the account.

By: David

David — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:15:30 +0000

I confess, I am totally baffled as to what that picture is supposed to represent.

By: krantcents

krantcents — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:11:10 +0000

I earn interest on my checking account, but it is practically nothing. Less than a dollar per month.

By: lurker carl

lurker carl — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:06:13 +0000

Make sure you jump through all the hoops to keep your accounts accruing interest payments. Stuff like maintaining minimum balances, required ATM usage, direct deposits, etc. Something as simple as changing jobs and having a break in the direct deposit clause will be enough to change an account from interest paying for you to fee generating for the bank. Choose carefully.

Banks assume their customers are too deeply ingrained into the automatic payments and bill payer website and other ‘conveniences’ to change to a better financial institution.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:06:54 +0000

We have a checking account that offers interest. Besides keeping the account open, we have to use our debit card 10 times during the month and have at least one direct deposit.