ING Direct Electric Orange $50 New Account Bonus 2011 and Weekend Linkage

Online bank ING Direct is currently offering $50 bonus for opening an Electric Orange Checking Account. Electric Orange is a paperless checking account from ING Direct. I have featured Electric Orange as one of the best interest checking accounts early last year. But in case you are not familiar with it, here’s a quick look of what you will get from the account. Basically Electric Orange is a truly free checking account. You don’t have to maintain a minimum account balance to avoid monthly fees, which have been quite common now among big banks for their once free checking account. Electric Orange has no account minimum, no initial deposit requirement, and no monthly fee. The account is protected by FDIC insurance for up to $250,000. It has a three-tier interest rates depending on the account balance, which yields from 0.25% APY to 1.15% APY.

• Balance $0 – $49,999.99: 0.25% APY
• Balance $50,000.00 – $99,999.99: 1.10% APY
• Balance $100,000.00 or more: 1.15% APY

As an account holder, you will also get A free MasterCard Debit Card for you to make everyday purchases, free online bill pay and free access at over 35,000 ATMs (Allpoint network ATMs). If you want to use Electric Orange to make payments to your friends or other people, you can use P2P Payment for free.

While there is no additional requirement to join ING Direct and open an Electric Orange Account, there is, however, one condition to get the bonus: You need to make at least 3 signature-based purchases with the Debit Card in the first 45 days after the account has been opened. Once the 3 purchases are made, the bonus will be deposited to your new Electric Orange Account directly.

Weekend Reading

• 12 Steps to a Cleaner and more Productive Workspace: One more task for spring cleaning.
• Do You Spend Windfalls Differently than Regular Income?: Totally possible, since I don’t have to work to earn it.
• Last Minute IRA Tax Deduction: In case you still haven’t finished filing your 2010 tax yet, you may find some extra deductions to reduce your tax bill.
• 10 Steps To Balance A Checkbook:
• Giving Away Free Intuit TurboTax Premier Software: Or even will a tax preparation software for free.
• Four Money-induced Attributes to be Wary About: Inflated lifestyle, insolence, omniscience, and closed mindset. Do you have any?
• Renters Insurance 101: All you need to know about renters insurance and why you need one.
• Garnish My Wages – Appeal IRS Wage Garnishment: In case you are in that situation, see what you can do and how to do it.
• 10 Steps To Balance A Checkbook: Some very practical steps if you are learning the skill.