Kraken Crypto/Brokerage: Up to 2% Deposit Bonus w/ 12-Month Hold

Posted on October 7, 2025 // 4 Comments

Kraken is offering up to a 2% deposit bonus in October for any customer that deposits $1,000+ in cash or crypto during October. The deposit bonus will vary from 1% to 2% depending on total deposits across all customers, with the strange rule that when $500 million in total aggregate deposits are made and the full 2% deposit is triggered, the entire promo ends immediately, so you need to have participated by then. The bonus will then be paid within 14 days after the promo ends, in their USDG stablecoin.

Net deposits are calculated by total cash and crypto deposited, minus withdrawals during the promotion period. Your deposits earn a 1% match rate, which can boost up to 2% based on community progress. The final rate is set based on the total community net deposit value at the end of the promo (Oct 31 or when $500M is reached).

You must keep your net deposits at Kraken through November 1st, 2026. You can trade your deposit, and market fluctuations are okay as long as you don’t withdraw any funds. Full terms here.

Kraken is best known as a crypto exchange, but as of early 2025 they now offer US stock trading under Kraken Securities through a partnership with Alpaca (press release). The terms say that you can trade your deposits, so technically I don’t see why you couldn’t move your cash to Kraken, buy a T-Bill ETF like SGOV or VBIL (current SEC yields ~4.11% and 4.12%), and basically earn up to an additional 2% APY on your cash for a year.

A 2% deposit bonus for a 12-month hold is a pretty good deal. For me, the main catch is that you have to trust the US regulatory agencies that manage SIPC insurance in case Kraken Securities fails during the next year. ETFs held in an SIPC brokerage account are definitely better than an uninsured crypto account, but I just worry it could be messy, so I’d probably size my risk (deposit amount) accordingly.

If you haven’t already, you should also grab Kraken’s $75 new crypto account bonus and 30 days of free money spins, where I earned almost $20 in random crypto like DOGE and PEPE:

Filed Under: Deals & Offers, Investing //

Mesa Homeowners Card: Mortgage Rewards + Up to 50,000 Point Bonus

Posted on October 2, 2025 // 10 Comments

Mesa is a new fintech focused on “homeowners”, currently with a credit card and mortgage lending product. Their Mesa Homeowners Visa Card (issued by Celtic Bank) currently has a 50,000 points bonus albeit with a pretty high spending requirement. The card does have a unique set of perks that could be valuable.

Bonus details:

  • 50,000 bonus points after $12,000 or more on eligible purchases within the first 3 months (90 days) of Card Membership. Offer currently set to expire 10/15/25.
  • To receive this offer you must apply and be approved for the Mesa Homeowners Card between 9/19/2025 – 10/15/2025 Must use code SEPT50 or CHRIS50 at card application to qualify for the offer.
  • Must apply via iOS or Android app.
  • Bonus points will be credited to your account within 8–12 weeks after the qualifying purchase threshold is met.
  • You are not eligible to receive this welcome offer if you currently have the Mesa Homeowners Card, or if you are a previous Mesa Homeowners Card holder.

Card details:

  • 1X Mesa Point per $1 on your monthly mortgage payment, up to 100,000 points annually, when you spend at least $1,000 during your statement cycle on eligible purchases with your Mesa Homeowners Card.
  • 3X Mesa Points on purchases categorized under Home Decor, Home Improvement, General Contractors, Cable & Streaming Services, Home Insurance, Property Taxes, Maintenance, Telecom, Utilities and daycare. 2X Mesa Points on groceries, gas, EV charging. (Note: Target, Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club do NOT count as 2X.) 1X Mesa Points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • This is a confusing statement, and indeed the rewards system is a bit funky. You can earn points based on your stated monthly mortgage amount, BUT you don’t actually pay your mortgage with this credit card. However, you must charge $1,000 to the card on other things, in order to trigger the mortgage-linked rewards.
  • $65 Costco Annual Credit – When you join Costco or renew your existing membership on the card.
  • $120 Lowe’s Annual Credit – Maximum of $30 per quarter. Must link your myLowes Rewards account.
  • $200 Thumbtack Annual Credit – Hire trusted pros for home projects
  • $100 Armadillo Home Warranty Credit
  • $120 Wag! Annual Credit – On-demand pet care
  • $120 The Farmer’s Dog Annual Credit – Fresh, healthy meals for your pup
  • No annual fee.


Fine print on the credits here.

What can Mesa points be redeemed for? Yet another currency and point system to track.

  • 1.2 to 1.4 cents per points via their Travel Portal.
  • 0.8 cents per point when you cash out towards your mortgage, even though you don’t actually pay your mortgage with it (it goes into your linked bank account).
  • 0.8 cents per point towards gift cards.
  • 0.6 cents per point as a credit card statement credit.

You can also transfer to the following at a 1:1 ratio, except for ALL which is only at a 1.5:1 ratio.

Air Canada Aeroplan
Air India Maharaja Club
Finnair Plus
Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club
SAS EuroBonus
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
Vietnam Airlines LotusMiles
Accor Live Limitless (1.5 Mesa -> 1 ALL point)

Personally, I’d probably either go with the 0.8 cents value virtual mortgage offset, or transfer to Air Canada points.

Bottom line. This is a new fintech and so there may be some hiccups with applications, identity verification, and them changing up their features and workarounds. However, the potential first-year value is very high if you can satisfy the high initial spending hurdle. That’s up to 50,000 points upfront + 100,000 points per year on mortgage, which is worth at least $400 + $800 in cash (technically towards your mortgage).

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers //

Bank of America Credit Cards – 2% More Rewards Day on Thursday 11/6/2025

Posted on September 28, 2025 // 4 Comments

Back for 2025. Bank of America has a one-day credit card promotion called “More Rewards Day” on Thursday, 11/6/25. Depending on your BofA credit card type (both consumer and business cards are all eligible), you can earn an additional 2% cash back or 2 points or miles/$1 spent on up to $2,500 in purchases made on 11/6/25 only (Eastern time zone!), up to a $50/5,000 point cap per unique credit card account. That’s on on top of the rewards you’re already earning. No enrollment required.

Eligible cards include:

Customized Cash Rewards
Unlimited Cash Rewards
Travel Rewards
Premium Rewards®
Premium Rewards® Elite
BankAmericard® Power Rewards®
BankAmericard Rewards®
MERRILL+®
MERRILL+® Elite
Atmos™ Rewards Ascent
Atmos™ Rewards Summit
Royal Caribbean®
Celebrity Cruises®
Norwegian Cruise Line
Beaches
Sandals
Free Spirit®
Allegiant
Air France KLM
BankAmericard®

You can get up to a $50 bonus on each of your unique BofA credit cards. Note that it expires 11:59pm in the Eastern time zone. It appears that somehow they can track the “transaction date” separately from when it posts to your statement. Note that some retail websites don’t actually charge you until a physical item ships.

Only Purchases that post to your account and appear on your statement with a transaction date of 11/06/2025 will qualify. Merchants may impact when a transaction will appear on your statement, particularly if they delay processing of the purchase. Transactions with delayed processing of 90 days or more will not be eligible to be included in the promotional offer.

Some possibilities beyond timing the normal bonus categories on your unique cards:

  • Pay estimated income taxes at PayUSATax.com for currently a 1.75% fee.
  • Pay your insurance premiums upfront. My State Farm grouped monthly bill can also be timed using manual payment.
  • Pay your utilities, property taxes, phone bills, and other monthly bills upfront. Sometimes it just costs a one-time flat fee to pay by credit card, which can be worth if you are charging $1,000+.
  • Make your annual charitable contributions for this year on this date.
Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers //

Closing US Bank Accounts to Avoid Annual Fee After Smartly Credit Card Negative Changes

Posted on September 25, 2025 // 10 Comments

As of 9/15/25, my US Bank Smartly credit card was downgraded from 4% cash back for my situation to the more restrictive version of the negative changes to the US Bank Smartly credit card, which matches what is available to new applicants. In other words, a 2% cash back card. Going for any higher cash back rewards tier would actually lose you money due to the interest you must give up on your bank balances.

US Bank changed the terms of their product less than 6 months after many people applied and opened multiple new accounts, including myself. Rather disappointing, although I would have accepted the less restrictive version. But now, since I can get better cash back elsewhere, it was time to tear down the US Bank relationship that I had previously been incentivized to build.

Before 9/15/25, I had:

  • Smartly Checking account with active deposits and withdrawals.
  • Smartly Savings account.
  • Smartly Credit Card with thousands of dollars in monthly transactions.
  • US Bancorp Investments Self-Direct Brokerage account with $100,000+ in assets.

After the negative changes, I will have:

  • Smartly Checking with $5 balance.
  • Smartly Savings (closed).
  • Smartly Credit Card with no regular activity.
  • US Bancorp Investments Self-Direct Brokerage account (closed).

This minimal setup keeps a few accounts open for possible future use, but in the meantime there will be no regular activity and no fees. The US Bank Smartly Checking has a $12 monthly fee that can be waived with a U.S. Bank Smartly credit card. The US Bank Smartly credit card itself has no annual fee. I’ll make a transaction on the checking and the credit card once a year to maintain activity and prevent closure. Hibernation mode.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers //

CIT Bank Platinum Savings Account: Up to $300 Deposit Bonus (EXPIRED)

Posted on September 23, 2025 // 3 Comments

This promotion is EXPIRED as of 1/28/26. I am leaving up the details for those that did it in the past.

Past details on now-expired offer:

CIT Bank had a limited-time deposit bonus on their Platinum Savings (EXPIRED 1/28/26).1 The bonus depends on deposit amount, and it is open to both new and existing customers*. Importantly, the bonus is in addition to the interest rate, currently a competitive 3.75% APY2 (as of 11/20/25) with a balance of $5,000 or more. There is a minimum $100 deposit to open a new account.

* Important note: The fine print states: “Customers who previously participated in the PS2025 promotion and received the associated bonus are not eligible to participate in the PS2025 promotion again.” This was an earlier promotion from around March 2025.

New deposit bonus details. For new customers, you must first open a new account with at least $100 and promo code PS2025 at this special offer link. You’ll get multiple confirmations that you are enrolled in the promo during the application process.

If you already have an CIT Bank existing account, you still need to first officially enroll in this offer via the “Start savings now” button and then logging into your CIT Bank account. If you have other types of CIT Bank accounts already, but need to open a new Platinum Savings account, you can do that easily as well.

There are only two tiers for the bonus, either $25,000 or $50,000. Qualifying funds must come from an account outside of CIT Bank. (Transfers from existing CIT Bank accounts will not qualify for this promotion.)

  • A new deposit of $25,000 to $49,999 within 30 calendar days of your open/enrollment date will get you a $225 cash bonus.
  • A new deposit of $50,000+ within 30 calendar days of your open/enrollment date will get you a $300 cash bonus.

There is a limit of one Platinum Savings promotional offer per account and per Primary customer. If multiple Platinum Savings accounts are opened, only one account per primary account owner is eligible.

All customers who qualify for the $225 or $300 bonus offer will receive the bonus in the enrolled Platinum Savings account within 60 days after the 30-day funding period. The enrolled Platinum Savings account must be open at the time of the bonus payment to qualify. You can fund all at once or in multiple transfers, it just has to be done within the 30-day window.

Note that there is no minimum holding period. You just need to fund within the 30-day period after your opening/enrollment date. After that initial 30-day period, your account just needs to be open at the time of the bonus payment, which is another 60 days after the 30-day mark. You do not have to maintain the balance during those additional 60 days, although you could choose to keep it there until the bonus arrives.

Effective APY rough numbers. The lack of minimum holding period makes the potential effective APY theoretically sky-high. For the sake of rough numbers, if you assume you keep the money there for 30 days, here are the effective interest rates you could get as either a new or existing customer:

  • For a new/existing customer earning the $225 bonus on $25,000 in new deposits with a 30-day hold period, which also qualifies you for the current 3.75% APY tier, that works out to a total 14.55% APY for 30 days (10.8 + 3.75).
  • For a new/existing customer earning the $300 bonus on $50,000 in new deposits with a 30-day hold period, which also qualifies you for the current 3.75% APY tier, that works out to a total 10.95% APY for 30 days (7.2 + 3.75).

You can see that the $25k tier works out to be a higher percentage, but you get more absolute money if you have enough fund for the $50k tier.

The Platinum Savings account has no minimum balance fees, no monthly service fees, no inactivity fee. However, make sure you keep $5,000 in there to qualify for the highest interest rate tier.

Bottom line. CIT Bank has really good limited-time deposit bonuses from time to time, and thankfully they are also usually available to existing customers. Right now is one of those times, with a new up to $300 Platinum Savings deposit bonus and it is indeed open to both new and existing customers. The bonus is on top of the interest rate, currently 3.75% APY (as of 11/20/25) with a balance of $5,000 or more.

This offer is for a limited-time only, and they may end it at any time.

1Official promotion disclosure:

This limited time offer to qualify for a $225 cash bonus with a minimum deposit of $25,000 or a $300 bonus with a minimum deposit of $50,000 is available to New and Existing Customers who meet the Platinum Savings promotion criteria. The Promotion begins on November 20, 2025 and can end at any time without notice.

Click here to see promotion details and terms.

2APY disclosure for Platinum Savings:

Platinum Savings is a tiered interest rate account. Interest is paid on the entire account balance based on the interest rate and APY in effect that day for the balance tier associated with the end-of day account balance. *APYs — Annual Percentage Yields are accurate as of December 15, 2025: 0.25% APY on balances of $0.01 to $4,999.99; 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000.00 or more. Interest Rates for the Platinum Savings account are variable and may change at any time without notice. The minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $100.

For complete list of account details and fees, see the CIT Bank Personal Account disclosures.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers //

Apple TV+: Free Month (New or Returning Subscribers)

Posted on September 23, 2025 // Leave a Comment

Apple TV+ is offering a free 1-month trial, available to both new and returning subscribers. Auto-renews at the end of the month if you don’t cancel. However, Apple is good about subscriptions – if you cancel early, even immediately after signing up, you still get to use it until the end of the trial, after which it will end without issue. I just do it all in one motion. I enjoyed Ted Lasso and Shrinking. Hat tip DoC. Fine print:

1. Code expires on January 7, 2026. New and qualified returning subscribers only. This is a promotional code and is not for resale, has no cash value, and will not be replaced if lost or stolen. Valid only for Apple TV+ in the United States. Requires Apple ID with payment method on file. Apple TV+ renews for USD$9.99/month after the promotion until canceled.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers //

The Platinum Card® from American Express Review: Lots of New Perks, Bigger Credits, Increased Annual Fee

Posted on September 19, 2025 // Leave a Comment

card_name

Updated with new perks, increased credits, and increased annual fee. card_name is the classic premium travel card, with an extended list of luxurious perks along with a hefty annual fee. It’s time for another look again as they have added many new perks and increased their annual fee. Notable, none of the previous credit and features were removed, so all the improvements can be easily compared to see if you feel they offset the annual fee increase.

Here is the sign-up bonus and rewards structure:

  • As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • 5X Membership Rewards(R) points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel(R), including Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel(R) on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
  • 1X MR points on other purchases.

Here are the many statement credits included with the card:

  • NEW! $300 lululemon Credit. Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card(R) for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
  • NEW! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy. When you use the Platinum Card(R) to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card(R). Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
  • Improved: $300 Digital Entertainment Credit (up to $25 per month). Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card(R) at participating partners. Enrollment required.
  • Improved: $600 Hotel Credit. Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel(R) using the Platinum Card(R). *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • Improved: $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit. With the Platinum Card(R) you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card(R) to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card(R) to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
  • $200 Airline Fee credit. Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card(R) Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit. Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card(R). *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R) credit. Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck(R) application fee (through a TSA official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card(R). Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • $209 CLEAR(R) Plus Credit. CLEAR(R) Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card(R). *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
  • $100 Saks Credit. Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card(R). That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
  • $300 Equinox credit annually. Up to $300 back in statement credits each calendar year towards an Equinox membership. Enrollment is required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike credit. $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike. Enrollment is required.
  • American Express Global Lounge Collection(R). With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection(R), over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club(R) visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass™ Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
  • $895 annual fee.
  • See Rates and Fees

Note the following language:

Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.

Not sure about your history? The application will tell you if they detect that you are not eligible for the bonus based on their records. Given that you can only get the welcome offer once time per lifetime, it is best to apply during a limited-time offer.

Membership Rewards points can be converted to the following airline and hotel programs (there are more, this is just a selection):

  • Delta SkyMiles
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • JetBlue
  • ANA Mileage Club (partner of United Airlines)
  • Air Canada (partner of United Airlines)
  • British Airways (partner of American Airlines)
  • FlyingBlue (Air France/KLM)
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • Choice Privileges
  • Hilton Honors
  • Marriott Rewards (Starwood)

They also run limited-time 25% to 40% bonuses on points transfers. You can also transfer to gift cards many retailers at varying rates, but many available at the rate of 10,000 MR points = $100 gift card. My most recent redemption was a $100 Home Depot card for 10,000 points, sometimes less when they run special discount. However, don’t expect the cash-equivalent prepaid credit cards at that rate, it’s usually closer to a 0.6 cent/point ratio.

American Express Global Lounge Collection. With American Express Global Lounge Collection(R), eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,550 airport lounges globally, including:

  • The Centurion® Lounges
  • Delta Sky Club(R) Access when flying an eligible Delta flight
  • Escape Lounges
  • Priority Pass(TM) Select Lounges. Enrollment required
  • Lufthansa Lounges, when flying Lufthansa Group
  • Plaza Premium Lounges

Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass™ Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express(R) App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.

Adding together all the many credits, you can easily see that the perks can easily add up to much more than the $895 annual fee. The question is whether you can take advantage of those perks and how much value you personally get out of them. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Bottom line. card_name has added an impressively large list of new perks while also adding a generous welcome offer. You’ll have to see if your lifestyle matches up to the perks that this card offers.

I will be adding this improved offer on my list of Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

(See Rates and Fees)

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, General //

The Business Platinum Card(R) from American Express Review

Posted on September 19, 2025 // 7 Comments

card_name

Updated with improved welcome offer, new perks, and increased annual fee. card_name is the ultra-premium AmEx business card with a very long list of perks and statement credits. You also get a broad airline lounge access program and an improved welcome offer. I’ve tried to keep it brief, but there is a lot to cover:

  • Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card(R) within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • Unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
  • NEW: Up to $600 Hotel Credit. Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card(R). The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • Up to $200 Hilton Statement Credit. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Business Platinum Card® Account. Enrollment required.
  • NEW: Up to $150 Dell credit. Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
  • NEW: Up to $250 Adobe credit. Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
  • Up to $360 Indeed credit ($90 per quarter). Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
  • Up to $120 Wireless telephone credit ($10 per month). Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
  • 5X Membership Rewards(R) points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • 2X Membership Rewards(R) points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
  • 1X points on other eligible purchases.
  • 35% Airline Bonus. You can receive 35% Membership Rewards® points back after you use the Pay With Points feature for all or part of a flight booked with American Express Travel if the flight is either First or Business class or on your selected qualifying airline, up to 1,000,000 bonus points back per calendar year.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Business Platinum Card®. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • CLEAR(R) Plus Credit: Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR(R) Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
  • $895 annual fee.
  • See Rates and Fees

Note the following language: “Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product.” You can only get the welcome offer on the Platinum Business AmEx once time per lifetime, so it is best to apply during an improved offer (and also the time when perks have been added but before the annual fee increase).

American Express Global Lounge Collection. The American Express Global Lounge Collection(R) can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.

  • The Centurion® Lounges
  • Delta Sky Club(R) Access when flying an eligible Delta flight
  • Escape Lounges
  • Priority Pass(TM) Select Lounges. Enrollment required.
  • Lufthansa Lounges, when flying Lufthansa Group
  • Plaza Premium Lounges

35% Airline Bonus details. Let’s say your selected airline is Delta, and you want to buy a couple economy Delta tickets for $1,000 using their Pay with Points features. This means that $1,000 ticket booked through AmEx Travel will only cost you 65,000 Membership Rewards points net (100,000 points and then 35,000 point rebated back). This improves the 1 cent per point value to 1.54 cents per point value. This means that 120,000 Membership Rewards points can be worth $1,848 in airfare on your selected airline.

Transfer partners. You can transfer Membership Rewards points to 16 airline and 3 hotel partners including Delta, British Airways, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Air Canada, Hilton, Starwood Preferred Guest, and Choice Hotels. If you’re good at snagging award tickets, you can get even better value this way.

Bottom line. card_name is the ultra-premium AmEx business card that includes a HUGE list of perks. Add them up for your own situation and see how it compares with the annual fee. Keep in mind that the annual fee can also count as a business expense.

The net first-year value of this card is easily over $1,000, as it is definitely one of the Top 10 Best Business Card Offers.

(See Rates and Fees)

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, General //

Amazon Music Unlimited: Free 3 or 4-Month Trial (Free Audible Audiobook Each Month)

Posted on September 17, 2025 // 3 Comments

As part of the run-up to Amazon “Prime Big Deal Days”, you can get a free 3-month or 4-month trial of Amazon Music Unlimited (standard is only 1-month). Beyond the usual ad-free and on-demand music, Amazon Music Unlimited now also includes 1 free Audible audiobook every month. There are some excellent finance books available; I’m currently listening to Bill Gates’ memoir Source Code. This promo is usually targeted but seems widely available to both new and past customers including those who’ve done free trials in the past (like me).

As usual, it is set to auto-renew at the end of the trial at $11.99/month ($10.99/month for Prime customers) if you don’t cancel. As usual, you can also cancel right away and still be able to use the service until the trial ends.

(Reminder that I’m not allowed to use Amazon affiliate links in e-mails, so you may have to view this post online to see the link.)

This offer of a monthly Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan is a limited time offer, available only to new subscribers to Amazon Music Unlimited. After the promotional trial, your subscription will automatically continue at $11.99/month ($10.99/month for Prime customers) plus applicable tax until you cancel. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Digital content and services may only be available to customers located in the U.S. and are subject to the terms and conditions of Amazon.com Services LLC. Offer limited to one per customer and account. Amazon reserves the right to modify or cancel the offer at any time. Offer is non-transferable and may not be resold. If you violate any of these terms, the offer will be invalid.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers //

Connexus Credit Union: Rewards Checking $300 Bonus + 5% APY

Posted on September 12, 2025 // Leave a Comment

Connexus Credit Union has a $300 bonus for their Xtraordinary Checking Account, which is a “Rewards” checking account that requires a number of debit card transactions and other activities to earn a special rate (currently 5% APY). Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization Connexus Association for a one-time $5 fee. Here are the promo highlights:

  • Must open a new Xtraordinary Checking Account between 9/08/2025 and 11/09/2025 with promo code XTRABONUS. Individuals who previously had a Connexus Checking Account are eligible, so long as the account closure occurred before 7/01/2025.
  • Meet the following account requirements for two month-end periods within 120 days of account opening:
    • Make 15 debit card purchases or accumulate $500 in debit card spending.
    • Be subscribed to eStatements.
    • Make one monthly deposit of at least $500 from either a direct deposit or an ACH deposit.
  • Bonus will be based on your average daily balance during the two qualifying months:
    • $0 bonus: $999.99 or less
    • $100 bonus: $1,000.00 – $4,999.99
    • $200 bonus: $5,000.00 – $9,999.99
    • $300 bonus: $10,000.00 or more

Notably, the “monthly deposit” does not have to be a Direct Deposit of payroll. ACH transfers count. From their fine print:

What qualifies as a monthly direct deposit or an ACH deposit (from a non-Connexus account) into my Xtraordinary Checking Account?
Some example deposits for this account requirement include direct deposit from payroll, retirement benefits, or government benefits.

Additionally, you can use Connexus Digital Banking to link to an external account at a different financial institution and transfer funds into your Xtraordinary Checking Account each month to meet the ACH deposit requirement.

I currently have my direct deposit going to another institution. Can I set up a monthly $500 ACH transfer from my other financial institution to meet this account requirement?
Yes, this would meet the monthly direct deposit account requirement. Please contact us to ensure you have the correct information to set up your ACH transfer.

Besides the bonus, these same monthly requirements will also qualify you for the top 5.00% APY rate on balances up to $25,000. This means you can get both. The checking account has no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirement. They offer a handy tool to make sure you are qualifying.

Technically, you can earn the $300 bonus with a $10,000 balance held for only 2 months (say 60 days) or even less if you finish the qualifying activities within a partial month (like the rest of September and then October). $300 on $10,000 held for 60 days is 18% APY annualized. You’d also be getting the 5% APY rate as well with qualifying activities.

Connexus CU has historically offered some competitive CD rates in the past. Readers at DoC report that they are tight on identity verification and thus may ask for a utility bill, Social Security card, etc. I like that you don’t have to switch over your direct deposit for this bonus, although you do have to make a bunch of debit card purchases. Amazon $1 purchases and Self-checkout are your friend!

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers //

Kraken Brokerage: 2% ACAT Transfer Bonus on Stocks & ETFs

Posted on September 10, 2025 // 4 Comments

Kraken is best known as a crypto exchange, but as of early 2025 they now offer US stock trading under Kraken Securities through a partnership with Alpaca (press release). They’ve got that VC money and an IPO coming up, so you know that means a high cash burn rate to show high growth! I already saw that with their $75 new crypto account bonus and 30 days of free money spins, where I earned almost $20 in random crypto like DOGE and PEPE:

Until 9/30, Kraken is also offering a 2% ACAT transfer bonus, paid in USDG stablecoin with no cap and 1-year minimum hold period. That’s a pretty solid bonus, with the main concerns being that Kraken is a crypto-first company and there may be some headaches even with SIPC insurance and all that. I’m thinking of moving my US Bank SGOV assets over since they nuked my Smartly 4% card, but I’m a little wary of this brand new brokerage that seems to have been put together by duct tape. In any case, here are the promo highlights.

  • 2% bonus on ACAT transfers of stocks/ETFs. No cap. Offer expires 9/30/25. 1-year minimum hold period after 10/1/25.
  • The terms indicate you must be Kraken+ subscriber (costs $5 a month or $50 a year) when the bonus is calculated after 1 year, but I’m not sure if they will want you to be a subscriber for the entire year hold period. The language states “Kraken+ subscribers are eligible for a 2% bonus.”, so to be safe I’d probably keep it the entire time.
  • Bonus is paid in USDG in , which is Kraken’s dollar stablecoin. If you don’t want to be paid in crypto, it looks like you can sell it to trade, but you can’t withdraw it from the platform until the year is done. I’m not sure how this works in terms of 1099s at the end of the year.
  • Kraken Securities will reimburse you for any outbound ACAT fees from your originating broker.

Here’s how I would approach this bonus:

  • If I didn’t have a Kraken crypto account yet, I’d open one first and grab this $75 referral bonus.
  • For the next 30 days, I’d set a reminder and make sure I open my app and do my daily spin for all 30 days and see if I get a luck $1,000 payout, but probably closer to $15-$30 total.
  • In the meantime, I’d sign-up for the 30-day free trial of Kraken+ to sell whatever crypto I didn’t want to keep with much lower transaction fees as a Kraken+ subscriber. This would also prep me for this ACAT bonus.
  • I would then quickly transfer whatever I wanted for the this bonus by 9/30. Even if it was just safe SGOV or other T-Bill ETFs, I’d still be getting 2% on top. If I moved $50,000, 2% would be $1,000. Kraken would get nice shiny numbers for their IPO decks. I’d hold for 1 year, making sure I still had Kraken+ on 10/1/26 and then move it to the next bonus.
  • Most importantly, I would avoid speculating money on crypto. 2% is a solid guaranteed bonus on top of existing buy and hold assets, but you can easily lose 2% on crypto in a single day and then some!

Here are important excerpts from the fine print:

What is this promotion?
A limited-time incentive offering for eligible U.S. users, providing up to a 2% bonus for qualified transfers of stocks/ETFs into Kraken Securities via ACATS. Kraken+ subscribers are eligible for a 2% bonus. Non Kraken+ users will receive a 1% bonus.

Who is eligible?
U.S. residents only, excluding New York and Maine. Users must be fully verified and approved to trade equities. Users must have opened and been approved for a Kraken Securities account.

What do I receive if my ACAT qualifies?
You receive up to a 2% bonus (2% for Kraken+ users, 1% for non-Kraken+ users) in USDG based on the value of stocks and ETFs you transfer into Kraken Securities via ACATS during the promo window. The value of the transferred assets is determined at the time the qualified ACAT transfer is successfully completed. The bonus is credited after the promotion period ends and placed on hold for one year (usable for trading but not withdrawable until the hold is lifted).

When does the hold period end and how is the hold lifted?
At the end of the one year holding period, which starts on October 1st 2025, the bonus will become eligible for withdrawal provided that the client’s total net transfers into eligible equities remain equal to or greater than the initial value upon which the bonus was calculated.

Is there a maximum reward amount I can receive?
No.

In what currency will the bonus be paid?
Global Dollar (USDG)

Does Kraken reimburse the sender ACATS fees?
Yes. Kraken Securities will reimburse you for any outbound ACAT fees your sending broker may charge you. This reimbursement is not dependent on this promotion and does not have a minimum value requirement to be eligible for reimbursement.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers, Investing //

Best Interest Rates Survey: Bank Accounts, Treasury Bills, Money Markets, ETFs – September 2025

Posted on September 9, 2025 // 11 Comments

Here’s my monthly survey of the best interest rates on cash as of September 2025, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. Banks and brokerages love taking advantage of our idle cash, and you can often earning more money while keeping the same level of safety by moving to another FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union. Check out my Ultimate Rate-Chaser Calculator to see how much extra interest you could earn from switching. Rates listed are available to everyone nationwide. Rates checked as of 9/9/2025.

TL;DR: Savings account interest rates are mostly stable (maybe a tiny bit lower on average) with one at 4.8% APY but most struggling to stay above 4.00% APY. Short-term T-Bill rates have fallen slightly, now ~4.2%. Top 5-year CD rates are ~4.25% APY, while 5-year Treasury rate is ~3.6%.

High-yield savings accounts*
Since the huge megabanks still pay essentially no interest, everyone should at least have a separate, no-fee online savings account to piggy-back onto your existing checking account. The interest rates on savings accounts can drop at any time, so I list the top rates as well as competitive rates from banks with a history of competitive rates and solid user experience. Some banks will bait you with a temporary top rate and then lower the rates in the hopes that you are too lazy to leave.

  • The top saving rate at the moment: HUSTL Financial at 4.80% APY (no min), a division of Vantage West Credit Union, member NCUA (and thus not a fintech). No direct experience with this one; was recently lowered from 5%. The “good/excellent” savings rate zone appears to be roughly 4% and above. CIT Platinum Savings is now at 4.00% APY with $5,000+ balance. There are many banks in between.
  • SoFi Bank is at 3.80% APY + up to 4.50% APY for 6 months + $325 new account bonus with qualifying direct deposit. You must maintain a direct deposit of any amount (even $1) each month for the higher APY. SoFi has historically competitive rates and full banking features.
  • Here is a limited survey of high-yield savings accounts. They aren’t the top rates, but a group that have historically kept it relatively competitive such that I like to track their history. I call this the “okay/good” zone of 3.50%+.

Short-term guaranteed rates (1 year and under)
A common question is what to do with a big pile of cash that you’re waiting to deploy shortly (plan to buy a house soon, just sold your house, just sold your business, legal settlement, inheritance). My usual advice is to keep things simple and take your time. If not a savings account, then put it in a flexible short-term CD under the FDIC limits until you have a plan.

  • No Penalty CDs offer a fixed interest rate that can never go down, but you can still take out your money (once) without any fees if you want to use it elsewhere. Marcus has a 13-month No Penalty CD at 4.15% APY ($500 minimum deposit). Farmer’s Insurance FCU has a 9-month No Penalty CD at 4.25% APY ($1,000 minimum deposit). USA USALLIANCE Financial CU has a 11-month No Penalty CD at 4.20% APY ($500 minimum deposit).
  • Eagle Bank has a 12-month certificate at 4.40% APY ($1,000 min). Early withdrawal penalty is 90 days of interest.

Money market mutual funds
Many brokerage firms that pay out very little interest on their default cash sweep funds (and keep the difference for themselves). Note: Money market mutual funds are highly-regulated, but ultimately not FDIC-insured, so I would still stick with highly reputable firms.

  • Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX) is the default sweep option for Vanguard brokerage accounts, which has an SEC yield of 4.20% (changes daily, but also works out to a compound yield of 4.28%, which is better for comparing against APY). Odds are this is much higher than your own broker’s default cash sweep interest rate.
  • Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund (VUSXX) is an alternative money market fund which you must manually purchase, but the interest will be mostly (100% for 2024 tax year) exempt from state and local income taxes because it comes from qualifying US government obligations. Current SEC yield of 4.20% (compound yield of 4.28%).

Treasury Bills and Ultra-short Treasury ETFs
Another option is to buy individual Treasury bills which come in a variety of maturities from 4-weeks to 52-weeks and are fully backed by the US government. You can also invest in ETFs that hold a rotating basket of short-term Treasury Bills for you, while charging a small management fee for doing so. T-bill interest is exempt from state and local income taxes, which can make a significant difference in your effective yield.

  • You can build your own T-Bill ladder at TreasuryDirect.gov or via a brokerage account with a bond desk like Vanguard and Fidelity. Here are the current Treasury Bill rates. As of 9/9/25, a new 4-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 4.16% annualized interest and a 52-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 3.68% annualized interest.
  • The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) has a 4.21% SEC yield (0.09% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.10 years. SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) has a 4.14% SEC yield (0.136% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.15 years. The new Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL) has a 4.21% SEC yield (0.07% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.10 years.

US Savings Bonds
Series I Savings Bonds offer rates that are linked to inflation and backed by the US government. You must hold them for at least a year. If you redeem them within 5 years there is a penalty of the last 3 months of interest. The annual purchase limit for electronic I bonds is $10,000 per Social Security Number, available online at TreasuryDirect.gov.

  • “I Bonds” bought between May 2025 and October 2025 will earn a 3.98% rate for the first six months. The rate of the subsequent 6-month period will be based on inflation again. More on Savings Bonds here.
  • In mid-October 2025, the CPI will be announced and you will have a short period where you will have a very close estimate of the rate for the next 12 months. I will post another update at that time.

Rewards checking accounts
These unique checking accounts pay above-average interest rates, but with unique risks. You have to jump through certain hoops which usually involve 10+ debit card purchases each cycle, a certain number of ACH/direct deposits, and/or a certain number of logins per month. If you make a mistake (or they judge that you did) you risk earning zero interest for that month. Some folks don’t mind the extra work and attention required, while others would rather not bother. Rates can also drop suddenly, leaving a “bait-and-switch” feeling.

  • OnPath Federal Credit Union (my review) pays 7.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and login to online or mobile banking once per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization. You can also get a $150 Visa Reward card when you open a new account and make qualifying transactions.
  • Genisys Credit Union pays 6.75% APY on up to $7,500 if you make 10 debit card purchases of $5+ each per statement cycle, and opt into online statements. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • NEW: Oklahoma Central Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases (non-ATM) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union if they are “affiliated with another credit union”.
  • La Capitol Federal Credit Union pays 5.75% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases of at least $5 each per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization, Louisiana Association for Personal Financial Achievement ($20).
  • First Southern Bank pays 5.50% APY on up to $25,000 if you make at least 15 debit card purchases, 1 ACH credit or payment transaction, and enroll in online statements.
  • Credit Union of New Jersey pays 6.00% APY on up to $25,000 if you make 12 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit, online bill payment, or automatic payment (ACH) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Andrews Federal Credit Union pays 5.50% APY (down from 6%) on up to $25,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit or ACH transaction per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization.
  • Find a locally-restricted rewards checking account at DepositAccounts.

Certificates of deposit (greater than 1 year)
CDs offer higher rates, but come with an early withdrawal penalty. By finding a bank CD with a reasonable early withdrawal penalty, you can enjoy higher rates but maintain access in a true emergency. Alternatively, consider building a CD ladder of different maturity lengths (ex. 1/2/3/4/5-years) such that you have access to part of the ladder each year, but your blended interest rate is higher than a savings account. When one CD matures, use that money to buy another 5-year CD to keep the ladder going. Some CDs also offer “add-ons” where you can deposit more funds if rates drop.

  • Mountain America Credit Union (MACU) has a 5-year certificate at 4.25% APY ($500 minimum), 4-year at 4.20% APY, 3-year at 4.15% APY, 2-year at 4.00% APY, and 1-year at 4.15% APY. Early withdrawal penalty for the 4-year and 5-year is 365 days of interest. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization American Consumer Council for a one-time $5 fee (or try promo code “consumer”).
  • Lafayette Federal Credit Union (LFCU) has a 5/4/3/2/1-year certificates at 4.28% APY ($500 min). Slightly higher rates with jumbo $100,000+ balances. Note that the early withdrawal penalty for the 5-year is a relatively large 600 days of interest. Anyone nationwide can join LFCU by joining the Home Ownership Financial Literacy Council (HOFLC) for a one-time $10 fee.
  • You can buy certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. You may need an account to see the rates. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance and easy laddering, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. Right now, I see a 5-year non-callable brokered CD at 3.70% APY (callable: no, call protection: yes). Be warned that both Vanguard and Fidelity will list higher rates from callable CDs, which importantly means they can (and will!) call back your CD if rates drop significantly later.

Longer-term Instruments
I’d use these with caution due to increased interest rate risk (tbh, I don’t use them at all), but I still track them to see the rest of the current yield curve.

  • Willing to lock up your money for 10 years? You can buy long-term certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. You might find something that pays more than your other brokerage cash and Treasury options. Right now, I see a 10-year CDs at [n/a] (non-callable) vs. 4.08% for a 10-year Treasury. Watch out for higher rates from callable CDs where they can call your CD back if interest rates drop.

All rates were checked as of 9/9/25.

* I no longer recommend fintech companies due to the possibility of significant loss due to poor recordkeeping and the lack of government protection in such scenarios. (Ex. Evergreen Wealth at 5% APY is a fintech.)

Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers, Investing // Tagged:
« Previous Page
Next Page »