National Union Bank of Kinderhook

Here’s the headline: NUBK pays 2.5% interest on their basic checking account.
No, it’s not a promotional rate. No, you didn’t fall asleep and wake up in 1989. Yes, there’s a little bit of fine print, and I’ll get to that in a moment. But first …
I know that some people hate the «hassles» of dealing with a community bank — short hours, few ATMSs, limited technology, and so forth. I’m not one of those people. I’ve literally had accounts with every one of the big national banks still in existence, and I hated every single one. Forget about too big to fail; I hate them because they’re too big to care.
With about a half dozen locations, Kinderhook Bank can offer essential services such as ATMs and online banking, but they’re definitely small enough to maintain a personal touch. They have coffee and cookies in the lobby, they greet me by name, and they drop everything to offer treats to my dog when I bring her in with me.
Blah, blah, blah. Obviously the clincher, for most people, will be that interest rate. So here’s the fine print: You need 1 direct deposit per month, you have to use your NUBK ATM card 10x per month, and you have to agree to electronic statements. Your average elephant could jump through those hoops, yes?
I’m earning roughly 5x the interest of the average MMA *and* I’m saving money on coffee and dog treats. At this rate, I’m planning for an early retirement.