EmigrantDirect.com™ (http://www.emigrant-direct.com/info.php)

A Division of Emigrant Savings Bank.
America's Highest Rate*. No Fees. No Minimums.

With an American Dream Savings Account™, you will earn a variable 3.0% Annual Percentage Yield on your savings. We offer you flexibility, freedom, and security that is unsurpassed in personal banking today. Plus, with an American Dream Savings Account™ you will have peace of mind, since your account is FDIC insured and always secure.

There is never a minimum balance requirement with an American Dream Savings Account™. No matter what your account balance, your account will always earn our high interest rate (currently 3.0% APY). Plus, with America’s Highest Rate* you get more money for your money.

No hidden costs. No fees. No penalties. No service charges.
The American Dream Savings Account™ has no fees or service charges, and that’s the truth! You earn high interest on every single cent you deposit without having to worry about giving it back in fees.

24/7 access to your account, and no need to change banks.
An American Dream Savings Account™ gives you the freedom to access your account whenever you need it. When you open your account, Emigrant Direct™ automatically links up with your designated checking account allowing you the flexibility to make deposits or withdraw funds by transferring money online.

Activate your American Dream Savings Account™ today
and start earning interest that will really add up. While the APY may change at any time due to market conditions, you are assured to earn high interest with an American Dream Savings Account™.

Read our most frequently asked questions for additional details. To apply online, simply click on the "Open Now" button on this web site and follow the easy instructions.

Safe and Secure - FDIC Insured
Your deposits at Emigrant Direct™ are FDIC insured up to $100,000 per depositor. Keep in mind that individual and joint accounts are insured separately, so if you have both types of accounts with us, your total deposits can be insured up to $200,000; that's up to $100,000 in all of your individual accounts, and up to an additional $100,000 in all of your joint accounts. You can learn more about the FDIC at their website, www.fdic.gov.

I just opened up an account w/ them. With 3% interest how could I go wrong?

I just opened up an account w/ them. With 3% interest how could I go wrong?
Exactly but I would first max out your ING Direct referrals.

Well yes, unfortunatly I have yet to get even one. I am not closing my ING account by any means yet.

Well Emigrant Direct is nowhere as easy as INGDirect. After you confirm what the first two credits/debits (a few cents) were to your account, before you can log in you have to wait for a letter from the bank with the rest of you logon information. (For added security their site said.) Incovenient in my opinion.

Emigrant Direct just bumped up their APR to 3.25%

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT AS OF MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2005, YOU WILL EARN 3.25% APY ON YOUR AMERICAN DREAM SAVINGS ACCOUNT WITH EMIGRANTDIRECT.COM AND THAT THIS NEW INCREASED RATE IS GUARANTEED THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2005.

http://www.emigrant-direct.com/

Very nice. Hopefully ING increases their rate again soon.

Despite the hassles of Emigrant I think this recent increase to 3.25% warrants moving some $$$ over to them.

I wonder if they offer an affiliate program.

now this is tempting

Despite the hassles of Emigrant I think this recent increase to 3.25% warrants moving some $$$ over to them.

I wonder if they offer an affiliate program.

I havnt seen anything that talks about an affiliate program, however opening the account is not instant like ING Direct. You have to wait about 10 days to receive a welcome letter that lets you log onto their site.

In addition, it looks like they outsource their banking frontend to ibanking-services.com owned by Metavante Corporation www.metavante.com

Wow, looks like I'll have to start putting some money there, too. Hmmmmm...maybe I'll see what I can do while keeping my existing auto-deposits into ING!

What I am doing is starting my autodeposits into the EmigrantDirect account. Keeping some funds in my ING until I use up my referrals.

What I am doing is starting my autodeposits into the EmigrantDirect account. Keeping some funds in my ING until I use up my referrals.
That's exactly our strategy as we're almost out of ING referrals.

I haven't got any referrals yet :-( I've sent them to family and explained it to them, plus a guy at work was interested, but none of them have done anything with it!

I am finding it hard as well to get people to sign up w/ ING

I haven't got any referrals yet :-( I've sent them to family and explained it to them, plus a guy at work was interested, but none of them have done anything with it!
My wife has about 10 referrals who still have not signed up. I'll probably send a reminder e-mail asking them if they have any questions or would they like another referral e-mail sent?

Sometimes their spam/bulk/junk folder swallows the referral email or they simply forget.

Do you just send out the e-mail to people you know?

Do you just send out the e-mail to people you know?
No they contact me either from GottaDeal or other forums I frequent.

when you're done w/ referrals, just start filtering requests to the rest of us :)

good idea.

What do referals have to do with a savings account? sorry i'm confused ? Nevermind i'm reading the link I just noticed you had in your post, thanks.

What do referals have to do with a savings account? sorry i'm confused ?
I believe they're referring to INGDirect's referrals (http://www.gottadeal.com/deal-info-id-9069-store-ingdirect.html) not EmigrantDirect.com

Do you have an INGDirect.com account? Would you like one? ;)

I would for a saving account that gives a 3.25 %, however i'm still confused as to why I would need referals?

I c so you can get 25 dollars for each referal? Isnt it the person that signs up for the deal get the 25 dollars? If so why are you limited to a select few?

I would for a saving account that gives a 3.25 %, however i'm still confused as to why I would need referals?
You don't, a referral is not required or mandatory. You just open an account and deposit funds.

Ok, makes sense, thanks again.

I c so you can get 25 dollars for each referal? Isnt it the person that signs up for the deal get the 25 dollars? If so why are you limited to a select few?
Remember the referrals only involve INGDirect.com and not EmigrantDirect.com, they are two different banks.

If you are an INGDirect.com customer you can refer up to 25 new customers. For each referral you send to INGDirect, you receive $10 and the new customer receives a free $25 bonus. You are limited to 25 referrals x $10 each = $250 free money. You do have to pay taxes on that $250 but it's still free money.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.