Comments on: AmericaNet Changes Checking, MMA Rules

By: Kiril

Kiril — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:01:06 +0000

One thing put me on guard about this: they asked for my previous login and passcode for fast processing. I did, but now check my bank everyday.

By: Bop

Bop — Sat, 29 May 2010 10:32:50 +0000

Your review is a little harsh Pilm, but thank you for letting me know that you have a year before the account falls into dormancy and that just logging in doesn’t matter — I was wondering about that.

Many MMA’s and savings accounts have this dormancy rule and this is posted on Red Neck’s/Americanet’s/Evantage Banks’ website and on their Deposit Account Agreement forms — a PDF file (just click on the “disclosures” link on the bottom right on the websites), so I was well aware of this dormancy fee when signing up.

All you do to get around this is to set up an automatic $1 monthly ACH transfer deposit and then you don’t have to worry about dormancy fees. After talking to a CSR at another bank that had this fee, the person warned me that if you have multiple accounts, each must be used to avoid dormancy fees from both, so if you have a checking account and savings account at the same bank then you have to deposit or withdrawal $1 into or out of both every so many months to keep the accounts active or you can simply transfer $1 from the checking to the savings. If you really don’t use the accounts — ergo, don’t have to worry about the 6 ACH transfer limit — then you can leave $3 in the accounts ($1 in each) and auto transfer $1 from the checking to the savings and then back again from the savings to the checking the next month. You may not have been aware of dormancy fees because the banks you dealt with may have had a much longer period to allow for inactivity or you lucked out and the banks you dealt with truly didn’t have this type of fee.

I believe this post is a year later btw from the others posters, but as of the end of May, 2010 when the other on-line savings banks have gone down to 1.1% APY (or lower), and these 3 banks have stayed at 2% for MMA and 4% rewards checking for a year now without a huge minimum balance to avoid fees (which I personally find much more annoying than dormancy fees or APY limits) — these banks are looking really really good by this point in time.

I just hope all the banks stop decreasing their APY’s else many of the online banks will stop being competitive with the local banks and people will just stop using them.

By: Pilm

Pilm — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:22:19 +0000

This is for anyone using or considering AmericaNet Bank, be very very careful! I put $5000 in an AmericaNet Bank savings account because they offered a 2% rate. Every quarter I’d go online and check my account. Well, come to find, after my one year anniversary with AmericaNet Bank they began to charge a $10/month fee. AmericaNet Bank did not provide any notice whatsoever when they started helping themselves to my money. It wasn’t until I logged on recently for my quarterly account review I found $20 missing. After invesitigation I found that after one year, if you don’t add more money, your account is considered dormant, and AmericaNet Bank starts penalizing your account $10/month every month until you add more money. Almost seems like extortion to me! I’ve used at least a dozen online Savings accounts and have never had money drained from my account like AmericaNet Bank is doing! No bank has ever penalized me for leaving my money in their account! But AmericaNet Bank does! Beware, beware, beware! AmericaNet Bank is a sham and ripoff.

By: Lucas

Lucas — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:10:13 +0000

AmericaNet Bank, Evantage Bank and Redneck Bank are all a scam. They’re all three run by Huckabay of Arkansas, and all are falsely advertising the 3% and 5% rates on the Checking and MMA accounts. I just signed up with AmericaNet, and along with my account number I received a notice saying their interest rates are actually 4%, and 2%. Worse yet, on the amount over $10k in the checking account, the rate is dropping from a respectable 2.25% to measly 1%. These guys are dropping their rates fast but are probably happy to mislead new customers.
Now I have an extra inquiry on the credit report for nothing.

By: AmericaNet Customer

AmericaNet Customer — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:29:43 +0000

Rates are being lowered in May to 4.00 APY.

By: Annette Loe

Annette Loe — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:24:18 +0000

After reading all this I am not putting my money in Red Neck Bank MMA. I’ll stick with DollarSavingsDirect even if it is a lower interest rate. Thanks for the info!

By: RateRunner

RateRunner — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:36:00 +0000

AmeicaNet says yes, it’s insured.

By: IWonder

IWonder — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:12:44 +0000

Is there anybody noticed the tiny statement on the bottom of their website, which says:” AmericaNet Bank® is participating in the FDIC’s Transaction Account Guarantee Program. Under this program, all non-interest-bearing transaction accounts are fully guaranteed by the FDIC for the entire amount of the account. This coverage is in addition to, and separate from, FDIC deposit coverage under the FDIC’s general deposit insurance rules.” Are you sure the Rewards Checking is still FDIC insuranced?

By: professor

professor — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 06:28:23 +0000

these low rates are sickening
bernacke should join paulson, rubin and geithner in prison

By: Dollar Bill

Dollar Bill — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:12:26 +0000

Also, you should know this bank pulls a hard inquiry on your credit bureau! I recommend dealing with a different bank!

By: Dollar Bill

Dollar Bill — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:10:37 +0000

BEWARE of AmericaNet Bank. Be sure to read the fine print BEFORE you apply. They blocked me from being able to transfer money into your account until it has been open for 30 days AND you have made 10 debit card purchases.

So, when I tried to send them a deposit in the form of a check by US Mail, they have STILL not deposited it to my account after 10 days. VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY SHADY! Beware!

By: reed

reed — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:11:40 +0000

is america net bank fdic insured up to 250k? thanks reed

By: G TX

G TX — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:26:35 +0000

I agree with bloggingbanks, 5% on 10K is not competitive. I asked to close my account as soon as the news hit and guess what… I am still waiting to close the account. Be careful of doing business with Americanet and its other affiliated banks like redneckbank,etc

By: BloggingBanks

BloggingBanks — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:51:10 +0000

There’s so many rewards checking accounts out there, with higher interest rates and higher limits that AmericaNet Bank will surely lose customers from their moves.

By: Jigga

Jigga — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:19:47 +0000

AmericaNet’s new account signup had documents missing that they expected you to agree to by checking a box during the registration. They were missing for 3-4 days, however it took them less than 24 hours to correct the errors after I emailed them about it.

Bank of Ripley told me they only accept customers in Tennessee for their rewards checking accounts. They could save their customer service agents some trouble by posting that bit of info on their website.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:57:00 +0000

5.26 % up to $ 25,000 is what I earn at Bank of Ripley TN http://www.bankofripley.com I have been earning 5.26 % on $ 25,000 every month for one year. Excellent Customer service, No Gotcha’s, No hassles, the requirements are (1) set up a checking account with them (2) make 10 debit card transactions per month (3) receive electronic statement online. The only drawback is the only way to deposit money is by Mailing a check to them by snail mail (regular mail)…that is, you cannot deposit money electronically.
I have no complaints about Bank of Ripley, and plan to keep my $ 25,000 there as long as they keep offering this hi interest.

By: mark

mark — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:37:28 +0000

is there anything to stop my wife and I opening 2 accounts. one in her name and one in mine, both for $10,000. That would be one way to get the higher interest rate on almost the same amount as before.