Capital One Bank’s free checking accounts pay a healthy rate, which is guaranteed for a year. But how much you can earn depends on where you live.

You can earn plenty of perks with a PerkStreet Financial checking account and Platinum Debit MasterCard, but you need to make sure to read the fine print to get the most out of the deal.

Bank of Internet USA has a free checking account that gives you a bit of control to determine how much interest you’ll earn, up to 1.25% APY.

Not only is checking and ATM use free (and available to savers in all 50 states), Incrediblebank’s interest rate ranks it right up there with the national savings and MMA leaders.

At Firstmark Credit Union, checking account customers can qualify for up to $100 in bonuses and earn 10 cents for every signature debit card transaction.

Special CD rates for kids aren’t uncommon, although we find most have a low maximum deposit amount.

HomeStreet Bank in Seattle is offering one of the biggest bank perks we’ve seen in some time. It pays customers up to $300 to open and use a checking account.

Some banks and credit unions offer referral programs. They work like this: If you refer a friend to your financial institution and if they open an account, both you and your friend can get cash for your efforts.

F&A Federal Credit Union in Monterey Park, Calif., has taken the best aspects of savings and checking accounts and rolled them together into a High Yield eChecking account.