I can't say with certainty, but I think this is the first year that a bank had offered online specials on the most-hyped shopping day of the year.
Ing Direct, a user-friendly online bank that's been catching some grief lately because after being a leader, its interest rate on deposits has fallen well below some of its peers, is getting some buzz for offering Black Friday savings on mortgages costs, higher interest rates on CDs and an impressive $121 in free money for opening an interest-bearing checking account.
You can check out the details at www.ingdirect.com/blackfriday.
But in a nutshell, ING is offering:
Not a bad rate, but you can find 1.90% at Discoverbank.com and Ally.com. These banks have been offering higher rates on a regular basis of late. It's always a good idea to check out bankrate.com.
Shopping for a mortgage? Check out:
Why $683? That's the average amount that Americans will spend on holiday gifts this year, the National Retail Federation says.
Finally, if you want an online checking account which pays you interest, free bill pay and free access to 35,000 ATM machines, consider opening an Electric Orange by 11:59 pm ET:
