Consumers in Florida have a high reward checking account that they can take advantage of from Legacy Bank of Florida . The current top interest rate for this money in the bank deal is 2.00% APY for balances through $50,000 if the monthly requirements are met. Any funding above the $50K line gets 0.50% APY. The base interest rate is 0.10% given if the requirements are not sufficed. The bank also refunds ATM fees charged in any state for as much as $20 every month.

This best checking account has the following requirements:

* Completed at least 10 purchases using the debit card
* Set up an auto debit or a direct deposit
* Use online banking
* Opt to receive electronic statements

The current interest rates can be enjoyed when you open an account with a minimum initial funding of $100. The bank does not collect any monthly fees nor require any minimum balance. You will also be able to access their online bills payment system when you are an account holder.

If you go for a high yield checking account that will not require any use of debit cards or anything that will have a rate ceiling, Legacy Bank also has an investment checking which has an attractive interest rate of 1.70% APY for balances through $5,000. Any deposits above $5K will get at least 50% of the prime rate. It will be wise though to keep your balance above $5,000 so you can avoid a monthly fee of $15 and get a better rate than 0.05%.

Interested individuals can open an account by visiting the nearest branch. The bank has offices in Pompano, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, and Boca Raton which are all in South Florida.

The ratings of Legacy Bank of Florida are a bit weak. Bankrate.com tagged it with their lowest performance grade of 1 star. BauerFinancial issued 2 stars for its soundness and safety. These ratings are based on their June 30, 2009 data. Despite the ratings, there are no actions taken against the bank by the regulators.

Be wise and stay within the insurance limits of the FDIC. Legacy Bank of Florida is covered by the FDIC through certificate number 58247.