If you’re in Illinois, you’re in luck. Rockford Bank and Trust is offering what can be considered the best checking account in that area. We’re talking about the U account, and this particular reward checking account earns up to 4.00% APY for balances that reach the cap of $25,000. For balances over the limit, you still get a generous 1.00% APY. If you use the ATM to get your funds, you also receive at least $20-a-month’s worth of refunds.

Just like any other checking account, though, you will have to meet the monthly requirements. To open the account, you need to deposit a small $100 fee. Within the month, you’ll need to be able to make fifteen transactions on your Visa Check Cards, make a direct deposit or a direct debit transaction, agree to electronic statements, and enroll your account online.

What makes this the best reward checking account so far are the extra perks:

• It has no minimum maintaining balance
• It has no monthly charges for the service
• The bank doesn’t charge you anything for your first ordered checks
• There’s also no charge for online bill payments

The only downside to this account is that you have to visit the branch to be able to open an account. Nothing was said about the bank accepting online applications, or welcoming documents from holders outside Illinois. Still, it’s a worth checking account to look at if you’re in the area. The branches can be found in Rockford, Illinois.

The downer is that the bank doesn’t really rate well in terms of soundness and safety. It only got 3 stars from BauerFinancial and 2 stars from Bankrate.com. For a fairly new bank, perhaps this is forgivable. The bank has only been an FDIC member since 2005, under FDIC Certificate #57827.