Best Checking Account Rates

I wouldn't chase the best checking account rates if I were you. I mean, the ING Direct Electric Orange checking account (one of the best out there in terms of interest rates) only offers 0.25% on your balance. Yep, a quarter of one percent per year.

That's not much. But at least the Electric Orange checking account doesn't have a minimum balance requirement or bogus maintenance fees.

I would look for a checking account with the best features, a wide range of helpful services (like free ATM withdrawals or online bill pay), and a minimum of ridiculous fees... Avoid checking accounts with unreasonable minimum balance requirements or other "fee waiver" conditions that are too hard for you to meet each month, such as more than one direct deposit each statement period.

A checking account's interest rate is not that important because the money in that account is only for immediate needs and day-to-day expenses. If you have any serious money, and you want it to earn for you, it should not be in a checking account of any kind: it should be in a high yield online savings account (make sure it is FDIC insured) or somewhere else with inflation-beating interest rates.