ING Direct Improves THRiVE Chequing Account

Last year we saw ING Direct introduce the THRiVE Chequing account, a no fee chequing account that answers all the needs clients have been asking for.

Ever since the release of this chequing account, ING has been updating various aspects of the account to make it even more suitable for customers.

One thing I love about ING Direct is that fact that they are on top of their social media, which in turn allows them to receive great feedback from clients and use that to improve their products.
What are the latest updates?

The latest improvements made to the THRiVE Chequing account include improvements to their Payee Search. The improvements include:

* the ability to suggest any missing Payees online

* the ability to sort your Payees on the “Pay my Bills” page

One of the biggest improvements lies within the THRiVE Chequing account hold policy. As it stands, in the past the hold policy consisted of the usual 5 business day wait period, however ING Direct developed a method where clients in good standing can have access to their money without the wait.

The change that involves the hold policy lies in how money gets into your account. Normally, the levels above involve you depositing money through an ABM, however it will also include bank to bank transfers. This makes it much easier to bank with ING Direct, and allows you to have access to you funds virtually whenever you need it once you have built a good relationship with the bank. With the hold policy now included bank to bank transfers, there is realistically nothing stopping you from using the THRiVE Chequing account. On another note, ING recently opened a new state of the art Cafe in downtown Toronto, which offers anyone a combination of Starbucks and the Apple Store, allowing people to get their banking complete in a great environment.

It is great to see ING being so interactive with their customers on social media, listening to what they want to see in the products and producing results.

I love the new changes to the THRiVE Chequing account, and cannot wait to see what further improvements ING makes to their products.

An Interview With The CEO Of ING Direct Canada

ING Direct Canada recently added a free chequing account, called a THRiVE Chequing, to their inventory. This online no-fee chequing account created a huge buzz as Canadians were waiting long for a free chequing account from ING Direct Canada, who pioneered online banking across the globe and made high-interest savings account popular in Canada. ING recently introduced a new promotion that gives $25 to anyone who opens an ING account. The promotion is simple to take advantage of.

ING's THRiVE is the Best Bank in Canada!!!

I got my first real bank account when I was 15, it was a chequeing account with no fees, relatively high interest and consisted purely of online and phone banking. That was in 2000, a full decade before ING’s “game changing” THRiVE. I’m not knocking THRiVE, it’s a fantastic option to the chequing accounts that actually cost money.

My first legit job was in the garden centre of a Loblaws, I got the job just as PC Financial launched. PC Financial was Canada’s first bank to give full services without a brick and mortar presence. Ever since I started banking I used only the Internet and I never paid a service fee. The idea of going in to speak with a teller for anything other than to get a replacement card seems ridiculous.

ING’s service is something everyone should consider, but to people I’ve talked to and if you read the media releases it seems that they have invented the wheel 2.0. PC Financial did this with the help of CIBC at a time when many, including myself still used dial-up.

I still think THRiVE is a great alternative to traditional banking and I say everyone should consider it; it’s just not that novel. ING is still leading the way in consumer banking technologies though. In mobile banking, they were the first to release apps on the major platforms, where as PC finacnail doesn’t even have a mobile version of their website.

UPDATE: ING Direct just introduced a EXCELLENT new promotion. If you open a new account and deposit at least $100, you get $25 for free. Simply enter the following code (called an Orange Key) when prompted.

Orange Key: 35934724S1

Details of this excellent promotion can be found here: http://www.ingdirect.ca/en/landingpage/bunnymoney/

ING Direct Review: The Orange Savings Account

After reading nothing but positive ING Direct reviews, I finally took the plunge and signed up for an ING Direct Orange Savings Account. It was fairly painless, as online banking applications go. The standard questions were asked including name, address, ssn, etc. ING Direct was recently rated as the most secure online institution and it showed. The series of security questions were unique and enough to make identity theft difficult.

I was immediately pleased with the straightforward interface. ING Direct has long been competitive with other online banking institutions, and though others may offer a slightly higher yield, I am planning to maintain the bulk of my savings here because of the other benefits.
ING Direct Review

ING Direct offers a couple perks over similar online banking institutions. I enjoy the ability to give our savings account a nickname. Having a name for our accounts helps me identify with the savings goal more. For instance, having $1,500 in my “Emergency Fund” account means more to me than $1,500 in “Account #123456789.”

The ability to create subaccounts at ING is a nice feature for consolidating various targeted savings accounts into one bank, and one master control screen. These subaccounts at ING are really just separate savings accounts, but because they are all tied to your customer ID they appear as a list on your ING customer homepage. Over time I plan to add accounts labeled “Christmas Shopping,” “Vacation,” and “New Sofa.” We can then create some automatic contributions into each of these funds based on the targeted savings goal. For instance, my wife and I would like to save about $600 in our Christmas Shopping account so we plan to automatically transfer $50 a month into this account. With our savings on auto-pilot the money is moved automatically without any hassle-factor. When the targeted savings goal is within reach we will schedule an electronic withdrawal back to our linked checking account.

Targeted savings accounts are a great way to pay for things that occur once or twice a year, or for one-time goals such as our “New Sofa” account. Insurance premiums, car tags, and taxes all have a way of sneaking up on us and wrecking a monthly budget. By using a savings account reserved for each specific purpose these events will no longer be budget-busters, rather a simple electronic transfer to your checking account.

I encourage you to consider signing up with ING Direct today. Their customer service, interface, security features, and account options are second to none.

ING DIRECT Canada is launching THRiVE Chequing in a big way!

In March 9th, 2011 ING DIRECT Canada will be celebrating the nationwide public launch of its no-fee daily chequing account, THRiVE chequing. The THRiVEtastic celebrations will take place in four major Canadian cities Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montréal, involve four celebrity contestants and over $100,000 in giving.

Celebrity Contestants

• Trevor Linden – Former NHL superstar, fitness club owner and Vancouver native
• Henry Burris – Recipient of the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player award, Calgary Stampeder and Native
• Amber MacArthur – TV host, bestselling author and Toronto blogger
• Tammy Verge – Gemini Award winner, Comedian and Actress from Montréal

The Challenge
With Camera crews following their every move each celebrity is given a $7,000 saving spree to spend as fast as they can within 7 hours, using their THRiVE chequing card. ING DIRECT is donating $15,000 to each THRiVEtastic contestant’s charity of choice. The contestant to complete the task the fastest will win an additional $15,000 for their charity.

The Catch
They have to spend the money on anyone but themselves.

The 10 THRiVEtastic Rules

• Spend $7,000 on everyone BUT themselves – as fast as they can
• Can’t spend more than $500 at a time
• Can call 3 friends for spending advice
• Must purchase 3 orange things
• Must visit an Exchange ® Network ABM (max. $500)
• Must make an email money transfer
• Must make 3 donations in person
• Must field 3 Tweets and 3 Facebook requests (#THRiVEtastic or Facebook/SuperStarSaver)
• Must visit an ING DIRECT Café and pay one person’s utility bill (max. $250)
• Must write at least 1 cheque from your THRiVE Chequing Account.

THRiVE Chequing
No-Fee Daily ChequingEmail AlertsFree ABM AccessFree Email Money Transfers

About ING DIRECT
ING DIRECT is Canada’s leading DIRECT bank with over 1.7 million Clients and more than $37.6 billion in total assets. ING DIRECT gives the power of saving to all Canadians by offering high-value, simple products such as high interest savings accounts with no fees or service charges, and low rates on mortgages. Low cost, balanced, index-based mutual funds are sold through ING DIRECT Funds Limited. ING DIRECT has been operating in Canada since 1997, and paid more than $4.5 billion in interest to Clients. ING DIRECT is open for banking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at ingdirect.ca, on mobile devices at m.ingdirect.ca or by calling 1-800 ING DIRECT (1-800-464-3473)

ING rolls out online no-fee chequing accounts

Nο-fee chequing accounts are thе grеаt іdеа that just won’t click іn Canada.

Truth is, thеу haven’t worked out grеаt fοr banks or consumers іn thе U.S. market, еіthеr. and уеt, online bank ING Direct will introduce a new chequing account Wednesday that charges nο monthly fee, period.

Thrive Chequing allows уου to make unlimited debit рυrсhаѕеѕ, pay bills, write cheques, make withdrawals аt 2,400 bank machines асrοѕѕ thе country and even incur a small overdraft without paying a cent іn fees. Thrive will bе available Sept. 14 to 10,000 people whο register online (аt your185.ca). Thіѕ pre-launch will bе used to generate feedback to bе incorporated іntο a full launch early іn 2011.

Thеrе are already a few nο-fee chequing accounts available іn Canada, notably frοm thе online bank President’s choice Financial and Coast Capital, a B.C. credit union. Wіth ING, thе question is whether thе Dutch-owned bank’s marketing savvy can brеаk thе category wide open іn much thе same way as it dіd whеn thе high-rate savings account was brought to Canada back іn 1997.

ING claims that Canadians pay аn average $185 per year іn monthly bank fees (hence thе Web address fοr signing up fοr thе pre-launch). In a poll it commissioned, 38 per cent οf participants ѕаіd thеу were disgusted by thеіr chequing account fees, and 66 per cent thουght thе fees were unfair. Three-quarters ѕаіd thеу would switch to a nο-fee, online savings account if one were available.

* ING Direct No Fee Thrive Chequing Account Review: Free Banking for Canadians

NG Direct Canada has been usually associated with online free savings accounts with high interest. But this year, IND Direct has launched a new product called the ING Direct Thrive Chequing Account. The ING Thrive Chequing Account is an online daily banking chequing account option for Canadians. Canadians can write cheques, deposit and withdrawal from ATM machines, transfer funds and pay bills just like any other Canadian chequing account with no monthly account fee's.

ING Direct Chequing Account, Bill Payments, Transfers and Direct Deposits
Canadians who set up a ING Thrive Chequing Account are able to easily set up automatic bill payments, money transfers, write cheques and set up direct deposit of paychecks to their ING Direct chequing account with absolutely no fee's. IND Direct Canada will even send you your first book of cheques free.

ING Direct Canada No Fee Thrive Chequing ATM Machines
ING Direct is able to launch this new Thrive Chequing account because they have established a relationship with the Exchange Network of ATMs. You can make deposits and withdrawals free of charge at Bank Machines on the Exchange Network. This includes over 2,000 ATMs across Canada. Most of these ATMs belong to different credit unions and some National Bank machines. Generally you can find one close by no matter where you live.

ING Direct Canada Interest on Thrive Chequing Account
One of the best things about the ING Direct No Fee Thrive Chequing account is the high levels of interest it pays its customers. Customers receive higher interest based on the size of your balance. All balances start at 0.25% interest rate and it climbs up to 1.10% interest based on balances of $100K or more. These are the highest rates among all chequing accounts from Canadian banks.

ING Direct Canada Online Banking Options
Customers at ING Direct will primarily do their banking transactions online or over the phone. ING clients can do free email money transfers, pay bills and transfer funds absolutely free. You can also place money orders online that will be delivered to your front door. You can pretty much accomplish all of your banking needs through www.ingdirect.ca Should you need to speak to someone in person, this is possible through a ING branch location.

SPECIAL PROMOTION!!! ING Direct Orange Key : FREE $25 w/new account
If you're thinking about opening up a new bank account with ING Direct, simply enter the following code when prompted and you will receive $25 for free. You need a minimum $100 deposit into your new account for this to work. Details of this excellent promotion can be found here: http://www.ingdirect.ca/en/landingpage/bunnymoney/

Orange Key: 35934724S1

Get your $25 Bonus using Orange Key 35934724S1

I opened up my ING accounts last year and I'm very happy so far. Their website is great. No fees, and every dollar in your account earns interest. If you decide to open an account with them, this Orange Key still works and will get you a $25 signup bonus!

To sign up with this Orange Key, go to: http://www.ingdirect.ca/referafriend/

Orange Key 35934724S1

ING Direct Canada: A Review

ING Direct Canada

I opened a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA), an ISA (Investment Savings Account), and the new Thrive No-Fee Chequing Account with ING Direct Canada after I found out that I could make a bonus $25.00 for signing up with ING Direct Canada using their Orange key promotion. It’s a great promotion that I would suggest you not pass up. Who could pass up a free $25.00 bonus to jump start your savings? All you need to do is sign up for a new account at ING Direct Canada, and deposit a minimum $100.00 and within a few business days your account will be set up with your initial deposit and your ING Direct Bonus $25.00. Make sure you use this Working ING Direct Orange Key Code: 35934724S1 to claim your $25.00 ING Orange key bonus.

I have been very impressed with ING Direct’s service so far especially the remarkably simple and easy-to-use website and how easy it is to transfer money from one bank account to another, so I thought would offer a review of ING Direct Canada, and their ING Direct Canada Orange Key promotion.
ING Direct Canada offers a range of savings products that are designed for people who don’t want to spend every hour of every day managing their money. The accounts of most interest to ordinary Canadian consumers are documented below. They do have other accounts so please take a few minutes and browse their ING Direct Canada site to see which account will work best for you, so so can claim your ING Direct Canada Orange key bonus.

• ING Thrive No-Fee Chequing Account
• Savings accounts
• Investment Savings Account
• Retirement Savings Account
• Tax-Free Investment Savings Account
• US$ Savings Account
• Business Savings Account
• Retirement Savings Plans
• Savings Accounts
• Guaranteed Investment Certificate

I’ve already mentioned the website – it’s very simple to use and is designed for people who don’t want to navigate a cumbersome web interface. The options are streamlined and focussed. I’ve never needed to call ING Direct Canada, because I can do everything I want (including moving money into and out of ING Direct Savings Account from another a bank) on the web. That being said, my spouse has called ING Direct Canada on a few occasions and she cannot rave enough about their helpful and pleasant service.

ING Direct Canada also offers an incentive plan which gives you $25 when you open any account and making an initial deposit of $100 or more. You need what’s known as an ING Direct Working Orange Key, which you write into the appropriate part of the online application form when prompted. Here’s what to do

1. Decide which account you want to open (any of the accounts mentioned above)
2. Go to http://www.ingdirect.ca/referafriend/
3. When prompted in the form, enter this Working Orange Key 35934724S1 and within a few days after mailing in your cheque your ING direct account will be set up with your intial $100, and your $25 dollar sign up bonus. What could be easier?