To qualify, the account should be open to anybody without requiring a branch visit (unless the bank happens to be a national bank with branches in all 50 states). Its fine if you have to pay a nominal fee to join a credit union.

Useful links and information related to this topic:

Banking Guy has done an amazing job setting up a Reward Checking account web site, with an introduction to Reward Checking Accounts and lists of nationally available Reward Checking accounts and Reward Checking accounts by state. The lists show the bank/credit union name, the APY, the balance cap, and the latest Bank Deals review date with a link to the review. Here are the useful links:

Reward Checking Introduction

Reward Checking Accounts Available Nationwide

Reward Checking Accounts by States

If you are looking for high yield credit union offers, you can also try Credit Union Deals

FWF Discussion: Automatic $1.00 Monthly Donations To Qualify For Reward Offers discusses a method of meeting the number of debit card transactions requirement and provides a list of charities you can use to do this.

FWF - Reward Checking Accounts - Issues and Discussion Thread is intended for general questions about Reward Checking accounts, strategies for meeting their requirements, debates on the merit of Reward Checking accounts, and discussion about possible methods of encouraging banks and credit unions to continue to offer reward checking products at favorable terms. The below techniques for meeting the number of transactions requirement and the ACH requirement are detailed more thoroughly in the discussion thread.

You can also (besides or in addition to) the automatic donation method) satisfy the debit card number of transactions requirement by paying various bills (partial payments often accepted) at the payee's website, using the debit card as a credit card. Caution: if given the option to use the debit card via a "debit card network", don't take it. It's possible that the transaction will show as a non-qualifying ATM withdrawal.

If the Rewards Checking account conditions will accept an ACH debit in order to satisy the typical 1 direct deposit/ACH transaction requirement, you can again partially pay a bill from the payee's web site, if it accepts the routing number for your Rewards Checking Account and your checking account number.

Reward Checking Accounts Open to All:

Rates subject to change in all accounts:

First New England Federal Credit Union - Rewards Checking
- 6.01% APY on balances up to $25,000.
- 3.00% APY on balances beyond the first $25,000.
- ATM REFUNDS: Yes, we mean it. Use any ATM, anywhere on the planet, and we will refund the fee (if you meet the below requirements).
- 12 Cleared debit card transactions per statement cycle. (Excludes ATM transactions.)
- 1 Direct Deposit or an automatic debit per statement cycle.
- Enroll in eServices. eServices includes eStatements, eNEWS, and Homebanking with valid email address. Home banking is free.
- If requirements not met, APY falls to 0.10%, and no ATM rebates for statement cycle.
- No minimum balance required.
You are eligible to join the FNEFCU if you join the Friends of Lucy Welles Robbins Library, $12/year for a single membership. You can join this organization as part of the application process for FNEFCU. You must also open a savings account with a $10 minimum balance.
*Hard Pull on TU 5/5/08

Charter Bank - Turbochecking
* 6.01% APY* on balances to $25,000
* 1.01% APY* on balances above $25,000
* .25% APY* if requirements are not met
* No ATM Fees Nationwide
* Overdraft Privilege
* Free Online Bill Pay
* Make at least 10 debit card transactions monthly (excluding ATM transactions)
* Receive one direct deposit or ACH auto debit monthly
* Receive your monthly statement electronically (e-statement)
* Access on-line banking at least once a month
Need $100 and an email address to open the account
Fatwallet Thread Here
* Was told Credit check is a soft pull
** Was told on 4/15/08 2 accounts max per household

Citizens Bank Minnesota - WooHoo! Checking
- 6.01% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) paid on balances between one penny and $25,000.
- 1.01% APY paid on all accounts above $25,000.
- 0.25% APY if you do not meet the requirements per cycle.
Requirements:
- 10 check card transactions
- 1 Direct Deposit or Automatic Payment
- Receive Electronic Statement
No minimum balance required.
Unknown minimum amount to open.
ATM refunds up to $25 per cycle if requirements are met.
Bank Deals post
* Credit check HARD PULL via Equifax

Golden Plains Credit Union - Golden Rewards Checking
Field of membership includes membership (minimum $25) at the Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo.
* 6.01% APY on balances up to $25,000.
* 0.51% APY on remaining balance over $25,000.
* 0.21% APY if requirements not met.
Requirements per month:
* Log-on to Golden Plains Online at least once.
* Make 10 GPCU VISA Check Card transactions.
* Receive GPCU e-statements.
* No ACH or direct deposit requirement!
Other information:
* Minimum $100 to open; no minimum balance required after that.
* Qualification period is calendar month.
* Transactions must post by 5pm Central Time on the last day of the month.
* Nationwide (not international) reimbursement of ATM fees of up $25/month.
* Multiple Golden Rewards Checking Accounts can be opened, as long as each account meets the requirements.
Bank Deals Post
Message in this thread, giving account opening procedure.

First National Bank of Henning
-6.01% APY on balances up to $25K
-10 debit card transactions
-receive electronic statements
-access online banking
* Credit Check via ChexSystems
** Was also told by CRR that a branch visit was required.

Arizona Bank & Trust - Cash Rewards Checking
* 6.01% APY* on balances of $.01 to $20,000
* 1.51% APY* on balances over $20,000
* 0.25% APY* on balances even when you don't meet the 3 easy steps!
* Minimum $25 to open; no minimum balance requirement after that
* ATM surcharge fee refunds of up to $20 per statement cycle if requirements are met
* Account opening process: phone call to provide basic information, then forms mailed to applicant, completed and mailed back by applicant.
* 6.01% APY guaranteed until April 2009. Note that the CU could withdraw this offer for new applicants at any time.
Requirements for each statement cycle:
A. Use your FREE Debit Card
Make purchases without writing checks using our FREE VISA® Debit Card. Simply have 12 or more signature-based purchases posted within the monthly qualification cycle.
B. Make an automatic payment or direct deposit
Have one or more automatic payment (like a utility bill) or direct deposits each month.
C. Go electronic and eliminate paper statements with FREE eStatements
Each month we’ll send you an email to tell you your statement is ready to view online. You must have a valid email address to receive notification.
Cash Rewards Checking FAQ
Bank Deals Post, including documenting rate guarantee and account opening process.

Coulee Bank - Rewards Checking
* 6.01% APY on balances up to $25,000.
* 1.01% APY on balances over $25,000.
* 0.30% APY if requirements are not met.
* Domestic ATM fees refunded up to $20 every month if requirements are met.
* Minimum $50 to open; no minimum balance requirement after that.
Requirements for each statement cycle:
* Make 10 debit card point-of-sale transactions per “qualification cycle”.
* Receive your monthly statement electronically.
* Set up one direct deposit or one auto debit monthly.
* “Qualification cycle” means a period beginning one day prior to the current statement through one day prior to the close of the current statement.
Bank Deals post

Southern Community Bank and Trust - ME Banking
* 6.00% APY on balances up to $25,000.
* 0.15% APY on balances over $25,000, or if requirements not met.
Requirements per month:
* 10 debit card purchases.
* 1 Direct Deposit or Automatic Draft Payment.
* Get e-statement.
Other information:
* Minimum $100 to open.
* Free ATMs nationwide at any ATM.
* No minimum balance required.
Bank Deals Post
* Credit check requires HARD PULL via Equifax.

Heartland Bank Interest Plus Checking Account
* 5.06% APY on balances $0 - $30,000.99; 1.31% APY for $30,001.00 +
* 0.30% APY if requirements are not met
To earn the Bonus Rate, you must perform the following each cycle:
* Make at least 10 check card transactions
* Receive a monthly Electronic Statement
* One direct deposit or ACH Auto Debit
* Access Online Banking
Privileges received from Interest Plus Checking:
* Free ATM's Nationwide**
* Write as many checks each month without a per-check charge.
* Earn high-interest yields on your account
* No minimum balance
* No service charge
* Overdraft privilege available
* Free ATM or Visa check card
* Telephone Banking
* Free Internet Banking
Minimum $100 deposit to open.
** Unlimited ATM refunds if requirements are met.
Bank Deals post
* Credit Check via ChexSystems

Coastal Federal Credit Union - Go Green Checking
-- 5.01% APY on balances through $50,000.
-- 0.60% APY on balances above $50,000, or if requirements not met for the month.
Requirements:
-- 12 debit card transactions.
-- e-Statements not required, but will incur a $2 per month fee (for paper statements).
-- No Direct Deposit or ACH requirement.
Other information:
-- No minimum balance required.
-- As of March 1, 2008,all new Go Green accounts will automatically receive the high dividend rate during their first cycle whether the member hits the required 12 monthly debit card transactions or not. Since it takes a number of days for a debit card to be ordered and delivered, it's often difficult for the new member to meet the 12 monthly debit transactions requirement. Please note that this applies to new accounts only and only for the first cycle (which varies in length from 1 to 31 days based on what day of the month the account is opened). Any Basic or Dividend Checking account that converts to Go Green must still meet the 12 monthly debit transactions in order to receive the high dividend yield.
-- If the account is closed before the end of a month, no dividends are earned for the month.
-- It looks like a minimum opening deposit of $25 is required for the share savings account, and $10 is required for Go Green Checking.
-- Unlimited free use of Coastal ATMs.
-- Unlimited surcharge-free access to ATMs in the Co-op Network. ($1 fee per withdrawal after the 5th transaction.)
-- See the Go Green Checking link above for other details.
FAQ about Go Green Checking
See Bank Deals Post about how to join CFCU, and other details about applying.

West Texas National Bank - Ultimate Checking
* 5.01% APY on balances up to $25,000.
* 0.85% APY on balances over $25,000.
* 0.51% APY if requirements not met.
Requirements each month:
* Ten Check Card Transactions
* One Direct Deposit or ACH Auto Debit or One Online Bill Pay
* Receive Electronic Statement
* Access Online Banking
Other information:
* Nation-wide ATM reimbursements if requirements met.
* Unknown regarding minimum to open, minimum balance, hard inquiry, internal ACH.
To open:
* Apply online.
* At the end of the application, print out the signature card.
* Mail in the signed signature card, along with a copy of your driver's license, a copy of a second form of ID, and funding check.
Bank Deals post

The Bank of Fayetteville - Smart Checking
4.51% Annual Percentage Yield (effective 12/31/07) on balances of up to $50,000
1.01% APY paid on all balances above $50,000
Opening deposit of $100
Minimum monthly activity to receive interest:
* 10 VISA CheckCard transactions (excludes ATM transactions)
* 1 Direct Deposit or ACH/Electronic Payment
* Receive an E-Statement
* Sign on to online banking
No mention of ATM refunds.
ACH transactions: Cannot initiate ACH transactions.
Bank Deals Post

First Arkansas Bank & Trust (FABaT) - FirstNet Checking
* Earn 4.44% APY, with 50K cap, balances over 50K earn 1.76% APY.
* Free ATMs worldwide - "we refund ATM fees incurred by other banks worldwide".
* If below requirements are not met, rate is 0.05% APY and no ATM fee refunds.
* Minimum $100 to open, no minimum balance.
* Free on-line banking and bill pay. Bill pay system is checkfree.
* There are no limits to the number of FirstNet Checking accounts that any one address can have.
* No hard pull unless you use their ACH system to pull funds.
Requirements:
* Set up one monthly direct deposit or ACH auto debit or make one online bill payment per statement cycle.
* Receive e-statements.
* Sign in to your online banking account once per statement cycle.
Bank Deals post
FW discussion

Connexus Credit Union - MyRewards Checking
4.01% APY* with no minimum balance required
To qualify for membership, join the Connexus Association with a one-time $5.00 donation. Ask the credit union to fax/send you an application to join the association.
*APY=Annual Percentage Yield. 5.01% APY earned on qualifying accounts $25,000 or less. Qualifications per cycle are: one (1) ACH debit or credit; ten (10) debit card (Non-PIN) transactions posted; and eStatement participation. 0.50% APY earned on non-qualifying accounts; 0.75% APY earned on qualifying accounts over $25,000.
ACH transactions: Unknown.

Provident Credit Union - Super Reward Checking
- 4.01% APY on balances up to $25,000.
- 1.01% APY on balances beyond the first $25,000.
- FREE ATM transactions—we will rebate ATM fees. (Up to $2.50/transaction.)
- Simple to open! ($25 minimum deposit and valid e-mail address).
- 10 Visa Check Card transactions per statement cycle (excludes ATM transactions).
- 1 Direct Deposit or an automatic debit per statement cycle.
- Receive e-Statements.
- If requirements not met, APY falls to 0.10%, and no ATM rebates for statement cycle.
- No minimum balance required.
- Statement cycle is last day of month to next-to-last day of month.
Eligible to join credit union if member of Sierra Club.
ACH transactions: Cannot initiate ACH transfers on-line, although you can set up Direct Deposit, Recurring ACH Debits or Credits by submitting a form or making a branch visit. Can link from other institutions to push $ into account.
* Uses ChexSystems; no hard credit inquiry.
FW Discussion Thread

State Bank of Toledo
Earn 4.01% APY Bonus rate and Nationwide ATM Refunds if requirements are met.
(This account earns only 0.25% APY standard rate if requirements are not met)
No minimum balance; 70K cap on balance earning 5.01%.
To earn the Bonus Rate, perform all of the following requirements each cycle:
1) 10 Check Card Transactions (10 debit/credit card purchases each month)
2) One Direct Deposit or ACH Auto Debit
3) Receive Electronic Statement
4) hard pull on Equifax when opening account
ACH transactions: Cannot initiate ACH transactions.
* Hard credit inquiry using Equifax
Fat Wallet Discussion Here