How to earn higher interest rate on “chicken money”

I just saw your presentation this morning on WGN in Chicago. It appeared a viewer had only about $20,000 in savings and it was earning a ridiculously low interest rate in a CD. He asked if there was a way to earn a higher interest rate on his money and you indicated that there was not. I beg to differ. I am in no way a financial planner or financial genius, but I do know that if he were to open a free checking account at Consumers Union, which is located almost everywhere and has ATMs almost everywhere, he could be earning at least an interest rate of 2.09% on the first $10,000 in his free checking account. There are a few parameters to get that interest rate which I seem to achieve every month. You do need to have direct deposit of at least $500 a month or more. If he’s getting a Social Security payment, he could have it direct deposited into the checking account. It also comes with a debit card. He would need to use that debit card a minimum of 12 times in a given month and have the purchases add up to a minimum of $100. Not hard to accomplish. He would also need to sign out for paperless statements. Easy to do and highly suggestible option. So he could instantly be boosting his interest rate on his money sitting in a checking account that has no maintenance fees whatsoever and the earning 2.09% on that first $10k. Consumers Union also offers their own visa credit card. If he gets a visa credit card and then in any given month meets all of the qualifications mentioned above and then also spends a minimum of $500 on that Visa card, his $10,000 will then earn 3.09% for that month. If he should spend $1000 or more on that same visa credit card in any given month and again meets all the other qualifications he will then earn 4.09% on the first $10,000. I think this is an excellent, easy way to earn some extra interest on at least $10,000. Thank you for your time!