Ally Bank Launches New Products Including IRA

Earlier this week, Ally.com launched a few new banking products to compliment their high interest savings & checking accounts.

• 4-Year Raise Your Rate CD – This new CD allows you to raise your rate two times during the 4 year period. They also offer a 2 year raise your rate CD, but the 4 year will get you a better rate if you can part with your money for longer
• Ally Perks – This is Ally’s new debit card rewards program. It requires their interest checking account which after making qualifying purchases will get you cash added bank into your checking account.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) – What is nice about their IRA is that you can put your money into CD’s and an Online Savings account to earn a little higher rate. If you are having doubts about investing in todays current market, their IRA product might make sense for you

I have been very impressed with Ally and how they keep improving thier product line. Most banks just keep the same old formula and wonder why they lose customers. The nice thing about Ally is that most of their accounts cost nothing to open had hold. In an economy where the big banks like Chase and Bank of America are adding fees and reducing their free product lines, it is refreshing to see banks like Ally are still being very competitive.

Free Microsoft Office

If you are like my family, a computer really isn’t a computer without Microsoft Office. Let’s face it, purchasing Office, even the student version, is not cheap. Well in response to Google Docs, Microsoft has released a free version of Microsoft Office that is available online. This version is not as full featured as the standard version you purchase, but it does offer basic functionality for Word, Office and PowerPoint. If you are not a power user of any of these apps, the functionality you need should be available.

To access the free version on MS Office, you need a Windows Live account. It is free and you can register for one with your current email address. If you already have an Xbox live account, or you have a Hotmail email account, then you already have one. Go to www.live.com and log in. At the top of the screen you will see a link for “Office”. Once you click on that you will have the option to choose which application you want to run.

When you start a new document you will see the familiar Word, Office or PowerPoint interface that you are used to seeing. This online version is based off of Office 2010, so if you are still using an older version, the interface may look a little bit different to you.

You can do more than just start new documents, if you receive a document from someone, you can upload it to your documents folder. You can then open it and make changes to it. All documents created via the online version of MS Office are available to download to your PC.

Sure this isn’t as great as having the full version of MS Office, but if you are in a household with many computers and don’t want to spring for an Office license for each one, the online version of MS Office should more than suffice for those in school or need a quick way to create a document or spreadsheet.

Instant Hilton HHonors Gold Status

If you have a Visa Signature Card in your wallet, you can get instant Hilton HHonors gold status until August 31st 2011. All you need to do is go to the Hilton HHonors Promo Page and enter the credit card number of any Visa Signature card that you have, then enter your Hilton Hhonors account user name and password. Once you do that you will receive a confirmation message saying that you have received Gold Status.

I did this and them immediatly logged into my Hhonors account and verified that the gold status was reflected in my account.

Your Gold status will expire on 8/31/2011. If you stay at a Hilton family hotel 3 times by then, your Gold status will be extended until March 2013.

If you’re already a Gold or Diamond, there is still something here for you, by entering in your Visa Signature card, you will receive 5000 free Hilton points.

This deal is totally free and pretty sweet if you are going to travel within the next few months. Not exactly sure why they are offering this, unless it is a way to get you to stay at one of their hotels and experience the benefits of a frequent traveler. HHonors gold status gets you a 25% bonus on points earned when staying at a Hilton family hotel, as well as other benefits.

You need to have a Hilton HHonors accout first for this promo. If you don’t have one, then sign up here first, then come back and sign up for the promo.