BestCashCow has often featured articles on rewards you can get from your personal bank account. However, if you also happen to have a small business, there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't get rewards from your small business bank account as well. The Capital One Small Business Rewards Checking account could be a good choice for you for several reasons.

First, this Capital One account allows you to combine rewards between your personal and business Capital One accounts, including credit cards. As we all try to save money and spend less in this economy, this feature becomes even more pertinent because it will take less time to achieve rewards levels through combined account spending. While Capital One does have the disclaimer that it limits one Rewards checking account per customer, you can link personal and business Capital One credit cards for combined rewards.

The Small Business Checking rewards work like this: you'll earn 20 miles for each non-PIN-based transaction, and 10 miles for every debit/PIN purchase. Additionally, you'll earn 20 miles for every online Bill Payment and other pre-authorized reoccurring payment (up to 10 transactions per month), as well as 10 miles for all other customer-initiated withdrawal transactions.

You will also earn a bonus of 1,000 miles when the account is opened and the first transaction is posted to your account, you'll earn another bonus of 1,000 miles after you make your first debit card purchase, and you’ll earn an additional 1,000 miles on your membership anniversary. All bonus miles will be posted to your account within 60 days of the qualifying event.

However, the reward structure is a little tricky if you want to redeem your miles for airline tickets. You'll be able to redeem 15,000 miles for tickets costing up to $150.00; 35,000 miles for tickets costing $150.01 - $350.00; and 60,000 miles for tickets costing $350.01 - $600.00. For tickets costing over $600.00, the required number of miles will be determined by the cost of the ticket times 100. For example, a $768 ticket will cost 76,800 miles. Because of the way this structure works, you would be better off saving your miles for higher-priced tickets (or for tickets that cost very close to the limit for that reward level). For instance, if a ticket only cost $160, you would be better off saving the 35,000 required points until you needed them for a ticket costing $345.

If you prefer not to get airline tickets as your reward, you can redeem your miles for non-travel related merchandise or cash. The number of miles required for non-travel related items varies by item and can change at any time without notice.

In addition to regular reward miles, you can earn either a $100 or a $300 bonus if you open your account before February 29, 2012. To qualify, one online Bill Payment must post to your account by February 29^th. You will receive $100 if your balance is at least $500 after 30 days, or $300 if your balance is at least $3,000 after 30 days. The bonus credit will appear in your account 6-8 weeks after 2/29/2012.

As with many bank products, this isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. However, if you already have other Capital One products, you travel a lot, and you're in the market for a new Small Business Checking Account, this could be a good match for you.

For the best information on checking accounts, click here.

If one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to ditch a bad bank account and switch to a more favorable bank, you’re not alone. Many long-time banking customers are suddenly seeing an increase in fees as banks scramble to recoup lost revenue. If you’re unhappy with your current banking situation, it can make sense to switch accounts. Sometimes, however, it can be hard to get enough motivation to act. As previously reported on BestCashCow.com, people in Briton are more likely to get divorced, even when they are highly dissatisfied with their bank’s service. If you’re one of those people who want to switch banks but haven’t yet made the jump, here are five steps to follow that will make your transition as easy and painless as possible.

Step 1: Choose the funding amount for the new account.

After you consider your individual needs and choose a new bank that benefits you best, the first step is to consider how much initial funding you want to put into your new account. It’s prudent to start with a modest initial deposit, while still keeping funds available in your old account. It can take some time to receive your checks, new bank card, and change over direct deposits and reoccurring payments, so you want to keep both accounts active during this transition period.

Step 2: Order checks and a get a temporary debit card.

Once your new bank account is open and adequately funded, order new checks and debit cards. Most banks will provide you with a temporary debit card (and some can even provide temporary checks) while the permanent ones are being manufactured and mailed.

Step 3: Move your automatic payments

Next, make a list of all of your automatic bill payments, automatic debits, and direct deposits. In this list, include the dates for the next anticipated billing/deposit for each item, so you’ll know when to watch for it to hit on your new account.

Then, one-by-one, start changing over the bill payments, debits and direct deposits to your new bank account. If your paycheck is direct deposited, you will likely need to contact your employer’s Payroll office or Human Resources office to fill out a form to authorize them to deposit your paycheck into your new account. You should now stop using your old account, but still keep it open.

Make sure you have enough money in your new account to cover the bill payments and debits. As each payment hits your account, check it off the list you previously created.

Step 5: Close your old account.

After you have confirmed that all outstanding checks cleared your old account, all automatic debits and bill payments are clearing your new account, your direct deposits are all going to your new account, and you’ve received your permanent checks and debit card, you can then close your old account.

The last step is to celebrate! You’ve just made an important move to help ensure you have a sound financial portfolio.

Find a local bank close to you.

Work for Aflac? If so, don't overlook one of the perks of the job. Aflac Federal Credit Union is offering a 2.41% APY savings account for its members, and that's no quack. The average national savings account rate for local banks is 0.21% while for online banks it is 0.80%. That gives you a sense of how competitive this rate is. The rate holds for deposits up to $100,000.01. The rate on deposits over this limit drops to 1.10% APY which is still highly competitive.

Like most credit unions, Aflac has a restricted field of membership. That means not everyone can join the credit union and open an account. To quality for membership, you must be an employee of Aflac, or the spouse of an empolyee. If you qualify, you can call them and request a membership packet. The packet also contains instructions for how to open a savings account.

Aflac is a medium sized credit union with $168 million in assets. It has a Texas Ratio of 15.14%, which is higher than the national average of 10.34% but not high enough to be a big concern. It is NCUA insured, and is located in Columbus, GA.

Our weekly update came out a few day late this week because of the holiday. I'll be back to the normal Monday schedule after the New Year. Happy New Year and here's to higher deposit rates in 2012 (although I think we may have to wait until 2013).

Look for the best savings account rates in your area by clicking the "Savings" tab above.

Previous Weekly Rate Deals

• December 19, 2011 - CIT Bank and Its 1.15% APY 12-Month Achiever CD
• December 12, 2011 - Citizens State Bank of TX Offering 2.85% IRA CD
• December 5, 2011 - Digital Federal Credit Union Offering 2.86% APY CD - Nationally Available
• November 29, 2011 - Community First Bank Offering 2.78% APY 60-Month CD
• November 21, 2011 - Premier Federal Credit Union Offering 2% APY on 24-Month CD
• November 14, 2011 - Institution for Savings of Newburyport Offering 3 Year CD at 2.50% APY
• November 7, 2011 - State Savings Bank of Rake, IA Offering 3.82% APY FIRA
• October 31, 2011 - First Choice Bank Offering 2.80% APY 5-Year CD
• October 24, 2011 - First National Bank of St. Ignace Offering 12-Month Flex CD at 1.51% APY
• Oct 17, 2011 - Weekly Rate Deal - Navy Federal Credit Union Offering 3% APY 12-Month CD
• Oct 7, 2011 - Farmers & Traders Bank Takes Weekly Rate Deal for 3% APY 60-Month CD

Check back next Monday for a new bank deal. Email any deals you know about to ratedeal (at) bestcashcow.com. Feel free to also share them below. If you're a bank and have a great deal not listed on BestCashCow, register for access and add the deal to the site.

• Find the best savings account rates
• Find the best CD Rates