The article talks about U.S. financial institutions that are offering yield that average 25 or 30 times more than typical checking account rates as of February 2013. These institutions include banks, thrift banks, and credit unions which offer high-yield checking accounts. Topics discussed include interest rates on savings and checking accounts, high-yield bonds, and dividend sweethearts or stocks that have a record of increasing dividend every year for 25 years or more. INSET: KEY POINTS.