With many financial institutions experiencing a decrease in profits, banks are vying for your business. This is good news for you, because instead of just offering standard perks like no fees or a free pen when you sign up for an account, some banks are raising the stakes with cold hard cash, giveaways, and great interest-bearing products.
September is a good month for bank promotions from both big and small banks. Banks are giving away a lot of bonuses to attract new customers and get them to open up accounts. The banks listed below have some pretty sweet deals that you should take advantage of if you are in the market for a new bank.
Don’t want to miss out? Here are the best bank promotions for the month of September.
1. Chase Total Checking® + Chase SavingsSM – Up to $250 Bonus
This offer is made up of two parts: a $150 bonus for Chase Total Checking and a $100 bonus forChase Savings. Open a new Chase Total Checking® account with a minimum of $25 and a qualifying direct deposit made within 60 days. You’ll then receive a $150 bonus within 10 business days. Open a new Chase SavingsSM account and deposit at least $10,000 within 10 business days and maintain a $10,000 balance or more for 90 days from when the deposit was made, you’ll receive a $100 bonus within 10 business days. In order to receive these bonuses, you’ll need to enter in your email here and take the coupon to a local Chase branch. This offer expires on October 15, 2016.
2. Chase Premier Plus CheckingSM – $300 Bonus
There is a separate bonus offer of $300 for the Chase Premier Plus CheckingSM account, which is a step up from the Chase Total Checking account mentioned above. The Premier Plus account has a monthly service fee of $25, but it is waived if you either keep an average daily balance of at least $15,000 between all of your Chase accounts (checking, savings, and other balances), or you set up automatic payments to your qualifying Chase mortgage.
To qualify for the bonus, open a new Chase Premier Plus CheckingSM account with a deposit of at least $25, and have a direct deposit (electronic transfer for paycheck, pension or government benefits) made to the account. (You can either apply online using the link above, or enter your email on the linked page to receive the coupon to take to your local Chase branch.) Once these steps are taken, you should receive the bonus in your account within 10 business days. This offer expires on October 15, 2016.
3. TD Bank Premier CheckingSM – $300 Cash Bonus
Apply online for a new TD Bank Premier account and you’ll get a $300 cash bonus once you receive direct deposits of more than $2,500 within 60 days. To qualify for this offer, you must be a U.S. resident and apply for the offer online. The Convenience checking account typically includes a $15 monthly maintenance fee, but it’s waived if you keep a daily balance of at least $100. This offer is available to residents of the following states: CT, DE, DC, FL, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, VT, VA.
4. BBVA Compass NBA Checking – $125 in Gift Cards Bonus
Open an NBA Checking account at BBVA Compass Bank and you’ll be eligible to receive up to $125 in gift cards. First, activate the Bill Play game in your online account, make at least three qualifying bill payments of $50 or more within the first 90 days of game activation, and a redemption button will appear in your online account, good for a $100 NBAStore.com e-gift card. Then, activate the Direct Deposit Dash game in your online account, make two direct deposits of at least $300 within 90 days of game activation, and a redemption button will appear in your online account, good for a $15 Amazon e-gift card. Finally, activate the Swipe for Songs game in your online account, make 40 qualifying check card transactions within 30 days of the first check card transaction (this first transaction must be complete within 90 days of game activation), and a redemption button will appear in your online account, good for a $10 iTunes e-gift card.
5. Key Bank – $300 Cash Bonus
To receive the $300 cash bonus, all you need to do is to open one of four account options at Key Bank – Key Advantage, Key Privilege, Key Privilege Select Checking, or Key Express Checking on or before September 17, 2016. Then have at least one direct deposit of at least $500 within 60 days of opening the account. You’ll need to use promo code RETA0316 to get the offer. Your bonus should be deposited within 90 days of meeting the requirements. If you close your account within six months, you may be charged an early termination fee of $25. This offer is good in the following states – AK, CO, ID, IN, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, UT, VT, and WA.
6. Fifth Third bank – $200 Cash Bonus
Fifth Third Bank is offering a promotion which can earn you $200. You can apply online, go to a branch, or phone them at 1-877-579-5353. Open a new, qualifying account with a minimum of $50 on or before September 30, 2016. Then you must make at least three online bill pay payments and set up a qualifying direct deposit within 90 days of opening the account. Your bonus should be deposited into your account within six weeks of meeting the requirements. This offer is available to those living in the following states: FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MO, NC, OH, PA, TN, WV.
7. BMO Harris – $200 Bonus
Open a new, qualifying BMO Harris checking account by October 31, 2016, with a minimum opening deposit of at least $100 and set up a qualifying direct deposit of at least $300 monthly within 60 days of opening the account. You can apply online or get a coupon emailed to you which you can take to a local branch. The bonus will be deposited into your account usually within 120 days of opening the account, provided you have met the requirements.
8. SunTrust Bank – Up to $250 Bonus
You can open a SunTrust account online or by printing out a coupon and taking it to a branch. To earn $100, open a new Essential Checking account, and deposit $100 or more within 2 weeks of opening, then make at least $500 worth of qualifying direct deposits within 60 days of account opening. You can earn an additional $50 by pairing the checking account with a new Essential Savings account and depositing $5,000 or more within 2 weeks of account opening. You must also maintain a $5,000 balance for at least 60 days after opening the checking account to be eligible for the bonuses.
Alternatively, you can earn $200 by opening a new Select Checking account and depositing $100 or more into the account within 14 days of account opening. You must have at least $2,000 of qualifying direct deposits within 60 days. You can get an additional $50 by opening a Select Savings account and depositing $5,000 or more within 14 days of opening the account. You must maintain a balance of $5,000 for 60 days after opening the checking account. These offers expire on September 19, 2016.
9. Santander Bank – $150 Bonus
Open a new eligible checking account at Santander Bank on or before September 30, 2016. Then set up a qualifying direct deposit within 90 days of opening the account. Make sure the account remains open for a minimum of 90 days. Your bonus should be deposited into your account within 30 days of meeting the requirements. There is also the option of getting a coupon emailed to you which you can bring to a branch near you. A minimum opening deposit of at least $25 is required, which varies depending upon the type of account you choose.
10. M&T Bank – $150 Cash Bonus
This offer is good for people living in the following states: CT, DC, DE, FL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, OR, PA, VA, WV. When you open a new personal checking account at M&T Bank on or before September 30, 2016 and then initiate a qualifying direct deposit, you’ll receive a $150 cash bonus, credited to your account normally within 90 days of meeting the requirements. Your account must remain in good standing during that time. You can also have a coupon emailed to you to be redeemed at a local branch to qualify for the promotion.
11. Discover Cashback Checking – Up to $120 Bonus
Existing Discover credit card holders who open a new Cashback Checking account can earn as much as $120 each year. Open the account with at least $25, then you earn ten cents in rewards every time you write a check, pay a bill online, or make a debit card purchase. You receive this reward on up to 100 transactions per month.
12. Bank of America – $100 Bonus
Open a new qualifying checking account at Bank of America by December 31, 2016 using promo code BAW100N (if you currently have a personal checking account with Bank of America you are not eligible for this offer). Then set up qualifying direct deposits which total at least $2,000 every 30 days from the time you open the account for 90 days. Your bonus will be deposited into your account, usually within 90 days.
13. Regions Bank – Up to $100 Cash Bonus
Open a new checking account at Regions Bank, either online or at a branch. Then open a Regions LifeGreen Savings Account with an opening deposit of $50 or more. Set up a recurring monthly transfer of $10 or more from your Regions checking account to your LifeGreen Savings Account, and receive the max savings bonus of $100 on the annual anniversary date of opening your savings account. Your bonus should be deposited into your account on the business day following your anniversary date.
14. Charles Schwab – $100 Cash Bonus
Open a new qualifying Charles Schwab account, deposit at least $1000, and the $100 bonus will be placed into your account usually within 30 days. Monthly fees may apply. You can also open the account via telephone by calling 1-800-398-8640 and mentioning the promo code REFER.
15. U.S. Bank – Up to $100 Bonus
Open a new Silver Checking Package Account at U.S. Bank along with a Package Money Market Savings Account, then enroll in START Smart within 90 days. You must also make at least one qualifying transfer (through START Smart) from your checking account to your money market account. Once you have an account balance of $500 in your money market account, you’ll become eligible for a $50 bonus. You’ll also receive 1% cash back on grocery and gas transactions on your debit card (up to $50) during the first year of enrollment. The accounts must remain open for at least one year, and your bonus and/or cash back will be paid out after that date. There’s a $25 minimum opening deposit required for both accounts.
16. Salem Five Bank – $100 Visa Gift Card
Open up a checking account with Salem Five Bank using promo code PP2013 and you can receive a $100 Visa reward card by completing any one of the following three requirements: set up direct deposit and complete two deposits of more than $250, make six online bill payments of more than $25, or make 20 debit card transactions of more than $5. The requirement you choose must be met within 60 days of account opening. Once the requirement is met, you’ll receive your reward card with 4-6 weeks.
17. Capital One 360 – Up to $50 Bonus
Open a new Capital One 360 checking account with a qualified minimum deposit of $250 or more, make at least three debit card or Person2Person payments within 45 days of opening the account, and a $25 bonus will be deposited into your account 50 days after meeting the requirements. Partner that with a new Capital One 360 savings account (also with at least a $250 qualified opening deposit) and you’ll get another $25 bonus after opening the account.
18. Citizens Bank – $1,000 Bonus for College Savings
Citizens Bank is currently offering a $1,000 bonus for those who sign up for a CollegeSaver savings account, an easy, manageable savings plan that will help your meet your college savings needs. It is an interest bearing account, and if you open it before your child’s twelfth birthday and save the monthly minimum amount every year, you’ll receive a $1,000 bonus when your child turns 18. Opening an account earlier than when your child turns twelve will only increase the savings.
19. BankDirect – AAdvantage Miles
Open a BankDirect Mileage Checking Account and earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles. You’ll receive 1,000 miles just for opening an account, 5,000 miles for initiating direct deposit, 2,000 miles for using BankDirect’s bill pay service for one year, and 1,000 miles for referring a friend. There are other ways to earn miles as well, and some restrictions apply. Be sure to investigate the offer thoroughly for full program details.
Final Word
When choosing a bank, it’s important to find one that suits your needs – whether that’s favorable interest-bearing accounts, no fees, or online banking features. It’s also a big bonus when you can get great perks along with good banking. Be on the lookout for and take advantage of cash and giveaways, and your banking experience will be all the more pleasurable.
Which bank promotions will you be taking advantage of this month?