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, free checking, 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.
May is a good month for bank promotions from both big and small banks. Banks are giving away a lot of free cash 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 May.
Top Bank Account Promotions (May 2012)
1. ING Direct – $50 Bonus
ING Direct frequently runs many of the best bank perks in the market. ING Direct is giving away $50 to anyone who opens up an Electric Orange Checking account. Getting the $50 bonus requires you to make a total of 3 card purchases from your account. If you don’t want to do that then you can qualify by making three Person2Person Payments. You can do any combination of three purchases and payments if you wish. You will receive a $50 bonus automatically in your account on day 50.
2. Citibank – $100 Cash Back
You can earn a $100 cash back reward by opening a Citibank checking account. The offer runs through the end of this year, and all you need to do is fund the account with $1,000 within 45 days of opening, set up a direct deposit, and make one qualifying online bill payment for two consecutive months.
3. Chase Bank – $200 Bonus
Open a Chase Total Checking Account with at least a $100 initial deposit and direct deposit, and you can get a $200 cash bonus. You can either apply online, or print out a coupon which you can take to your local Chase branch. This offer expires 6/30/12. The Chase Total Checking Account has a $12 monthly service fee, but it is waived if you have monthly direct deposits of $500 or more, a daily balance at or above $1,500, or an average balance of $5,000 or more in your checking and other types of qualifying Chase accounts.
4. PNC Bank – $100 Bonus
To receive this cash bonus, you’ll need to sign up for PNC’s Virtual Wallet with an associated Performance Spend Account. Once you get your PNC check card in the mail, you then need to make at least 10 purchases with it during the first 60 days of opening your account. You also need to make a direct deposit of at least $750 during the same time frame. There are certain fees involved, so make sure you investigate the setup before going forward.
5. Valley National Bank – $150 Bonus
Valley National Bank is now offering a $150 bonus for opening any one of their customer-friendly checking accounts. You get free checking for one year, a free order of checks, and free online banking, eStatements, mobile and text banking, debit card, and banking by phone.
If you open a checking account with Valley National Bank, you get $75 when you sign up for mobile banking, and an additional $75 when you enroll in online bill pay or start a monthly direct deposit. You must do this within 60 days of opening the account, and the money will appear within 90 days.
6. 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, 10,000 miles for initiating direct deposit, 5,000 miles for using BankDirect’s bill pay service, 5,000 miles for using the provided debit card, 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.
7. 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.
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 free checking. 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 freebies like cash and giveaways, and your banking experience will be all the more pleasurable.
Which bank promotions will you be taking advantage of this month?
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