Chase Bank is offering a $150 bonus for new customers when you open a Chase Total Checking account plus deposit $100 and set up direct deposit within 60 days of account opening. You can avoid monthly service fees if you make a $500+ direct deposit each month or maintain a $1,500 minimum daily balance. Must keep account open for 6 months to keep the bonus. Expires 8/15/12.
At least in the past, you could simulate direct deposit using an ACH transfer from an online savings bank. Fine print quoted below.
Important Information
*Service Fee: Chase Total CheckingSM has no Monthly Service Fee when you do any one of the following each statement period: Option #1: Have monthly direct deposits totaling $500 or more made to this account; OR, Option #2: Keep the daily balance in your checking account at or above $1,500; OR, Option #3: Keep an average balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of qualifying Chase checking, savings and other balances. Otherwise a $12 Monthly Service Fee will apply ($10 Monthly Service Fee for CA, OR and WA). We will notify you of changes to your account terms or fees. For more information, please see a banker or visit chase.com/checking.Bonus/Account Information: Offer not available to existing Chase checking customers, those with fiduciary accounts, those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or with a negative balance. To receive the bonus: 1) open a new Chase Total CheckingSM account, which is subject to approval; 2) deposit $100 or more within 60 days of account opening; AND 3) have your direct deposit made to this account within 60 days of account opening. Your opening deposit cannot be money held by Chase or its affiliates, nor can the bonus be used as the opening deposit. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. After we receive your first direct deposit, we’ll deposit the bonus in your new account within 10 business days. You can only receive one checking account-related bonus per calendar year. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.
Account Closing: If your checking account is closed within six months, we will deduct the bonus amount at closing.
I think I’m at least partially responsible for the $500 minimum… I used to do this every time I could. Had it down to a science.
1. Open new account with $100
2. Have PayPal deposit $0.01 on the 1st of every month.
3. Have PayPal withdraw $0.01 on the 20th of every month.
4. wait 6 months and 1 day (+1 to 3 days if a Sunday or Holiday) and close the account.
5. Wait 91 days and go back to step 1
The manager of my local branch was none to happy when she found out that for the past 5 promos I was only bouncing a penny to and from my PayPal account every month to meet the “direct deposit” requirement and opening/closing accounts all the time. The last two times I actually had to go to a different branch.
I only occasionally walk into that same branch (once every several months) to make a car payment for my mother and EVERY time I am greeted by the manager by name.
Off the top of my head I have made close to $1000 off chase over the past several years. I only stopped because I opened a Chase Freedom card and make out better with the bonus points. I like to think of it as a little vengeance for the 99%.
What exactly is a “fiduciary accounts”? I have my mortgage with Chase, does this disqualify me?
Nice job Bryce 🙂
I kept 1.5k balance for 6 months and no other transactions); closed after 6months + 3 days; got $150 minus the tax witholding. Waiting for 90 days to elapse so that I can get another $150.
I would never do this to a credit union – but banks are fair game.
Didn’t understand why you can no longer opt for the offer after opening chase freedom card.
I agree about the CU. I would also never do this to my community bank (only 13 branches all within 150 miles of each other)
I’m sure I could still open and close the accounts even with the Freedom card if I wanted to.
If you have a Freedom card & Chase checking account you get the normal points + 0.01% for an effective rate of 1.1% (5.1% on the bonus categories) + 10 Pts./Transaction.
Since this is my spend card (everything from that pack of gum to groceries and utility bills) I usually earn 5-6K ultimate rewards points every month (1000 points=$10.00) so I make more money that way and VERY rarely carry a balance so I come out way ahead.
I also pass a Mobile rest stop on the highway every day to/from work and use my Speedpass linked to the card for a bottle of water or whatnot a few days a week so I get to stack that 5% statement credit on top of what Chase already gives me.
Understood. Thanks for explaining.
$0.01 deposit won’t work for the bonus this time. To qualify for the bonus:
“Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government.”
now that they require $500/month I have $250 put in each pay period and put that directly on my Chase card. I refuse to let them have my money for more than the 2/3 days per month that it takes to submit the payment.
I wonder if it would work if you setup a business papal account… it doesn’t really matter though since you would have to bounce around $500 between PayPal and chase might as well just direct deposit enough or if you don’t mind letting them earn interest on your money drop in $1500 for 6 mos.
I tried applying but it looks like this promotion is not offered in my area.
There is a new promo where you can receive $200 now!
https://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/shared/marketing/page/081512_27954_frdm&ID=0000014266&WT.ac=DSO14266_banner&jp_aid=DSO14266_banner&jp_avt=39057&jp_ai=&jp_aoc=UNITED&WT.mc_id=July12_200chk_dso_retail&jp_con=UNITED.MyAccounts.Sec_banner&jp_cnv=https://www.chase.com/online/Checking/chase-checking-account.htm&jp_lid=000014266&jp_oid=000036695&jp_mep=July12_200chk&WT.pi=/MyAccounts.aspx&WT.pn_sku=chk
Sorry – not sure if that last link works… here is the link to the thread on slick deals:
http://slickdeals.net/f/4928302-Chase-200-coupon-for-new-Checking-account-valid-until-08-15-2012-w-new-acct
Tried to apply and got this:
We’re unable to complete your request. This product is no longer available for the ZIP code you entered. Please click “Chase.com” to see and apply for products now available in your area.
You can buy chase $200 checking bonus coupon codes on EBay for like $15…so a net of $185 for the same “total” checking account.