Citibank $100 Checking Account Promotion

October 31st is the last day for the current Citibank checking account promotion.

If you open a new regular checking account with their Basic Banking package by 10/31/12, and within 45 days of opening complete both a direct deposit and a qualifying bill payment for two consecutive months, you will get a bonus of 10,000 ThankYou points, redeemable for $100 in gift cards at various retailers including Home Depot, Macy’s, and Gap stores. New customers are those that have not received a bonus reward for opening a new Citibank consumer checking account within the past two years.

There are other bonuses for up to 30,000 ThankYou points, but those require large ongoing deposits to avoid high monthly fees. Citibank’s Basic Banking package is actually pretty reasonable if you’re looking to for a keeper checking account with access to Citibank’s branch/ATM network and free online billpay. As long as you make 1 direct deposit and 1 bill payment each monthly statement period, you’ll pay no monthly service fee. Or, just keeping $1,500 in the account by itself will waive the monthly service fee.

Fine print:

To qualify for 30,000 ThankYou® Points, open a new Regular Checking account in The Citigold® Account Package; or to qualify for 10,000 ThankYou Points, open a new Regular Checking account in either The Citibank Account Package or the Basic Banking® Package by 10/31/12. Within 45 days after account opening, enroll the new checking account in Citi ThankYou® Rewards. Also within 45 days after account opening, complete 1 direct deposit AND 1 qualifying bill payment from the checking account each month for 2 consecutive months. Qualifying bill payments are those using Citibank® Online, Citi MobileSM or CitiPhone Banking®. A bill that is paid by making a transfer between linked accounts and/or transfer payments made to accounts within Citibank or to accounts with Citibank affiliates does not qualify as a bill payment for this offer.

Offer for new checking customers only. If you have received a bonus reward for opening a new Citibank consumer checking account within the past two years you will not be eligible to receive a bonus associated with this offer. Customer can accept this offer by visiting a branch and asking a Citibank Representative or by calling CitiPhone Banking®. Existing checking customer offers available, visit a branch for details. Must be at least 18 years old to qualify for the promotional offer. Offers may be modified or withdrawn at any time without notice, expire 10/31/12, are not transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer. Limit of one of each offer per customer and account.

New checking account in The Citigold, Citibank Account or Basic Banking Package must be open and in good standing at the time the bonus ThankYou Points are posted to your ThankYou Member Account. Separate enrollment of eligible checking account in Citi ThankYou Rewards required. Citi ThankYou Rewards enrollment and participation are subject to terms, conditions and restrictions.

By Jonathan Ping | Banking, Deals & Offers | 10/30/12, 2:47pm