We’re used to covering the best credit card & bank account sign up bonuses, but every now and then you see some offers so bad that all they do is make you laugh. I was bored, so compiled some of the worst ones I’ve seen below (let me know of any additional ones in the comments below).
Contents
Credit Cards
- JAL USA Credit Card offering a free stuffed toy, what makes it even worse is that it was limited to only to the first 100 approved applicants.
- Walmart offering a free pumpkin when you apply for one of their cards
- Walmart offering 2L of Soda when applying for one of their credit cards via Doctor of Credit
- Walmart stepping up their game and offering 2L soda/candy & $25 gift card via Doctor of Credit
- Walmart not even offering a guarantee bonus this time, but a chance to win instead via Voyaging Doc
- Scheels offering two pieces of fudge ($6 value!!) for an application via Doctor of Credit
- Lowes offering a free lightbulb via /r/churning.
Bank Bonuses
- Cathay Bank offering a lucky monkey via Steve
- First American National Bank offering a credit card lightbulb or self stick and only need to keep a massive $5,500 deposited for twelve months, what a deal! via Steve
- Community Bank offering a 50″ x 70″ Escalade® Super Soft plush fleece textured for winter warmth and extra comfort via dacorgi
- Pioneer bank offering a free flashlight via reader Carlos.
- SDCCU offering a free taco & tote via Allie355
Open a new SDCCU checking account at a branch through 8/31 and receive a FREE* tote and a coupon for a FREE Taco! -> *http://t.co/JOkM9PSP2j
— SDCCU (@sdccu) July 27, 2015
This thread needs is fun and needs to come back.
This makes some banks that we yawn at this year look generous. $10.00 for a new kid’s checking or savings account. $25.00 for a new senior checking account.
First checking account bonus was a crock-pot from TCF Bank (awful bank, but they never reported my deliquent account to chexsystems) First CC bonus was a free t-shirt from Chase for a united explorer card from the taste of Chicago, we’ve all come a long way.
When I was 18, I signed up for my first credit card while I was at an airport- a US Airways card. I got a free blanket. It was the same one they gave out on the plane.
Free magnetic flashlight!
I remember when I was in elementary school in Hong Kong (~20 years ago), our math teacher warned when we grow up, do not fall for credit card company’s tactics of using “non-stick pans” (or other kitchenware) to lure us into getting credit cards. He said sincerely “I know it’s very tempting… BUT please cut up your credit card as soon as you get them” (at the time, offers did not have minimum spend, so as soon as you get approved you get your gift.)
I am pretty sure my great teacher had been churning for non-stick pans.
https://www.valleynationalbank.com/personal/promo.aspx?ref=nyps3
Valley National Bank
$20 and a Soccer Ball
I was in a department store in southern India that had a “limited time” signup offer for a store membership card….2kg of sugar
Haha, what a deal! Take a picture next time.
There was an era where these small freebies could be earned by filling out a paper form (with bogus information). That made them not so bad.
In 1997 I use to work for Target as a cashier and we were hounding by management to get Target card credit applications. The perk was instant 10% off your purchase just for applying with a detachable coupon on the app. Just thrilled to have an application or two at the end of our shift us cashiers couldn’t care less if you would be approved later or info was bogus. Indeed some people constantly applied with no chance of approval or with bad info and months later this 10% real deal was demoted to a pathetic “$3 off coupon”.
That Sirotan is ridiculously cute. It would be funny if, in 5 years or so, it’s worth $xxxx.xx
You’ll be kicking yourself for not getting it.
I’m tempted…