[Expired] M&T Bank $160 Checking Bonus – Available Online [NY only]

Bonus has now expired, you can view current M&T bonuses by clicking here, or the best checking bonuses here.

Offer at a glance

• Maximum bonus amount: $160
• Availability: Valid only for accounts opened in New York State in the following counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming
• Direct deposit required: Yes, $100
• Additional requirements: Open MyChoice account
• Hard/soft pull: Soft
• ChexSystems: Yes
• Credit card funding: None
• Monthly fees: Avoidable
• Early account termination fee: $50 180-days
• Expiration date: March 24th, 2017
• Household limit: None listed

The Offer

Direct link to offer

Open a new checking account by March 24th, 2017  and receive a sign up bonus of $160 when you do the following:

• Set up a qualifying direct deposit of $100 or more within 90 days of account opening

The Fine Print

• We will credit one bonus (the “Bonus”) to the account if the account receives a minimum of one direct deposit in the amount of at least $100 within 90 days of account opening.
• This offer is valid on new accounts opened before 3/24/2017.
• Qualifying direct deposits include, but are not limited to, electronic deposits such as payroll or Social Security and do not include electronic money transfers or credits such as account-to-account transfers or those made through internet payment services.
• Bonus will be credited to the account within 90 days of direct deposit activation as long as the account is in good standing.
• Bonus is reportable for tax purposes.
• Only one bonus will be rewarded regardless of the number of accounts, titling on account and the number of direct deposit arrangements established.
• Bonus offer may vary by product and region, is limited to one per customer, and is not available to employees of M&T Bank or any of its affiliates.
• A $50 early close-out fee applies if the account is closed within 180 days of the date the account was opened.

Avoiding Fees

The bonus is available on any personal checking account, including: EZChoice Checking, MyChoice Checking, MyChoice Plus Checking, MyChoice Premium Checking, Classic Checking, Basic Banking. Let’s look at the easiest options for keeping fee free.

[Note that M&T Bank is one of the few banks that doesn’t give you a grace period, the requirements mentioned below must be completed your first month to keep it fee-free.]

EZChoice Checking

This account has a monthly fee of $9.95, soon changing to $6.95.

• Monthly fee is waived by making just ONE transaction such as a deposit, withdrawal, or debit purchase.

Basic Banking

This account has a non-waivable $3 monthly fee.

Early Account Termination Fee

There is an early account termination fee of $50 now if closed within 180 days.

Our Verdict

There are now four M&T bonuses currently active.

• This one
• M&T Bank $150 Checking Bonus – Available Online [AZ, CT, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV]
• M&T Bank $250 Checking Bonus – Available Online [AZ, CT, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV] requires promo code
• M&T Bank $200 Checking Bonus – Available Online [CT, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV] requires promo code

Shame this is restricted to just NY. M&T bonuses are great because they can be churned and also because the bonus posts quickly. Read the above posts for more information and also to look for answers to any questions you might have. Will be adding this to our best checking promotions page.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

• A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
• PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
• Introduction To ChexSystems
• Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
• What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
• How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
• Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
• How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
• Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
• Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
• Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications