Update2: If you don’t live within 50 miles of a branch you won’t be eligible for the offer (it’ll let you sign up and then they will later close your account)
Update: If you use your mobile phone, the offer will only be for $100. Use a normal computer and the $150 should show up.
Reposting because we now know it’s a soft pull and you can fund with a credit card.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $150
- Availability: OK only
- Direct deposit required: None
- Additional requirements: use the promotional code ‘BEAWESOME’
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Can fund up to $1,000 with a credit card. Mastercard & Visa are accepted
- Monthly fees: $3, avoidable
- Early account termination fee: 90 days, bonus forfeit
- Expiration date: October 31st, 2016
The Offer
- Open a MyChoice checking account from Central Bank with a minimum funding of $50 and receive a sign up bonus of $150 when you use the promotional code ‘BEAWESOME‘
The Fine Print
- Incentives will be deposited to the MyChoice Checking account within ten business days after the account is funded.
- Available to new checking account customers only.
- If checking account is closed within first 90 days a fee may be imposed. Promotion ends 10/31/2016.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
This account has a $3 monthly fee, it’s avoidable if you do any of the following:
- Maintain a recurring direct deposit
- Use your debit card at least 10 times for a point of sale transaction
- Keep an average daily balance of at least $500
- Set up a monthly transfer between MyChoice Checking and SaveUpSM Saving
You do need to keep the account open for more than 90 days otherwise you’ll be charged an early account termination fee.
Our Verdict
This is a fantastic bonus as there are no requirements, it’s definitely an ‘awesome’ offer (ha ha ha!). I’ve added this offer to our best bank account bonus list. It rarely gets better than this, nice $150 bonus with credit card funding and no bonus requirements.
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
It is a hard pull now
Same as Jeff, received a more generic letter. I funded with a CSP which posted the amount as Sale. No word about the refund in the letter.
Update – CC deposit was returned today to my CSP.
Rejected, but more generic letter than that quoted by Phillip Dampier. It does indicate accounts not opened for those who are not residents of their trade area.
If it matters, I did not contact the bank after the on line opening of the account.
Nothing was mentioned of my account opening funds by CC which is currently posted on that CC account as processed.
My CC deposit using Barclaycard CashForward MC was returned today to the Barclaycard CashForward MC as a refund / CC purchase offset.
Financially I am whole.
Got my letter in the mail with my initial deposit back. Letter from new accounts manager indicated the bank learned that unqualified members had enrolled “accidentally” for a promotion they were not entitled to receive and the bank only learned about this when a new account holder called the bank and that alerted them he lived out of the service area(!)
“As a result, further investigation revealed a large number of applications from out-of-state residents were mistakenly accepted. We have since worked to correct the error and we apologize for any inconvenience. Your account funding deposit is being returned to you and you will find it enclosed with this letter.”
Before this offer went up here, presumably out of state residents snuck in, but the jig was up after just one person called and inquired about their account. They spoke to Mr. or Mrs. Busybody who made it their mission to stop such accounts from being opened. He or she then calls the IT people who discover the open entry point on the website and the rest is history.
A reminder: NEVER EVER EVER EVER call the bank about a promotion if it appears you are not qualified to receive it but seem to be on your way to getting it anyway. We knew this offer was state-limited, so if you decide to apply anyway and don’t live in the state, the first rule of Bank Club is you keep your head down and your mouth shut. 🙂
This is how these things always get shut down.
Did you fund the account with a CC? If so did they send you back a check?
Got a copy of that letter? Would make for a good post on the dangers of calling the bank.
Sorry I just saw this. Yes I have a copy of the letter. I will see if I can e-mail you a copy with the personal stuff blanked out.
To answer other questions, I have the ability to do free wire transfers at work, so I funded the account that way. I received a bank check back for the $525 I sent.
Thanks 🙂
What was the date of the letter?
It came by snail mail?
How did you fund?
How did they refund/return your funding?
I wired funds and the bank check refund and letter came back overnight mail, signed by a senior rep. I guess they take wire transfers very seriously. Date on letter was 8.17.2016. I scanned it and sent it to William this afternoon.
I didn’t apply to the branch in Oklahoma. I chose Missouri instead. Postage for the overnight was paid/postmarked Columbia, Mo.
Does Vemno counted as direct deposit? Any idea….?
I chatted with a rep stating that i am not able to login to their online banking. This is the response i received – Thanks for your patience. Unfortunately since you live out of state, your account was closed due to being outside of our trade area. The deposit will be returned back to you within 3-5 business days.
What a bummer..
same: Ink+ $1000 shows pending but unable to log on to Central Banks website now…
I opened an account and so did my wife and we are out of state. Funded the account with a CC but now unable to login even though my CC shows they took the $1,000. Someone must have tipped off the bank, oh wait someone above called…
I opened the account last night successfully. But today I am not able to login, looks like the bank woke up and shutting down out of state account holders
I also applied last night, had the account opened (was actually really looking forward to my Cardinals debit card as a huge STL Cardinals fan) and funded successfully with my CSP, but when I logged on earlier today it still showed the account as unfunded. Now I’m also unable to login, but my $1,000 did just post on my CSP though, so not sure what to make of that.
they could be doing maintenance…usually I.T. systems update late at night …so keep fingers crossed. ..HOPE is a very good thing.
I applied on the 16th successfully funded with Double cash. I was able to log in yesterday and since my initial deposit posted today, I checked if it was on acct and I can’t log in 🙁 I just check here to see updates and see others have the same issue. I’m not calling yet but if others can’t log in also starting today, I just hope I’ll get my funds back either via check or returned to my CC.
to summarize my experience:
-8/16 applied online with success funded with Citi;
-8/18 initial deposit posted on CC so I checked my CBOK acct and couldn’t log in; checked this discussion to find out it’s not just me.
-8/22 received snail mail from the bank confirming my account was closed. No mention of how my initial deposit will be refunded.
-8/23 checked my Citi account and saw the refund posted. I’m glad it did before my statement closes end of the week.
This case is now close for me.
In the same boat as vall, nick, and mimi. My payment is still processing, so it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
yes, if you are out of state, please do NOT call or chat or email them about your account or the promo. If your account opens and goes through, just fulfill the restrictions and wait to see if the promo hits.
good advice…im in OR and about to apply for this….if it works…great . If not, move on.