Santander offered one of the best nationwide bonuses for $225, unfortunately they have updated the promotion and it now clearly states that the offer is only available for residents in the following states:Â NH, MA, RI, CT, DE, NY, NJ & PA.
There does seem to be other offers for $150 that don’t have this restriction currently (update, this offer has expired so no good). I’m not sure if they will have it added soon as well or not. I’m also not sure when the state restriction was added. You can view other nationwide checking bonuses by clicking here.
Hat tip to reader Paul
DP:
04/12/2017: opened
06/22/2017: $500 real DD
07/12/2017: $225 bonus posted (exactly 3 months later)
Also having problems with them honoring the $225 bonus… I applied before the state restriction and am at 135 days since open…
Could someone who took screenshots of the promo help me out and send a copy my way? I unfortunately did not take my own. Would like to have this when following up with Santander.
Appreciate it.
robastu90@gmail
Opened checking account with Santander last February using WINTER225 in branch and set up a DD for $500. Followed up with them in June since the bonus never posted. It posted exactly after 5months. But I received only $162 instead of $225. Did anyone face this? Do they deduct tax while posting the bonus?
You have to make sure you follow up with them (NOTE: I was not being abrasive in any way when dealing with Santander, but at this point, I’m a little irritated). I actually went into a branch on 2/717 to open an account with the promo that I got in the mail. They were very helpful, and everything was going smoothly…until 140 days later and still no bonus.
I had > $1800 in DD (from my employer), account never went below $0, and I’ve been making the one transaction per month requirement, as well.
I called a local branch about 5 business days after the 120 day mark, who said they’ll get back to me within 3 days (he also mentioned that I met all the requirements). I called back on Business Day 5, and they said they’ll pass on the message to the person who helped me. Called two local branches on Business Day 6, only to be met with a “Your call cannot be completed. Please try your call again.” So maybe they blocked my number? I call the 877 number, who’s been probably the most forthcoming; apparently the promo code wasn’t there when I opened it, but then shouldn’t I have been told that when I called the first time? She then says she’ll transfer me over to the local branch, and then I get a busy signal.
I would go into the local branch, but I have a broken toe and running these errands are a bit tough. I may have to wait until my toe heals and actually go in to the local branch. I have all the paperwork (including the promo mailing) with me, so it should be easy to get down to the bottom of, but I was not thinking I would have to put in this much work. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have opened a Santander account, and I was set on keeping this account and closing another one, but I’m now pretty sent on closing this account once I get my $225 to make up for all the time I spent trying to get it.
UPDATE: all the local branches had their phone lines down, and the corporate office is reaching out to have it fixed. This makes me feel a little better, and I hope to give an positive update about the bonus.
The lesson here is that it’s probably a good move to gather any documentation you may need in case you have to prove them that you fully deserve the bonus.
The CFPB exists for things like this. If you’re not satisfied with Santander’s response, use it while it’s still around. Mentioning the CFPB in conversation may also be helpful when communicating with them.
I open accounts like this online specifically so I can take screenshots of everything at every step along the way. This was useful at one point for getting Citibank to honor their 50K AA mile Citigold bonus (in combination with a filing a CFPB complaint).
UPDATE: Was able to finally get a hold of the branch I opened the account at 6/27, and they made a copy of the promo mailing, so they should be able to honor it (although their use of the word “should” didn’t sit well with me, but I can wait a few days to see if the bonus will come through). Hopefully I won’t have to call them again in a week, because at that point, “being nice” is going out the window, and I may have filed a complaint with CFPB by then.
MonetaryDragon: I was only aware of BBB, but I’ll definitely be reading up on CFPB now. Thanks for the tip!
Finally got down to the bottom of it, and they said it would be deposited 7/7. I got a call 7/6 that I missed from Santander, so I called the morning of 7/7, where they said if I don’t see it deposited by 10:30am, I should call back in. I figured it’d pay off to be patient, but I ended up calling them back at 2pm because there was still no sign of a bonus. The CSR said that there might’ve been an issue because of the 7/4 holiday, but said if I don’t see it tomorrow morning, I should call and ask to speak to a supervisor. Now that’s when I’ll bring up CFPB, because this $225 is turning out to be more hassle than it’s worth!
OK, I was in one of the excluded states (applied and approved on March 16, before the change in terms) and just got the bonus today.
Account opened on 3/16 and received a letter that said only the states targeted will receive the bonus. I live in CA but got the bonus yesterday. Yay.
Mark, when you say you opened the account on 3/16, do you mean that’s when you applied online and were approved? It takes a few days for them to process the paperworks and fully ‘open’ the account. In my case, I applied and was approved on 3/14, and the account was opened (opening deposit posted as the first activity for the account) on 3/22. I am outside of the current state restrictions, and got the state restriction letter with my welcome package. On what date did your opening deposit post to your account?
I don’t have my bonus yet, but your data point gives hope.
I will wait a week before I contact them, and then probably go CFPB if they aren’t responsive.
Account opened 3/8/2017
Bluebird transfers totaling $500 deposited 05/2017
Capital One 360 push of $500 completed 6/05/2017
Bonus of $225 received 6/07/2017
Not sure which triggered bonus
Could anyone shed light on how to tell how things are coded as DD? My Capital push shows up as “CAPITAL ONE N.A. CAPITALONE 0000xxxxxxxxx(numbers)”. How could you tell if it is recognized as DD? Thank you.
After some thought, I will be taking the opposite approach of Joseph, and complete the requirements, with the expectation of having to file a CFPB complaint as part of the effort of getting the bonus. The account is already open, I have a tax refund (“real”) DD ready to make, and I have nothing to lose. I have screenshots of everything as I opened the account, including the original terms.
I am mad enough at Santander for changing the rules mid-game on people like me who signed up under the old, nationwide terms that I will gladly cause them as much hassle as possible. As far as I can tell, the CFPB was made for situations just like this- to prevent banks from engaging in unfair, misleading, and deceptive banking practices. I encourage any other readers who signed up in early March to participate with me in 4 months, and for DoC to start an article on this at that time to gain publicity.
I am in the same boat with you. It took the bank a few days to open my account after I submitted the application. I now saw that my account was opened on 3/16. Just did the payroll DD. Finger cross!
No discussion of early closing fee at all. He gave me a call reference number, confirmed my address, and said he’d mail me a $25 check a refund of my opening deposit.