Update 4/7/25: Available in MN according to this link.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $100
- Availability: Valid in branch only; must be within 60 miles of their locations in: Devils Lake, Towner, Fargo, West Fargo, North Dakota or Chandler, Casa Grande, Scottsdale, Arizona [AZ, ND only]
- Direct deposit required: Yes, no minimum specified
- Additional requirements: eStatements & cash & check card
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: None
- Monthly fees: $10, avoidable
- Early account termination fee: Unknown
- Household limit: None listed
- Expiration date: None listed
Contents
The Offer
- Western State Bank is offering a bonus of $100 when you open a new VIP or VIP Plus personal checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Sign up for direct deposit
- Enroll in eStatements
- Open a Cash & Check Card
The Fine Print
- Valid on new personal checking accounts only. The following criteria must be met to receive $100: Open a VIP or VIP Plus personal checking account, enroll in direct deposit, enroll in eStatements, open a Cash & Check Card.
- Reward will be credited to your new checking account within 60 days after direct deposit is received assuming account is open.
- Limit one offer per person
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
VIP Checking $10 Monthly Fee
It’s possible to avoid this monthly fee if you have a minimum balance of $500 or maintain $5,000 balance in Loans + Deposits
VIP Checking Plus $10 Monthly Fee
This account requires you to have a combined balance of $10,000 in deposit accounts or maintain $25,000 in Loan & Deposit balances
Early Account Termination Fee
I wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so I’m unsure if there is any early account termination fee or not.
Our Verdict
They did offer a $200 bonus before, that had more requirements but was still better than this bonus. Western State Bank has been getting more attention recently due to the 2.5% APY nationwide account they offer, but this deal will only be available in branch in AZ & ND unfortunately. Because the $200 bonus was from way back in 2014 I don’t think we will see a better bonus than this in at least the short to medium term so I’ll add this towards the bottom of the best checking bonuses.
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
- 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
- Bank Bonus Posting Times
Did this one pull Chex?
I can’t find any evidence of any MN locations and the offer doesn’t mention MN. Please update page.
I opened my account today. I started it online but they do require a “wet signature ” which necessitated a trip to the branch to sign the form and make the initial deposit. Not a big deal bc I’m in their footprint.
I was given a bag full of Western swag. The bag is a very nice, zippered insulated tote. Inside the tote: chip clips, pens, reusable water bottle, scissors (!), first aid kit, journal, and a “copper infused cooling towel.” Everything emblazoned with their logo of course.
And they were all so nice. The woman i met with was genuinely excited to meet me and she introduced me to the other staff. I *almost* feel guilty that I will probably close the account as soon as I get my bonus.
Just wanted to share all this bc it was a very different experience than the typical impersonal branch. Their logo is “Your Hometown Bank” and that fits my experience there today.
Gonna have to do better than $100 for me to get excited Western State.
Where does the term say about 60 miles radius with the branch? If this is in the term, I guess no need to bother even for ND and MN people?
Thanks doc
New link: https://www.westernbanks.com/personal/clubs-and-programs/100-ways-to-earn/
Open to AZ, ND, and MN residents according to this page: https://www.westernbanks.com/deposit-account-contact-form/
Does it need to be within 60 miles of a branch? Thanks.
I do not know. I think that was from old offers in 2019 or earlier.
The “direct link to offer” no longer works.
Yes it does, it’s under 100 ways to earn.
The “Sign up for direct deposit” requirement; does that mean that they’d give you a form when you open their new bank account to fill out? Or does it work just like other bank account bonuses where you just need to make some ACH transfers with a certain amount?
are you sure this is in branch only? i do not see that in the small print and i see an option to open online.
I see options to open online, but I’m not sure they get this bonus?
I filled application online but then got email to go into branch and fill application. The online application is just an interest application that gets sent to branch!
So they pull Chex?