[Expired] [YMMV & AL, DC, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV] BB&T $300 Checking Bonus - Direct Deposit Optional

All codes are currently expired, for the current best checking bonuses click here.

Update 11/06/2018: Bonus is back, this time the promo code is AUXGB. You can validate it’s working as the promo code is accepted. Valid until December 27th, 2018.Hat tip to readers learnedpaw & @lowerybelairmd

Bonus is back, you can tell it’s valid again because the promo code is accepted. Hat tip to reader Brian. Make sure you change the promo code to ASNFV

Offer at a glance

Maximum bonus amount: $300
Availability: AL, DC, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
Direct deposit required: Optional
Additional requirements: Use promo code AUXGB
Hard/soft pull: Soft pull It seems like they are very persistant about overdraft protection so make sure you don’t opt in for that
ChexSystems: Yes
Credit card funding: Up to $250 (says debit card only, but credit cards will work)
Monthly fees: $30
Early account termination fee: $25, 180 days
Household limit: One
Expiration date: August 12th, 2018

Contents

1 The Offer
2 The Fine Print
3 Avoiding Fees
- 3.1 Elite Gold $30 Monthly
- 3.2 Early Account Termination Fee $25
4 Our Verdict

The Offer

Direct link to offer (please note this doesn’t mention the bonus. Bonus terms were originally sent out via snail mail so this offer is targeted. It’s another matter whether that is enforced)

BB&T is offering a bonus of $300 when you open a new BB&T elite gold checking account. You need to open the account with the promo code AUXGB and complete one of the following requirements:
- Maintain an average daily balance of $5,000 or more within 75 days of account opening OR
- Complete direct deposits of $2,000 or more within 75 days of account opening

The Fine Print

Offer is limited to one incentive per household
Any account not in good standing, closed or with a balance less than or equal to zero at the time we review account eligibility (between 75-120 days of account opening) will not receive the bonus
All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Elite Gold $30 Monthly

You can avoid the monthly fee on this account if you meet any of the following requirements:

$25,000 combined deposit balance in checking, savings, CDs, IRAs, Money Rate Savings, Investor’s Deposit Account, or investments through BB&T Investment Services, Inc.
$25,000 combined outstanding balance in retail loans and lines of credit3
$150,000 BB&T personal mortgage loan balance

Early Account Termination Fee $25

All accounts come with a $25 early account closure fee if you close them within 180 days of account opening.

Our Verdict

Main issue with this account is keeping the account fee free. You basically need $25,000 in combined deposits, that’s also enough to trigger the bonus requirement so that’s a plus. You’d need to keep the $25,000 invested until the bonus posts and then pay the $25 early account termination fee. This 75-120 days, let’s say 120 days just to be safe. This account earns 0.01% APY, so basically nothing. If you put the $25,000 into a 2% account during that period you’d earn ~$165. When you add the $25 closing fee you’re looking at a bonus that is only really $100 or so.

They have a $150 bonus that will be better for most readers. More details on that here.For now I won’t be adding this to the best checking account bonuses.

Big thanks to reader, John M who let us know. Learn how to find bonuses and contribute to the site here.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses: