[Expired] [AL, DC, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV] BB&T $600 Checking Bonus

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Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $600
  • Availability: AL, DC, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
  • Direct deposit required: Optional
  • Additional requirements:
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft pull It seems like they are very persistent 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: February 26th, 2020

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • BB&T is offering a bonus of $600 when you open a new BB&T Elite Gold checking account and use the promo code BADGG and complete one of the following requirements:
    • Deposit $35,000 within 30 days of account opening and maintain the minimum balance of $35,000 for 75 days OR
    • Set up and receive direct deposits totaling $3,000 or more within 75 days of account opening

The Fine Print

  • Offer is available for new BB&T clients who open a BB&T retail checking account.
  • “BB&T will review the account between 75-90 days of account opening. The $600 bonus will be deposited into your new Elite Gold account within four weeks of the account eligibility review.”
  • Normal minimum opening balance requirements apply.
  • Offer is limited to one incentive per household and does not apply to second or multiple personal accounts.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

This bonus requires the Elite gold checking account. 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

In PA & NJ the requirement is only $15,000 in combined deposit balances. Monthly fee is also only $15 in NJ.

Early Account Termination Fee

All accounts come with a $25 early account closure fee if you close them within 180 days of account opening. In addition accounts must be open at the time of bonus posting

Our Verdict

Technically I think these are supposed to be targeted, but in the past they have worked for everybody. Last time we saw an elite checking offer the bonus was $400, but requirements were easy to meet.  It didn’t really matter that the requirements were easier though as you still needed big balances to keep the account fee free. You’ll need to basically tie up $25,000 for 180 days to trigger the bonus and keep the account fee free and avoid the early account termination fee, works out to be a return of 4.8%. Might be able to do better and just close the account after the bonus posts and pay the $25 early closing fee. I’ll be adding this to our list of the best checking account bonuses.

Hat tip to reader S C

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View Comments (342)

  • I converted to basic account with 0 fees. If I keep $0, will the account be closed automatically in 6 months or something?

  • Opened this account back in Feb 24 2020 and received my bonus on June 30 after filing a dispute. I even had them confirm that the signup was correct when I initially opened the account since I did not get any type of confirmation. One of the managers sent me an email confirming all the specifics and that I was indeed signed up for the bonus. I then sent the $35k. When the bonus was due mid June no bonus was posted. I had to submit all the documentation including the scan of the bonus offer in order to receive it.

    They finally posted the bonus on June 30. On July 5 I had the funds transferred out. Today when the funds cleared I called to close the account via the telephone. I had to call 4 different branches until one finally answered the telephone. All the other branches had recordings stating that they were temporarily closed due to covid19. There is no early closing fee in FL. I confirmed that when I opened the account and it was not listed anywhere on their documentation.

    DP
    Opened account in Feb 24
    $35K deposit made on Feb 28
    After 80-days I reduced the amount to $25K to avoid fees
    $10k was moved to the funding account paying higher interest.
    Bonus received June 30 after disputing them being late.
    All funds cleared out on 7 July with account showing $0 balance, and called on same day to close account.

  • $3k push from Ally did NOT work... got charged $30 fee on 5/20 closing my account tomorrow and wait for next offer.

    • Plead ignorance and they will likely refund the fee... won't get you the $600 though.

  • Warning: It's extremely difficult to close your account if you don't have access to a branch for whatever reason. Due to stay-at-home orders, the local branch is closed and there's no way to close the account otherwise. I tried emailing my designated BBT "banker" and no response for months and phone support dropped my calls. I ended up needing to file a complaint through the CFPB to get the account closed.

    • Good to know. Luckily, that is no issue here in PA, since you can downgrade to a fee-free account. But might be annyoing in states without a fee-free option.

  • Successfully downgraded the account thru SM, effective the next day. Moved out the bulk of $35K with a couple hundreds above the minimum bal to avoid fee.
    Plan to close the account once the 6 months are up to avoid issue, hoping BBT offers will return in the future and not a once a lifetime type as Discover's.

  • Rec'd alert this morning, $600 posted to account.
    Opened on 2/25 at a branch.
    Funded with $35K thru PUSH from AMEX on 3/04.
    Bonus posted on 5/26.
    From account open it is 90 days. (it said account would be reviewed between 75 to 90 days to determine eligibility of bonus - looks the far end date is the date to use for review)
    From funding it is 85 days.

  • 2/10/20 - Account opened with $250 on Chase Freedom, coded as a purchase.
    3/6/20 - 2 real DD's completed totaling just over $3k.
    4/24/20 - $15 monthly fee
    5/14/20 - $600 bonus posted.
    5/16/20 - Downgraded successfully to "back to basics" account after submitting a SM. In NJ this has no monthly fee or min balance required.

    This is 2nd bonus with BB&T, they are very slow to post bonuses. Downgraded the account was not expected, but I tried after seeing some successful DPs. Only one $15 fee is great and doesn't eat into a $600 bonus much.

    Second-highest bonus in 2+ years only requiring a little patience.

    THANKS DoC!!

  • Account open : 02/10
    DD : Real Employer DD
    First Fee : $15(PA state) on 05/06
    Bonus posted : 05/15
    Send secure message to downgrade and next day downgraded with service fee reversal.