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Mitch
Mitch (@guest_1153064)
March 2, 2021 09:56

Did anyone receive a 1099-INT for their bonus paid out during 2020?

Eric
Eric (@guest_1153256)
March 2, 2021 14:57

Yes. I received it by mail.

Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes (@guest_948738)
March 31, 2020 08:34

When I now login, account shows “There are no accounts available for display at this time”

I zero’d out the account on 3/26 so took 5 days for them to automatically close the account.

Eric
Eric (@guest_948910)
March 31, 2020 13:18

That’s a useful DP. I’ll never forget when I opened the account in-branch the woman half-jokingly (I think) told me she wouldn’t close it for me down the road.

Tegami
Tegami (@guest_947421)
March 28, 2020 13:36

Bonus posted. Opened on Oct 8.

SG
SG (@guest_947062)
March 27, 2020 16:08

Opened Oct 10, just had a conversation with a rep she told me I’ll see the bonus tomorrow as pending and available by March 31st

Joey Doughnuts
Joey Doughnuts (@guest_946955)
March 27, 2020 12:20

I called up and was told that once you zero out the account, the system automatically closes it 2-7 days later. Make sure you don’t zero out the account right before your next statement hits or you will be charged the monthly service fee. I hope this helps.

Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes (@guest_946958)
March 27, 2020 12:32

Received this from them via email that confirms this:

“To close an account
• For Checking account or regular savings account, transfer funds to other account or other financial institution, we may Close customer’s account if the account balance is zero.”

I zero’d out my account yesterday so will see how long it takes.

Baked
Baked (@guest_946991)
March 27, 2020 13:17

Looney Tunes I opened my account Sep 20th. What’s your take on how they count “6 month” requirement ? 180 days, calendar months, statement cycles ?

Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes (@guest_946998)
March 27, 2020 13:30

Baked I always take the banks literally so if they say 6 months, as in this case, I can close my account 6 months from the day I opened which is the same day as you, Sept 20.

In this case, I waited to start the transfer of all the funds left in the account until Mar 23 because the statement didn’t come out until that day (even though my statement period ended on Mar 20), didn’t want to risk the penalty fee.

Eric
Eric (@guest_948908)
March 31, 2020 13:16

I don’t like the word “may” here. I will send them an email now so I have my own proof.

Eric
Eric (@guest_948916)
March 31, 2020 13:23

I just logged in and couldn’t find any way to message them. How did you do so? How long it take them to reply by email?

Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes (@guest_948937)
March 31, 2020 14:09

Eric They don’t have a way to message from your account but they’ve at least added an email to their website so that you can send them an unsecure message for general info, so don’t send any private or personal info to them.

They won’t close the account by email but here it is: [email protected]

Eric
Eric (@guest_948943)
March 31, 2020 14:14

Thanks. If they don’t reply back by tomorrow I’ll just transfer the funds out and hope it closes in 5 days like it did for you.

Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes (@guest_949012)
March 31, 2020 15:35

They were fast in their email response, sent it in the morning and heard back that afternoon.

Baked
Baked (@guest_946990)
March 27, 2020 13:16

Joey Doughnuts I opened my account Sep 20th. What’s your take on how they count “6 month” requirement ? 180 days, calendar months, statement cycles ?

Joey Doughnuts
Joey Doughnuts (@guest_946995)
March 27, 2020 13:27

If they are listing it in months and not days then 6 months from September 20th is March 20th. If they meant 180 days, then you could have closed out your account on March 18th. Either way you are good to close now.

767
767 (@guest_941621)
March 18, 2020 00:40

Anyone have any experience yet closing without going into a branch? With the current shut down, it is no longer convenient nor recommended to hop on mass transit to close the account. I’m about 1 week away from the 6 month mark.

Denny
Denny (@guest_928870)
March 5, 2020 14:29

I would like to have your comments and suggestions for my issue.
I signed up my account on September 25 and completed the 5 debit card transactions on September 30. On October 20, I received my first statement.
I do not receive the $500 bonus. I went to the branch and the banker explained to me that my first statement cycle actually started from October 1st. She showed me a print-out for the program details. However, on the print-out that it says starting from the first day of the next month after my account was opened, is for how to calculate the 3-month balance for the 2% interest. Under the bonus requirement part, it still says “complete 5 debit card transactions in the first three statement cycles”. She said I should complete the transactions in October. I did not agree with it. I showed her my first statement dated from September 25 – October 20. I said my understanding is that the period is my first statement cycle instead of October 1 – October 20. There is nowhere to say a statement cycle starting from October 1st. Each of mine statements started on the 20th of the month. The first day of the month in the print-out just means the period for calculating average daily balance (it is clearly under how to calculate the balance part and it has nothing related to the statement cycle).

What do you think? Am I right? I did not get the bonus because they still insisted that their explanation is right. I plan to bring the case the small claim court. Will I win?

Thanks.

Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes (@guest_928925)
March 5, 2020 15:38

This question was extensively discussed when the bonus first opened as to when the first 5 debits were needed to be done. There were conflicting comments based on different bank reps but no definitive answers were given.

To be safe, I recommended doing them before the end of the statement period of Oct 20 (actually the 18th because the 20th was on a weekend) and also thought it best to do after Oct 1, not in Sept because of the confusion with when the statement period actually began.

Can’t say you’re wrong (logically I’d agree with you) but whether you’ll be able to convince anyone of that legally, I don’t know.

Maybe someone who did the same as you and got the bonus can chime in.

Denny
Denny (@guest_929321)
March 6, 2020 00:00

Thank you for your input.

I am in Texas. If I do not get the bonus, I will bring the case to our state’s small claim court. I just checked that the fee is $34. I do not mind to lose $534 but I want to use this opportunity to get my first-time small claim court experience, as well as learn the truth and request fairness. If the judge is on the side of the bank, I will accept it. But I really do not think the bank is right to explain the terms in its way.

Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes (@guest_929341)
March 6, 2020 00:32

Why not file a complaint with the CFPB first off, it’s free to do.

You can always follow up in small claims if that doesn’t work.

Denny
Denny (@guest_929786)
March 6, 2020 13:02

Update:
I escalated the case to the branch’s manager yesterday. This morning, I saw $500 interest staying in my account.

Thanks for your discussion.

emmons
emmons (@guest_927093)
March 3, 2020 19:48

Anyone opened an account last Oct, and received the bonus? Thx!

Eric
Eric (@guest_927952)
March 4, 2020 15:10

Yes, I opened my account on 10.1.19 and received the bonus.

Charles Mann
Charles Mann (@guest_928077)
March 4, 2020 17:39

I signed up late Sept and recd the bonus 2,28,20

jay
jay (@guest_926465)
March 3, 2020 08:49

Any data point regarding how to close the account ? My only branch is about 30 minutes drive , but it make me feel better if the account can be closed by email or phone call.

hardy
hardy (@guest_926344)
March 3, 2020 04:14

Received full bonus of $500 on personal & buss both the ac/s on 28th Feb. Opened both acs end of september.
NIce & easy Bonus, bank is also good to deal with.
I always wait for a month to close both the accounts, so will close at 7th or 8th month. And any way its minimum balance only.

hardy
hardy (@guest_926350)
March 3, 2020 04:24

But now, today i saw mouth watering promotion for buss of $1500.
$1000 for Checking A/c
$500 for merchant services.
I think for buss checking a/c promotions it specifies only new customer. Will try to open merchant a/c for $500 promotion but will 1st check if i am eleigible or they just need completly new relationship

Charles Mann
Charles Mann (@guest_928084)
March 4, 2020 17:41

The Bus bonus is 2% of the balance, same terms as the personal bonus but at a higher limit.