Update 7/6/24: Bonus has been increased to $300 again. Still has targeted language but shows in google search result.
Update 6/23/24: Bonus is back, $250 again. Still has targeted language but shows in google search result. Hat tip to kas141
Update 4/8/23: Bonus now up to $300
Update 2/19/22: Available again.
Update 9/24/21: Available again, still has targeted language. Should show up if you do the following search ‘https://www.google.com/search?q=fulton+%24200‘. Hat tip to reader Gadget
Update 7/15/21: New link now available. Does have targeted language ‘To be eligible for this offer, you must have accessed this page via a direct communication (email or digital ad) from Fulton Bank.’
Update 2/1/21: Deal is back for 2021. Hat tip to kas141
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $250
- Availability: DE, MD, NJ, PA, DC & VA only. May need to live in one of the counties
- Direct deposit required: Optional
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Soft. Make sure to opt out of overdraft protection
- ChexSystems: Yes.
- Credit card funding: Up to
$500$50 - Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit:
One (is enforced/isn’t enforced (2))None - Expiration date:
None ListedDecember 31, 2021December 31, 2022
Contents
The Offer
- Fulton Bank is offering a bonus of up to $300:
- Earn $300 when you open a Relationship Banking checking account online and within 60 days of account opening:
- Set up a recurring direct deposit totaling at least $500.
Earn $200 when you open a Simply Checking account online and within 60 days of account opening do one of the following:Set up a recurring direct deposit totaling at least $500. ORUse your contactless debit card to make a purchase at least 15 times, spending $300 or more in total purchases. This includes in-store and online purchases.Earn an extra $50 when you open a Simply Checking account and when you also open a Statement Savings5 account online and deposit at least $1,000 in new money within 60 days. Just select Statement Savings within the “Your Offers” page during the online account opening process.
- Earn $300 when you open a Relationship Banking checking account online and within 60 days of account opening:
The Fine Print
- This offer is valid for new consumer checking account customers only that have not had a checking account with any affiliate of Fulton Financial Corporation within the last 24 months.
- Promotion is limited to one cash bonus per person.
- If multiple accounts are opened for the same owner, only the first account will be eligible for the bonus.
- Fulton Financial Corporation employees and immediate family members sharing a household are not eligible.
- May not be combined with any other offer.
- Offer may be withdrawn without notice.
- Customers are responsible for possible tax implications.
- 25 minimum deposit to open a checking account online.
- This offer is valid when you open a new Simply Checking account and complete a minimum of 15 debit card purchases within 60 days after account opening (transactions must be posted to the account within the 60 day timeframe); or, set up recurring direct deposit in the cumulative amount of $250 or more within 60 days after account opening.
- The direct deposit must post to your account within this timeframe and is limited to Social Security, pension, payroll, or unemployment. $200 cash bonus will be credited to your checking account four to six weeks after the conditions above have been met.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
- Simply checking has no monthly fees to worry about
- Relationship Banking has a $20 monthly fee
- $5,000 minimum daily balance and one customer-initiated transaction posted each statement cycle OR
- $25,000 combined deposit and investment balance for the primary or secondary account owner on the last day of the statement cycle and one customer-initiated transaction6 posted each statement cycle
Early Account Termination Fee
I can find no references to an early account termination fee on their website.
Our Verdict
Previous best bonus was $150. This is an extra $50 for the same requirements. Definitely think this is worth doing if you live in a targeted area, I’ll be adding this to our list of the best checking account 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
7/9 – Open
7/11 – $25 initial deposit via debit card
7/23 – $500 real DD
awaiting bonus deposit.
I’m also waiting to see if fidelity still works…so far nothing a couple weeks after Fid brokerage push
Anyone have good data points for Fidelity recently? P2 opened in early June and did Fidelity push over $500, no bonus. P3 opened early July with real dd over $500 that same week and bonus posted already. Last successful Fidelity I see in post is from January.
6/24 – Open
6/26 – $50 initial deposit via credit card
6/26 – <$1 account linking deposit/withdrawal
7/5 – $500 real DD
7/18 – $250 bonus
Did you leave the promo code section blank when you did this?
I just completed this application, yes promo section was left back. Have you applied?
Yes, just applied on Saturday. Approved and left promo section blank. Will be using real dd
Anyone know how many recurring DDs are needed for the latest offer?
It doesn’t specify so I’d send two. Usually when banks say recurring, they don’t really follow up that there was more than one. It’s more like boilerplate, that the DD is not a one time payment, like a tax refund. But, if the bonus doesn’t post and you need a manual review, you want two.
There’s a DP further down in the comments of someone getting the bonus with only one DD.
Is NJ zip code actually working? I got the following message when I input NJ and my zip code.
Thank you for your interest in Fulton Bank. You have entered an invalid or expired promo code or your state/zip code are outside of our service area. Please update or delete the promo code or update your state/zip code to continue. At this time, we are unable to open your account
They have a county map on their site: https://www.fultonbank.com/Service-Area-Map
If you are inside that footprint, I would contact your nearest branch and see if they can help.
A click away for applying and noticed the following – to which I am not finding a targeted option via their website. “To be eligible for this offer, you must have accessed this page via a direct communication (digital ad) from Fulton Bank.”
Interesting. I didn’t note that but I did screenshot my offer and apply. Maybe I’ll contact them to check that the offer is attached.
Fulton Bank might support NY state soon because they recently acquired a failed bank “Republic Bank” which has 2 branches in NYC
Showed up as a google sponsored ad for me today… $300 offer now.
William Charles
https://offer.fultonbank.com/checking-2024?utm_source=google (shortened)
They remembered to add the 24 month lookback on this one.
“Open your account by December 31, 2024”
can i match $300 bonus?
Unlikely. I am not going to bother to ask, as banks very rarely match deposit account bonuses. P1 & P2 here both just signed up for the $250.
BC
Thanks!. Just opened on 7/1/24 with $250 bonus.
Considering you opened on the day the $300 bonus existed, you have a leg to stand on. (or, it may automatically pay out at the $300 rate on it’s own. Sometimes it’s better to leave things alone) You do you.
BC
P1 was approved same day. P2 got an “Your Fulton Bank Application Has Been Declined” email. I called, they said it was an identity verification issue. She set me up with an appointment. I told her I had signed up under a promotion (did not specify which one) and she said she would email the branch to make sure it’s applied when I go in person. She just said I’d need my license.
Was able to open up in branch. Took them over an hour though because of “system issues”.