[FL, MA, NJ, NY, VT] Trustco Bank $250 + Ring Doorbell Checking Bonus

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• DP:

  Account Opened on 6/15
  Real DD1 (full paycheck) on 7/3
  Real DD2 (~90% of paycheck) on 7/17
  Real DD3 (~90% of paycheck) on 7/31
  Bonus Posted on 8/7 automatically without ever having to call or message the bank.

  I'll wait a couple weeks to see if the ring camera arrives by mail and then call if it does not come in by then.

• Opened account on 6/15, just call the Bank and confirmed the bonus will be paid out by the end of August.

  Also confirmed that the Ring doorbell will be shipped to the customers instead of having to be picked up at the branch.

• Had to call the corporate office and was told they would review my bonus offer and would see it credited in 7-14 days.

  Opened account on 4/22
  DD 1 on 5/2 for $567
  DD 2 on 5/16 for $577

  The lady I spoke with tried telling me that I was not eligible for the bonus because I didn’t have reoccurring monthly DD but the terms just state “reoccurring direct deposit” which I did meet by have two hit my account.

  Hopefully I get this bonus, if not I’ll go the CFPB

  Terms were “* To receive the Stanley ™ Mug (approximate retail value of $50) and $250 bonus, you must open a new Home Town Free Checking with Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit must be the entire amount from a recurring Payroll, Social Security, and/or Pension (minimum of $500 monthly Direct Deposit). Direct Deposit must be completed within 60 calendar days from the date that the account was opened.”

  • A rep told me you need three direct deposit

  • I would be surprised if they pushed you through, as the full sentence you referred to is as follows: "Direct Deposit must be the entire amount from a recurring Payroll, Social Security, and/or Pension (minimum of $500 monthly Direct Deposit)"

    I imagine you're good on recurring, but the monthly might get you.

    • The terms don't really make any sense, but there's been enough information in previous DPs that we can basically decipher the gibberish. It's been widely discussed that they want $500 minimum DD for two months. All that really matters is what Trustco thinks they've implied in the verbiage and how they enforce it. I agree @guest_2117963 that it's highly unlikely they would all of the sudden let someone slide without a 2nd month's DD.

    • The terms are kind of BS because it says that the minimum is $500 per month but it doesn’t explicitly say it needs to be reoccurring monthly. Reoccurring could also be 2x in the same month

  • Was corporate office the 1800 number? I had the same thing happen to me, but got no offer to review it from the CSR, just a flat out no and refusal to send me the terms they were basing that decision on.

    • Nope it was the regional headquarters in Longwood, FL

      407-659-5701

  • I filed a CFPB, they immediately referred to OCC.. still nothing yet. I'm not expecting it at this point, but maybe they'll surprise me.

    • What did your DD look like? Monthly or 2x per month? (Which is considered “reoccurring” per merriam Webster dictionary)

      • Once per month for two months. In other words, one in April and one in May.

        The CSR even said I satisfied the requirements per the terms of the offer.

        I think they just don't feel like awarding the bonus because there's nothing else in my account activity. Just a couple DDs and transfers out, pulled from another institution.

        This bank has a long history of playing games like this. They leave the terms vague and ambiguous intentionally.

• Had to file a BBB complaint and won. Had all pay stubs and screenshots used real DD three of them that were total amount as was specified in offer.

  • Did you have combined DD <$500 in one of months? That was the reason they denied me

    • I had three real DD total was over $500 each and was for the total amount of each paycheck. I provided paystubs.

      • So just want to confirm because your wording is throwing me off: each of your paychecks was >$500?

        • Yes

  • What made you choose BBB instead of the CFPB?

    • If had success in the past.

• Called into my local branch, they said they'd send it to their back team and I'd hear back in a week or two

• I spoke to a rep over the phone in regards to closing. There's basically three options:

  1. keep account at a zero balance and it will automatically close after 9 months.
  2. send a notarized letter to your local branch requesting to close your accounts.
  3. go to a local branch to close it out.

  I may call my local branch and try to close it over the phone.

  • The have fees for balances less than $500. Guess I'll be going into branch. Please update if calling local branch worked.

    • Which account type do you have that has a $500+ balance requirement? Why not downgrade to a Hometown Free Checking account?

      • That's what I have maybe there are no fees.

  • Often credit union and banks will have a notary on staff and will offer the service at no charge. Just mentioning in case anyone has to go the letter route.

• So apparently, at this bank if an account gets to a $0 balance it enters a "deactivated" status, which is technically(?) closed but funds can still be added to it. After some period of time, like 10 months or so they said, it fully closes. If the account is deactivated and has no funds they can fully close it manually without the trouble of going in-branch. So for future attempts to close, whenever that may be. mentioning that it's at a $0 balance may do the trick.

• Data point

  Opened Jun 25th

  Fidelity push 6/27 and 7/18

  Bonus 8/7

  • Was the bonus posted automatically or did you have to call?

• First failure!

  4/22 - Account opened
  5/2 - Real DD entire amount
  6/11 - Real DD from different employer <$500 but entire amount
  8/8 - Called today, said I didn't qualify per the terms. CS read off of something that said it needed to be 2 months of $500 or more. Also stated that this was not available on the website and couldn't be distributed to me.

  Anyone have a copy of the terms from the Stanley bonus and can confirm this? Super annoyed because I didn't see that in the copy of the terms here and lost the copy I had.

  • I have a screenshot DM (if that's possible) me if you need one.

    • All good, I think that based on the wording of "minimum $500" they would deny me even with a CFPB, but maybe I'll give it a HUCA

  • "Also stated that this was not available on the website and couldn’t be distributed to me." this is total BS.

    • I figured haha. I just asked for the terms that the CS rep was reading from and she said she couldn't send them from email but she can read it off. Not exactly the same thing. I do think the wording of "minimum $500 monthly direct deposit" did me in, which is unfortunate because the only reason I didn't do another June deposit to get to $500 is because my 60 days would've be up. I'm thinking its not worth taking further (call again or CFPB) but any chance it would be worth it?

      • Unfortunately, there are cases of them routinely denying people the bonus for this very reason so I highly doubt they'll make an exception for you. It's funny that they've regularly had this problem with people misinterpreting the terms, yet they have done nothing to make them less ambiguous. Makes me think it's intentional. Not discouraging you from filing a complaint, just saying don't plan on it helping you receive the bonus.

        • Probably won't bother then. Thanks!

        • If it makes you feel any better, I did both DDs and filed a complaint - still no bonus or mug. Their own CSR even stated that I qualified for the bonus two months ago.

        • Could the CSR not do anything to add the bonus? Seems like others have had success.

        • She said she would but it's going on ten days now.

  • *Promotional offer is valid from 4/4/2025 - 4/30/2025. Only one offer of each per eligible customer and household per 12-month period. Account opening and other transactional requirements must be met. All bonuses will be paid within 60 calendar days of verification that the requirements have been satisfied for each offer. 1. To receive the Stanley™ Mug (approximate retail value of $50) and $250 bonus, you must open a new Home Town Free Checking with Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit must be the entire amount from a recurring Payroll, Social Security, and/or Pension (minimum of $500 monthly Direct Deposit). Direct Deposit must be completed within 60 calendar days from the date that the account was opened. Minimum of $50 to open a Checking Account. Home Town Free Checking: Does not earn interest. 2 - Initial debit card supplied at no cost. A fee may apply for replacement cards. 3 - Standard messaging and data rates may apply and vary by carrier. Offer subject to change without notice. Employees are not eligible to participate in this promotion. All bonuses will be reported to the internal revenue service. Please Note: We reserve the right to alter or withdraw these products or certain features thereof without prior notification. Stanley™ is a registered trademark and not affiliated with this promotion.

• Opened 5/31
  Used Chase business for DD
  $250 bonus posted today.