Update 1/5/22: Extended until May 31, 2022.
Update 11/9/21: Terms now say “Must open in-branch at a First Financial Bank location in the greater Louisville area”
Update 11/8/21: They have added the language that states you must live within 25 miles of a branch to be eligible.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $200
- Availability: IL, IN, KY, OH
- Direct deposit required: Optional
- Additional requirements: See below
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: None
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: Six months, $25 & bonus forfeit
- Household limit: One
- Expiration date: December 31, 2021
Contents
The Offer
- First Financial Bank is offering a bonus of $200 when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Have a direct deposit of $500+ made to this account OR conduct 3 or more total payment transactions (combination of Debit Card, ACH Debit, Check or BillPay by February 28, 2022
The Fine Print
- In order to receive the $200 bonus deposited into your account, you must:
- 1) Open a new personal checking account between October 3, 2021 and December 31, 2021;
- AND 2) By February 28, 2022, have a qualifying direct deposit totaling $500 or more in a statement cycle made to this account OR conduct 3 or more qualifying payment transactions. A qualifying direct deposit must be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. A qualifying payment transaction can be combination of Debit Card, ACH Debit, Check or Bill Pay.
- Person to Person payments to or from any account at First Financial Bank or any other financial institution do not apply.
- After you have completed the above requirements, we will deposit the bonus in your new account at the end of your next statement cycle.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
f1RST® Simple Checking has a $0 monthly fee, although there is a $3 paper fee
Early Account Termination Fee
There is an early account termination fee of $25 if closed within six months of account opening, bonus also forfeit.
Our Verdict
Previously there was a $100 + $100 donation bonus, but you had to live within 25 miles of a branch to be eligible. This deal is much more attractive as you get an extra $100 (and then choose to donate that if you want to your favorite charity) and you don’t need to live so close to a branch. Will add this to the best checking 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
