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:Â $200
- Availability: IL, IN, KY, OH
- Direct deposit required:Â Optional
- Additional requirements:Â See below
- Hard/soft pull:Â Soft pull
- ChexSystems:Â Unknown
- Credit card funding:Â None
- Monthly fees:Â None
- Early account termination fee:Â Six months, $25 & bonus forfeit
- Household limit:Â One
- Expiration date:Â 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
Terms changed again. Louisville in-branch only.
Thanks, updated
Limit per household address might be forever and not per every 12 months.
T&C:
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.
Applicants must reside within 25 miles of a First Financial Banking Center. Offer not available to First Financial Bank employees, applicants who have closed a First Financial Bank checking account within the last 6 months, or anyone who has received another offer or bonus within the last 12 months. Limit one $200 bonus awarded per household address. This offer excludes H.S.A., WORKlife®, and Money Market accounts. Accounts closed within 6 months of the account open date will result in the bonus amount being deducted at account closing (if bonus was not awarded, account will be subject to a $25.00 Early Account Closing Fee). Bonus will be reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC. First Financial Bank reserves the right to end the offer at any time.
They must have updated the terms because the 25 mile statement was not in there last week.
Any out of state folks attempt?
To get the bonus you have to open in branch. There does not seem to be an online offer.
Do they usually enforce the early account closure fee and bonus forfeit?
No mention of who’s excluded. Does that mean even current members can earn the bonus? I think I closed the account few months ago. Wonder if I am eligible.
When I tried to churn the last bonus, it had been several months since I closed both mine and P2s account yet they still denied the bonus because “someone at your address has already received a bonus.”
Try to ensure you count 12 months from the end date of the promotion, not 12 months from whenever you received the bonus.