[This post does not contain any affiliate links. That’s because we post the best offers regardless of our financial relationship with those offering the deals]
Fifth Third (5/3rd) bank is currently running a promotion in partnership with Stand Up To Cancer (charity that focuses on funding “innovative cancer research”, not listed on charity navigator) where they’ll give you $150 and also make a $150 donation to Stand Up To Cancer when you make three online bill payments and set up direct deposit.
The Offer
- Get $150 for yourself and $150 donated to Stand Up To Cancer when you create one of the five following bank accounts, receive a direct deposit of at least $50 and do three online bill pays.
- Fifth Third eAccess Account
- Fifth Third Essential Checking
- Fifth Third Established Checking
- Fifth Third Enhanced Checking
- Fifth Third Preferred Checking
There is an online link available here, but you’ll need to bring the postcard you received into the branch to be eligible. Some people have reported success by saying they lost the postcard, we don’t suggest using this method as it seems to be hit or miss and you may not receive any bonus at all. Stand Up 2 Cancer will also not receive any donation if you use this method.
Fine Print
- Offer is valid from January 27th until March 31st, 2014
- Only valid in service areas of the following states: IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, WV, FL, TN, MO, NC, GA, PA
- Minimum account you can open an account with is $50
- Only available to new checking customers
- Direct deposit and three online bill payments must be completed within three months of account opening
- Bonus will be added to the checking account within 6 weeks of completing the requirements
- Only one bonus may be redeemed per house.
- APR you receive on your checking account is dependent on your location, anywhere from 0.05%-0.6% (0.24% APY in IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, WV, 0.38% APY in FL and TN, 0.40% APY in MO, 0.46% APY in NC, 0.50% APY in GA, and 0.60% APY in PA. 0.05% in all other locations)
Contents
F.A.Q’s
If I open this account will they do a hard pull on my credit file?
Banks generally do not do hard pulls on your credit file for opening a bank account. There are some exceptions (e.g when they are providing you with overdraft protection), but in this case 5/3rd will not do a hard pull. Click here to find out up to date information to ensure this is still correct.
What do 5/3rd count as a direct deposit?
Any paycheck or government payment will count as a direct deposit, but regularly changing your paycheck details is frustrating for those signing up for multiple bank account sign up bonuses. 5/3rd also currently counts ACH transfers and ING Direct/Capital One 360 transfers, click here to view the current list of what they are counting.
Will I lose my bonus if I cancel my account?
Somebody from Slickdeals called to ask and received the following response:
Since the bonus has been provided to you already, you may close the account at anytime without having to pay back the bonus as you met the requirement to receive the bonus
Which Account Should I Choose?
This depends if you plan on keeping the account or not. If you do plan on keeping the account, we suggest reading the benefits of each to decide for yourself. If you’re not keeping the account then the easiest account to go for is either the Fifth Third eAccess ($500 in direct deposits per month to keep it fee free) or the Fifth Third Essential Checking (average monthly balance of $1,500 to keep it fee free). Personally I’d go with the essential checking account, that way you can transfer $1,500 once, keep it till the bonus shows up in your account and then transfer it again.
Our Verdict
If you live within the service area, this is a pretty neat little deal. Hitting the direct deposit requirement is easy as they accept Capital One 360 and ACH transfers. It’s also nice that you’re earning $150, but also seeing another $150 go to charity.
Do you live within the service area? Do you plan to take advantage of this deal, why or why not?
Application Link | Screenshot Of The Offer
Hat tip to Slick Deals
