[NJ only] Columbia Bank $400 Checking Account Bonus/$400 Savings Bonus

Update 6/23/24: There is now a $400 savings bonus as well.

Update 3/16/24: Bonus is back and $400 this time.

Update 9/23/23: Deal is back and $300 this time.

Update 9/19/20: Bonus is back, but bonus reduced to $200 (from $250). Hat tip to reader Maria

Offer at a glance

• Maximum bonus amount: $300
• Availability:  Must live or work in the State of New Jersey
• Direct deposit required: Yes, $1,000
• Additional requirements: 10 debit card purchases
• Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
• ChexSystems: Unknown
• Credit card funding: Up to $1,000
• Monthly fees: $9, avoidable
• Early account termination fee: Account must be opened at time of bonus posting
• Household limit: None listed
• Expiration date: None

The Offer

Direct link to offer

• Open a new Columbia bank cash back checking and receive a bonus of $300 when you complete the following requirements:
  • $300 for receiving a qualifying direct deposit of at least $1,000 within 60 days of account opening
  • $100 for 10 debit card purchases within 60 days of account opening
  • Earn An Additional $400. When you retain a balance of $25,000 or more for at least 120 days after account opening. See full disclosure to learn more about bonuses available for lower retained balances

 

 

The Fine Print

• You are permitted to receive only one of each of these bonuses irrespective of the number or type of checking accounts you open.
• To receive any of the aforementioned bonuses, the account must still be open at the time we are ready to credit the funds (within 60 days of qualifying) and at all times the account was in good standing.
• If you have ever received a new account opening bonus in the past, you are not eligible for either of the cash bonuses even if you open a new Advantage Plus Checking Account.
• If you have received a cash and/or subscription bonus associated with a Yield Plus and/or Advantage Plus checking account within the 365 days preceding the opening of this new checking account, you are not eligible for either of these cash bonuses. Doesn’t look like this is still there and readers report being able to get bonuses more often than that.
• All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

$10 Monthly Fee

Avoid a $10 monthly maintenance service charge by conducting 10 POS debit card transactions or receiving $1,000 or more in direct deposits per statement cycle. For clients 22 or under, this charge does not apply

Early Account Termination Fee

Account must be open at the time of bonus posting

Our Verdict

Best bonus they have offered in the past has been $500 so  this isn’t as good as that. Might still be worth doing for those that missed out on that bigger deal. Because of those factors this is going in our best checking promotions list.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

• A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
• 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

Post history:

• Update 1/4/20: Bonus has been extended and you can now fund with a credit card up to $1,000.
• Update 8/26/19: Bonus is back but has been reduced to $250 (from $300)
• Update 1/26/19: Deal is back. Hat tip to reader Fly.
• Bonus has been improved and you now get $200 for a direct deposit. Still not as good as the $500 bonus they have previously offered.