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Gadget 🕵️‍♂️ Bank Bonus Geek 🔗
August 5, 2025 19:19

Avoiding fees DP:

Using LendingClub, scheduled for recurring until stopped, I am pulling $1 via ACH weekly, and $1.01 every two weeks. That ensured I would have at least 6 “debits” per month, and no fees have been assessed. I only had to even think about it in Feb. for the short month and it was fine unattended.

This bank is a nosy one, and will call you to see how things are going after the 1st month, and think they have called twice since, once about a CD promotion @ 4.25% APY. They did also ask me about my $1 ACH transactions, and I just said they were mine and aware. They were concerned it was some sort of “attempt to drain my account $1 at a time”. I might have muttered I was avoiding the monthly fee.

I opened my Dollar checking in mid-Sept 2024 for the $600 promo, based on my past churns, my $300 bonus should be due in the 13th month (October). Almost there.

Frazz
Frazz (@guest_2112861)
August 5, 2025 16:58

DP from PA (successful churn attempt):

2024/07/18: “Everything Checking” account opened in person.
2024/07/19: Opening deposit posts ($50).
2024/08/29: Real DD posts ($4609).
2024/10/31: Used Dollar Bank debit card to fund CashApp ($300, one time).
2024/10/31: “ONL DEBIT CARD PURCHASE REBATE” posts ($300).
2025/08/01: “DEP PROMOTIONAL REWARDS CREDIT” posts ($300).

Unfortunately, I ate $48 in fees for this account (a $3 paper statement fee early on, followed by several monthly fees because I kept the balance too low and didn’t do enough transactions). So a net bonus of $552.

I did the $400 version of this bonus once before (account opened on 2020/10/27, accounted closed in spring/summer 2022). So it does seem churnable, especially if you open the account(s) in person.

I’ll zero out and close this account before the end of the month.

CB
CB (@guest_2109654)
July 31, 2025 15:18

Any DP for the $300 after your one-year anniversary of account opening?

Frazz
Frazz (@guest_2112862)
August 5, 2025 16:58
  CB

CB I just left a DP above your comment.

Avi
Avi (@guest_2019601)
March 9, 2025 06:00
Z
Z (@guest_2014405)
March 1, 2025 10:42

1/13/25 Opened
1/21/25 $5K Discover Savings ACH (Code Prearrange)
2/7/25 $300 Debit Card PayPal. (Reached out through message center to see if promo was on account and it wasn’t so they manually applied).
2/10/25 $300 DEP PROMOTIONAL REWARDS CREDIT
2/12/25 $300 Debit Card PayPal.
2/12/25 $297 ONL DEBIT CARD PURCHASE REBATE
I just logged on today and noticed the $297. Seems I already got the full bonus -$3?

Z
Z (@guest_2020561)
March 11, 2025 10:34
  Z

UPDATE
I ended up getting $900. When I withdrew $300 from 2/12 using debit card, I got an additional $300 rebate. I contacted the message center again to let them know what was happening and they said the promo was added multiple times by mistake. Since the debit rebates already processed, they won’t be taking the funds back. They adjusted my account, and I still will get an additional $300 at the 1-year anniversary. Honesty is the best policy!

Matt
Matt (@guest_2010619)
February 23, 2025 15:30

I’m in Cincinnati and it looks like the closest branch is in Cleveland over 200 miles away and I got the debit card bonus.

Did two real direct deposits which were less than $5k and a transfer from another bank to avoid the monthly fee. Then I used the debit card to add a bit more than $300 to my paypal balance. Got the credit 2 days later when the transaction went from pending to posted. Now to wait 11 months for the other $300.

TRJ
TRJ (@guest_2008350)
February 20, 2025 05:04

It seems that those of us who had accounts before are having the biggest problems. I also could not register for a new account even though it has been a few years since I had an account with them. I do have a new account number. I met all the requirements but no rebate yet.

Jim OoOO
Jim OoOO (@guest_2003059)
February 12, 2025 09:55

Wells Fargo did not work for DD “DIR WELLS FARGO IFI INTFITRVOS BR DDA TO DDA”

Gadget 🕵️‍♂️ Bank Bonus Geek 🔗
February 12, 2025 21:21

DId you do the debit purchase AFTER the DD? Anything “DIR” likely works. Jim OoOO

Jim OoOOO
Jim OoOOO (@guest_2007790)
February 19, 2025 13:12

I did the first deposit, then did a $300+ purchase, then did the second deposit. This bank also requires in-person account closure or closure via postal mail. Big PITA.

Gadget 🕵️‍♂️ Bank Bonus Geek 🔗
February 19, 2025 16:14

You can close via fax. https://www.doctorofcredit.com/oh-va-pa-only-dollar-bank-400-checking-bonus/#comment-1256780

So did your 2nd deposit work? From where?

Or, are you just have a total failure and they are manually applying the bonus? Because there have been a couple of others having promo issues.

Matt
Matt (@guest_2007932)
February 19, 2025 16:21

Fax? LOL. Haven’t faxed something in many years. I don’t even know how to fax anymore. I wonder if I can still fax from the work copy/printers?

For me, I’ve made 2 DD’s. The third getting me to $5k will be Friday the 28th. But then I have to wait 40 days to see if the first bonus shows up.

Gadget 🕵️‍♂️ Bank Bonus Geek 🔗
February 19, 2025 16:31

The bonus normally shows up in days of the $300 debit, so apparently they made changes… but was it a change in timeline, or a change in DD sensitivity… or a change in debit sensitivity?

I am sure some people aren’t buying a new $300 diamond ring and instead using Paypal, or Venmo, or Cash app as their purchase. If they wanted to remove almost all doubt, I would buy a grocery store money order.

Anyway, good luck and please report back with a DP. I just don’t think they have excluded Wells Fargo as a DD when it codes as a DIR. Their systems are SOOO old school, like their acct closing practices.

I still have a printer/scanner that’s fax capable and “landline”… don’t judge! 🙂 Also, there are services on the web to do fax too… but sensitive document transmission is worrisome to many, I assume.

Matt
Matt (@guest_2007967)
February 19, 2025 16:58

Gadget 🕵️ Bank Bonus Geek I totally didn’t realize I had to use the debit card to get the $300. So I assume it doesn’t have to be all in one purchase >$300 right?

Gadget 🕵️‍♂️ Bank Bonus Geek 🔗
February 19, 2025 17:04

Not required to be one purchase, but would make it easier.

Unless you have some other offer….

Up to $600 is available in one $300 Mastercard debit card rebate and one $300 credit. To receive the $300 Mastercard debit card rebate, the account must receive cumulative direct deposits of $5,000 or more within 90 days of account opening and the account must be in good standing. The $300 Mastercard debit card rebate will be added to the new checking account within 40 days of the qualifying cumulative direct deposits.”

A rebate means you have to use the debit card.

Maybe scroll down and read what others “spent” money on… that worked within days.

Matt
Matt (@guest_1988200)
January 19, 2025 11:11

I’m in Cincinnati and looks like the only branches in Ohio are in Cleveland. It let me open the account and create an online account, which is farther than I got last time I tried in Nov ’23. I think I’ll wait a couple weeks before setting up my DD in case they decide to close my account after a few days after I was approved and they took my opening deposit like they did last time.

JP
JP (@guest_1988164)
January 19, 2025 10:32

Closest branch is at least 170 miles away, but my zip works. Are they closing the account after letting you open online?