Published on January 9th, 2019 | by William Charles

Regions Bank $200 Checking Bonus + $50 Referral [ AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN & TX]

1/9/19: Deal is back and valid until 3/29/19. Hat tip to reader Mike.

Offer at a glance

Maximum bonus amount: $200/$250 with referral
Availability: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN & TX. Note that opening online doesn’t seem to work in some areas, according to some, you need to live within 50 miles of a branch. [Branch locator]
Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+
Additional requirements: See below
Hard/soft pull: Soft
ChexSystems: Unknown
Credit card funding: Up to $100 (and another $100 when you open a free savings account). Only Visa accepted.
Monthly fees: $8-$18, waive-able
Early account termination fee: $25 if closed within 180 days
Household limit: None mentioned
Expiration date: ~~June 30th, 2017~~ ~~September 30th 2017 December 29th, 2017 March 31st, 2018 June 30th, 2018 September 30th, 2018 December 31st, 2018~~ March 29th, 2019

Contents

1 The Offer
2 The Fine Print
3 Avoiding Fees
4 Deal History
5 Referral Bonus $50
6 Our Verdict

The Offer

Direct link to offer

Receive a bonus of $200 when you open a new Regions Bank checking account and complete the following requirements:
- E-mail yourself a voucher if opening by phone/in branch otherwise use the promotional code 200PD19Q1 online (probably a good idea to e-mail yourself a voucher due to some of the wording in the fine print)
- Make 10 purchases with a Regions Visa Checkcard (must post within 60 days of account opening) [Read: How To Meet Minimum Debit & Credit Transaction Requirements]
- Make $500 or more in qualifying direct deposits such as payroll or government benefits
- Enroll in Online Statements through Online Banking (within 60 days of account opening)
You may be able to get another $50 by using a referral link (see below)

The Fine Print

Our goal is to be your new bank. We think that once you bank with us, you will experience our award-winning customer service and become a long term customer. We reserve the right to terminate this offer without notice at any time in the event of any suspected or actual abuse or fraud.
Offer valid in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Present a personalized voucher with applicant’s name and registered email address in order to open in branch. This offer is non-transferable, may not be combined with any other offer, does not apply if you have or had an ownership interest in a Regions checking account on or after January 2, 2018 only applies to personal LifeGreen checking accounts, and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. To earn this bonus, you must meet all requirements of the offer described above within 60 days of opening your new account. If earned, the bonus will be issued within 120 days of meeting these requirements and will be in the form of a credit to the new checking account which must be open at the time the credit is issued.
All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Regions offers six LifeGreen checking accounts. One applies only to ages 62+, one applies only to students, and one has a $5 non-waive-able fee, leaving three. Of the three, the eAccess Account is the easiest to waive the fee on, given the requirements of this bonus, though the LifeGreen Checking account will also work.

LifeGreen eAccess Account, $8 Monthly Fee

The monthly fee goes from $8 to $10 if you opt for paper statements instead of online statements, but this bonus requires you to opt for online statements. The monthly fee is waived if you make 10 or more Regions CheckCard purchases per statement cycle.

LifeGreen Checking, $8 Monthly Fee

Receive a single ACH direct deposit, such as a recurring payroll or government benefit deposit, of at least $500, OR
Receive multiple ACH direct deposits, such as a recurring payroll or government benefit deposit, with a total combined amount of at least $1,000, OR
Have an average monthly balance of $1,500 or more (this is presumably calculated using a daily average and is not the same as a minimum monthly balance)

LifeGreen Preferred Checking, $18 Monthly Fee

The monthly fee of $18 is waived if you meet any of the following:

$5,000 average monthly balance, OR
Combined minimum deposit balances from all of your Regions checking, savings, money markets, CDs and IRAs of $25,000, OR
Combined $25,000 minimum outstanding loan balances from all of your Regions personal installment loans, lines of credit, equity lines of credit, equity loans, direct loans and credit cards in good standing, OR
Any first-lien home mortgage with Regions in any amount and in good standing (excluding home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, and construction, manufactured housing and business loans)

Regions notes that the balances for the middle two requirements are determined at the beginning of the last day of your checking account statement period. (They also note that “good standing” means you are not past due or in default under your credit agreement, but hopefully everyone already knows that!).

Early Account Termination Fee

There is an early account closure fee of $25 if you close your account within 180 days of account opening.

Deal History

10/01/18: Deal is back and valid until December 31st, 2018. In addition it’s open to people who haven’t had an open account since October 1, 2017. Thanks to reader Mike.
04/15/17: Offer is back, thanks to reader _here_.

Referral Bonus $50

There is also a referral bonus you can receive in addition to this $200 bonus (bringing the total to $250). This has worked in the past, but it is no guarantee to work this time around. Feel free to share yours in the comments below.

Our Verdict

Update: It’s now been awhile since the bigger bonuses, so might be worth going for this one.

They have offered recent bonuses of $300/$350 & 400/$450 so this bonus is significantly worse. Before that $200/$250 was fairly standard. We can only hope that the larger bonuses come back in the near future. Because those larger bonuses were so recently offered and the fact you usually need to wait a year+ before getting the bonus again I don’t consider this one of the best checking sign up bonuses currently available.

Big thanks to reader, Haywood J who let us know. Learn how to find bonuses and contribute to the site here.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

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Leave a Reply

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A M

If you are 25 or younger, check out the Lifegreen for Student account — no fees.

I’d also be happy to send a referral your way! For it to work, before signing up for the account, email me your email address (same one you will use to sign up for account), first name, and last name, to mraprvm@gmail.com

I’ve always had good luck with Regions bonuses, and have done many. Let me know by commenting or emailing if you have any questions about bonus, referral, etc.

A M

Also, it turns out I can track referrals and keep you updated on your referral status (signed up, received, etc.) so if you want, you can email me once registered with my referral and account made to keep track!

William Charles

This comment has been stickied as A M was selected as one of the best comments of December (not for this comment, for another one): https://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-comments-for-december/. Consider using a readers referral that makes positive contributions to the site.

payyoutuesday

The “Direct Deposit Required:” space is blank, but the offer says,

“3. Make $500 or more of qualifying ACH direct deposits such as payroll or government payment (Within 60 days of account opening)”

William Charles

Thanks, fixed.

Dan

5-1-2018. Referral Codes being generated again!

https://offers.regions.com/#!/registration/8f3b86d4-c277-4460-97bd-d4ddb810253c

Gerhardt

Looks like you need to enter your information first, and then someone else’s email to refer. I am interested in using your referral, I can send you full name and email.

ThrowAway101

The referral link you have posted above needs to be filled in by you. Would you do that and let us know the next steps so that I can give you my details to get a referral?

Mike

I know the link I posted July 16, 2018 further down is working. You need to fill out the form, and you’ll be all set.

Mike

I know the link I posted July 16, 2018 further down is working. You need to fill out the form, and you’ll be all set.

Kevin Ross

http://bit.ly/2nkKiDz

When I did the last one got the card about a month after completing requirements.

Kevin Rise

I’ll follow the new rule.

If you’re still looking to do a referal link

https://www.regions.referlive.com/newcustform/61B75D45B530/4/08900588EY8T3JV

Now, I’m also going to add to this for when I did the $400. I also want to add the warning that a lot of people are waiting on the $300/$400 and I seem to be an outlier on getting the bonus quickly.

1-20 Account opened in branch with $300 coupon.
1-24 Regions email agrees to upgrade offer to $400.
1-25 Regions $400 coupon comes in email.
1-31 All 10 debit card transactions done.
2-03 Payroll Deposit.
2-13 $400 reward posted.
Edit 1: Adding details:
Direct Deposit was an actual payroll deposit.
Debit Transactions: 3x JC Penny (<2.50 ea), 2x Target (<2.00ea), 1x Wal-Mart (2.50), 1x WaWa (<1.00), 1x Amazon (<1.00), 1x Publix (<2.00), 1x Godiva (<2.00)

JuicyJosh

This looks like posting double referral links to me which is one of Docs listed complaints. Also, replying to early comments to jump all the other links with your own. Two strikes in one post. Good going Kev.

Perhaps you should read the article again.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/problems-letting-readers-share-referral-links/

Kevin Rose

My own comment with my own link.

Updating the link to comply with the new rules and adding a data point is only contributing. I half exceptés Will to come back through and clear the bit.ly links from this thread even though it was active before the last post.

I think a little critical thinking is due here.

William Charles

I don’t think Kevin is trying to skirt the rules here. I’m way too lazy to go back through and retroactively change how referral links worked in previous posts.

I may do this. I know there is better offers with Regions but there is a certain opportunity cost with waiting and the sooner I do this the sooner I’ll be eligible next year I guess.

tennismenace3

Here’s a referral link for you all:

http://bit.ly/2nl0dBH

JuicyJosh

Here is another referral link also! Enjoy the bonus bonus!

[10 max referral max reached]

Do I open the account first then fill in the information on that link or the other way around?

JuicyJosh

When I did it I did the referral first then bank offer. DPs seem to indicate it works either way. Best part is meeting bank bonus should satisfy both. Enjoy! And thanks for using my referral!!!

JuicyJosh

DoC, can you please remove my referral link? Per Regions terms and conditions, 10 is the max allowed per calendar year and that number has been met. Thank you all!!

William Charles

Done, thanks for coming back to update it.

JuicyJosh

Another update. 13 registered referrals. Only 4 actually completed/earned the bonus. A lot lower success rate than I would have imagined from the DoC crowd. Either way, thank you 4 referralees.

William Charles

Very strange that it’s that low, I wonder why?

Bryan

I still haven’t received my bonus from the $400/ $450 offer…I’ve completed all requirements, and I know it says 120 days, but on the other thread I saw reports of bonuses posting within a couple of days of meeting requirements. Anyone else in that boat?

Heather O

I’m the same way. Annoying.

John

This was the same for me. I contacted Regions and asked them to a) confirm that my account had the bonus, and b) that I have met the requirements. Because the bonus pays out so much later than the deadline, I wanted to make sure.

They answered a) Yes, I signed up under the promo code for $400. But for b) they just restated that I should review the requirements and verify I have met them.

The part that concerns me is the card purchases. I know I made more than 10, but I am not sure if some code as pinless debit or credit or if it matters. I guess I will see. I am not out any money, but I also don’t want to go through the hassle for nothing 🙂

Sam

File some complaints ,then they will confirm.

bryce

Same here :/

Mattlaw

Still haven’t gotten mine either from the $400 promo.

William Charles

Don’t think anybody has gotten the $400 bonus unless they upgraded from $300. I wouldn’t worry too much until 120 days has past.

Mattlaw

I upgraded from the $300 and still haven’t received it (my partner started with the $400 and hasn’t either); however, I had that confirmed before I completed the requirements for the $300 bonus. If that makes a difference.

that is true, all the DPs i saw who got the $400 is a match from previous $300
BTW, have not got mine either

James

They still never even paid out the last $400 bonus for most people lol

William Charles

Terms say they have 120 days. It hasn’t been 120 days.

Jordan

And to further clarify 120 days after you completed the requirements

Chris

How often can we repeat these offers from Regions? I had it last year and closed the account Dec 2016.
Also, just a data point, bonus posted quickly and I managed to get the $50 bonus in addition by registering for it after getting my $200 bonus.

how long until you received the $50 bonus for referral ?

Chris

Can’t remember but not that long, maybe a month.

Thanks. I got my $400 bonus a month and a half ago but still nothing on the referral.

Mike

It will take a while, but it should arrive within the next 3 weeks.

The referral gift card isn’t even generated until the account has been opened 60 days, and then they say an additional 4-6 weeks to actually receive it.

William Charles

does not apply if you have or had an ownership interest in a Regions checking account on or after March 1, 2016

Ryan

Got the $200 bonus even though I had an account in early 2017 (after the October 2016 date contained in the offer language).

Going to wait 6 months and do this one again as it doesn’t appear they enforce the language concerning prior open accounts.

Daniela

is that right? you got the bonus anyways? I closed mine in July, 2017.. so thinking whether I can sign up for this one and get the bonus, even though the language says you’re not eligible if you had an account open in April, 2017.

Ferris

Referral Link:

https://www.regions.referlive.com/newcustform/337XE58A5X43/0/0840084C7MYZ72G/3879209/ET

Enjoy!

Benjamin Wang

Here are my referral link:

http://bit.ly/2nkXvfy

Get the bonus + bonus

Referral bonus requirement:

For a personal LifeGreen checking account:
Complete the entire ReferLive process, AGREE to the Terms and Conditions, AND
Open a new Regions personal LifeGreen checking account with a Regions Visa CheckCard within 90 days of the initial email communication or the social media communication initiated by you through the official means of the program, AND
Keep new account open and in good standing for at least 60 days, AND
Complete all of the following within 60 days after account opening:
Have at least (1) one $300 or more ACH direct deposit (such as a reoccurring payroll or government benefit deposit.), AND
Complete at least 10 Visa CheckCard purchases that post to the account, AND
Sign up for Online Banking with Online Statements. (A Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number is needed for enrollment. Personal account holders may visit a branch to determine if they are eligible for alternative enrollment methods if they do not have a Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number.)

Fei

Here is my referral link:
http://bit.ly/2nl8oy1
Thanks.

Mike

The following link stacks with the $200 bonus and gets you another $50 bonus (as a visa gift card).
Last time they did this, I received the $200 bonus, and an additional $50 gift card a few weeks later.
I filled out the form after opening the account.
https://www.regions.referlive.com/newcustform/6E4X479F955D/14/0840084YTTSKEG5

Sugan

Here is my referal link

http://bit.ly/2nD9WjU

Kelly

My referral link:

https://www.regions.referlive.com/newcustform/E5CCBDEAE40X/14/08400845KCZ5VK7

Thanks!

Joe

Do you need to be a resident of these states? (For regions and in general for all of these state-specific bank offers) I will definitely be able to go in a Regions branch and hopefully a few other banks on my road trip coming up.

William Charles

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/banks-allowdont-allow-state-checking-applications/ as always make sure you share your DP.

Doggo

It worked for me – was on a trip to NOLA and opened an account there. The dude did ask some questions though, just make up some BS about planning on moving down soon or something lol

Regions Bank $200 Checking Bonus + $50 Referral [ AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN & TX]

The Offer

The Fine Print

Avoiding Fees