This bonus has expired and is no longer valid, view more checking bonuses here.
Looks like this promotion is WI only unfortunately. Thanks to reader Hello for pointing this out.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $225
- Availability: Nationwide (looks like not all areas works, check comments for more details). Maybe it’s only DC & parts of VA, MD, WV, PA again, if that’s the case not a good deal as they recently offered $300.
- Direct deposit required: Not required
- Additional requirements: Zelle payment for three months
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: Mixed data points
- Credit card funding: None
- Monthly fees: $6.95 – $14.95
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit: One
- Expiration date: May 31st, 2018
Contents
The Offer
- U.S. Bank is offering a bonus of $225 when you open a new checking account by May 31st and complete the following requirements:
- Use promo code MLKE225, as far as I know that code is not unique
- Complete at least one Zelle payment of $25 or more in each of the next three months (you earn $75 per month this is completed)
The Fine Print
- You must use the Promotion Code listed on this offer when you apply.
- If you received a direct mail piece, address on new account must match address on your mail piece to be eligible for the bonus. The reader who sent this in saw a Pandora ad displaying this offer, so having received a direct mail piece doesn’t seem mandatory.
- A $25 minimum deposit is required to open a U.S. Bank consumer checking account.
- All regular account opening procedures apply.
- Earn the bonus by opening a new consumer checking account (excluding Student Checking and Safe Debit Account) by May 31, 2018, then register your U.S. mobile phone number online or within the Mobile App, and complete at least one Zelle payment of $25 or more in each of the next three months to earn $75 per month, up to $225.
- To complete Zelle payments, funds must be received.
- Your bonus will be reported as interest earned on IRS Form 1099-INT and you are responsible for any applicable taxes.
- The bonus will be credited to your new checking account within 60 days of verification of the transfer and acceptance of the Zelle payments, assuming the account is open and has a positive balance.
- One offer per household.
- Offer may not be combined with any other bonus or marketing offers.
- U.S. Bank checking customers and employees are not eligible for bonus offers.
- This bonus offer is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Early Warning Services, LLC or the Zelle Network®.
Avoiding Fees
U.S. Bank is making changes to the fees on their checking accounts on May 14th, we will just list what the fees are from that date onwards as they are negative changes.
Gold Checking $14.95
This account has a $14.95 monthly fee This is waived with one of the following: an open U.S. Bank personal loan, line or credit card. Many of us have a U.S. Bank personal credit card like Altitude, Flexperks, or Cash+; that would work to keep the account fee-free.
There’s also apparently another way to qualify for a free Gold Checking for those with good credit scores who join the Because You’ve Earned It program.
Silver Checking $6.95
This account has a $6.95 monthly fee, this is waive with a package money market savings account and one of the following:
- Combined monthly direct deposits totaling $1,000.00+ OR
- Combined account balance of $1,500.00
Early Account Termination Fee
There is no early account termination fee.
Our Verdict
You can read more about Zelle here. There doesn’t seem to be any restriction in the fine print about people who have previously received U.S. Bank checking offers, normally it needs to be six months since you last received a bonus/closed your account. I’d personally wait that six months if possible even though it’s not mentioned in the fine print.
This is a really good deal as most readers won’t need to worry about the monthly fee due to holding a U.S. Bank credit card and there is no direct deposit to worry about either. Doing the Zelle transactions is a bit annoying, but it’s not particularly difficult. Having a checking account open can also help with getting approved for the U.S. Bank Altitude card. This will definitely be added to our list of the best checking bonuses and it’s definitely worth doing.
Big thanks to reader, Curmudgeon who let us know. Learn how to find bonuses and contribute to the site here.
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
