sign up bonus – Sport Courts with deep savings

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Josh Patoka

Bonus For Opening A New Checking Account

If you are in the market to open a new checking account or want to switch banks, sign-up bonuses might be a lucrative incentive to join. Not every bank offers bonuses. But ones looking for active, long-term commitments will offer rewards.

Bonus For Opening a New Checking Account

The bonus can range from a few dollars to $250 or more, depending on the bank. Larger bonuses typically require more stringent conditions to be met. Usually, you cannot be a recent customer within the previous 12 months and must maintain a minimum account balance.

You may also be asked to enroll in direct deposit and use your debit card a specified amount of times each month. If you meet the qualifications listed by the bank, the bonus for opening a new checking account might be a great option for you.

As some bonuses are limited time offers, this article will be broken down into two separate sections. Note that this is only a partial listing of some of the best checking account sign-up bonuses. If you do not see your prospective bank listed, you should ask if they have any bonuses at the moment.

Bonus For Opening a New Checking Account: Limited Time Offers

Chase Bank –up to $350

Through October, Chase Bank is offering $350 for opening a new Chase Total Checking and Chase Savings account with qualifying activities. Alternatively, you can earn $200 for opening up a checking account and setting up direct deposit.

Here are the qualifying conditions to earn the checking account bonus:

Cannot be an existing Chase checking account customer or closed a checking or fiduciary account within the last 90 days.
Deposit at least $25 into a new Chase Total Checking Account & setup direct deposit.
Direct Deposit needs to be deposited within 60 days of account opening.

Clicking on the above link will take you to the Chase website to have the coupon mailed to you. After receiving the coupon, you will need to visit a physical branch to redeem and open your account.

Suntrust Bank–$100 or $200

(Expires 07/31/18)

Through the end of July 2018, Suntrust Bank will reward up to $500 depending on the type of checking account you open. One caveat to this offer, you must be a resident of one of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. You must be a new customer who has not closed a Suntrust personal checking account within the previous 180 days.

Here are the requirements to earn the $500 checking bonus:

Open a SunTrust personal checking account with a minimum $100 deposit within 14 days of account opening.
Have $2,000 or more for a Signature Advantage account or $1,000 for a Select Checking account in direct deposits within 60 days of account opening.
Conduct at least 10 debit card purchases within 60 days of opening.

This offer can be redeemed online or in-person. Clicking the above link will provide you the applicable coupon.

Beyond the bonus, you will want to compare the services and fee differences between the Signature Advantage and Select Checking accounts. Suntrust charges a monthly maintenance fee for both accounts, however, the fee is waived if you meet certain conditions.

Bonus For Opening a New Checking Account: Non-Expiring Bonuses

The following are a list of banks that offer bonuses without an expiration date listed. As always, all the offers are subject to change without notice. These bonuses might not be as lucrative as the limited-time offers listed above, but the eligibility requirements are more lenient. These offers are from national banks that offer online banking, regardless of your residency.

HSBC – $3 monthly maintenance Fee with no balance requirement

I put this bank on the list of top bonus for opening a new checking account opportunities because it is no frills. The most basic account is $3/month and comes with a debit card, access to international and domestic ATM’s (most without additional fees). Overdraft protection and mobile banking options are also offered.

The next tier is Choice Banking, which is $15/month. However, if you have a regular direct deposit, this $15 is nulled. HSBC Advance and HSBC Premier are $25 and $50 per month, depending on which tier you enroll and are approved in.

TIAA Bank – 1.21% Interest

This reward is a little different than the others. Instead of offering cash or gift cards, you can earn a high-interest rate on your account balance for the first year.

The first-year Annual Percentage Yield (APY) for your balance is the following:

Account Balance	1^st year APY
$0 – $9,999.99	0.25%
$10,000.00 – $24,999.99	0.46%
$25,000.00 – $49,999.99	0.61%
$50,000.00 – $99,999.99	0.61%
$100,000 – $10,000,00	0.71%

To open an account, you will need to have a minimum initial deposit of $5,000.

Are There Bonuses For Existing Customers?

Normally, banks only offer bonuses as a method to attract new customers. It doesn’t hurt to ask your current bank, especially if you are an existing customer looking to upgrade accounts. The worst the bank can do is say no. Periodically, banks will also offer bonuses for current customers if they sign up for services like direct deposit or bill pay.

Sign-up bonuses are not always the best reason to open a new account, but they can help make your decision a little easier. Be sure to check out our guide to the top high yield online savings accounts for 2018.

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Josh Patoka

Are Bank Sign-Up Bonuses Worth It?

When you hear the word sign up bonus, you probably think new credit cards or switching cable TV companies. But, you can also earn a bonus when opening up new savings or checking account with select banks. Although a bank sign-up bonus will probably not offer you a free hotel stay or plane tickets, you can earn up to $200 or $300 with certain offers. In an era of low-interest rates, banking isn’t exactly the most exciting financial sector. Therefore, they are willing to offer some nice bonuses to attract new customers.

You are probably familiar with the old expression, “Never look a gift horse in the mouth.” While ignorance might seem blissful, this is bad advice for any type of sign-up bonus (whether it’s for a savings account, credit card, or a timeshare). For bank account sign up bonuses, there are several factors to consider before joining another bank. Bonuses are great and many people can benefit from them, but the long-term “costs” might outweigh a bonus. In other words, read the fine print first.

What To Consider Before Joining A New Bank

If you have switched bank accounts recently or are a previous customer of a bank that you want to open an account with, you will need to look at the policy regarding prior customers. Most banks will consider prior customers who had an account as recent as 180 days or 2 years as ineligible to receive a bank sign-up bonus.

Are You Happy With Your Current Bank?

Let’s assume you already have a savings and checking account. The first question you need to ask yourself is why you are considering joining another bank. Is it because you want to have your assets spread among several different banks, just in case one bank goes under? Or maybe you are unhappy with your current bank and will switch to the bank that offers the highest reward.

Bonuses Are Taxable

One fact that is often overlooked and briefly mentioned in the fine print is that sign up bonuses are taxable. When the new bank gives you the 1099-INT for the year, it will show the bonus amount as taxable income. While some money is better than nothing, it does come with some strings attached.

Monthly Fees

One item to consider is monthly fees, especially for checking accounts. You might receive a sign-up bonus, but it can whittle away if you have to pay monthly account maintenance fees that you might not be paying with your current account. If you are already paying similar fees, this might not be a dealbreaker. You already pay the monthly fee, so the sign-up bonus is extra cash in your pocket that you wouldn’t have seen without switching banks.

Two alternatives to consider with monthly fees:

Some banks will waive the fee if certain conditions are met each month. This includes things like maintaining a minimum account balance, enrolling in direct deposit, or using their debit card for a select amount of purchases.
A no-bonus alternative is to consider a bank with no fees at all. No, you will not receive a sign-up bonus, but you also are not choosing to allow the bank to slowly recoup the bonus via monthly fees.

Minimum Account Balance

Most bonuses are not paid immediately. Each bank has different criteria new customers must meet before they are paid the bonus. One requirement for checking and savings accounts is maintaining a minimum account balance for a specified period. For example, a bank will pay you $200 if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $10,000 for the first 90 days the account is open. Banks that require smaller minimum balances will often have smaller bonuses.

Number of Required Transactions Each Month

Banks can also link bonuses with how many times you must use their debit card for purchases each month. It varies depending on the bank and the bonus amount, but you may have to swipe the debit card at least 15 times within the first month. Some banks will also require a minimum spending amount each month, in addition to the minimum number of required swipes. If a bank requires you to spend at least $300 monthly in debit card transactions, you won’t be able to buy 15 cups of coffee (assuming you buy 1 cup per debit card swipe) to meet the minimum spending requirements.

You might also earn an additional bank sign-up bonus if you also use the online Bill Pay service. Similar to debit card transactions, you will probably have to spend a minimum amount. The payments will also have to go to several unrelated merchants.

Enroll In Direct Deposit

A popular requirement recently has been requiring new customers to enroll in direct deposit or schedule automatic deposits for several months to earn a bonus. Most banks require a minimum deposit amount, usually at least $300 monthly, to be eligible for the bonus. It’s a smart move on the bank’s behalf. They have commitments of deposits each month as most employers now use direct deposit for paying employee salaries. It’s also free to the bank account customer.

Convenience Factor of the New Bank

One last factor to consider is if the new bank is convenient. If you usually walk into the physical branch to pay your utility bill or get a document notarized, these tasks can be more difficult to complete if the only brick and mortar branch is on the other side of the country. Online banks have the ability to offer better sign-up bonuses (including higher interest rates and charging fewer fees) because of lower overhead costs than traditional banks, but they lack the advantage of physical interaction when it is needed.

Is There Anything Similar To a Bank Sign-Up Bonus For Existing Customers?

Banks will sometimes offer existing customers bonuses if they enroll in new services like direct deposit or bill pay. If your bank is offering new customers a bank sign-up bonus, it cannot hurt to ask if they will extend the offer (or another incentive) to you for upgrading accounts. This approach might also work if you currently have a checking account but want to open a savings account or vice versa. Most banks will not openly advertise the lucrative sign-up bonuses, even for new customers. Sometimes the only way to find out is by asking.

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Melissa Horton

Review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card

Utilizing a rewards credit card for everyday spending offers a smart way to manage cash-flow month to month while providing a method to secure extra cash. But not all rewards cards are created equal. Some come with hefty annual fees and redemption restrictions, while others limit the amount of rewards you can earn in a given time frame. Sometimes, keeping things simple with a rewards card is the best solution.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card is the perfect example of simplicity in credit card rewards programs. As one of Chase Bank’s newest offerings, the Freedom Unlimited rewards card has easy to understand features that make it attractive as a standalone card or as a supplement to other Chase credit cards. Let’s take a look at how the rewards program with the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card works.

[post-card post=”7457″ title=”Chase Freedom Unlimited” style=”reg”]

Card Basics

For cardholders who have neither the time or the patience to track rewards categories every month or quarter, the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card is a dream come true. The credit card works under a flat-rate rewards program, meaning every purchase, regardless of category or amount, earns the accountholder 1.5 rewards points. Each rewards point equates to a percentage of the purchase, so making a purchase of $1,000 earns the account holder the equivalent of $15. Unlike other rewards credit cards that boost earnings up to 5% for certain purchases throughout various times of the year, the 1.5% offers simplicity and equal earnings for all spending with the card.

One of the features that makes the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card stand out among flat-rate cards is the multitude of options for redeeming rewards points that accumulate over time. While cardholders have the traditional options of statement credits and checks in the mail, redemption can also come by way of booking travel through Chase. Additionally, account holders have the option to transfer accumulated rewards points to other Chase Bank credit cards, such as the Chase Freedom or the Chase Sapphire Preferred cards, dollar for dollar. Cardholders are also able to redeem rewards points at point of sale terminals with certain retailers through the Chase Freedom mobile app. There is no minimum rewards points balance needed for redemption and accumulated rewards never expire –added perks not found with some comparable rewards cards these days.

Additional Perks

Currently, Chase is offering new applicants the ability to boost rewards points through a bonus offer. After an account holder spends $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, a $150 cash bonus is credited to the account. If that wasn’t enough of an incentive to get on the Freedom Unlimited Bandwagon, Chase is also offering an introductory interest rate of 0% for both purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening.

In addition to the simple flat-rate rewards program, the potential rewards bonus and the promotional introductory APR, Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card holders reap additional benefits as low as the card remains open. An additional $25 bonus is added when the first authorized user is added to the credit account, along as a purchase is made and the user is added within the first three months. Cardholders also have the following build-in protections through Chase Bank:

Zero liability protection
Purchase protection
Price protection
Auto rental collision damage waiver
Chip-enabled security

There are some restrictions inherent to the additional security perks available through the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card which can be found in the cardholder agreement.

Costs to Card Members

The Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card is made available without an annual fee, and no charges for redemption of rewards points. However, other charges and fees apply as the card is used and payments are made. First, the introductory APR is only applicable for the first 15 billing cycles, after which the standard APR will apply. Well-qualified cardholders can secure a 14.24% interest rate, but lesser qualified borrowers may see an APR as high as 23.24%. Purchase APRs are variable and are based on the Prime Rate which fluctuates over time.

In addition to the APR assessed on purchases, balance transfers made after the promotional period incur interest charges based on the standard rate. Balance transfer fees are either $5 or 5% of the total amount transferred, whichever is greater – a relatively high charge when compared to other balance transfer offers. Should cardholders take a cash advance against the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card, the standard APR increases to 25.24% for these transactions. A $10 or 5% fee applies to all cash advance transactions, whichever is greater.

Cardholders who use the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card for foreign purchases may be less than thrilled when the bill arrives. A foreign transaction fee of 3% is assessed on all purchases made in denominations other than U.S. dollars. Cardholders should also be aware of late payment fees, which range from $15 up to $37, depending on the total balance outstanding. A return payment fee of $37 is applicable, although these is no return check fee.

Final Thoughts

The Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card is a great choice for individuals interested in a simple, flat-rate rewards credit card. The 1.5% earned on all purchases makes tracking rewards relatively easy, and the fact that there are no caps on earnings and no minimum redemption amount makes this card attractive for the right account holder. Chase has done an outstanding job with the rewards redemption options as well, giving cardholders the ability to get conventional cash back, statement credits or travel booked directly through Chase’s portal. The ability to pay directly through some point-of-sale terminals is also an added perk. Tack on the bonus rewards offer, the introductory 0% APR and ability to transfer points to other Chase cards, and the Freedom Unlimited card is a strong contender in the rewards card category.

While the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card comes with a well-rounded rewards program, it is not the best fit for everyone. Cardholders who travel or make frequent purchases overseas are hit with a relatively high transaction fee, making this less than ideal for those with a constant wanderlust. Additionally, cash advance and balance transfer fees are higher than comparable reward cards currently available. The rewards program also does not offer any bonus categories for higher earnings, making the card less attractive to individuals who frequently make purchase in certain categories. All in, the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card is a great choice for simplicity’s sake, but may be best used in tandem with other, higher-earning Chase credit card offerings.

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Mark Jackson

Sign-Up Bonus Increase for the American Express Platinum Credit Card

The American Express Platinum Credit Card is arguably the ‘king’ of credit cards. Its benefits were for the longest time unrivaled in the credit card industry. And, because of this, the sign-up bonus for the credit card was low in comparison to other products out there, at 25,000 Membership Rewards points for $2,000 in spend in three months.

Now, however, the game has changed. Some benefits have been cut back for the card, like losing access to American Airlines and US Airways lounges after the 22^nd of March. Thus, it appears that the American Express wants to attract new customers to become Platinum members and have upped the ante for its sign-up bonus.

Now, new customers to the Platinum credit card will be offered 40,000 miles, the highest ‘public’ offer ever for this card, for $3,000 in spend over three months. This is great news for those waiting patiently for the sign-up bonus to be increased. Membership Rewards points are very valuable, in part because of all the travel partners the Platinum Card has, including airlines, hotels, and rental cars.

Benefits

Now, there have been no announcements discussing new benefits for the credit card. As a cardmember myself, I’m worried about all the eroding benefits for the card. On the subject of lounges, you still have access to Delta clubs (though the benefit of having a guest accompany you is going away May 1^st. They’ll be $29 after that date). In addition, you’ll have Priority Pass Select membership, which charges for guests, and Airspace and Centurion lounges. American Express is adding Centurion lounges slowly, and in my personal experience they are some of the best airport lounges out there. You have free massages, a cocktail bar, and a great buffet (brisket tacos in Dallas!).

Furthermore, you’ll still receive $200 in fee reimbursement for partner airlines (American Airlines, Alaska, Delta, Southwest, United, US Airways, JetBlue and Spirit are all options). These fees include change fees, cancellation fees, in-flight purchases, and lounge access.

And, Global Entry’s fee is waived (a $100 value) for cardmembers. This is a great benefit, allowing you to skip a 2-hour wait for customs at some points in time. Global Entry includes TSA Pre-Check, which is invaluable to the business traveler, allowing a ‘hassle-free’ security experience at the airport.

Conclusion

The new ‘upping’ of the sign-up bonus for new American Express Platinum members is a welcome news item. 40,000 Membership Rewards points can really get you a lot of ‘mileage’ (I know, bad pun), and can go even further with American Express’ frequent transfer bonuses (sometimes up to 50%!). Furthermore, the benefits that the card still offers are great, and really make the $450 annual fee worth it for me.

A loss of lounge access is a big hit to the credit card, but I believe that American Express will find a way to make its loyal customers happy- another benefit of having an Amex in your wallet. They truly have some of the best customer service in the business! So, are you going to apply for an American Express Platinum Credit Card?

Posted on January 30, 2014April 23, 2016 by Mark Jackson

Best Travel Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for 2014

2014 is upon us, whether you like it or not. For those of you reading this, that probably means asking yourself the question “what credit cards can I get this year to allow me to travel?” Well, here’s your answer, below. The best cards to focus on, in my opinion, are ones with large sign-up bonuses. My picks for the best credit cards follows!

Barclaycard Arrival

The Barclaycard Arrival had quite the arrival (groan) last year, with many bloggers and avid travelers recognizing its strong benefits. Currently, the sign-up bonus for the card is 40,000 miles with $3,000 in charges over the first ninety days of card membership. These can be used for direct ticket purchases ($400 worth). In addition, you’ll have 0% APR for the first 12 months, earn two miles per dollar spent, and receive a 10% rebate on points used towards travel. There is no annual fee for the first year. After that, it’s $89.

Apply Now: Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard®

Chase Hyatt Credit Card

One card that’s in my wallet, the Chase Hyatt Credit Card has an amazing sign-up bonus: two free nights at any Hyatt, anywhere. That’s right: Maldives tickles your fancy? Fly there, cowboy. You’ve got two free nights. Personally, I used the two nights on the Park Hyatt Paris, which would have run $900 a night during my stay. It was divine. You’ll also have no foreign transaction fees, upgrade to Hyatt Platinum status, and one free night upon cardmember anniversary each year. Annual fee is $0, and then $75 after the first year.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

One of the “popular kids” in the travel credit card world, this card is definitely worth having in your wallet. With travel partners like United, British Airways, Hyatt, and Marriott, your options are vast for redemptions. You’ll receive two points per dollar spent on restaurants and travel, and a 7% dividend on all points earned at the end of the year. No foreign transaction fees, too! The sign-up bonus of 40,000 points when you spend $3,000 in three months is a great option for frequent travelers. Annual fee of $95, waived the first year.

Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card

One of my favorite benefits are “free night” certificates, because the value of the benefit isn’t tied to a dollar amount. The sky is the limit, if you can find availability. The Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card offers, after spending $2,500 in 4 months, two free weekend nights at most Hilton hotels. For me, that meant the Waldorf-Astoria Trianon Palace in Versailles and the Waldorf-Astoria on the Bund in Shanghai. For you, it may mean a different place. You’ll also get Hilton Gold status automatically as long as you keep the card. The $95 in annual fees each year seems worth it now, doesn’t it?

Conclusion

The cards mentioned above are just a few of the options available to you in 2014. Wherever your travels take you, make sure that you are getting the most out of the money you are spending by having the best credit card for you in your wallet.

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Karen Zimmermann

Chase Ink Plus Business Credit Card Review

The Chase Ink credit cards are our favorite pick for businesses, as all offer generous rewards for office supply and telecom expenses, two of the biggest cost categories for most businesses. The Ink Plus rewards card in particular is great if you don’t mind paying an annual fee in exchange for significantly beefier rewards. The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year, so there’s no harm in giving it a shot.

The card gives you 5x rewards on office supplies, telecom and cell phone expenses as well as double points at gas stations and hotel accommodations when purchased through the hotel. The cap on these bonus categories is double what it is for the no-fee Ink cards — the bonus rates apply to the first $50,000 spent for the 5x categories and the first $50,000 in the 2x categories. And then of course, you still get a point per dollar on all other purchases. Plus, enjoy a nice large 50,000 point sign-up bonus after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. (We have seen a 60,000 bonus in the past — watch this spot, we’ll keep you posted.)

But the best part of this reward scheme is that the points you earn are Ultimate Rewards points, some of the most valuable in the rewards game. UR points can be redeemed for a variety of stuff, from gift cards to merchandise to cash back, but the real value lies in travel redemption. You can redeem travel directly through the Ultimate Rewards portal for a solid 20% discount — that makes the sign-up bonus alone worth $625.

Or, put in a little elbow grease and get even more value when you take advantage of the 1:1 point transfer to over 20 frequent flyer programs, such as United and Southwest. Plus, this card gives you VIP airport lounge access at 350 locations in 200 cities worldwide. You get two free visits per year, and thereafter it’s $27 per person per visit. Bring a friend or colleague if you like. Combine all this with the fact that the Ink Plus card sports no foreign transaction fee, and you’re looking at a solid choice for the diehard traveler.

Check out this guide to the details below, or see our comparison chart for Chase Ink cards.

Money Math

Annual Fee: $95 (waived for the first year)
Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
APR: var 13.24%
APR for Balance Transfers: same as above
Balance Transfer Fee: 3%
APR for Cash Advance: var 19.24%
Cash Advance Fee: 5%
Late Fee/Returned Payment Fee: $15, $29, or $39 depending on balance
Over Credit Limit Fee: None
Penalty APR: var 29.99%, applies w/ late payment, returned payment, or exceeding credit limit on any Chase account/loan

Rewards

Bonus: 50,000 points after spending $5,000 in first 3 months
5 points per $1 spent on office supply stores, cell phones, landline, internet, & cable TV. (First $50,000 only)
2 points per $1 spent on gas stations & hotel accomodations (First $25,000 only)
1 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Rewards Limit: No limit (except only first $50,000 in a year apply to bonus categories)
Rewards Expiration: No expiration
Redeem For: Travel, gift cards, merchandise, cash back, etc.
Can redeem through Ultimate Rewards program
Get 20% discount when redeeming travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Complimentary annual Lounge Club membership includes two free lounge visits per year

Benefits

Organize receipts with Jot app
Employee Cards: No additional cost, can set spending limits
$0 Fraud Liability Protection
Purchase Protection: Yes
Auto Rental Insurance: Yes
Travel Insurance: Yes
Extended Warranty: Yes
Customer Service: 24/7

Don’t forget to check out other credit card options at our list of the best business credit cards.