- Editor Rating
- Rated 3.5 stars
- Very Good
$150
- BOA Personal Checking $150 Bonus
- Reviewed by:
- Published on:
- Last modified:
- Popularity
- Worthwhile?
- Availability
- Features
Bank of America has two personal checking account options to choose from, which I’ll review here, along with some current sign-up promotions.
BOA Personal Checking review highlights:
- Current promotions
- Checking account comparisons
- See all my Bank of America reviews
- See my Best Bank Promotions List
Bank Of America Personal Checking $300 Bonus
This $300 bonus from Bank of America is for a new Core or Interest checking account and direct deposit is required. You must not already already a personal Checking account with Bank of America to qualify.
This is a targeted offer and the terms state that you must have received this offer via a direct communication from Bank of America, although I’m not sure if they’ll actually verify it.
|
|
How To Get Your $300 Bonus
- Open a Core or Interest Checking account online, in-branch, or over the phone by the offer expiration date.
- Set up qualifying direct deposits totaling $4,000 or more within 90 days from account opening. Bank of America does have some reported alternatives to trigger the Direct Deposit requirement.
- *You must not have been a signer or owner of a Bank of America personal Checking account within the last 6 months.
- Once you’ve met the requirements, you will get the bonus deposited within 60 days.
A “Qualifying Direct Deposit” is a recurring direct deposit of a paycheck, pension, Social Security or other eligible regular monthly income, electronically deposited by an employer or an outside agency into your new checking account.
Waiving The Monthly Fees
The Core Checking Account has a $12 Monthly Fee that you can waive by doing ONE of the following each month:
- Have one direct deposit of at least $250 post to the account, OR
- Maintain an average daily balance of $1,500 or more, OR
- If you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client, you can waive the first 4 Checking and Savings accounts
The Interest Checking Account has a $25 Monthly Fee that you can waive by doing ONE of the following each month:
- Maintain combined balances of $10,000 or more. Combined balances can be in the following accounts:
- Eligible linked Checking, Savings and Money Market Savings accounts
- Linked personal CDs and IRAs
- Eligible linked Merrill Edge and Merrill Lynch investment accounts
- If you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client, you can waive the first 4 Checking and Savings accounts
Account Features
| Bank of America Core Checking | Bank of America Interest Checking |
|
|
Author’s Verdict
I’d go with the Core Checking account as it comes with most of the features you’d likely need, and especially if you’re only opening for the $300 bonus. To me the easiest way to waive the monthly fee would be to keep at least $1,500 in the account. A $300 promotion for a personal Checking account from Bank of America doesn’t come around too often, so take advantage of it while it lasts!
Bank Of America $100 Bonus
- Coupon Link: $100 Promotion(scroll down to find it)
- Expiration: 12/31/2016
- Bonus Amount: $100
- Account(s) Eligible: Core Checking® & Interest Checking®
- Availability: Nationwide, but you must be an active employee or current retiree of an enrolled Bank of America at Work® employer. You can enter your company’s name when you click on the coupon link to search.
- Hard/Soft Inquiry: Soft
- Opening Deposit Credit Card Funding Eligibility: No, but $250 with a debit card works
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Direct Deposits totaling $2,000 every 30 days from account opening date for 90 days.
- Monthly Service Fee: $12(Core Checking®) or $25(Interest Checking®) *Can be waived(see bottom section).
- Other Requirements: Be sure to enter offer code BAW100N. Minimum open deposit for Core Checking is $25 and Interest Checking is $100.
- *Tips: Must not currently have a personal checking account with BOA, or one closed within the last 6 months.
- Competitor Bonus:
- Related Bonus: BOA Business Checking Promotions
Bank of America $150 Bonus
Here’s a $150 bonus offer for new Checking account customers.
- Promotion Link: $150 BOA Promotion
- Expiration: 04/15/2016
- Bonus Amount: $150
- Related Bonus: BOA Business, BOA Savings
- Competitor Bonus:
- Account(s) Eligible: Core Checking, Interest Checking
- Availability: Nationwide
- Hard/Soft Inquiry: Soft
- Opening Deposit Credit Card Funding Eligibility: Not eligible
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes, see requirements.
- Monthly Service Fee: $12(Core Checking®) or $25(Interest Checking®) *Can be waived(see bottom section)
- Other Requirements:
- Initial $100 Bonus:
- Open a Bank of America Core Checking or Bank of America Interest Checking account by April 15, 2016.
- Set up and receive 2 qualifying direct deposits of $250 or more each within 90 days of opening your checking account.
- Additional $50 Bonus:
- Direct deposit your federal tax refund of at least $500 into any Bank of America checking or savings account by June 1, 2016.
- Initial $100 Bonus:
- *Tips:
- You are not eligible for this offer if you were a signer on or owner of a Bank of America personal checking account within the last 6 months.
- A “Qualifying Direct Deposit” is a recurring direct deposit of a paycheck, pension, Social Security or other eligible regular monthly income, electronically deposited by an employer or an outside agency into your new checking account.
- A transfer from a brokerage account or Merrill Edge or Merrill Lynch account is not a Qualifying Direct Deposit.
Bank Of America $500 Promotion
This $500 bonus was sent to BOA customers, such as credit card customers, who don’t have a BOA checking/savings account.
- Coupon Link: *Currently unavailable
- Expiration: Expired
- Bonus Amount: $500
- Account(s) Eligible: (Interest Checking or Core Checking) + Savings combined
- Availability: Nationwide
- Hard/Soft Inquiry: Soft
- Opening Deposit Credit Card Funding Eligibility: No, but $250 with a debit card works
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Two Direct Deposits totaling $2,000 within 90 days of opening.
- Monthly Service Fee: $12(Core Checking®) or $25(Interest Checking®) *Can be waived(see bottom section)
- Other Requirements: The savings account is the Rewards Money Market Savings and you must deposit at least $20K in new balances within 60 days of opening the new checking account and keep that balance for 30 consecutive days.
Bank Of America $300 Promotion
This is a targeted offer where current Bank of America customers reportedly received communication about it, but you’ll be eligible as long as you currently hold a BOA credit card.
- Coupon Link: *Currently unavailable
- Expiration: Expired
- Bonus Amount: $300
- Account(s) Eligible: Interest Checking or Core Checking
- Availability: Nationwide
- Hard/Soft Inquiry: Soft
- Opening Deposit Credit Card Funding Eligibility: No, but $250 with a debit card works
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Two Direct Deposits totaling $2,000 within 90 days of opening.
- Monthly Service Fee: $12(Core Checking®) or $25(Interest Checking®) *Can be waived(see bottom section)
- Other Requirements: Must not currently have a BOA checking account or one closed in the past 6 months.
BOA Core Checking Vs. Interest Checking Features:
Core Checking Features
- Low opening deposit: $25
- Nearly 5,000 branches you can visit
- Online, Mobile, and Text banking: Online Bill Pay, payment reminders, customizable alerts.
- Debit card is chip-enabled
- Sign up for the optional Keep the Change Savings Program where every debit card purchase is rounded up and that difference is transferred to your savings account to promote saving.
- Compare to: Chase Total Checking
- Pair it with: BOA Savings Account
Waive $12 Core Checking® fee meeting ONE requirement each statement cycle:
- Have at least one qualifying direct deposit of $250 or more, OR
- Maintain an average daily balance of $1,500 or more, OR
- When you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client (waiver applies to first 4 checking and savings accounts)
- Students under age 23 are eligible for a waiver of the monthly maintenance fee while enrolled in a high school or in a college, university, or vocational program.
Interest Checking Features
Same features as the Core Checking, with these additions:
- Higher opening deposit: $100
- Eligible for 3 additional Interest Checking accounts and 4 savings accounts with no monthly fee
- Earns interest on your balance (see rates)
- Fee-free cashier’s checks/money orders
- No fee for overdraft protection transfers from a linked deposit account.
- Compare to: Chase Premier Plus Checking
- Pair it with: BOA Savings Account
Waive $25 Interest Checking® fee meeting ONE requirement each statement cycle:
- Maintain combined balances of $10,000 or more. Combined balances include:
- Average daily balances for the statement cycle in eligible linked checking, savings and money market savings accounts, AND
- The current balances, as of the end of the checking statement cycle in linked personal CDs and IRAs, AND
- The current balance, as of two business days before the end of the checking statement cycle, in your eligible linked Merrill Edge and Merrill Lynch investment accounts.
- When you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client (waiver applies to first 4 checking and savings accounts)
Keep checking back here for updated cash promotions and other offers for these personal checking accounts.
Pros
- Comparable features to other major banks
- 3rd biggest bank in terms of branches
- While not often, very high value bonuses can come around
Cons
- Sign-up promotions and bonuses are less frequent compared with other major banks.
*These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.