$50 Checking Account Bonuses in S. CA

There are two decent checking account bonuses at two banks with branches throughout Southern California. Neither requires direct deposit.

First $50 Bonus

The first checking account promotion is being offered by Cal National Bank. Credit goes to Fatwallet member wokscott who got the deal from a LA Times ad yesterday and posted it in this FW thread. Below are the important details from the ad:

Move your checking account to Cal National and than use our check card 5 times and we'll give you $50.

Small print:
$50 credited to your open, non business checking account on or before 4/15/06 and is subject to IRS and other tax reporting. Qualifying card transactions must be PIN or signature based purchases (non-ATM) and be settled to your account by 3/31/06. Maximum of one credit per account per household. Must be new checking relationship to the Bank opened on or after 1/23/06. Minimum opening balance is $100. 866-42-SWITCH

Second $50 Bonus

The second checking account promotion is being offered by Western Financial Bank. I found this deal being advertised in this WFB ad in the online version of the Riverside Press. Below are the important details from the ad:

Come in to your nearest branch, open you Free Checking for Life account between January 30th and February 20th and walk out with your Free $50 Target GiftCard.

Small print:
A minimum opening checking deposit of $500 is required. Offer expires at the end of business day February 20, 2006. This offer is limited to new consumer Free Checking accounts only and is not valid if you have closed a WFB account in the past 12 months. This checking account is free of monthly service charges. The checking account must remain open for 6 months.

[Edit: There was a correction in the fatwallet thread. Only $50 is possible from that Cal National Bonus. This post was changed accordingly.]