New Chase $125 Checking Account Bonus

Jan 14, 2008 - 9:34 AM by Ken Tumin

There's a new $125 sign-up bonus for a Chase checking account with direct deposit. This one is good through January 31, 2008. Unlike previous ones, when you click on the link to the promo, you get redirected to another Chase page unless you are already logged into your Chase account. I guess Chase is targeting its credit card customers. I was able to view the page by stopping the browser before it had time to redirect. So please remember this when you visit this new promo page. Please also remember that these pages often do not last long. Perhaps after so many views, the promo automatically stops showing. There is a unique coupon code that is displayed for each new viewing of the page. So Chase may keep track on the number of views.

This does require a branch visit. The terms of the promotion seem to be the same as the previous ones:

Offer valid 10/01/07 through 1/31/08. Chase Free Checking requires a $100 minimum opening deposit of new money to qualify for the $125 reward. Chase Free Checking has no monthly service fee when you have a monthly direct deposit. Limit one personal checking account-related reward/premium per customer, per calendar year. Offer not available on account conversions or in combination with any other offer. To qualify for the $125 reward you must open a new checking account and initiate a repeating direct deposit such as payroll, pension or Social Security. The first direct deposit must be completed within 60 calendar days of account opening. The $125 reward will be deposited into your new account within 6-8 weeks after the initial direct deposit and is not considered part of the minimum opening balance. Checking account must remain open for a minimum of six months or the reward will be debited from the account at closing. Account is subject to approval. Reward is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form1099-INT. Please present certificate to a banker. Please note certificate does not need to be forfeited.

Below are some issues to consider regarding opening this Chase checking account:

An Extra $25 Bonus

Chase also has a $25 refer-a-friend bonus. When you open the checking account, be sure to ask for the refer-a-friend coupons. Many people have reported success in combining both the $125 bonus and the refer-a-friend $25 bonus.

Expensive Checks

Chase will automatically charge $22.95 for a checkbook. You can either tell them when you sign up that you don't want checks or you can call Chase after you open the account and cancel the order. Please see my comments from this Chase post about this issue.

Direct Deposit

It has been reported by several of my readers that Chase treats transfers initiated from online banks or from PayPal as direct deposits. However, there have been some recent reports that PayPal no longer works.

Hard Credit Pull

I just checked my credit report after I opened this Chase checking account, and I did not receive a hard credit inquiry. I only received a soft pull via Experian. Others have reported a hard credit pull when you open an account (this temporarily dings your credit score). Refer to this FW thread for more info on this.

Checking Account Details

Some more important info about the free checking account is available at Chase. Without direct deposit, there's a $6/month fee. There's a $2 fee for using non-Chase ATMs (up from $1.50 in November).

Chase Branch Locations

Chase has branches in many states but not all. There are no branches in California. States with Chase branches include Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida (Southwest), Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Chase is FDIC insured under JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (FDIC Certificate # 628).

Thanks to the reader who emailed me info on this new promotion.

Banks Mentioned in this Post:

Chase Manhattan Bank Locations: 5,255 Health Rating:
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Tags: Chase Manhattan Bank, checking account

Post a CommentComments

In order of date posted. - Sort by votes

Anonymous - #1, Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 9:19 AM

I followed link - also logged in to chase online (I have credit card). Promotion was listed with 12/31/07 expiration date.

trinidon2k (anonymous) - #2, Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 4:35 PM

I can confirm most of the things mentioned in the post. No hard pull, I was able to stack the $125 and the $25. ACH deposits from CountryWide qualified as DD.

Vinay (anonymous) - #3, Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 5:00 PM

I was able to get $125 and the $25 as mentioned. Seems like the promo link has expired now.

friend (anonymous) - #4, Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 9:19 PM

Please refer me to chase. Let's earn $25 together! Contact me thru acetergamine@yahoo.com now. Thank you very much.

Anonymous - #5, Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 2:06 PM

Do you have to have a chase credit card?

MaximizingMoney.com (anonymous) - #6, Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 4:43 PM

If anybody needs a unique offer code for the Chase $125 bonus offer with an expiration date of Jan. 31, 2008, please check out this post on MaximizingMoney.com, as unique offer codes are available for those who don't have an existing Chase account.

Anonymous - #7, Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 7:06 PM

just press "esc" before the page redirect you to make it stop at the offer page.

Anonymous - #8, Tuesday, April 29, 2008 - 8:09 PM

They do have a 4/08 promo and I'm sure it will be extended as always. One Q though. Regarding the direct deposit, is there any type of form that needs to be filled out, or can i just set up the monthly transfers from another bank acct. Is that considered direct deposit?

jyotshna (anonymous) - #9, Monday, May 19, 2008 - 9:57 PM

Can anybody tell me how to get the $125 coupon for CHASE bank?

Darvin (anonymous) - #10, Saturday, July 5, 2008 - 10:32 AM

I find your blog rather helpful, since it has something to do with the Chase. On the www.pissedconsumer.com I found plenty of complaints in the address of the bank and now I doubt whether I should deal with it. The clients are not satisfied. This means the services and conditions are far from being perfect. The financial institutions are all about making profits of their own and they do not care about the customers.

Joy (anonymous) - #11, Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 5:58 PM

I have 5 referral codes you can use to get $25 when you open an account. They don't expire for a long time. Email me at joy.aurora at gmail.com and I will send you one.

Linda (anonymous) - #12, Tuesday, December 30, 2008 - 7:02 PM

You may try the following four referring codes which will expire 02/04/2009.

3359031061422635
3359031061422645
3359031061422655
3359031061422665

You will get a bonus of $25 for opening a chase checking account, $10 for opening a chase high school checking or chase college checking account, and $50 for opening a chase business checking account.

k. borcz (anonymous) - #13, Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 2:25 PM

well actually there's a Chase ATM in Disneyland... guess that doesn't count.

Thanks for posting!

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New Chase $125 Checking Account Bonus

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