$100 Checking Account Promotion at BBVA Compass in Several States - Local Only

BBVA Compass Bank is offering another checking account bonus for its Build-to-Order Free Checking Account. The bonus amount is $100, and direct deposit is required. It's down from the $150 they were offering earlier this year. Here's the promotion page link. It's scheduled to expire on May 31, 2010. Below is the important small print:

$100 minimum opening deposit required to qualify for offer. Offer available for consumers only. Accounts opened online between 04/30/2010 and 05/31/2010 that establish a recurring payroll direct deposit by 06/30/2010 will receive $100 bonus. Bonus deposit will occur within 120 days of account opening in the checking account that receives the recurring payroll direct deposit. Account must be open at time of reward. May be subject to income tax reporting.

Requirements for Opening Compass Bank Accounts:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Have a permanent residence within a state where BBVA Compass has a banking center (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, or Texas) and your permanent residence must be located in close proximity to a BBVA Compass banking center.

BBVA Compass now has branches in California after its acquisition of the failed Guaranty Bank last August.

BBVA Compass Checking Accounts

I completed a Compass checking promotion in 2006 and received the promised $50 gift card without any problems. One downside is that I did received two hard credit inquiries by Transunion.

The Build-to-Order Free Checking comes with some basic features. Two additional premium features are allowed without cost. The notable basic feature is no minimum balance or direct deposit requirement. Also, bill pay is free. The notable premium feature for those who want to make extra money is a $25 anniversary cash bonus. One feature that is lacking is free checks. A reader in a previous Compass post mentioned that the first order of checks is free.

New Build My Savings Program

BBVA Compass has a new savings program that's similar to Wachovia's Way2Save. I did a detailed review of Build My Savings on Saturday.

BBVA Compass Bank is a member FDIC (FDIC Certificate # 19048).

Other Bank Bonuses

To find other bonus deals, please refer to my best bank bonuses page which has all of my recent bank bonus posts.