BMO Harris offers a popular $200 checking sign up bonus. Unfortunately they have added new terms to the bonus that state:
- If you are opening your account online or by phone, you must reside in a state that BMO Harris operates retail branches and use that address to open the account. BMO Harris currently operates retail branches in AZ, FL, IL, IN, KS, MO, MN and WI
I’m not sure when this language was added to the offer, reader Daniel noticed it on 8/12 and reader kirk notes that it wasn’t there on 8/5 when they applied. This should reinforce two important things:
- Always take screenshots of offers you apply for. That way you know the exact terms you applied under (something suggested by out points attorney friends)
- Always double check the fine print to see if anything has changed (and comment if it has).
I’ll update the BMO Harris post to include this important piece of information and also update our best bank bonus page. It seems that out of state applications will still work if you apply in branch as this only affects applications made online and by phone.
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Opened 11/09/2017
payroll DD on 11/24/17 &12/08/17
$200 bonus finally posted 03/07/2018
I received $300 bonus flyer in mailbox with same condition mentioned in this post. Honestly after reading all the comments, I am going to skip it. Not worth the time, if real (payroll etc) DD need follow up too and wait time are horrible in some of the cases below.
Well I honestly can't believe it, but BMO coughed up the bonus.
7/11/17 - Opened Account
7/21/17 - $300 Payroll DD
8/4/17 - $300 Payroll DD
1/11/18 - Bonus
I had to message BMO three times and after the third final time it was escalated to someone from "marketing". I received an email from someone in the marketing dept. after that stating if I qualified for the bonus I would receive it in 3-5 business days (still wasn't holding my breath after that email). The email came on 1/5/18.
I was not in one of the targeted states after the bonus terms changed from being nationwide.
This one was definitely a lot of work.
7/31 - Opened account
8/25 - Chase transfer
9/8 - Chase transfer
1/4 - Still have not received bonus
unreal!!
i opened my account online on august 15 2017. did my dd's via capital one checking transfer. after successful transfer, i online chatted with BMO to ensure i had met all requirements for $200 bonus. i was told the dd's via capital one didn't count.
well, i figured i'd wait and see (and hope).
i still went through that crazy long intrusive account opening verification phone call and hoped for the best.
literally, today, $200...bingo! cha-ching!
merry christmas to me (and hopefully to all others)!
Very similar story, but no happy ending here.
Opened online August 12th. DDs via Chase checking account. Was told via SM that this did not count for the bonus. Decided to wait and see just in case, but still nothing as of today.
my advice? write a letter...yeah, with stamps and stuff!...and detail how you were told the chase dd would count and how great you think their site is and how much you've enjoyed having the account and how you signed up under the $200 promotion and followed the rules as you understood them.
of course, you didn't ask for advice so forgive my presumptions...
- In-branch application
- two Robinhood DD: $300 each
- bonus posted 3 months after opening.
DP:
09/26/17 Account Open Date
09/30/17 2nd $300 ACH Discover posted
10/03/17 2nd $300 PPD Robinhood posted
12/21/17 $200 Bonus Posted Automatically
Got my bonus today. in MNb
BW, when did you open the account?
I sent an email at the 120 day mark to escalate to their marketing peeps. Bonus was credited a few days later. Thanks doc!
did you dd via a bank account or via an employer check?
Anyone else ever get this bullshit before? I sent a SM to BMO Harris customer support 150 days after I signed up for an account. I did multiple ACH transfers from different accounts. I thought they would just credit my account the bonus. Instead I get this excuse:
"Thank you for contacting BMO Harris bank in regards to a Promotional Bonus you applied for when opening your account. Upon further review, it appears that additional information is needed to escalate your EDAO17CHK200 Promotional Bonus. According to the Terms and Conditions, you would need to have at least two direct deposits of any combination of a paycheck, pension payment, Social Security payment, or other government benefits payment of $300 or more each electronically deposited into the account from an employer or outside agency within 90 days of opening. The deposits listed on your account appear to be transfer deposits from Ally Bank. If you have proof that the deposits qualify, such as proof of payroll, please send that documentation along with your escalation request so we can provide that to our Marketing Team."
Anything else I can say or do to try to get this bonus that I waited for?
What sort of nonsense is this? Blatantly not meeting the requirements and then complaining about not getting the bonus?
How is their response "bullshit"? You didn't meet the terms and they explained why.
Your sense of entitlement is the only issue I see.
ACH transfers is not a qualifications. It may work with some banks, but not others. It's just a risk you take when the DD is not from an employer or outside agency.