Deal has ended, view more bank account bonuses by clicking here.
No end date listed
Update 4/12/23: Extended to 6/30/23
Update 2/25/23: Deal is back and valid until 3/31/23. Hat tip to reader Vanson
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $300
- Availability: CA, IL, MO
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $250+
- Additional requirements: Use promo code
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: None
- Monthly fees: $15, avoidable
- Early account termination fee: $25, 180 days
- Household limit: None listed
- Expiration date: None listed
Contents
The Offer
- First Bank is offering a bonus of $100 when you open a new First Performance checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Use promo code GETCHECK
- 90 calendar days after account opening, the account must have the First Performance Checking account status of a “Qualifying Account”, meaning that during the most recent Qualification Period, the account had 15 or more debit card purchases and a single Direct Deposit of $250 or more post to the account.
- Terms are a bit unclear so to make clearer: To qualify for the bonus, at least $250 in direct deposits and 15 debit swipes must be made in the last full statement period at the 90th calendar-day anniversary
The Fine Print
- 100 account opening cash bonus will be credited to the First Performance Checking account within 30 days of posting initial direct deposit.
- Bonus will be reported as interest credited to the Checking account.
- Bonus $100 offer expires 45 days after the interest rate effective date shown above.
- Limit one First Performance Checking per person.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
There is a $15 monthly fee. This is waived if you have a direct deposit of $250+ and 15 debit card transactions. Need to opt into eStatements as well.
Early Account Termination Fee
There is a $25 fee when account closed within 180 days of account opening.
Our Verdict
Seems difficult to keep fee free for a bonus of only $100, so probably not worth doing for most people. Because of that I won’t add this to the best bank bonus page. The upside to this account is that if you meet the account requirements you’ll earn 3% APY on balances up to $25,000.
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To ChexSystems
- Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
- What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
- How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
- Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
- How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
- Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
- Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
- Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
- Bank Bonus Posting Times
View Comments (185)
DP for acct closing:
2/6 I secure message them to close my acct.
2/7 They said to zero out my balance.
2/7-9 I zero'd it out and re-secure message them to close my checking acct. Waited till transaction posted.
2/9 They closed it the same day.
Did you have to push to close it via secure message? Finally getting around to trying to close this and they are insisting on either calling in to do a video Teams meeting or going to branch. Wondering if there is a trick to closing it.
Has anyone been able to close their account over the phone? I tried calling in a couple times and they are firm that the only possible way to close it is to visit a branch. This is very bizarre since I have never encountered this over the numerous bank accounts I've opened in my lifetime...
Back in December 2022 I was able to close account via secure message. @guest_1727362
anyone know where the early account termination fee of $25 is posted? I can't find it on or https://www.first.bank/Personal/Spend/Checking-Accounts/First-Performance-Checking-Account https://www.first.bank/media/First/Documents/OAO/First-Performance-Account-Guide.pdf
Looks like they changed the monthly fee waiver? It is now "When the qualifications of 5 or more debit card purchases are met and posted to the account during a monthly Qualification Period, the monthly maintenance fee will not be assessed on the Analysis/Statement Date following the Evaluation Date" per https://www.first.bank/Personal/Spend/Checking-Accounts/First-Performance-Checking-Account
I don't see the bonus anywhere on the website anymore, including in the "direct link to offer" link.
Appears to no longer have an expiration date in the ToS @will
Soft pull, declined due to Chex via email message.
Chex:
2 in 1 month
6 in 3 months
10 in 6 months
3/16 Opened acct online, live outside of LA, CA
3/20 $100 funded acct with Chase
3/28-29 15 $1 Cash app purchases
4/4-5 15 $1 Cash app purchases
5/8-9 15 $1 Cash app purchases
5/16 $252.50 Fidelity "FID BKG SVC MONEYLINE LLC"
517 $250.01 Schwab "SCHWAB BROKERAGE MONEYLINK"
6/26 $300 PROMO CREDIT ACCOUNT OPENING PROMOTIONAL CREDIT
3/3 Acct approved and opened
3/6 $100 automatically deposited from external bank
Met direct deposit and debit card transaction requirement for March, April, May
Still no bonus
Here are my data points:
* 03/03/23 - opened account with a $100 ACH from Wells Fargo
* 03/20/23 - $250 direct deposit posted
* 03/21/23 - 15 debit card transactions completed
* 04/05/23 - $250 direct deposit posted
* 04/07/23 - 15 debit card transactions completed
* 05/05/23 - $250 direct deposit posted
* 05/05/23 - 15 debit card transactions completed
* 06/05/23 - $300 bonus posted "PROMO CREDIT ACCOUNT OPENING PROMOTIONAL CREDIT"
Will keep the account open for 6 months and close around October 1.
@guest_1565655 Thanks, did you have real DD? And did they pull Chex?
Yes, real DD, not sure about Chex, I don't track my Chex score very closely.