[YMMV] [FL] Seacoast Bank $400 Checking + $200 Savings

Update 7/9/24: Bonus now $600. Has targeted language but some bankers enforce it and others don’t so marking as YMMV.

Update 7/8/24: Deal is back but only $300, better to wait for a bigger bonus.

Update 5/14/23: Extended until 12/31/23.

Update 2/13/23: Deal is back at this link and valid until 5/11/23. Hat tip to reader JBoi

Update 2/12/22: Extended through March 31, 2022.

Update 10/16/21: Extended until 12/31/21.

Update 9/10/21: Deal is back at the $350/$150 level until 9/30/21.

Update 1/15/21: Deal is back and valid until 3/31/21. Hat tip to reader Austin A.

Update 12/6/20: Deal is now $250 + $150 (previously $350 + $150), but can be opened online. Hat tip to reader Parlog

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $400
  • Availability: In branch only, all branches are in FL [Branch locations]
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+
  • Additional requirements: See below
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft
  • ChexSystems: Unknown
  • Credit card funding: Possibly up to $1,000, but likely to be a cash advance in branch
  • Monthly fees: $21, avoidable
  • Early account termination fee: $15, 90 days
  • Household limit: One
  • Expiration date: October 31st, 2019 December 31st, 2019 April 30th, 2020 September 30th, 2020 December 31, 2020 September 30, 2021 May 11, 2023

The Offer

Direct link to offer | New link

  • Seacoast Bank is offering up to $500 in bonuses when you open new accounts. Bonuses and requirements are as follows:
    • $400 bonus when you open a new Seacoast Classic, Senior Classic, Premium or Premium Elite Checking Account checking account and:
      • Deposit $50 or more at account opening
      • Have a direct deposit of $1,000 or more within 60 days of account opening
    • $200 bonus when you open a new Seacoast Savings account and:
      • Deposit $15,000 or more in new money within 10 business days of account opening
      • Maintain a balance of $15,000 for 90 days from the date of deposit

 

 

The Fine Print

  • Bonus/Account Information: Offer valid 7/15/2020-9/30/2020. Account(s) must be opened in person at a branch to receive bonus.
  • Checking offer is not available to existing Seacoast checking customers.
  • Savings offer is not available to existing Seacoast savings or Money Market customers.
  • Both offers are not available to those with fiduciary accounts, or those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance.
  • Offer only valid for recipient named and addressed to on this mailer.
  • To receive the $350 checking bonus: 1) Open a new Seacoast Premium Checking account, which is subject to approval; 2) Deposit $50 or more at account opening; AND 3) Have your direct deposit of $500 or more made to this account within 60 days of account opening. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. After you have completed all the above checking requirements, we’ll deposit the bonus in your new account within 65 days of account opening. As of May 22, 2020, the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) for Seacoast Bank Premium Checking accounts is .01%.
  • To receive the $150 savings bonus: 1) Open a new Seacoast Savings account, which is subject to approval; 2) Deposit a total of $15,000 or more in new money into the new savings account within 10 business days of account opening; AND 3) Maintain at least a $15,000 balance for 90 days from the date of deposit. The new money cannot be funds held by Seacoast. After you have completed all the above savings requirements, we’ll deposit the bonus in your new account within 95 business days of account opening. As of May 22, 2020, the APY for Seacoast Savings accounts is .01%. Additionally, fees may reduce earnings on the account. Rates may change at any time. You can receive only one new checking and one new savings account opening related bonus each calendar year and only one bonus per account per household. Bonuses are considered interest and may be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

Premium Checking $21 Monthly Fee

Premium checking has a $21 monthly fee that is waived if you do any of the following:

  • Option #1: Maintain a minimum daily balance of $5,000; OR,
  • Option #2: Maintain a minimum average balance of $7,500 or more in your checking account; OR,
  • Option #3: Maintain a minimum daily combined balance of $15,000 or more in Savings, Money Market, CD or IRA; OR,
  • Option #4: Maintain a trust relationship with Seacoast Wealth Management; OR,
  • Option #5: Maintain a consumer or commercial loan or line of credit; OR,
  • Option #6: Maintain Seacoast residential mortgage.

Savings $15 Quarterly Fee

Savings account has a $15 fee charged per quarter, this is waived if you have a minimum daily balance of $500.

Early Account Termination Fee

According to the fee schedule there is an early account termination fee of $15 if the account is closed within 90 days of opening.

Our Verdict

I wasn’t able to determine what the rate offered for the savings account is, but I suspect it’s close to 0%. That being said, this bonus is still worth doing if you live near a branch, if you don’t have $15,000 in cash laying around then you can always just focus on the checking bonus and leave the smaller savings bonus alone. We will be adding this to our list of the best checking account bonuses.

Hat tip to reader Craig J

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

Post history:

  • Update 10/11/20: Deal has been extended until December 31, 2020.
  • Update 7/27/20: Deal is back and valid until 9/30/2020. It does contain language that states ‘Offer only valid for recipient named and addressed to on this mailer.’ but you should be able to find out if you’re eligible when opening the account. Hat tip to reader Churnoso
  • Update 1/30/20: Deal is back and valid until 4/30/2020. Hat tip to reader Churnoso

View Comments (294)

  • For those who have used Wise to trigger this bonus, do I need to open a personal Wise account or a business one?

  • I received mailer and my link was https://www.seacoastbank.com/switch600

    I opened online and tried to make a 'debit card' transaction with a prepaid visa but that did not go through loool

    1k daily minimum isn't bad but the question I have is WHEN does that timer start? nobody gonna deposit 1k on the first day of their account.......
    Hopefully it'll be like other banks where they 'waive' the requirements for the first month.

    • UPDATE on this offer: I am currently somehow triggering and not fulfilling their security checks. As a result, they are not allowing ANY external transfer of funds INTO the account. I understand security but this is ridiculous. Not sure if anyone else has had this issue but this is a bad deal if you can't withdraw money out of your own dang account without someone manually OKing it every time!

      If anyone is on the fence, their security check requests a statement from bank that you're trying to transfer funds from, but if they 'feel' that is not good enough, the transfer is cancelled.

      There's good security, and then there's Seacoast Bank smh

    • For me, it was waived the first month, but not the second. They did refund it as a courtesy at least.

      • I sent a message asking the question about the daily min balance just in case -- they state that the first month is waived, but if i was charged, I could send a message and they would take care of it.
        Seems silly that it's a possibility on the first month, but whatever. Its part of the bonus game lol

        Definitely won't withdraw any money and keeping 1k in there for the 90 days. Safe 'savings' considering interest rates have gone down...

    • I tried to transfer funds INTO seacoast but security checks requested a statement. Fidelity uses UMB bank as their "transferee" - so seacoast's request literally can't be completed since Fidelity statement isn't the same as UMB Bank.

      I tried using Ally bank as a transfer but that failed too. Asking customer service but I think this will ultimately be denied via appeal as well.

    • at least 90 days. Online account access allows you to withdraw and transfer money but I am currently getting flagged for ANY transactions, so I would definitely not count on being able to withdraw by yourself exactly at 90 days.

      There is also a $15 fee if you close before 90 days.

  • Anybody else from 7/10/2024 that opened online get the bonus yet? Still waiting and have done real DDs

    • Just received mine yesterday Oct 16th.
      May be worth calling in if nothing gets triggered for you.
      -M

    • Interesting.
      Opened around the same time.
      No bonus yet.
      This would be the first time when doing these techniques.

      Had a sour feeling about this bank when I signed up.

  • DP:
    07/11 - opened
    07/31 - real DD 1011
    08/30 - real DD 1011
    09/11 - transfer out - leaving bal of 1022.
    10/11 - $400 bonus pending

    • Interesting.
      Opened around the same time.
      No bonus yet.

      Even did the saving promotion.
      Nothing yet.

      Not a fan of these folks right now.
      -M

        • From my full time job.
          Split my deposits and had them deposit $1200 for this bank at the time.
          And I did a cashier check for the $15k savings.
          -M

          • Has it been 95 days or more since you opened your account? Their bonus usually post right around that time. The reason I asked is your comment "Opened around the same time."

          • Opened July 10th
            DD Aug 2nd

            I was going to give benefit of the doubt Helene and Milton.
            Milton my area as there is still no power for us. (And the bank I opened in branch)
            But folks showing they received their bonuses already.
            So that tells me it's working in the background.

            -M

          • Quick update
            Got notice of the to bonus coming in amounts today Oct 16th for the $400 check and $200 save.

            Did not have to do the reoccurring deposit thing in my case.
            -M

  • Curious if you DoC experts think I'll qualify for the bonus with this DP: The reason I ask is because I missed the "recurring" DD language in the terms, and don't know if the below DP would cover the following language in the terms:

    "Have your direct deposit of $1,000 or more made to this account within 90 days of account opening. Your direct deposit needs to be a recurring direct deposit of a paycheck, pension, Social Security or other regular monthly income electronically deposited..."

    7/11 - Account opened
    7/31 - Real DD ($1,500)
    9/15 - Real DD ($1,000)
    9/30 - To Be Real DD ($1,000)
    10/15 - To Be Real DD ($1,000)

    Is the gap in DD in August going to kill me? If so, does customer service ever help in this kind of scenario?