[Expired] [IL, IN, OH, MI] First Merchants Bank $400 Checking Promotion

Deal has ended, view more bank account bonuses by clicking here.

Update 3/19/22: Maximum is back to $400

Update 6/12/21: Deal is back, but bonuses have been slashed. $400 bonus is now $200 bonus for example. Hat tip to mothman69

Update: There might be a $500 bonus that is better for those doing the $400 bonus. The debit card transactions are not required No longer being offered

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $400
  • Availability: Must reside in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio or Michigan
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+
  • Additional requirements: Use promo code
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
  • ChexSystems: Yes
  • Credit card funding: Yes, up to $1,000 with a Visa or Mastercard
  • Monthly fees: $5-$20, avoidable
  • Early account termination fee: Six months, bonus forfeit
  • Household limit: One
  • Expiration date: December 31st, 2020

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • First Merchants Bank is offering a bonus of up to $400 when you open a new checking account account. The bonus you receive depends on the account you open, but for all accounts you need to complete the following requirements:
    • Use promo code BANKOFFERS
    • Complete at least 15 transactions within 60 days of account opening
    • Make a direct deposit of at least $500 within 60 days of account opening
  • Bonuses are as follows:
    • Earn  $50 for opening a new Carefree Checking Account
    • Earn $150 for opening a new Advantage Checking Account
    • Earn $400  for opening a new Elite Checking Account

 

The Fine Print

  • TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROMOTION: to read: You must be a new First Merchants personal checking client. Clients with an existing personal checking account with First Merchants (either as the primary or secondary account holder) are not eligible. You must not have closed a personal checking account within 180 days of the promotion start date (on or after April 13, 2020). The primary account holder of the participating checking account must be 18 years old or older at the time of account opening and reside in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio or Michigan. First Merchants employee accounts are not eligible for this promotion.
  • Get up to $400 for opening a new First Merchants checking account. Earn $100 for opening a new Carefree Checking Account, earn $200 for opening a new Advantage Checking Account or First Direct Account, or earn $400 for opening a new Elite Checking Account AND by depositing at least $100 at account opening (First Direct Checking accounts can be opened with $0), completing 15 transactions within 60 days of accounting opening, and completing at least one direct deposit of $500 or more within the first 60 days after account opening. Offer valid for new First Merchants personal checking accounts opened from April 3, 2020, through December 31, 2020. Enrollment in the promotion is required. (See Account Opening & Enrollment Instructions below.)
  • After meeting the qualification requirements, the applicable reward will be credited to the new checking account up to 8 weeks after all qualifications are met. ‘Branch Checking Offer Reward” will appear on the monthly checking statement when the reward is credited to the account holder’s checking account. The reward amount will be based on the type of checking account open when First Merchants verifies that all promotional offer qualifications have been completed. Checking accounts closed within 180 days of opening will be charged a $50 account early closing fee. This promotion is only applicable once per client. First Merchants may report the value of any reward received through any offer to the Internal Revenue Service as required by law. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the recipient. In the event that we determine in our sole discretion that your account does not meet the eligibility criteria or the activity on your account does not qualify to meet the required conditions, we will not be obligated to credit your account with the reward payout.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

Elite Checking ($400 Bonus) – $20 Monthly Fee

This account has a $20 monthly fee, this is waived if you have $15,000 in combined personal deposit balances.

Advantage Checking ($200 Bonus) – $15 Monthly Fee

This account has a $15 monthly fee, this is waived if you do any of the following:

  • Make one direct deposit of at least $500 monthly, OR
  • Make 15 debit card transactions per month, OR
  • Maintain $1,500 minimum combined personal deposit balances OR
  • Are 62 years or older

Carefree Checking ($100 Bonus) – $5 Monthly Fee

This account has a $5 monthly fee. This is waived if you:

  • Are under 25 years of age
  • Make one customer-initiated transaction per month
  • Maintain $100 minimum combined personal deposit balances

Early Account Termination Fee

Account needs to be kept open for six months otherwise bonus is forfeit.

Account Closing Fee

There is a $30 fee to close out the account by mail, but doing it in branch is fee-free, according to what reader MikeyBee heard from the bank.

Our Verdict

Previously this bonus was targeted, but now looks to be open to everybody. Seems like a bonus that is worth doing, I’ll e adding this to our list of the best checking account bonuses.

Hat tip to @milleraus16

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On March 19, 2022, 12:00
Tags: IL bank bonusesin bank bonusesmi bank bonusesno credit card fundingoh bank bonusessoft pull

View Comments (344)

  • Did anyone get the bonus who used "check250" code? I did not get the bonus and I was told it was a target mailer offer so I did not qualify. They sent me the terms and the language is vague and doesn't say that its either so I am challenging. Most here probably used ATM250

    • It appears to be targeted for Ohio residents only.

      Primary accountholder must be 18 years or older, reside in Ohio and the account can be opened online or an Ohio banking center.

        • Thanks.

          Kinda strange for them to have a separate Ohio-only version with the exact same requirements.

          • Also strange, the application is saying that ATM250 is an invalid code although it should be good through 12/31/2024.

          • Indiana resident here. I kept getting an invalid code as well so I went into the branch today and was approved with the ATM250 promo code applied. The bankers said that they didn't even know that the promo was out there. They said I was the first to mention it and that they usually know in advance if the promos.

            I have high Chex numbers but was instantly approved.

          • That's good to hear the promo code works in-branch. I'll have to wait for them to fix their online application system since there are no branches near me.

  • P1 and P2 both received a letter from First Merchants earlier this month - "RE: Notice of Data Incident".

    - occurred between May 28 and May 30, 2023.
    - personal information potentially affected may include name, contact info (telephone, address, email), date of birth, SSN, mother's maiden name, online login ID, and/or other financial account info (acct & routing #s)
    - online banking password was not captured or compromised
    - offering 12 months of ID monitoring services through Kroll

    Mine and P2's accounts were closed in October 2022.

  • anybody get a 2022 form 1099 for the checking account bonus yet? i havent gotten anything in the mail and nothing in my eDocuments either still..

  • 3/29 - opened Elite checking
    4/12 thru 5/2 - pushed $500 from a few banks (see bottom of post for transaction descriptions)
    5/1 - completed 15 Cash App debit transactions
    5/3 - $400 bonus received, "BRANCH CHECKING OFFER REWARD"
    6/14 - downgraded to Carefree Checking by calling branch
    10/20 - closed account via sending secure message in online banking (yes, this worked, in fact I had called support and the rep told me to send a SM; had already zeroed balance; received email and final e-statement on 10/21 indicating account is closed)

    Here are my fake DDs, doubt Ally or Discover triggered the bonus:
    ALLIANT CU/XFER
    JPMorgan Chase/Ext Trnsfr
    DISCOVER BANK/P2P
    FID BKG SVC LLC/MONEYLINE (Fidelity CMA)
    ALLY BANK/P2P
    CAPITAL ONE N.A./CAPITALONE

  • I have the Elite, was a $400 bonus and $20/mo fee I never knew I could downgrade I just ate it. Just hit 6 mos sent SM and got this reply below. I am close to one I'll just go in branch but as a head's up:

    "
    Thank you for contacting Customer Care. To change your account type, you would need to contact your local banking center. We are unable to close out accounts that are interest bearing, via Customer Care. In order to close your interest-bearing account, please visit your local banking center. The banking center will need your signature to close the account. If you are not near a banking center, you may send a notarized letter via mail to the banking center. The letter must include the following:

    Your name
    Copy of your driver?s license or other pictured ID
    Instructions/Request to close the account
    Address to where any funds remaining may be sent

    Please note, there is a $30 fee for closing an account via mail. There is no charge to close an account in person at the banking center. Any signer on an account may close the account at the banking center. If you need further assistance, please reply to this message, or call Customer Care at 1-800-205-3464.
    "

  • Interesting DP
    Account opened OOS 7/15
    7/28 $501 DDA 2 DDA Wells Fargo push
    8/2 15 $0.50 Amazon reloads
    8/5 closing entry (check issued) and call received that account would be closed due to being out of footprint
    8/8 $501 employer DD returned to employer

    Thought this was all over and moved on

    9/26 received statement in mail. $200 promo posted 8/26 woohooo
    9/26 Zelle’’d money out ASAP

  • Dosent seem to be any mention of the offer on the website. Could it have been pulled?

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