Extended to 12/31/2024
Extended to 9/30/2024
Extended to 6/30/2024
Update 2/18/24: Deal is back and valid until 3/31/2024
Update 11/1/23: Bonus extended to 31-Dec-2023.
Update 9/11/23: Extended until 10/31/2023.
Update 7/4/23: Extended until 8/31/2023.
Update 4/8/23: Extended until 6/30/2023. Hat tip to Woody
Update 11/20/21: Deal is back and valid until 12/31/21. Now Limit of one consumer checking-related bonus per household every 2 calendar years. Hat tip to reader BS
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:
- Availability: LA, MS, FL, AL, & TX only. Can apply online now
In branch only [Branch locator] - Direct deposit required: Yes, $300+
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: No
- Credit card funding: None
- Monthly fees: $12, avoidable
- Early account termination fee: $20, 180 days (bonus forfeit)
- Household limit: Limit of one consumer checking-related bonus per household every 2 calendar years. (this is enforced),
- Expiration date:
December 31, 20206/30/2023
Contents
The Offer
- Hancock Whitney Bank is offering a bonus of $300 when you open a Connect Checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Receive a qualifying monthly direct deposit of at least $1,000 by 10/31/2024
The Fine Print
- Use the promo code referenced above when opening a new Connect Checking account with money not currently on deposit at Hancock Whitney Bank by the offer expiration date of 12/31/2020.
- The promo code is required at account opening. The following criteria must be met by 2/28/2021: set up and receive a qualifying monthly direct deposit of at least $250 per deposit.
- A qualifying direct deposit includes a salary, pension, social security or other recurring, monthly income amount of $250 or more, electronically deposited by your employer or outside agency.
- Transfers from one account to another or deposits made at a financial center or ATM do not qualify. Limit of one consumer checking-related bonus per household every 2 calendar years.
- The Bank may change or discontinue the offer at any time and without notice.
- This offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with other offers.
- The email given at account opening must match the email address submitted to get the offer promo code.
- If your account meets the criteria, and remains open and active, we will deposit the earned bonus into your new Connect Checking account within 6 weeks after the qualification period of 2/28/2021.
- Bonuses may be considered interest and may be reported on IRS form 1099.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
This account has a $12 monthly fee. This is waived if you do any of the following:
- primary account holder under 18 or age 64 and over or
- make one or more client-initiated debit or credit transactions per statement cycle to waive the service charge.
Early Account Termination Fee
$20 fee is charged for each account if the account is closed within 180 days. Looks like you might also forfeit the bonus.
Our Verdict
Hancock also offers a $500 bonus, but that is more difficult to keep fee free. There was also a $300 bonus in the past that was easier to keep fee free, but I don’t think that account is still available and to be honest this connect checking account isn’t that difficult to keep fee free either. This is probably an easier option for most people and as such we will add this to our list of the best bank account bonuses.
Hat tip to reader Natanael
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
DP:
6/21 Freestyle Checking opened in branch with emailed promo code
7/19 1+ PayPal balance load
8/12 $300+ Standard ACH Payment from Chase biz
9/16 $300+ Standard ACH Payment from Chase biz
10/15 $300+ Standard ACH Payment from Chase biz
10/28 $200 Bonus pending
Bonus showed up as pending in the evening on 10/28. PayPal balance loads and DDs counted as qualifying transactions to waive the monthly fee.
Do your transactions show as “credit” in the transaction type?
The transaction type isn’t going to provide you any useful information. It will just be “credit” for any transactions that increase your balance, and “debit” for any that decrease it.
Opened an account online and made an initial deposit. A couple of days after I added an external account I got a statement email and couldn’t log in (invalid credentials error). When I called they said the account was disabled and I had to provide an ID and statements for the external account in person at a branch. I told them the nearest branch is 2 hours away so I would like to close the account. In order to close the account online you have to have a $0 balance. After putting me on hold the representative said that I could close the account and have a cashiers check mailed for $9. I went ahead and did that. Bonus went from $300 to -$9 🙁
I had the same thing happen in June. CSR told me online banking was locked until I could show my ID in branch. I told them I wouldn’t be near a branch until July, and they said it was fine. My account wasn’t frozen and wouldn’t be closed, but I couldn’t log in until I was verified (which was strange, because I opened my account in person). I loaded PayPal from my debit card to avoid the monthly fee, and it went through. Stopped by a branch in July and got my online banking unlocked.
I was denied and it stated denied by Equifax. Credit file is clean though.
Wait this bonus might actually suck. The only offer worth doing is the $200 freestyle checking. I thought it was going to be for one month but in the terms it states DD of at least $300 until end of promotion, which for me might be April 2025. Wack.
DD doesn’t have to be set up until 2/28/25, so you only need DDs for Feb/Mar/Apr.
I missed the bonus based on how the monthly statements ran on my account. (My mistake for not watching it more closely). Assuming I could just close my account and immediately try again? I see nothing in the terms regarding current clients just a reference to a bonus every 2 years.
Third time lucky for OOS opening in branch
1st Pensacola not allowed
2nd Tampa not allowed
3rd Gulfport, MS allowed
Not sure why Tampa failed. I went twice in the last several years to the office center near the Tampa airport at:
2202 N Westshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33607 Picture on that page is not representative of the building.
At least one of the Tampa locations is a mortgage only office, IIRC. I made that mistake before. Always a good idea to call ahead to see if they have a banker available or if an appt is needed. Woody
Yeah I went to that branch near airport and they insisted me to show a proof of Tampa resident. A branch in Gulfport that I opened was very nice.
You are flying around to do bank bonuses?
Large hubs have lots of bank branches near the airport. Open some accounts during a layover.
No, but while on trips, there is usually some downtime. M D
I wouldn’t do it on an actual layover though… too much hassle getting back into the airport.
Really depends how long it is though. I’ve got a 9 hr layover in SEA next March, definitely planning on hitting up a few banks.
Well, yeah… not sure who your travel agent is but you should fire them. Or, make lemonade with lemons, grab a bonus or two.
Overseas travelers must have more patience than me.
It’s a Delta award flight back from Taipei, from the recent special they had. The return flight options were terrible, but I opted for one long and one short layover so I could leave the airport. Figured I might as well take advantage of the situation.
Extended to 12/31/2024 William Charles
Closed my HW checking account in March 2024. Received a new Visa debit card in the mail yesterday. Logged into HW (my old login still works) and it says “No Accounts Found”, confirming my account is/was closed. Called and they confirmed that my account is closed. They have no idea why the card was sent.
Anyone else receive a new debit card for their closed account?
Received via email today:
“We recently sent you a new Hancock Whitney debit card by mistake. Please destroy the card, as it cannot be activated or used. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-448-8812.
Card Services Team”
Ally didn’t work.
Opened 2/26/24.
Ally dep: 3/14, 4/3, 5/3, 6/10, 7/2, 8/7
Also did debit card transactions monthly.
It’s now past 180 days so I’m closing.
Declined – no reason given, asked to go to branch to open