Update 10/19/23: On October 26, 2023 there will be a $100 cash offer
Update: Looks like people are being denied in the comments. It’s possible you need to live in the market area of ‘ND, MN, MT, SD’ obviously ND & MN won’t work that leaves MT & SD. Because of that we won’t add it to the best bank bonuses.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $100 Amazon gift card
- Availability: Nationwide, Excluding ND & MN
- Direct deposit required:Â No
- Additional requirements:Â See below
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Up to $2,000
- Monthly fees:Â None
- Early account termination fee:Â Unknown
- Household limit:Â None
- Expiration date:Â September 12, 2022
Contents
The Offer
- Gate City Bank is offering a $100 amazon gift card as a referral bonus to both parties when the person being referred completes the following requirements:
- Open a new checking account with a minimum deposit of $50+ by September 19
- Account must remain open with a positive balance to receive the Amazon gift card, this will be be emailed on or before September 30, 2022
The Fine Print
- Not valid with other offers.
- New customer must be a first-time Gate City Bank personal checking customer at least 10 years of age and have a permanent mailing address outside of North Dakota and Minnesota.
- New customer’s checking account must be approved and funded with a minimum deposit of $50 by September 19, 2022, and must remain open and maintain a positive balance to receive the Amazon.com Gift Card, which will be emailed to new customer and referrer on or before September 30, 2022.
- 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 totally free checking account with no monthly fees to worry about.
Early Account Termination Fee
I wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so unsure if there is any EATF, but looks like account only needs to be kept open until September 30.
Our Verdict
Assuming this is a soft pull it seems worth doing as there are no requirements for the bonus. Even better if you can refer friends as well. Do not share your referrals in this post, instead they can be shared in this linked post. We will add this to our list of the best checking bonuses if it’s a soft pull.
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
Tried the friends & family route, OOS, and listed that person on the application. I sent P2 after this since her Chex is slightly less busy than mine. Only 2 other Chex inquiries in the last month.
About 4 hours after submitting the application, 2 emails came in, with the same timestamp.
1st denial email…
“Thank you for applying for a Totally Free Checking account with Gate City Bank! We are grateful for your interest in opening an account with us. Unfortunately, we are unable to approve your account application at this time due to not meeting account opening requirements.”
2nd denial email…
“Thank you for your recent application with Gate City Bank. Unfortunately, we can’t open your account or add your name as an account owner at this time because we were unable to verify your identity or other personal information.”
Extended till 10/27
Anyone successful opening this today? I tried and got denied. May try P2 tomorrow.
Gate City Bank is my primary bank.
As a data point, I had someone from DOC use my name and was successful in the referral process earlier this year when they had the referral bonus. We both received the $100, mine posted a couple of weeks ago.
Feel free to use my name if its helpful – Michael Dulitz. If they want you to prove it at all, I can give additional information via email – the first letter of my first name, followed by my last name at google’s email platform dot com.
Delete if not allowed.
Just sent you an email – thx!
New promo link: https://www.gatecity.bank/100-100/
It worked for me in August 2023. They had similar promotion valid for one day only. I am OOS from FL. So it should be Nationwide. I have selected “I was referred by a customer” and put the name of the person who referred me. You can contact me: vmaximo1983 at gmail dot com if you need referral that day October 26, 2023.
Eligibility: MN, MT, ND, SD
‘plan to relocate for school’
‘plan to relocate to ND, MN, MT, SD’
‘I was referred by a customer’
‘None of these’
If you choose ‘None of these’ on the application you get a message:
Online opening available for existing customers, individuals who have been referred by customer or team member, individuals that reside, plan to relocate to, or have previously resided in ND, MN, SD, or MT. (previously resided is strange)
If you choose ‘I was referred by customer’ it lets you proceed on the application.
I didn’t fill out the application because I see where, last year, they auto-opened accounts online and then later denied people out of footprint. Looks like it’s limited to the 4 states.
It worked for me and P2 this year 2023 in August. I am OOS when I used someone’s referral.
Anyone attempt to open this a second time to have another check mailed out ? Lol
Recent DPs indicate that they’re no longer processing CC funding for denied applications.
Appreciate your response. Thank you
I received the refund check today
I received the refund check today
So did I, chase put my check on hold though, they say funds will be available 09/27 no reason given, total B.S, I secured msg them about that and now waiting for a reply.
That is bs. That’s exactly why I got rid of chase. I deposited it into my Pnc and it was available the next day which is today (Saturday)
I hate calling banks but I couldn’t resist, about 10mins after the call they released the credit. Just because
This bank is awesome! Got my refund check in the mail a few minutes ago along with P2 who got there check. FYI we were both accepted then hours later denied an account
Has anyone received a refund check for their CC deposit yet?
I think you forgot the factor in the suspicious internet people hold and USPS delay on top of the five business day refund.
Did you verify the charge posted? Seems some saw it never go through/fall off.
I’m asking the refund check question because I have seen the comments about having the charges drop off or a credit appearing. I’ve been checking my credit card daily. Frankly, a credit makes sense, so they don’t have to pay the fees.
I’ll report back when the credit or refund check appears (fingers crossed) 🙂
I did not receive refund checks yet. Yes, CC charges went through, and accounts denied.
Good News. I received the refund checks today. Thanks for the extra $100 cash back on my credit card 🙂
Nice consolation prize! They figured out their credit card machine for me, even though I was among the first to apply :/