This deal has now ended and is no longer valid. Click here for the best current bank account bonuses.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $250
- Availability: Seems to be in branch only. All branches are in NY [Branch locator]
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $100+
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Unknown
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Unknown, unlikely due to in branch requirement
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: $25, six months
- Household limit: None listed
- Expiration date: None listed
The Offer
- Open a new personal eFreedom or Freedom checking account opened at Kinderhook Bank and receive a $250 bonus when you complete the following requirements:
- Receive a direct deposit of at least $100 within 60 days of account opening
The Fine Print
- Available for a limited time and applies to any new personal eFreedom or Freedom checking account opened at Kinderhook Bank.
- New account customer cannot have any type of existing checking account. Employees of Kinderhook Bank are not eligible for bonus.
- $250 bonus will be credited to new eFreedom or Freedom checking account within 30 days of the first direct deposit of at least $100 which must be received within 60 days of the new account opening.
- $250 bonus cannot be combined with any other special offers.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
The Freedom checking account has no monthly fees to worry about. I wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so unsure if there is an early account termination fee or not, but that doesn’t matter much considering there is no monthly fee to worry about. Update: According to this comment there is a $25 fee if closed within six months.
Our Verdict
Great bonus if it’s a soft pull. Only real downside is that you need to open in branch (but at least that way you should be able to check if it is a soft pull before signing up). Upside is that there is only a small direct deposit requirement and no monthly fee to worry about. If this turns out to be a soft pull we will be adding it to our list of the best checking bonuses.
Big thanks to reader, Johnz who let us know. Learn how to find bonuses and contribute to the site here.
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- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To ChexSystems
- Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
- What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
- How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
- Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
- How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
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- Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
- Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
Venmo 100$ posted June 23. Bonus 250$ posted today. Looks like Venmo counts as DD for Kinderhook!
The link now has no mention of the $250, I think the deal is dead.
Thanks, updated post.
Just opened today. There are fees $25 for account closures less than 6 months after opening.
Thanks, added to post. Was it a soft/hard pull? Here’s how to check for free in case you don’t know: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/whats-best-cheapest-way-monitor-credit/
Been using this as my main checking account for since 2013 or so. You get 2.5% on balances up to 20k and .35% on anything over. Requires estatements, 10 POS purchases, and one DD per month to obtain the high rate plus ATM refunds up to $25. Easy to use bill pay, just added mobile deposits. Great customer service has helped me throughout the years even though I don’t live in NY anymore. Only complaints: checks aren’t free and the 10 purchases have to POS, i.e. No amazon reloads. A little tricky some months but they haven’t changed the 2.5% rate since 2013 (although the above 20k rate has decreased to .35 from what was once .75%).
Holy smokes, this is actually my local bank! The things you never expect to see on DoC. I’m out of town right now but looking forward to stopping by the branch when I get back.
Too bad the debit card transactions have to be POS! Do you have use a particular method to make sure to get your 10?
They can be either credit or debit. HOwever, they have to post before the statement closes, so if you’re at the end the month, debit is the way to go.
Do you remember if it was a hard/soft pull to open?
You saw where I said “since 2013” right? Haha, I have no idea. I wasn’t keeping track of offers back then like I have to now. Was mostly looking for the highest rate on at least 20k with the least amount of hassle. Plus, when it was .75% on balances above 20k, I didn’t feel bad about having more than 20k in the account.
Would the hard/soft pull show on a credit report?
I did see where you said that ahaha, I wasn’t hopeful you’d remember but always worth asking I guess. If you had it since 2013 it would no longer show unfortunately