Update 11/6/23: Available again but in branch only now according to ISAACG.
Update 9/13/23: History page says ‘Bethpage acquires NYC-based Montauk Credit Union and its open charter, making membership available to anyone across the country. Now everyone can bank at Bethpage’ so marking this as nationwide now. Hat tip to reader DWhite
Update 9/11/23: Looks to be available in more states than just NY and bonus is also posting.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $200
- Availability: NY
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $100+
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: Yes, sensitive
- Credit card funding: Up to $100
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit: None listed
- Expiration date: September 15, 2023
Contents
The Offer
- Bethpage is offering a bonus of $200 when you open a new free checking account and complete the following requirements:
- have a qualifying direct deposit of $100 or more within 90 days of account open date
The Fine Print
- To be eligible for the 2023 Free Checking and Student Checking Summer $200 Offer, you must not have an existing Bethpage checking account in which you are the primary account holder on the checking account.
- To receive the $200 bonus, you must open a Free Checking account or Student Checking account, which is subject to approval, between June 5, 2023, and September 15, 2023, and have a qualifying direct deposit of $100 or more post to the account within ninety (90) days of account opening date.
- A qualifying direct deposit is a recurring electronic deposit of a paycheck, pension, or government benefits (such as Social Security) from an employer, the government, or similar third party.
- Bonus will be deposited to the new Free Checking Account within sixty (60) calendar days following the qualifying direct deposit.
- New Free Checking Account must remain open and in good standing up to and including the date bonus is deposited to receive the bonus.
- Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.
- Primary account owner is responsible for any applicable taxes.
- You are only eligible for one (1) checking account bonus.
- If you open multiple checking accounts, you will only be eligible to receive one (1) checking account bonus.
- 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 no monthly fees to worry about.
Early Account Termination Fee
There is no EATF.
Our Verdict
Seems like people are having issues signing up. Previous best bonus was $100. Worth doing if you can get the account opening to work.
Hat tip to Bockrr
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
Does anyone know if there is a household limit on this one? Thinking whether it’s worth taking a risk by doing P2 as well? Could this risk bonus for both P1 and P2? Thanks.
Since it’s in branch only, kind of hard to review the terms. Ask the banker for the details, and print the fine print.
Nobody else, including DoC, mentioned a household limit. Unlikely it’s there now.
imjimmy
got a mailer that says $250 bonus for opening at ANY branch. requires only $100 DD
Not worth your time
Google Pay transfers and Amex Checking Account ACHs didn’t count as DD
CSR said that would respond in 1 business day, but they didn’t after many attempts, finally someone called and explained that they needed a real DD, not transfers
Why would you call about that? The offer clearly states:
If you’re trying to game it and it doesn’t work, chalk it up and move on. Calling just draws attention to it.
This is the first time it didn’t work for me; usually, ACH from Paypal, and other banks works as DD. No need to paste their T&Cs here, usually it’s irrelevant what they say in T&C
I didn’t call; they’ve called me responding to my message, and I’ve messaged because someone here said that they had to manually fix that.
If it didn’t work for me automatically, it would not work for anyone either, so there is no harm in contacting them. I’ve been doing this since the coin times, and I’ve never killed a deal. You’re probably new, but I like the fact that you know the first rule, take it easy
You’re the one trying to fake DDs who doesn’t know the first rule.
First, your fake DD methods are limited and elementary level. There’re many more better DDs: Treasury Direct, Wise, Astra, Sequence, and etc.
Second, why did you call them when you were using fake DD? You really know first rule?
Anyone received 1099INT from this bank for the year 2023?
Some data points: Just opened @ Sunnyside Branch w/ $250 bonus (I’m not sure if other branches can do 250, probably only the new locations)
Opened Chacking + Savings (Requires to have a Savings account w/ minimum $5, which fee will be transferred from checking to savings)
Credit Card funding wasn’t available. Didn’t fund it, will make a transfer later
The debit card was printed on the spot (had to activate it @ Atm on my way out)
Still confused about what counts as DD
Also unclear about what counts as DD or how a DD even codes
Got a flyer about the branch opening in the area w/ $250 offer
The QR code links to https://qrco.de/beeaDt
try scheduling here if you will go anyway, might as well get $250 but not too sure if it’s only this branch
the link goes to our location, but you can modify URL to load yours. I don’t know if the $250 code is embedded in the URL as well, but it doesn’t hurt to reserve it this way if you’re going anyway. I’ll try to find a flyer and upload it.
How do you know if the posted transaction counts as a dd?
I cashed out from a site for my payout.
It codes as:
External Deposit [COMPANY_NAME] – PAYOUT
Other bank pushes seem to be coding as:
External Deposit [MY_NAME] – Ext Transf
I’m assuming then that “payout” condirms coding as dd?
Didn’t get a bonus yet. More than 1 month later.
Unsure how to tell if Bethpage codes something as DD
The bonus was FINALLY paid out today after sending a secured message with support. They had to manually post it.
Getting denied my bonus at the moment due to opening my account “online” rather than “virtually”…that’s a new one. Obviously asking them what the difference is…
“per our Retail Banking Team your account does not qualify for the $200 bonus. In order to qualify for the Fall Promotion, the account must be opened at the branch or virtually. This account was opened online.”
Had to call in to close account, no fees.
I was able to close my account via SM. For credit unions, I generally provide more information in my message, including why I am closing the account and the address for them to send the membership refund check to.
Wayne
Good to know, thank you.