[OK, IL KS & MO, CO only] Central Bank $300 Checking Bonus + $100 Savings Bonus [$800 St Louis Offer]

Update 9/10/24: There is an offer for the St Louis market only that is up to $800 

Update 4/15/24: There is another link that doesn’t require a referral here.

Update 1/14/24: Extended until 12/31/2024

Update 2/25/23: Deal is back until 12/31/2023

Update 6/11/22: Looks like CO also works.

Update 3/8/22: There is a new link with a $100 savings bonus as well.

Offer at a glance

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Central Bank is offering a referral bonus of $300. Requirements are as follows:
    • Use promo code RAF300
    • Enter person who referred you first and last name
    • Deposit $50 or more at account opening
    • Have at least two qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days of account opening

The Fine Print

  • To receive the $300 checking bonus open a new eligible personal checking account. Eligible accounts include MyChoice Checking, MaxMoney® Checking, Free Checking, World Checking, and Preferred Interest Checking.
  • Deposit $50 or more at account opening; and have at least two or more direct deposits within 90 days of account opening.
  • Acceptable types of Direct Deposits include Payroll, Pension or Government Benefit.
  • Bonus is reported to the IRS as interest.
  • No minimum balance required for bonus.
  • Bonus will be deposited into the checking account within 15 business days after account 1) meets all requirements AND 2) has been open for 90 days.
  • Available to new checking account customers only.
  • One offer per household.
  • We reserve the right to not open accounts for customers outside our market area.
  • Offer not valid with any other offers.
  • Promotion ends 12/31/2022.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

They offer a free checking account with no monthly fees to worry about

Early Account Termination Fee

I wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so I’m unsure if there is an early account termination fee. Might as well keep the account open as there is no monthly fees to worry about (usually six months is long enough to avoid any potential early account termination fee).

Our Verdict

Not sure what the person referring gets. We’ve seen a bonus as high as $350 in the past, but that had targeted language. Feel free to share your referrals in the comments below. We will add this to our list of the best checking bonuses. No longer possible to do Jefferson and this one, unfortunately.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On September 10, 2024, 20:45
Tags: credit card fundingdirect deposit requiredok bank bonusessoft pull

View Comments (554)

  • 09/12/2024 Acct opened w/ $1000 MC Paypal (coded as purchase) deposit
    10/03/2024 $1500 Chase Business Checking Standard ACH- “payroll” in the Notes
    10/22/2024 $1300 Progressive Ins settlement ACH (I doubt this counted as DD, but there was no fee charged [no fee for $2500min bal or $500 mo DD])
    11/19/2024 $3500 Chase Business Checking Standard ACH- “payroll” in the Notes
    12/06/2024 Recd 3rd stmt, approx 90 days in
    12/19/2024 $800 bonus posted

    Using acct to make many CC payments over the 3 months and once a month external transfer to savings acct elsewhere.

  • Do we have any idea what qualifies as a "new" customer for Central Bank bonus? Per the rules, you can be a former customer but it doesn't say how long ago. 90 days? 1 year? 2 years? All it says is you can't have received a bonus within the last 2 years.

  • Applied a couple days ago.

    Today I received an email that they need additional information and to call the bank. Called and the rep said she noticed that I'm from OOS, why do I want to join their bank? My answer wasn't convincing and I gave the wrong state from the branch I selected in my application. She said that they are a community-based bank and tend to focus mostly on people residing in the surrounding community. After that interaction, I knew it was getting declined. Pretty much as soon as we hung up I got the email that it's been declined.  I thought I had a decent answer on the application but other than saying I am there all the time visiting my family (mom) who lives on some street (Street, City whose name I know) not too far from the bank, I don't know of one that she couldn't challenge. She asked why their bank specifically. Why not one of the many other OOS? I wanted to say because of the bonus but I don't see how it helps them to give away their money to people outside their community. That defeats the community base purpose.

    If anyone can share good answers to the questions she asked I'd be very appreciative. I think this might be the 2nd time I got stumped by that question line.

    .....

    Dear Kyleius,

    We regret we cannot open your account and/or add your name as an owner/signer on an account.

    ....

    Thank you, from your Central Bank Online Accounts Support Team
    Our team is happy to assist you
    Monday - Friday 8am-5pm CT
    Toll Free: ***
    onlineaccounts@***

  • Opened from OOS due to being a travel healthcare worker in St Louis (withbplans to move there permanently). Wanted to get local banking access set up before I officially move here.
    After I made the $5K min DD for $800 bonus, they shut off my online access. Was told it would be turned back on, it wasn't. Finally reached someone who said it looked like I was using it as a pass-through account and they don't allow that. I explained how I was getting everything set up but hadn't been able to set up online bill pay because they blocked my access. That person's manager then said she would NOT allow me online banking access no matter what, so the only way I can use that account is by debit transactions and ATM to see account balance. I told them to close my accts and mail me a check.

    • Bro you messed up an opportunity that I would have welcomed. Too bad you didn't calm down and ask us. They are a community bank, so they want members who seem like they are going to be with them for a while doing their regular banking with them or at least leaving some cash in their bank. They want to feel like they'll benefit from their members and they want to try and get rid of people who are just there to raid them of the bonus they are trying to use to attract good members. If that was me and I didn't need all the cash right away, I'd leave the account open and just continue doing the steps I needed to qualify for the bonus. I would not be closing the account. If I'd already completed the steps and just needed to wait, that's even more incentive for me to leave it open and just wait. I have an account right now for P2 that has the online access locked, requiring P2 to call. P2 has been busy and P2 is not all into this game like I am. I just use the debit card to pay for whatever. I still let DD go to the account like I'm doing normal banking and checking via phone. I pay credit card bills from the account that pulls a big chunk out. That was what banking was like back in the early days of ATMs. This is how community banks and smaller credit unions operate. Bro, it used to be hard to get into credit unions and community banks back in the day, especially those out West. I am happy when I get my foot in one that has paid a bonus. If they tell me they can open the account but I wouldn't get the bonus because it is just for people who meet certain criteria. I'd open a member savings account and sometimes a small CD but not the checking. I'd keep and when the promo comes around the next time it sure makes it easier. Relationships bro. Think relationship. Don't burn the bridge and get blacklisted. I would have waited and see if I get the bonus and if I didn't, I'd just close the checking, keep my savings active, and try for the bonus when it comes back the next year or 2. Churn.

      • Well, I did need the cash right away. Blocking me from online banking access was asinine and I'm not driving 10 hrs to the St Louis branch to try to fight for the bonus. They understood I'm duplicating expenses (travel nurse) but didn't care.

  • I am in their footprint and completed all requirements for this bonus. They are refusing to pay out because I was not a 'new customer'. They are apparently affiliated with another regional bank and since I am a current customer at that bank I didn't qualify. That isn't listed in the terms and conditions, nor was it mentioned when I opened the account. Wonderful

    • Yup. I think the same thing happened to me like three years ago. Blue Valley Bank didn't pay out for this reason.

      • Jefferson Bank. Didn't realize they're owned by the same holding company or whatever. Only reason I have the account at Jefferson is because they hold my mortgage and it's easier to pay from that account. I tried pushing back and they won't budge.

    • Read the full sentence: Customer must bring in mailer or use offer code to receive incentive.

      That means anyone in the St Louis market is eligible even if they didn't receive a mailer.

      • Next sentence says " Offer may only be redeemed by the intended recipient and is nontransferable." Perhaps targeted after all?

        • I think the only targeted part of the offer is living in the St Louis market area, but who knows what that area entails?

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