Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:
- Availability: Targeted, terms state ‘To take advantage of this offer, you must be the original recipient of the offer email from Morgan Stanley Private Bank.’
- Direct deposit required: Yes, two direct deposits of $1,000+
- Additional requirements: See below
- Hard/soft pull: Unknown
- ChexSystems: Yes, but approves if frozen
- Credit card funding: Unknown
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: Unknown
- Household limit: None
- Expiration date: December 15, 2024
Contents
The Offer
- E*Trade is offering a $250 bonus when you open a new Checking or Max-Rate Checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Make at least 2 qualifying direct deposits, each of $1,000 or more, within 90 days of opening your new account
The Fine Print
- To take advantage of this offer, you must be the original recipient of the offer email from Morgan Stanley Private Bank.
- Offer is valid only for individual and jointly owned Max-Rate Checking or Checking accounts opened online. You are not eligible for this offer if you have or had owned or co-owned (joint) a Max-Rate Checking or Checking Account within the last 12 months from when you enroll in this offer. In the case of a joint account, only the primary account holder (the account holder who signed up first) is eligible for a bonus. Offer excludes non-U.S. residents, at time of account opening or post account opening address changes.
- This offer is only eligible to one newly opened Bank Max-Rate Checking OR Checking account funded within 30 days of account opening. You cannot open and enroll both account types at the same time. If you open both account types, your Max-Rate Checking Account will be auto-enrolled in the offer.
- Customers may only be enrolled in one checking offer at a time. Cannot be combined with any other checking offers
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
Checking has no monthly fees to worry about.
Early Account Termination Fee
Our Verdict
Shame that this is a targeted offer, think it’s definitely worth doing if you were targeted though. We would add this to our best bank bonuses if it wasn’t targeted.
Hat tip to readers bosox & zerosum
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
11/12/24 – 5:00 PM Targeted Email bonus offer received.
11/12/24 – 11:50PM clicked the link from email and applied. (Instant approval).
11/12/24 – 11:58PM Confirmation email – “Your new checking account is enrolled in a cash promotion”.
Chex pulled – YES. I currently have active brokerage accounts. I did 2 successful bonus offers this year with Etrade (BONUS24, REWARD24 bonus codes).
P2 used the link from my email and was instantly approved, but has not received a confirmation email yet. Chex pulled – yes. She closed her Etrade accounts in October. She chose existing Etrade client and used her log on. I will update if she gets that confirmation email.
I had my Chex frozen and got instant approval without a Chex hit. Wish you had done the same.
Ostrich Rider
Yes, I wish had checked the blog before applying. Although, lately I don’t seem to have a problem opening new accounts due to Chex which has been a nice surprise.
My favorite online bank of all time until the merger now as of next month they will charge a monthly fee if you have a balance under 5k.
https://us.etrade.com/bank/bank-rates?vanity=ratesheet
Which account has this fee requirement? Brokerage or checking?
Max-Rate Checking
The free acct is literally called Checking.
A few people have asked “which accounts do you have if targeted”. I have the branded Amex BCP. It was a promotional offer via ETrade. My Etrade sits dormant with very little cash balance. Very surprised to be targeted for anything.
Will opening the checking account first prevent us from getting the brokerage bonus? This $250 checking promotion is ending on 12/15/2024. The current brokerage bonus OFFER24 is ending on 1/31/2025.
My funds are tied up, I have to wait until next year to open the brokerage account.
Not Targeted but existing customer with an Investment Account. Pulled the trigger. Account opened in minutes with all 3 bureaus and Chex frozen. Linked and funded the free checking account with $25. Will do reall DDs and will see whether bonus comes in. Fingers Crossed.
Got the Bonus enrollment confirmation email as well.
doing god’s work. thanks!
Kudos! Your data point was enough for me to also enroll for this offer despite not receiving a targeted email from Morgan Stanley but also have a Investment account. I’ll try legitimate DDs and see if this bonus pays out. The welcome email snippet below had both my account number but also the bonus terms which is a great sign of things to come.
“Congratulations! You have opened a checking account with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Member FDIC, and are now enrolled in a limited time promotional offer. You are only a few steps away from getting your $250 reward.
Here is how to get your $250 cash bonus:Set up direct deposit, each of $1,000 or more. Learn how at etrade.com/directdeposit.Ensure you receive two qualifying direct deposits within the next 90 days.Get rewarded with a $250 bonus deposit into your new account. Pretty nice, eh?”
Does anyone know if ACH via Fidelity to Etrade/morgan stanley would count as DD?
Thanks!
for those targeted, what product/s do you have with etrade and/or morgan stanley? wondering if they’re targeting based on specific criteria
Brokerage account recently opened (past few months) with brokerage promo
Received the offer by email, will probably pull the trigger, easy $250.
I can confirm they do pull Chex if you don’t have it frozen. I can’t make an online account at Chex so I don’t bother freezing mine.
You can freeze/unfreeze over the phone
You need to get a PIN by mail which I haven’t bothered with. Having to unfreeze just adds hassle in 99% of cases.
Sometimes you just gotta put your balls on the plate and roll with the punches 🙃
Kinda in a similar predicament. It’s been a long while since i froze my Chex, but still getting approved for plethora of Bank Accounts and things still going exactly as intended. I’ve had some issues with getting my Chex reports instantly like i used to, so i have to order them manually. I might get my online access situated, but i just haven’t been that bothered with the way things have been going for me.
I’m also among the folk that agrees with; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
I want the easy aspects of Gaming! I leave all the technical stuff to the pros 🙃
Do you get the same security quiz can’t be generated on the info entered error that I get?
Yep
you get an email confirming the checking account ‘is enrolled in a cash promotion’
https://gyazo.com/5cc2e14c794ba2361314514a2d19663a
approved instantly as well w/chex frozen
Were you targeted?