just made an easy $300 today by...

[Dznypal]

opening up 2 new checking accounts at 2 different banks that were offering

bonuses of $150 each!!!!!

I do this alot and make between 150-500 (just one yr I made $500)

The only requirments were direct deposit of any amount which is no problem

and keep the account open for 6 months!! easy!!

I usually keep the account open alittle longer then 6 months and then close it

and put the money in my vacation account until I need it!!!

$300 more $ for our next disney trip

 

[marie1203]

Some banks pull your credit. I wouldn't do it multiple times a year.

 

[Dznypal]

I heard that they can pull your credit report

but last yr I got the disney visa with $200 bonus for opening the account on my own and my scores were excellent

also we refineced the house last yr and the scrore were excellent

so either the banks arent pulling a credit report or theres not an issue with what Im doing

 

[TheRatPack]

Plus you have to report that on your taxes.....so remember to write it down somewhere so you don't forget when tax time comes.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Plus you have to report that on your taxes.....so remember to write it down somewhere so you don't forget when tax time comes.

I've only opened one account where I was given a bonus, and it was several years ago, but the bank sent me a 1099 showing the amount paid as interest income.

 

[Dznypal]

thats the bad spot on this whole deal is claiming the bonus as interest

the banks always send an interest earning form for these accounts

but it doesnt make that much of a difference on our taxes and getting the

$ is a great bonus--you sure dont get that kind of interest anywhere!!!!

 

[TheRatPack]

I've only opened one account where I was given a bonus, and it was several years ago, but the bank sent me a 1099 showing the amount paid as interest income.

Right, I was just mentioning it so people wouldn't file their taxes before getting those forms. I know I've started filing my taxes before when we get our W2's and think that I'm done but I usually wait until a week or so in to February so if anything else shows up that I forgot then I'll not have to amend my return

This year I forgot that the IRS owed us interest last year for delaying our refund....and almost filed our taxes before I got that interest notice from the IRS.....that would have been bad LOL

I try to write everything down in my tax folder now, so I know what I'm expecting in the mail before I file.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Right, I was just mentioning it so people wouldn't file their taxes before getting those forms. I know I've started filing my taxes before when we get our W2's and think that I'm done but I usually wait until a week or so in to February so if anything else shows up that I forgot then I'll not have to amend my return

This year I forgot that the IRS owed us interest last year for delaying our refund....and almost filed our taxes before I got that interest notice from the IRS.....that would have been bad LOL

I try to write everything down in my tax folder now, so I know what I'm expecting in the mail before I file.

I guess I'm just a little slower at filing than most people. My brokerage firm usually doesn't have their tax forms ready until the second week of February so I don't even start until I get that one. And by that time, everyone else has already sent their forms.

 

[disneyandme]

Where do you find banks that give such a large bonus?

 

[DawnM]

http://bankbonuses.info/2012/02/02/chase-200-business-checking-bonus-3/

Do you need to keep a minimum amount in your banks? Are they online banks?

The above is a $200 bonus, but you must have $5,000 deposited in the first few months.

Dawn

 

[timmac]

Even doing this a few times a year (say, 3?) isn't likely to have much impact on one's credit, even with a full credit inquiry each time. Any healthy credit report is going to have a handful of inquiries listed on it. It's the total number of inquiries within a given period of time (most of what I've read suggests it's the past year, and to a much lesser extent, the full two years of inquiries that show on a report), not a raw total of the number of inquiries ever, that is important.

All of that said, I do think, in the past 5-10 years or so, there's been a bit of paranoia surrounding credit ratings... companies like Free Credit Report dot com leading the charge on that.

 

[Dznypal]

To answer your questions

most of the banks have ads in the Sunday paper--

or theres a website

ibankbonus dot com

some banks have a minium balance if its doable for me Ill do it

I have seen some for 5000 thats out of my league

I have an account with chase that the min balance was 1500 with direct depoit of any amout I have just $5

most of the banks want you to keep the account open for 6 months

I usually keep mine open alittle longer

whats nice too is after you close it and say in 6 months or so theyre offering another bonus you can do another one

usually you cant open another unless its over 90 days

I hope that can help someone

any other questions Idbe glad to help