Free iPod Touch with new Checking Account Bank of The West

Bank of the West is having a promo where if you open a personal checking account(yes the free checking account works too) by 9/3/10 you will get a free iPod Touch (8GB)

Here are the catches and really they are not bad.

Setup a monthly recurring direct deposit of $500
or
pay 10 bills online
or make 20 debit card transactions

By 10/31/10

The iPod will be delivered by 12/15/10

Here is their small print:
Open any new personal checking account and either establish minimum monthly recurring direct deposit of $500, or make 10 bill payments with Bank of the West Online Banking or make 20 debit card transactions. Direct deposit must be payroll, Social Security, pension or other government benefits. Qualifying debit card transactions include signature, or PIN-based purchases only. Qualifying transactions must be completed by 10/31/10. Offer valid for new personal checking accounts opened from 07/19/10 – 09/3/10 with $100 or more from a financial institution other than Bank of the West. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer and is subject to change without prior notice and may be terminated at any time. Offer valid for qualifying accounts opened at participating branches in CA, CO, UT, WY, and NV or opened online. Offer does not apply to second or multiple checking accounts. Limit of one new checking account bonus per household per calendar year. iPod touch® will be shipped to your account address of record by December 15, 2010. You must have a U.S. mailing address on 10/31/10 to be eligible. Accounts overdrawn or closed as of 10/31/10 are not eligible for this offer. The iPod touch® shipped may differ from the iPod touch® shown. To the extent required by law, Bank of the West will report the value of the iPod touch® to the IRS on Form 1099. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the account holder. All accounts are subject to the Bank’s standard terms and conditions and fee schedule. Apple, iPod and iPod touch are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple is not a participant in or sponsor of this promotion. ©2010 Bank of the West. Member FDIC.

https://www.bankofthewest.com/touch.html

Hmmm, anyone know if we would qualify if we took advantage of the $100 bonus in September (and closed account late Jan).

It is technically a new calender year for bonus....

Cool OP, thanks. I just moved to a place where BOTW is abundant and I need a local bank so this will work well for me. I applied but was put under review. I imagine it's because I have a new address, an driver's license from 2 moves ago in a different state, etc... hopefully they'll call and verify me and I'll be all set.

Noticed that this promo applies to accounts opened online, which is normally not the case with this bank. However there doesn't appear to be a promo code or anything in the application, so how do I make sure that I apply under the Ipod Touch Promo (which is valid for accounts opened online) and not the $100 promo (which is only for accounts opened at a branch)?

it doesn't have the specs for the itouch..i'm guessing it's for the 2gb, can anyone confirm? I tried looking thru the small prints, but it doesn't mention it.. thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Generation-iPhone-Software-Installed/dp/B002M3SOBU

hmm so 8gb is 2nd gen and 32gb is 3rd? i wonder why?

If the 2GB is the smallest available, it's almost guaranteed that that's what you'll be getting. It wouldn't surprise me if they were using refurbs for this promotion.

Tried to process an online app for free checking and it would not accept my state as an option (Alabama). Only midwest and western states are under the drop down box.

thatch68 said: Tried to process an online app for free checking and it would not accept my state as an option (Alabama). Only midwest and western states are under the drop down box.

i think its because they don't have any branches east of the Mississippi...so it wouldn't apply to those...

I think this offer valid only for the below states as per the small print:

Offer valid for qualifying accounts opened at participating branches in CA, CO, UT, WY, and NV or opened online.

Thank you! Just opened account in Washington state.

krk77 said: Offer valid for qualifying accounts opened at participating branches in CA, CO, UT, WY, and NV or opened online.

btw. I have submitted my application online (I am from GA. put some random State in current address and given correct address as mailing address, for mailing address you can pick any state.

Careful with this, I did a similar thing for KeyBank a while ago, and they wanted me to send utility bill at current address as proof and otherwise closing account after 10 days.

Anyone else having troubles faxing their signature card? lol. I keep getting comm error.

I faxed mine and didn't seem to have any problems. Don't forget to add the 1 in front of the number.

According to an earlier Am@zon link, that's a $178 valued item.

Just to clarify, Bank of the West Online Banking is FREE w/ any personal checking account w/ BOTW? Just answered my own question. "Free Online Banking with Bill Pay"

Also, one cannot do a mix of debit card transactions + bill pays to qualify?

I went to Bank of the West today to open an account but the employee mistakenly told me that I would be required to meet minimum balance requirements to waive the monthly fee. A different location correctly opened the account for me and the checking account is completely free; be careful that they don't give you incorrect information.

jetsfan92588 said: Isn't it a free checking account?

Yup...no requirement!

Can also open the choice interest checking and do the $500 dd/month. You get interest (0.1%), and the ipod. Not like rates anywhere else are that much better. Fee for interest checking waived with $250/mo DD.

ArmchairQB said: krk77 said: Offer valid for qualifying accounts opened at participating branches in CA, CO, UT, WY, and NV or opened online.

btw. I have submitted my application online (I am from GA. put some random State in current address and given correct address as mailing address, for mailing address you can pick any state.

mario09 said: I think this offer valid only for the below states as per the small print:

Offer valid for qualifying accounts opened at participating branches in CA, CO, UT, WY, and NV or opened online.

I wanted to verify because they way they have it worded it a bit vague. I called them and the rep said it is only for CA, CO, UT, WY, and NV even if the app is done online.

Bummer! I was hoping they meant that ANY State would qualify if you do it online

ArmchairQB said: krk77 said: Offer valid for qualifying accounts opened at participating branches in CA, CO, UT, WY, and NV or opened online.

btw. I have submitted my application online (I am from GA. put some random State in current address and given correct address as mailing address, for mailing address you can pick any state.

mario09 said: I think this offer valid only for the below states as per the small print:

Offer valid for qualifying accounts opened at participating branches in CA, CO, UT, WY, and NV or opened online.

I wanted to verify because they way they have it worded it a bit vague. I called them and the rep said it is only for CA, CO, UT, WY, and NV even if the app is done online.

I called too, rep told me any state has BOTW branch is fine (I live in NE).
And the promotion is on BOTW main page, if this is only for some states, they will bring more trouble for themselves later

I'm glad I decided to open my statement this month. Usually I don't bother. In it was an addendum and schedule of fees and changes effective May 2, 2011. It says the monthly service charge for fresh start checking will be $12/month. I thought I had free checking, but I guess not.