I opened my accounts today! I also got an opening gift, a free pair of binoculars. The minimum to keep in savings is $300, but the fee is waived if you have a monthly transfer into the savings from the checking account. I set up a monthly transfer of $10 from the checking -> savings to avoid keeping $300 in there.

AS FOR THE NANO - there is a rebate form, it is folded up and printed on the front to look like a nano. When you unfold it, there are the two rebate offers (iPod or $50 gift card). For the iPod after two direct deposits and two automatic payments post to your account, you bring it in to the branch. The iPod is mailed to you. On the redemption form you need to list the source of your direct deposit AND the recipient of your automatic payment.

I don't have a scanner so I'll type out the important stuff:

SELECT YOUR REWARD!
Please select ONE reward based on the accounts and recurring services established, complete this form and drop it off at any neighborhood TCF Bank location by August 15, 2006. Your reward will then be shipped to you.

New Checking (with recurring direct deposit and automatic payment) and New Savings
iPod 1GB Nano
Select the iPod 1GB nano when you open a new TCF Checking account and establish BOTH a third party recurring direct deposit to AND third party recurring automatic payment from your TCF checking account. Transactions must post by July 31, 2006.
Also required is a new TCF Savings account which requires a minimum opening deposit equal to the minimum balance to avoid the monthly service charge, or $500, whichever is greater.

Fine print: Only one reward per household. Available as of March 19, 2006, to households and small businesses without a TCF checking account within the past 90 days. Not available with any current of previous offer(s). TCF reserves the right to cancel this promotion at any time. The value of the premium will be reported as interest income on your current year 1099-INT. Account holder is responsible for any applicable taxes. See a TCF representative for additional requirements. iPod Nano is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Apple is not a participant or sponsor of this program. Please allow up to 12 weeks for processing and delivery. www.tcfexpress.com

I don;t think you get the ipod and the $75. IIRC, you get the ipod for opening both a savings and checking account, or the cash if you just open one.

"Transactions must post by July 31 2006" so calculate accordingly. I get paycheck every 2 weeks so my dd (2 trans) will be done by mid june. BTW the dd must be minimum $100. For 3rd party recurring auto payment I'll setup my internet service bill & Cell phone bill, which are 10 days apart.

So here is my Plan:
May 5 openning of both checking accounts
May 20 1st dd tranx
May 17 1st auto pay
May 27 2nd auto pay
Jun 6 2nd dd tranx
Jun 7 I'll go to TCF with filled out ipod nano form
Jun 21 enjoy music on my new ipod nano.

Hope its helps

I was in a TCF branch location today in Minnesota and the branch manager informed me that the offer had been modified. To qualify for the free Ipod Nano you no longer need to open both the checking and the saving account, but only the checking (a $25 minimum deposit, no minimum balance, free checks, no closing fee after 45 days). Also, you no longer need to set up both a Direct Deposit and a bill pay, but only the DD, which must be a minimum of $100 each time. They didn't have this new offer in writing yet, only a branch memo that they had received from headquarters (which the manager did let me read). She assured me that the new qualifications were effective immediately and said the complete overhall of the offer details was due to a logistical nightmare trying to sort through thousands of existing TCF account holders who believed they were eligible for the Ipod. I don't know if the details can vary at all from state to state, or even branch to branch, so I would advise anyone to speak to the manager before trying this anywhere else, especially as the employee originally helping me open the accounts knew nothing about the change. Hope this helps!

I went to my local TCF in Colorado Springs, CO. I can confirm that the requirement is to open a checking account and have
DD into it. (To get the iPod).

The customer service was quite good. I might even start using these guys on a regular basis.

Got the new offer in snail mail. Clearly states only checking account and DD are the only requirements.

it might be a hard on your credit report as Citi usually does. But not confirmed as I haven't got chance to check my report since I opened the account.
worthy or not? it is your decision to make. good luck!

dose anyone no how long it takes to get the nano ipod

the branch i open the account at said i had to set up an automatic payment via the website. the phone csr said it had to be 3rd party. this is very misleading to be told one thing in person and another thing on the phone. would a paypal automatic withdraw from my account work do you think? after they told me that i stopped putting my paychecks into my account...

I'm happy to report that my TCF Bank iPod arrived yesterday (7/24), approximately 6 weeks after I submitted my paperwork at my local branch on June 9th.

I can't see any requirement anywhere that the funds have to stay on deposit for a specified period, so since I've generally been underwhelmed by their banking service I reckon I'll yank the funds and move on now in search of the next freebie somewhere...