posted: Jan. 14, 2008 @ 12:20p
OK, this turned out to be slightly more of a PITA than I first thought. I opened 6 accounts, 4 business and a personal checking and savings, for a projected total of $900. The process took 2 hours. I recommend having them mail you everything, and mailing it back. A lot less time & questions to answer, I'm sure. I was really glad all these businesses are legit. I reconfirmed with branch manager (who called someone to make triple sure) about multiple bonuses.
$5000 to open on biz, but I reconfirmed no minimum balance requirement on the Basic Business Checking, so no big loss of interest. Typical 7 biz-day hold on opening deposit.
HOWEVER, the biz web Billpay is $6.95/mo x 6 mo = $41.70, and I'm guessing probably 7 months to make sure I get the bonus. So earnings are reduced by that amount. The way around this is to open a CC(Elan) or LOC with them.
edit: web billpay is free for first year.
I chose not to, because I typically won't apply for a card mid-AOR, just for a sign-up bonus.
BTW, everyone was nice and knowledgable, but some of their fees seem crazy. Cashier's check- $5, Check copy- $4, Currency strap-$0.45!, Coin roll- 10 cents. WTF!?? Um, that makes a roll of pennies cost 60 cents? Or maybe that wrapper is used, so you can get it for 55? I thought those were freebies...