Flagstar Bank is a regional bank that has 420 branch locations located in the Northeast and Southwest United States. They’ve been FDIC insured since 1987 (FDIC Cert #32541) and you may have heard of their parent company, New York Community Bancorp.
NYCB acquired Flagstar Bank in 2022 but after the acquisition of Signature Bridge Bank (due to failure) in 2023, the company decided to unify all of their names under the Flagstar brand.
They have gotten into the bank bonus game by offering a nice bonus for those looking to open a new checking account and are able to move over a modest direct deposit.
🔃 Updated August 2024 with a new expiration date of September 30th, 2024. No other details of the offer changed.
How to get $250-$350 from Flagstar Bank
Flagstar Bank has two offers depending on the type of checking account you open.
You can get $250 when you open a Flagstar Ready Checking account and then maintain an average daily balance of $500 or more for the first 90 days. You also need to set up one or more direct deposits that total $500 or more within the first 90 days.
There is a $50 minimum deposit to open the account but there is no minimum balance requirement. The Flagstar Ready Checking account has no monthly maintenance fee when you enroll in e-statements.
You can get $350 when you open a Flagstar Elite Checking account and then maintain a daily balance of $500 or more for the first 90 days. You also need to set up one or more direct deposits that total $500 or more within the first 90 days.
The Flagstar Elite Checking account also requires just $50 to open but there is a $1,000 minimum balance to earn monthly interest. There is also a $15 monthly service charge that is only waived if you maintain a $25,000 combined monthly average balance in all of your deposit accounts.
There is an early account termination clause – you must keep your account for at least 180 or you forfeit the bonus.
Finally, you must be a resident of AZ, CA, FL, IN, MI, NJ, NY, OH, or WI to open an account. Limit one per household.
👉 Learn more about this promotion
(Offer expires 11/30/2024)
How does this bank offer compare?
If you live in the service area, the Ready Checking offer is comparable. Getting $250 for a direct deposit totaling $500 is fair. Since there is no minimum balance and no fee, you can get the bonus and then wait out the early closure claus.
The Elite Checking version of the offer is terrible though. Since you need to keep $25,000 to avoid a monthly service charge, you may be giving up quite a bit of interest. The Elite Checking claims to have interest but I can’t see a rate listed anywhere on the site.
You could argue that you can an additional $100 in bonus cash (6ish months of that fee) but remember the bonus cash is taxable as interest income and the fee isn’t deductible as any kind of expense.
Here’s how other offers stack up:
U.S. Bank – up to $450
Earn up to $450 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account and complete qualifying activities. Subject to certain terms and limitations. Offer valid through December 31, 2024. Member FDIC.
Offer may not be available if you live outside of the U.S. Bank footprint or are not an existing client of U.S. Bank or State Farm.
BMO Checking – $300
BMO is offering a $300 bonus* when you open a BMO Checking account and have $4,000 in direct deposits within 90 days of opening. It is a very straightforward offer that is available nationwide.
*Conditions apply
Bank of America – $300 Bonus Offer
Bank of America offers a $300 Bonus Offer cash bonus if you open a new account and Set up and receive Qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $2,000 or more into that new eligible account within 90 days of account opening. Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking accounts are not eligible for this offer. It has a monthly fee that is easy to have waived.
Chase Total Checking® – $300
Chase Bank will give you $300 when you open a Total Checking account and set up and receive direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days. There is a $12 monthly fee that is waivable with a monthly direct deposit of just $500, so no gotchas on this deal!
