HOTTER: $150 for opening a CitiBank Account (IMPROVED from first post)

[EDiT]

Can any current customers answer something for me? When you send an online payment, when do they deduct the money from your account. About 6 months ago BofA changed from deducting when it was cashed to deducting when it was SENT. Since I have no way of tracking whether checks actually were cashed, I could be short changed some serious $$.

For example, if I give my wife a check for $100, the money stays in my account until she cashes it and BofA gets it from her bank. If I send her an online payment, the money is removed from my account immediately (a week before she even gets the check) and if she never cashes it, we're both out the money(unless I realize the mistake and pay to stop payment on the check).

 

[r01axb]

with this account is online bill payment always free or it it free for 3 months?
After you make a initial deposit of $2,500, do you always have to have atleast a $2,500 balance?
Are there any monthly fees associated with this account?

 

[vtqanh]

Originally posted by: r01axb
with this account is online bill payment always free or it it free for 3 months?
After you make a initial deposit of $2,500, do you always have to have atleast a $2,500 balance?
Are there any monthly fees associated with this account?

Not necessary. But I think you have to maintain a minimum balance of 1500 to avoid the monthly fee (If you are surfing this Hot Deals forum, then chances are high that you won't be able to maintain it ). Otherwise you pay $7.50 - $9.50 depends on where you live

 

[Banana]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
can anyone help me out?
I got an atm card from Citibank today, but it didn't say anything about the $150 promotion.
I still haven't mailed the check in, so what is going on?

Same here. No call from Citibank, no welcome package. Did you send in the Signature Form? I haven't because when I called Citibank, the rep said wait for the welcome pack. It's been >one week.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: vtqanh

Originally posted by: r01axb
with this account is online bill payment always free or it it free for 3 months?
After you make a initial deposit of $2,500, do you always have to have atleast a $2,500 balance?
Are there any monthly fees associated with this account?

Not necessary. But I think you have to maintain a minimum balance of 1500 to avoid the monthly fee (If you are surfing this Hot Deals forum, then chances are high that you won't be able to maintain it ). Otherwise you pay $7.50 - $9.50 depends on where you live

Since it's only 60 days, right? My wife and I just won't touch the money to avoid the monthly fees.

 

[Quixotic]

Yay, signed up, thanks!

 

[cjsh]

Originally posted by: EDiT
Can any current customers answer something for me? When you send an online payment, when do they deduct the money from your account. About 6 months ago BofA changed from deducting when it was cashed to deducting when it was SENT. Since I have no way of tracking whether checks actually were cashed, I could be short changed some serious $$.

For example, if I give my wife a check for $100, the money stays in my account until she cashes it and BofA gets it from her bank. If I send her an online payment, the money is removed from my account immediately (a week before she even gets the check) and if she never cashes it, we're both out the money(unless I realize the mistake and pay to stop payment on the check).

As soon as you write and send (via online or check), the amound is deducted from your account. There is a way to view individual check is cleared or not. It lists date issued, date cleared.

 

[psionkey]

I just received a welcome kit for this, but no mention inside of the promotion (CGA). I called CS and they told me I did sign up under the CGA promotion, but that it was only $100 for $1500?!? Oh well...

 

[sat4fun]

Originally posted by: psionkey
I just received a welcome kit for this, but no mention inside of the promotion (CGA). I called CS and they told me I did sign up under the CGA promotion, but that it was only $100 for $1500?!? Oh well...

Did you try to change the promotion?

 

[UncleWai]

I haven't sent anything to Citibank yet.

Just got my welcome kit, no mention of the $150.
If what psionkey said is true, I might have to give them a call and try to change my promotion code to CG44.
I want my $150 damn it!

 

[Banana]

Update: My PIN envelope arrived. So now, I have the credit/debit card and the PIN envelope. Still no welcome kit . . .

 

[TheDiggler]

Originally posted by: 1YellowPeril
Update: My PIN envelope arrived. So now, I have the credit/debit card and the PIN envelope. Still no welcome kit . . .

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm not activating my card until I receive that welcome kit.

 

[gr8tango]

Citibank acquired my bank, CalFed, and guess what happened?

My business account now has fees and has been charged $10 a month for the last 6 months when before it was free. My personal checking account now has fees as well (though cheaper than on my business).

Looks like I'll be moving my business to INGdirect and Washington Mutual. Careful, your $150 may disappear from monthly fees rapidly.

 

[Banana]

My Welcome Kit finally arrived today--handwritten address and other hand written documents inside! Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I was surprised.

Edit: Included in the Welcome Kit was a "Promotion Disclosure" form. It spells out the terms and conditions for the offer, which was CG44 in my case.

 

[unknown]

no Promotion Disclosure form for me....I give them a call and see what offer they have me down for

 

[TheDiggler]

My welcome kit arrived today as well. Envelope has a hand written address. No promotional disclosure inside (at least none that I've found).

Called Citibank. They claim my account is linked to Promotion CGA and that CGA meets the terms of the $1500/$150 (so long as 2 on-line bill payments are made within 60 days). I couldn't get them to mail me proof of this in writing; however, they faxed me what appears to be an internal memo. Here's what the memo says:

New Promotion Codes

FYI:
Listed below are new offer codes, the start and end dates and criteria. These will be Bankcard emails sent out on 2/18/03.

The following 6 offer codes are for a $150 offer:

CGA
CGC
CGF
CGAA
CGCA
CGFA

Start date: 2/18/03
End Date: 3/31/03

Criteria: To receive $150, client must open and rund a Regular CHecking account with the Citibank EZ Checking pricing package at www.citibankonline.com with a minimum initial deposit of $1500 by 3/31/03 and then pay 2 bills online within 60 days of funding the account. Offer is not available eo existing citibank banking customers.

Hand written at the top of the faxed memo was:
My fax #, name, and Citibank file #. (The file # is what they go by while the account is being opened).

Hand written at the bottom of the faxed memo was:

Client has applied for EZ Checking Acct with Promo CGA

Direct Bank Servicing
1-800-745-1534

P.S. There appears to be an additional line at the bottom of the memo text which has been blacked out w/ marker. It may have been a statement to the effect of "For internal distribution only, not to be disclosed outside of Citibank.

 

[TheDiggler]

Received a "security verification" phone call today from Citibank. My account will be "unblocked" as of tomorrow morning. I'm about 60 days away from making $150 (assuming I make 2 on-line bill payments tomorrow)!

*EDIT* Thanks for the deal!

 

[ravyr]

received my card and pin #...

called em up and they said my app was declined... /boggle.

 

[TheDiggler]

Originally posted by: ravyr
received my card and pin #...
called em up and they said my app was declined... /boggle.

When you applied on-line, did you print out the signature sheet, send it in, and also send a $1500+ check to fund your account?

I did all the above. Obviously per my previous statements, my acct was approved. Perhaps the fact that my initial deposit was via a check from a competing national bank made a difference.

 

[sat4fun]

I am in for $100 in this deal, they wouldn't let me change, but this deal seems to be a pain in the ass. I have been asked for the signature card three times, they require a proof of employment. Proof of employment for a checking account? They say that this is due to internet banking rules, but NetBank did not require one. I have no idea if my account is open or what. If this is any indication of the level of service, I will be counting the days to cancel this POS account.

 

[Banana]

sat4fun: How long ago did you open the NetBank account? Someone had said that the Feds implemented new rules for opening bank accounts recently. I dunno details.

 

[sat4fun]

Netbank account was opened the day after this one was. Account is open and active.

I have accounts with ING, Citi and NetBank, all opened withing the last 3 -4 weeks and Citi is by far the biggest hassle. Then again, they are paying $100-$150 when the others only pay $50.

 

[Acura3]

Applied w/ CGB code. Hope they credit $150 to my account. Thanks AT.

 

[abc]

i have not applied yet, but I'm reading that you can fund your new account online as part of the sign up process? how do you do this, is there webpage where they ask you to enter a account number of another bank?



any recent updates from you people who got the welcome kit but nothing else. Seems like the offer has been extended further, which is good for me because I am interested in signing up. Thanks.

 

[kp1126]

-Hit the "Apply Now" button on the welcome page
-Then on the next page, change the part in the URL from "CG44" to CGA"C/watever

I did this and got messages saying I was getting the $150/1500 deal a few times throughtout my app. The message appears on the sig. card I printed out too. Sorry if this ahs been posted already.