Update 7/11/24: Offer extended through 12/31/24 and available from local Small Business Bankers even if you were not targeted. Not available in-branch
Update 5/13/24: There is an online link through July, 31 2024. Hat tip to Venka
Update 4/3/24: Deal is back through May 31, 2024. No online link but being offered by small business bankers in-branch. Hat tip to Rapid Travel Chai.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $1,500
- Availability: Nationwide, but terms do have targeted language
- Direct deposit required: No
- Additional requirements: Deposit and maintain $30,000 for
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: None, but can fund with a debit card up to $300
- Monthly fees: Avoidable
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit: None listed
- Expiration date: December 31, 2023
Contents
The Offer
- Bank of America is offering a $1,000 bonus when you open a new business checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Make Qualifying Deposits of $20,000 or more in new money within 30 days of opening the new business checking account
Maintain an average balance of $20,000 or more for next 60 days (day 31-90) during the maintenance period
- Make Qualifying Deposits of $20,000 or more in new money within 30 days of opening the new business checking account
- There is also a $1,500 bonus when you open a new business checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Make Qualifying Deposits of $50,000 or more in new money within 30 days of opening the new business checking account
- Maintain an average balance of $50,000 or more for next 60 days (day 31-90) during the maintenance period
The Fine Print
- This offer is only available to business owners who receive this offer via a direct communication from a Bank of America Specialist or from a Bank of America communication. This offer is intended for new customers only; you are not eligible for this offer if you were an owner or signer on a Bank of America Business Advantage Banking account within the last twelve (12) months. Only one bonus ($1,000) per business customer, regardless of the number of businesses owned or operated by the customer. Bank of America employees are not eligible for this offer. Offer expires on December 31, 2023, and all qualifying activities must be completed within the stated time frames in order to be eligible for this offer. Bank of America may change or discontinue this offer at any time before this date without notice. Reproduction, purchase, sale, transfer or trade of this offer is prohibited.
- Requirements to Receive a $1,000 cash bonus:
- Open a new Business Advantage Relationship Banking or Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking account by December 31, 2023: AND
- Make Qualifying Deposits of $30,000 or more in new money* into your new Business Advantage Banking account within thirty (30) days of account opening; AND
- Maintain an average balance of $30,000 or more during the Maintenance Period** into the new Business Advantage Banking account.
- All account applications are subject to approval. Your account does not qualify for the bonus until you provide all of the information we require in connection with opening the account by the promotion end date December 31, 2023. This includes information we require to identify each account owner and to report the bonus to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), including a validly completed IRS Form W-9 or Form W8 (as applicable). The value of this bonus may constitute taxable income to you. To the extent required by law, Bank of America may withhold tax or other amounts from the payment. Please consult your tax advisor, as neither Bank of America, its affiliates, nor their employees provide tax advice. Please consult a financial center, visit bankofamerica.com, or see the Business Schedule of Fees found at bankofamerica.com/businessfeesataglance for other account fees, rates and information.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
The lower level account is the Business Fundamentals at $18 per month. Fee is waived with one of the following:
- Maintain a $5,000 combined average balance, or
- Spend at least $250 in new net purchases on your business debit card, or
- Become a member of Preferred Rewards for Business
Early Account Termination Fee
There is no early account termination fee.
Our Verdict
This is a $1,000 bonus but you need to tie up the $30,000 for 90 day. These accounts basically earn 0% APY, if you had the $30,000 in a 5% APY account for 90 days you’d earn $375 so this bonus is significantly better. After the 90 days you’ll have to keep $5,000 in the account to keep the account fee-free until the bonus posts (doesn’t look necessary). Probably not worth the risk with the targeted language so we won’t add this to the list of the best bank account bonuses.
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To ChexSystems
- Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
- What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
- How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
- Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
- How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
- Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
- Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
- Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
- Bank Bonus Posting Times
Post history:
- Update 1/18/24: Deal is back, this time the $1k option for $20k deposit (previously 30k) or a $1.5k option for $50k deposit (not previously offered)
- This offer has targeted language ‘This offer is only available to business owners who receive this offer via a direct communication from a Bank of America Specialist or from a Bank of America communication’. Some people have seen the offer on the Bank of America homepage and in the past this language hasn’t been enforced so YMMV.
1K/30K targeted offer in account
4/10 – Opened
4/30 – ACH 30K
7/27 – Bonus deposited (1K)
$1K bonus for $30K deposit posted for me today. Wasn’t targeted, just opened with the online link in early April.
$1000 bonus posted today for P1 and P2 accounts opened in early-mid April. I was actually expecting it today based on prior DPs, it consistently posts on a Friday, 90 days plus a week or 2 after the account opening date.
Anyone got an email address from a small biz banker to share? I called my local branches and they said they could not find the offer whatsoever.
Find Small Business Bankers Near You at Bank of America
Sorry, what is a “local Small Business Banker” who is not “in branch”?
Rose A small business banker is a specialist in small business accounts who covers about a dozen different branches in a particular area. They have access to special offers not available in branch. Find one nearest you here: https://locators.bankofamerica.com/small-business-bankers
William Charles Offer extended through 12/31/24 and available from local Small Business Bankers even if you were not targeted. Not available in-branch. There is also a new $3000/$500,000 tier that’s not worth considering.
RM How would one get it from local bankers if it is not available in branch? Thanks for your help.
Email a small business banker and ask about the promotion. Thats what I did
where did you find a small business banker email? I only see their phone numbers
Olympia Bulba Find a small business banker near you here: https://locators.bankofamerica.com/small-business-bankers
Call and leave a voicemail. I got this bonus for me, P2, my mother, and P2’s colleague. None of us were targeted, and three of the four did not even have any current relationship with B of A.
RM thanks, so they just did it over the phone then? Thanks again.
Olympia Varies. The one that’s local to me insisted on meeting in person. The one that’s local to my mother was willing to do everything over the phone.
@RM okay, thanks so much. I’ll look into it.
William Charles Also a $200 offer for $5000 deposit for BofA Business Checking here https://promotions.bankofamerica.com/smallbusiness/sboffer200
Offer snapshot/archive at archive.ph/LBTtc
Opened a few weeks ago online with sole prop + EIN. Checked with a small biz rep over email to make sure i’d be eligible for the promo. BoA automated systems put a hold on my $100 deposit and then later auto-closed the account due to BoA inability’s to verify my business (it’s not registered with the state).
Went in person to see what could be done. Took over an hour for the banker to find the promo, verify that they could open the account for me in person, and make sure that the promo would get attached. But they weren’t even able to open it for me same day as they needed to verify even MORE info. Won’t hold my breath that this will get opened or that they’ll pay out.
TL;DR – use an LLC that’s registered with your state if you want an easy open (or maybe even a sole prop + SSN). YMMV. GL.
Datapoints:
Opened the account on the phone with an individual small business banker (I was not targeted, I just cold called and reached out to local branch).
$50k deposit, $1500 bonus.
5/29/2024: applied
5/31/2024: account opened and email confirmation
06/27/2024: wire from my hub bank posted to the boa biz account
This is still a targeted offer, would strongly advise against applying using the online link here.
I applied for the business account using the DoC link, was approved after less than a day (applied as sole prop, was approved based on the info in the application alone, they did not request any additional identification or documentation). I didn’t receive anything related to the offer enrollment in the welcome letters so I called support to confirm that the promo was attached to my account. Was told there was no record of me ever being targeted for this promo and they began to grill me on how I was able to apply, where did you get this link, who sent it to you, etc.
Spoke to a few different people across different apartments, including an in-person appointment with a small business specialist and they all told me the same story, and that there was no way to target an arbitrary person for the promo. I understand there are some people here having success with using this link but I suspect they may have just been eligible for the target regardless.
Anyway I’ve closed the account, seems not worth the risk to me. Unfortunately this has also made me ineligible for any of the BofA business offers for at least the next year, so I would caution everyone to make sure you are definitely eligible before you click that button.
Yeah, ok pal. you are such a life saver…lulz