Update 8/31/26: There is a link with a $600 bonus, talks about an exclusive code but the mailer just used REWARD600 so YMM if they filter by address or something. Hat tip to reader Dealgamer
Update 7/18/26: Bonus is now $400 (was $160) so significantly better than before. Hat tip to reader Bockrr
Update 5/1/23: Extended until June 30 2023.
Update 2/27/23: Also available in NY, OH, IN
Update 2/6/23: Deal has been extended until 4/30/2023.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $160
- Availability: NY, OH, IN, PA
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $1,000+ within a single statement cycle within the first three statement cycles
- Additional requirements: eStatements
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Unknown
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: $25, 180 days
- Household limit: None listed
- Expiration date: December 31, 2026
1/31/2023
The Offer
- Northwest Bank is offering a $400 bonus when you open a new qualifying checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Use promo code GET400
- make direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within a single statement cycle within the first 3 statement cycles from account opening
The Fine Print
- To qualify for the $400 checking bonus, you must open a Northwest Affinity Checking, Affinity Plus Checking or Affinity Premier Checking account using the promo code GET400 by 12/31/2026 and make direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within a single statement cycle within the first 3 statement cycles from account opening.
- Account can be opened online or by bringing this email with the promo code to a financial center; promo code must be entered at account opening.
- A qualifying Direct Deposit is an Automated Clearing House (ACH) credit, which may include payroll, pension or government payments (such as Social Security).
- To receive the bonus, you must meet the deposit requirements and your checking account must be open at the time the bonus is paid out. After all qualifying activity requirement(s) have been fully completed and verified, the bonus will be deposited into your new account, typically within 30 days after the statement cycle in which you satisfy the requirement(s).
- Offer is not available to existing Northwest checking account customers or to those with a Northwest checking account that has been closed within the last 12 months.
- Northwest Bank reserves the right to limit each customer to one new account-related bonus per calendar year. Eligibility may be limited based on your account type and ownership role. Bonus is subject to IRS 1099-INT or, if you do not possess a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification number, the bonus will be reported on IRS form 1042-S.
- Employees of Northwest Bank, its affiliates and subsidiaries are not eligible for this offer.
- Cannot be combined with any other offer.
- Offer subject to change, including cancellation, at any time without notice.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
Affinity Checking has no monthly fees to worry about.
Early Account Termination Fee
$25 fee according to the fee schedule, 180 days.
Our Verdict
Need to know if this is a hard or soft pull to open.
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
I botched the $600 bonus I think for applying too late, do you think I can signed up for the $400 now or does it have to be before the account is open?
within 60 days of account opening: Make direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more AND Complete 10 posted Northwest debit card transactions (POS, Mobile Wallet and ATM are eligible)
Ellis “ To qualify for the $600 checking bonus, open a Northwest Affinity Checking account by 9/30/2026 and make direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within a single statement cycle within the first 3 statement cycles from account opening.”
Anyone who was denied previously able to apply again?
be patient my pal. it takes about at least 1 month from acc opening to receive the bonus (assuming ur DD qualified during that period)
Did you leave the deposit sitting there? I did a $1000.01 Current push with Payroll Direct Deposit in the notes on 9/17 but no bonus yet.
For a new account, it’s safer to pull funds from external bank account when you want to take money out of the new account.
Bad sign for me
What did you determine – did they pull Chex as part of your in-branch application?
Heads up if it hasnt been mentioned before: REWARD600 expires on 9/30/26. After OKing my internet application, they said it will take 2 days or so to actually open the account.
I had my account locked twice. I called at almost exactly 8 a.m. EST both times, which is the time that they begin. I had to wait but not nearly as long as you did. Once I got through, the CSR’s were terrific.
what made you say that
🆒
Offer says upto 12/31/2026 for 800 usd but it can be closed earlier. Hurry up if possible easiest 800 if u live in those areas. Also simple ANY ACH OF 3000 usd. Downgrade after 2 months to save fees after getting bonus.
Offer says upto 12/31/2026 for 800 usd but it can be closed earlier. Hurry up if possible easiest 800 if u live in those areas
I had already bothered CS by the time you said this and they’ve already replied confirming what you’ve said. Oh well. Justifying their jobs or whatever
Actual physical snail mail letter. Two pages, one stating congrats on enrollment! Blah blah blah. Second page is the terms of the promotion
“Opened on 08/31 and today received a letter for each confirming enrollment for $600 promo with all the terms spelled out.” > Was that an actual letter in the mail, or was it an email? I did notice there are 9 PDF attachments to the email saying the Affinity Checking is ready, but none of those recap the bonus terms.
So, does that mean that the $800 in-branch New Albany offer has a different deposit requirement than the $600 offer? Terms from the $600 offer as I captured them early September 2026 included this verbiage: “Open a Northwest Affinity Checking account by 9/30/2026 and make direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within a single statement cycle within the first 3 statement cycles from account opening. A qualifying Direct Deposit is an Automated Clearing House (ACH) credit, which may include payroll, pension or government payments (such as Social Security).” Compared to your post, I see the $600 bonus has a $1k deposit requirement, and there is no requirement that a deposit be a $1k deposit. Your post mentions a $3k deposit, and a need to have a single deposit be at least $3k in amount. Last thing – did the banker at New Albany say how long the in-branch $800 personal checking promo would be running?
I find the Chex Consumer Score report to not be all that helpful. At Chex, pull your Consumer Disclosure Report. What you see on there might not be what you expect. Count the number of entries in the “Inquiries Viewed By Others” section, specifically those within the last 12 months just prior to your Northwest Bank application. Somewhere around 10 seems to be the max Northwest Bank will accept. When counting, count each individual entry even if a bank pulled more than once. I have seen recent online in-footprint application approvals with 9/12 and 10/12 stats. If yours is more than that, then that may be why you were denied. And of course, your Chex must be thawed when applying.
Another comment below stated a banker mentioned it only needed to be one DD and the bonus can be expected much sooner than 90 days, so I wouldn’t worry about it. Plus you already did the DD, so there’s plenty of time to do another DD later if needed. I don’t see a need to contact CS.
P2 applied online in footprint with REWARD600. Application placed into review and approved next day. Chex prior to approval: 0/1, 3/3, 3/6, 5/12, 7/24
DP: Signed up using the $600 promo code and link. Made sure to specifically enter the promo code at the end because it does not auto populate. Did this for me and P2. Opened on 08/31 and today received a letter for each confirming enrollment for $600 promo with all the terms spelled out. I had also secure messaged last week to confirm, and they responded and confirmed to that as well. I am a little concerned that the terms say “direct deposit S of $1000 or more” and I’m always wary when I see little hidden linguistics like that in these terms. Because I did a real DD for each account but have already changed DD back to my normal credit union, and only did one deposit for each account. It would be a nuisance to change it yet again… debating doing another secure message, but at the same time am not sure I can trust what CS says about anything. Will have to discuss with P2, since he is the one that would be doing the payroll changing around. But… $1200 is not fucking around money for us at the moment so probably will just do it.
Thanks for sharing
Might there be a post on that biz promo here?
I searched the comments but didn’t find the answer. Do the account opening promo and referral bonus stack?
0/1 · 3/3 · 6/6 · 11/12
Does anyone know if there is a chance to get approved in the branch if you were denied online. I got a denial, but they never gave me details on why. So wondering if visiting a branch can override that.
Did you get another email with reason for Denial?
No reason given. Just reject message. It’s been weeks and no other email.