Update 5/3/25: New working link added. No longer in branch only.
Update 3/4/25: Deal is back, now $300 until 8/26/2025.
Update 1/5/25: Deal is back, no end date listed. Hat tip to reader Woody
Update 12/08/18: Deal is back and valid until December 31st, 2018. Hat tip to DDG
Bonus is back and available for 2018, this time it’s not available online. Hat tip to reader tinyhedgefund.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $200
- Availability: In branch only, all branches are in IN [Branch locator]
- Direct deposit required: Yes $500+ per month
- Additional requirements: eStatements & 5 debit card transactions per month
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Unknown
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: Must be kept open for 120 days
- Household limit: One
- Expiration date:
July 31st, 2017 September 30th, 2018 October 31st, 2018 November 30th,2018December 31st, 2018.
The Offer
-
Star Financial Bank is offering a bonus of $300 when you complete the following:
- Open a new checking account with promo code STAR300
- Monthly direct deposit of $500 or more
- Sign up and receive e-statements
- Make five (5) debit card transactions monthly
The Fine Print
- Bonus/Account Information: New checking customers only.
- $50 minimum deposit to open a checking account.
- Account must remain open and in good standing for 120 days
- Bonus will be deposited to the account at the end of 120 days if the following conditions are met: monthly direct deposit of at least $500, e-statements, and at least five (5) debit card transactions.
- Consumer accounts only. Employees of STAR Financial Bank are not eligible.
- Only one offer per household.
- Offer is non-transferable.
- Expires 9/30/18.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
E-Checking account has no monthly fees to worry about. You do need to keep the account open for 120 days to receive the bonus.
Our Verdict
It’s annoying that you need to meet the requirements each month to be eligible for the bonus, there is also some non transferable language in the fine print but I don’t think that means it’s targeted. If anybody signs up for this bonus then please share your experiences in the comments below. I will add it to the best checking bonus page, even though they had the online offer previously it seems like the bonus only comes around once a year so probably not worth waiting.
Big thanks to reader, Curmudgeon who let us know. Learn how to find bonuses and contribute to the site here.
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- 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
Seems expired
Thanks, fixed.
William Charles Not in-branch only
https://www.starfinancial.com/switch-to-star back down to $200 it seems
link expired
Checked on this again and found they closed my account on 7/3 (1 month after I transferred everything out). Chatted with CSR and they confirmed it was closed, but couldn’t tell me why exactly. This CSR said I should have been able to close account without having to go in, so a bit confusing. Not sure how this will impact any reports or ability to open a Star account in the future.
Went to get the account closed and have been told I have to go in to a branch. the nearest is an hour away. kind of a pain.
Applied online recently with high recent chex. Also recently moved. Asked to come in branch.
they deposited the last $100 on 5/14. Pretty happy with the whole experience.
opened account: 3/9/2026 did real DD: 3/9, 4/2, 4/17 (two), and 5/1 bought 5 amazon gift cards: 3/31 and 4/15 got third statement on 5/11. that showed a $200 bonus chatted with CSR asking why it was $200 and not $300. They had to verify it and are supposed to get it corrected.
Do you have DP for DD? Jin
DP: I opened 4/25, my first statement closed on 5/11, I didn’t get started on the debit card transactions until 5/16. Apparently, that first short statement counts, so they did not qualify me for the bonus. Thought I would have the whole 30 days to get things rolling, but that was not the case.
“ To redeem this offer, show this page to your local STAR branch when you go in to open a checking account and present to the banker at account opening. You can also apply online to open a checking account and enter the promotion code “STAR300″ on the application.” Since it says you can open online with the promo code for the bonus, try and see if you can open the account. I think the DoC page hints that this deal is for Indiana residents only because it’s still using the old info needing to visit the physical bank branch to open the checking account for the bonus,
I know it’s in branch only but curious if anyone knows whether it’s still limited to Indiana residents?
I would also like to know
Updated link – https://www.starfinancial.com/star300 Code – STAR300
Opened E-checking online and be approved instantly. Chex pulled (0/1, 1/3, 2/6, 13/12, 13/24). Can only fund account with bank transfer. Premium Checking has cash back but capped at $10 per month. According to the fee schedule , there is a $25.00 Account Closing Fee (less than 180 days), so might need to keep the account for 180 days.
Any DP’s of what works for DD?
OOS doesn’t look possible online. When I enter my zip code, the only account option I’m given is the HSA.
$300 bonus, active from 2/26/2025 through 8/26/2025. https://www.starfinancial.com/savor–offer
$200 Bonus , No expiry date https://www.starfinancial.com/switch-to-star-westfield-offer Can apply in branch or online with code Westfield200 Direct deposit of at least $500, Opt-in for e-Statements and Complete at least 5 (five) debit card transactions in each statement cycle Limit one offer per household
If I remember correctly, I asked and there was no CC funding. But I’m not firm on that. I went in on a Saturday about an hour before closing and the only 2 people in the branch might have been younger than me, and one was a bit inexperienced, needing some guidance from the other at certain points. It’s possible they were Chex sensitive but these particular individuals did not bother to grille me? The subject never came up.
They were Chex sensitive to my like 11/24 when I did the opening in branch (one was from that day, another from maybe a month before, mind you) System denied me, they grilled me, then they manually approved me. Can confirm debit card codes as cash advance, and no I do not think they allow CC funding at all. Not a solid DP on that though. (post still says exp 09/30/2018 under “the fine print” fyi)
Do they allow CC funding (even if it’s a ca?).
Soft pull Unsure about Chex, but not very sensitive if so (19/12) No CC funding (even a debit card was a CA)
Got a mailer this week, new expiration date is November 24th 2018 – other mailers may be dated for a later expiration, but that is what I got.
Thanks, updated
Deal now though 10/31/2018
I opened the account in early March this year. Can confirm soft pull, and this offer (though in-branch only it seems and need to bring a competitor bank statement in – don’t know if that is actually enforced, I assume not) is still going according to phone call to bank, local signage, and this link: https://www.starfinancial.com/switch/offer Current link says offer expires 09/30/2018
Keep us updated, if you can confirm soft pull that would be great.