Update 7/18/26: Deal is back until 8/31/26.
Update 3/3/26: Deal is back until 3/31/2026.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $300 ($20 per month)
- Availability: Must live, work, attend school or have immediate family in Wisconsin or Northern Illinois. Looks like you need to live close to a branch, otherwise they will open the account and then e-mail you later saying it’s closed. Read comments for more details.
- Direct deposit required: Optional
- Additional requirements: 10 debit card transactions or a direct deposit
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: None
- Monthly fees: $4.95+, waive-able
- Early account termination fee: $40 if closed within 180 days of account opening
- Household limit: One
- Expiration date:
March 31st, 2018 May 31st, 2018 July 31st, 2018 September 30th, 2018November 7th, 2018February 5th, 2019 July 31st, 2020 August 31, 2020October 31, 2020
The Offer
Direct link to offer (might need to copy and paste link)
- North Shore Bank is offering a bonus of $400 when you open a new checking account with the promotional code “SUMMER26“. Bonus is broken down as follows:
- You receive a monthly $40 bonus when you either have 10 qualified debit card transactions or a direct deposit for that statement credit. You can receive this bonus for 15 months
North Shore Bank is offering a bonus of $400 when you open a new checking account AND savings with the promotional code “NorthEnd400FALL2020”. Bonus is broken down as follows:You receive a monthly $40 bonus when you either have 10 qualified debit card transactions or a direct deposit for that statement credit. You can receive this bonus for 10 months starting January 2021 (based on Decemember 2020 statement activity)
The Fine Print
- One new customer incentive bonus per person every 24 months.
- Offer excludes Student Checking Account.
- New personal checking households only. Restrictions may apply.
- Cash bonuses will be credited to the new checking account each month after your statement cycles provided you have had 10 qualified debit card transactions or a direct deposit for that statement cycle. ATM transactions will not qualify.
- Direct deposit must be payroll, Social Security, pension or other government benefits. Fees may be applied and could reduce earnings.
- Offer available until 10/31/2020.
- New checking bonus will begin in January 2021 based on December 2020 statement activity.
- For tax purposes, a 1099 form may be issued. Visit northshorebank.com for details. Qualified accounts will receive bonus of $40 each month after your statement cycles for up to 10 months. When opening online use promo code NorthEnd400FALL2020.
Avoiding Fees
Monthly fees are waived on all of their accounts for the first three months. If you close your account within 180 days of opening they will charge you an early account termination fee of $40.
eChecking $4.95 Monthly
This is waived with debit card usage and eStatements or direct deposit (wages or social security) and eStatements.
Better-Than-Free $4.95 Monthly
This is waived with an average balance of $750 or $2,500 in relationship balances or any loan or direct deposits or 10 debit card transactions.
Our Verdict
In the past they have offered bonuses of up to $150. That bonus didn’t have any bonus requirements, where as this bonus has requirements each month for 14 months. That being said this bonus is $300 vs $150 and meeting debit card transaction requirements shouldn’t be too difficult for most people. It’s nice that keeping the account fee free is also quite easy (having $750 on deposit). Personally I do think this $300 bonus is worth doing, because of that I will be adding it to the list of the best checking 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 3/20/21. Extended until March 31, 2021.
- Update 2/8/21: Available again until February 28, 2021. Hat tip to reader Seth
- Update 10/27/20: Available again until October 31, 2020. Hat tip to KED
- Update 8/3/20: Deal is back through August 31, this time only the $400 bonus is available (not the $300 one). You can also get 1.5% APY for 12 months. Hat tip to reader Tom
- Update 6/22/20: Deal is back and there is now a $400 checking/saving bonus. Also looks like you can get 3% APY for six months. Hat tip to reader Mark
- Update 5/12/20: Deal is back and valid until May 31st, 2020. Hat tip to reader Jack – NJ
- Update 3/15/20: Deal is back and good through March 31st, 2020.
- Update 1/30/20: Deal is back until January 31st, 2020. Hat tip to Gadget – Bank Bonus Geek
- Update 2/4/19: Back and valid until February 5th, 2019.
- Update 10/02/18: Valid until November 7th, 2018
- Update 09/24/18: Bonus is back and available until September 30th, 2018. Hat tip to reader CorvetteLynnie.
- Update 06/09/18: Deal is back and available until July 31st, 2018
- Deal is back and available until May 31st, 2018. Thanks to reader DrBooyah.
New promo code
It’s back. Same link William Charles
open on March 3rd in the branch. I’m not in the footprint, but in the state (WI). Pull Chex, but not sensitive. My account is still alive (Apr 25th), so I think they may allow out-of-footprint now. Will start doing the transaction next month. I think this is a good offer if you can get the account. Spending 100, get 40, for 10 months.
That’s option 1. Option 2 is $500 DD per month, for ten months. I guess you were right, this is not the right offer for you.
are you kidding?” Need to spend $100+ every month, starting in May, for 10 months in a row:?
[Deleted]
Correction: will get $ 4 0 per month.
shepard No minimum opening deposit with Everyday Checking. Need to spend $100+ every month, starting in May, for 10 months in a row. Will get $0 per month, starting in June, when you meet the spend in the preceding month. Plus earn a 5000-point bonus when you register for the debit card rewards program.
so no minimum opening deposit req? Have to make 10 debit card purchases every month to receive the monthly $40 bonus for 10 months? or it is one 10 debit purchases in first month and i don’t have to do anything for the next 9 month?
shepard Ten months, not fifteen. Only you can decide whether this is worthwhile. (i) If you are going to do real DDs, yes, probably not worth the bother. (ii) If you are going to do fake DDs, may be worth it. (iii) If you are in a high tax bracket, want to do the $100 x 10 spend, and agree with my view (contested by ChurningAndBurning ) that the resulting bonus is not taxable (see discussion below: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wi-il-only-north-shore-bank-300-checking-bonus-direct-deposit-optional/#comment-2269012 ), then it may be worth it. Also make sure that you live in footprint: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wi-il-only-north-shore-bank-300-checking-bonus-direct-deposit-optional/#comment-1811915
ChurningAndBurning Thank you for your thoughts. A few points: (1) I would disagree — strongly — with your view that you are required to report something as income just because the bank issues a 1099-INT. I have, on many occasions, added a note to my return explaining why particular 1099 items were not income (or were not income for that tax year). Most of the time the Service says nothing. Occasionally, I get a bill, to which I respond with an explanation, and the issue goes away. Never once has the Service tried to fight me on this once I responded to the notice. (2) Personally, I feel comfortable taking the position that, where debit card spend exceeding the bonus is a condition precedent to bonus receipt, the bonus is not taxable. You are correct that this bonus can be earned in one of two ways, so the issue is more complex — but I would argue that the position is still justified once you elect to earn the bonus one way and not another. But all that being said, you are also correct that it’s easy for someone who can litigate their own case in the Tax Court to say: take this or that aggressive tax position. Most people will probably want to play it safe.
looks like a bad offer, no? so its not a $400 bonus, it’s $40 monthly for 15 months? have to open account for 15 months to receive the bonus
I’d be careful with that position. The IRS has long treated bank account bonuses as taxable interest (see Rev. Rul. 76-96), and if the bank issues a 1099-INT, you’re required to report it as income regardless of how you qualified for the bonus. The Anikeev v. Commissioner (2021 T.C. Memo 23) case specifically dealt with credit card rewards, which the court treated as purchase price adjustments. That’s different from a checking account bonus structured as a fixed monthly incentive that can also be earned via direct deposit. This is a nuanced tax issue, and if someone wants to take an aggressive position, a qualified tax attorney or CPA is the best reference, not forum interpretations of a credit card case.
If you are in a higher tax bracket, you are better off doing the $40/month for $100 spend/month version. Because the debit card spend requirement will exceed the bonus amount, the bonus will be tax-free under Rev. Rul. 76-96 and Anikee v v. Comm’r , 2021 TC Memo 23.
Post history: Update 7/6/25: Deal is back at $400 level. Valid through August 9, 2025 . Hat tip to reader STV Update 10/26/24: Deal is back at the $400 level. Hat tip to reader TonyBank Update 3/16/24: Deal is back until 3/31/24. This time for $300, better to wait for the $400 bonus to return. Update 8/5/23: Deal is back and now $400, valid until 8/26/2023. Update 3/23/22: Deal is back and valid until 3/31/23. Update 7/23/22: Deal is back and valid until 8/31/22. Now includes a $50 gas rebate as well. Hat tip to alopez14 Update 5/12/22: Deal is back and valid until 5/31/22. Hat tip to reader Ethan Update 1/14/22: Deal is back and valid until 1/31/2022. Update 10/17/21: Deal is back and valid until 11/13/21. Update 7/22/21: Deal is back and valid until August 21, 2021. Update 5/15/21: Extended until May 31, 2021. Hat tip to ShawntheShawn
400 is back
Don’t think I’ll post as $400 is so frequent
William Charles Bonus is back at $300 through either 12/20/25 or 12/31/25, depending on which link and promo code you use. https://www.northshorebank.com/special-offers/west-allis-grand-opening-specials-checking-cd & https://www.northshorebank.com/special-offers/west-allis-grand-opening-specials-taf . This is a grand opening special for a branch in the Milwaukee area, but terms don’t seem to limit who can apply online beyond their usual FOM requirements. There’s also an extra $100 for the referrer, but that seems to be limited to in-person applications at that specific branch. https://www.northshorebank.com/special-offers/west-allis-grand-opening-specials-taf There’s also a separate $100/$100 referral promotion, but that almost certainly will not stack because it uses a different promo code: https://www.northshorebank.com/refer (exp. 12/31/25) There’s also a separate $100 bonus (exp. 12/31/25) that also likely will not stack: https://www.northshorebank.com/get100 Most people should probably wait for the $400 offer to return.
William Charles Extended to 11/8/25 but down to $300. https://www.northshorebank.com/get300
i live out of footprint (an online attempt for a previous version of this bonus was rejected because i’m out of service area), but near enough to a branch to make it worth trying in-person if i’m likely to succeed- are they still weird about out of footprint (wanting family members etc) and/or how sensitive are they with chex? want to make sure i’m not wasting a drive out there and a chex pull
The deal is back. Same link works. offer ends August 9, 2025! Open your account online using promo code SUMMER25 to get started
The offer link now returns a “page not found” error on their site.
I’m in Cook County IL (not terribly far from McHenry County), applied online, declined because “you do not reside within one of the communities we serve”- chex was frozen when I applied so at least there wasn’t a pull
are you in-footprint? i’m near enough to go in-branch but don’t live in their service area, wondering if i should try for it or not bother
Anyone know if the 24 month language would apply to the last time an account was opened or the last time a bonus was received? Since they pay out portions of the total bonus monthly depending on how the terms are interpreted I may or may not be eligible.
William Charles The $400 deal is back at https://www.northshorebank.com/get400 , will need to copy-paste the URL, I think they redirect you to their homepage if you go there with this site in the http referrer. Code OCTMEQUON, it’s $40/month for 10 months of $100 debit spend or $500 DD per month. The $300 deal is also available at /get300, same deal just $30/month. Payments begin in January 2025 based on December 2024 activity. Both good through November 9. Can’t have had an incentive in the past 24 months.
Be aware – May pull Chex twice! – Tried opening online -denied (Chex pulled) (locked Chex after) – Came in person to open account, used that Chex pull and successfully opened account with funding – Got a call a day later saying account was locked until I come in with more forms of ID (I guess someone from corporate reviewed my Chex manually??) – Went in with more proof and they unlocked it, all is good – Got a call two days later that my account is being closed because they couldn’t pull my Chex again (wtf) – Call corporate security, explain I don’t leave it unlocked and she said she’ll not close my account and talk to the branch – My account is locked again – Leave bad reviews and file complaints through online – District manager calls me and says she can open my account if I’m still interested in banking with them -I don’t even know if my account has the promo attached anymore, fuck these guys
I’m in Dane county (WI) and got denied because of not being close.
New offer ($300) is available through 3/30/24: https://www.northshorebank.com/get300 They’re very region-specific (13 counties in Wisconsin and 1 county in Illinois): “With our 43 office locations we serve the following Wisconsin counties: Brown Calumet Door Kenosha Kewaunee Milwaukee Oconto Outagamie Ozaukee Racine Washington Waukesha Winnebago In Illinois, we serve McHenry County.”
Deal is back for $300, offer expires March 30th. https://www.northshorebank.com/get300