[WI + IL Only] North Shore Bank $400 Checking Bonus – Direct…

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

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, 2018 November 7th, 2018 February 5th, 2019 July 31st, 2020 August 31, 2020 October 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 “OCTMEQUON“. 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:

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.