Has anyone "churned" a checking account?

[rosarugosa]

As mentioned previously, I've done pretty well in the last year or two with sign-on rewards from credit cards. I've currently got an offer from Citi Bank to open a checking account with them and earn $400. in points for meeting the following: direct deposit monthly for two months, and electronically pay a bill monthly for two months. I think I'm going to go for it. We can direct deposit DH's part-time income, so we won't have to significant interrupt our current financial flow. All told, I don't think this could take more than a couple hours out of my life, and I don't earn anywhere near $200. per hour. I can redeem the Citi points for more Home Depot gift cards, which are always useful to us. Has anyone taken advantage of anything similar?

[Float On]

That is quite a great offer, go for it. I've done it for a lot less. I think the last one was for $100 reward and I had to keep the checking account open a full year. I just treated it like a savings account for one of my personal retreat weekends.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Here's a tip that some of you industrious people may be able to work to your benefit - sign up with ath power consulting mystery shopping based out of Andover, Massachusetts. I am not providing a link here so I am getting nothing out of this but the possibility of helping others. This is a legit mystery shopping outfit that shops mostly banks. Not only can you get the bonus for opening a checking account with a bank BUT with some banks - refer to those ath power shops wherever you live - you can get a nice extra "bonus" - a mystery shopping payment - for shopping the bank that you open the checking account with that you intend to churn.

In reality you are double dipping and much like whenever I spend any money these days I try to be rewarded in a minimum of three places (it's a policy of mine) I also try to double dip whenever and wherever I can (this one is not quite as easy to put into practice I'll admit). Here is a place where this concept can be put into practice quite lucratively for those willing to do the extra work. Rob

[rosarugosa]

Float On: Thanks for the encouragement!
Rob: That sounds like something I would be interested in. Do you want to send me a link? If signing up though your link provides you with some benefit, I would be happy to go that route. I know you've being doing some mystery shopping and therefore would trust your recommendation.