Park National Bank VIP Checking: Score Up to $500 Just for Banking Smarter

If you live in Ohio or South Carolina and have been thinking about switching banks, Park National Bank is rolling out a pretty sweet deal that might just tip the scales. They're offering new checking customers up to $500 just for opening an account and meeting a few straightforward requirements. The best part? You have two paths to choose from depending on how much cash you're willing to park with them.

Two Tiers, Two Bonuses – Pick Your Path

Park National is keeping things simple with two checking account options, each tied to a different bonus amount. The VIP Checking account gets you $300, and the VIP All-Access Checking account gets you $500. Both require you to be a new personal checking customer, so if you've had an account with them before, this offer won't apply.

For the $300 bonus, you just need to open a VIP Checking account and have at least $1,000 in direct deposits hit the account within 90 days. That's it. No minimum balance to maintain beyond that. The monthly fee is $10, but it's waived if you keep $500 in direct deposits each month or maintain a $1,000 average balance. For most people with a regular paycheck, that's pretty easy to manage.

The $500 bonus is a bit more involved. You'll need to open a VIP All-Access Checking account, deposit $25,000 or more within the first 30 days, and keep that balance for the full 90-day qualification period. On top of that, you still need to set up $1,000 in direct deposits. The monthly fee here is $25, but it's waived as long as you keep at least $25,000 in the account. So if you're sitting on a decent chunk of change anyway, this could be a no-brainer.

What You Get Beyond the Bonus

Both accounts come with some nice perks that make banking a little more pleasant. You get your own personal banker – someone you can actually call or visit when you need help. That's a rare touch these days. The VIP All-Access account also earns interest on balances over $2,500 and refunds ATM fees up to $10 per statement cycle. Plus, there's a $150 loyalty bonus if you take out a new vehicle or personal loan with them.

Other standard features include online and mobile banking, Zelle for sending money, credit score monitoring through Credit Sense, and fraud protection alerts. Nothing groundbreaking, but solid basics that work well.

Important Fine Print to Watch For

The bonus is considered taxable income, so you'll get a 1099-INT at tax time. Also, you must enter the promo code VIP630PW326 when you open the account – if you forget or type it wrong, you won't get the bonus. The bank confirms eligibility 90 days after opening and deposits the bonus within 15 days after that. Just don't close the account before the bonus hits, or you'll forfeit it.

One thing to note: the monthly fee is waived for the first two statement cycles to give you time to set up direct deposits or meet the balance requirement. After that, if you don't qualify for a waiver, the fee kicks in. So plan accordingly.

Bottom Line

• New customers in OH and SC can earn $300 or $500 by opening a VIP checking account.
• The $300 bonus requires only $1,000 in direct deposits within 90 days – no balance to maintain.
• The $500 bonus needs a $25,000 deposit within 30 days and a 90-day hold, plus direct deposits.
• Use promo code VIP630PW326 at account opening – offer expires August 29, 2026.
• Monthly fees are waivable, and you get a personal banker and other perks.

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