See new First Merchant Bank Promotions and Bonuses here.
They are currently offering $50-$200 bonus for each qualifying referrals.
*Compare First Merchants Bank Promotions with other bank bonuses from banks like Huntington, HSBC, Chase, TD, Bank of America, Citibank, and more!*
See our best bank bonuses updated daily to earn up to $1,000 in free money. Find popular checking offers such as Chase Bank, HSBC Bank, TD Bank, Huntington Bank, BBVA, Discover Bank, and CIT Bank. See our best rates for Savings and CD too. |
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Chase Business Complete BankingSM $300 Bonus | HSBC Premier Checking Up To $600 |
HSBC Premier Checking $450 Bonus | TD Bank Convenience Checking $150 Bonus |
TD Bank Beyond Checking $300 Bonus | Huntington Business Checking 100 $200 Bonus |
Huntington 25 Checking $300 Bonus | Huntington Unlimited Plus Business Checking $750 Bonus |
Huntington Unlimited Business Checking $400 Bonus | Aspiration Spend & Save Account $100 Bonus |
Ally Invest Up To $3,000 Bonus | Discover Bank $360 Cashback Debit |
Axos Basic Business Checking $100 Bonus | BlockFi Up To $250 BTC Bonus |
WeBull 2 Free Stocks |
Table of Contents
About First Merchant Bank Promotions
First Merchants Bank is headquartered in Muncie, Indiana and was established in 1839. Since then they have grown to 127 location and they also boasts an A+ health rating. They provide our customers with broad financial services delivered locally by bankers who are known and trusted in their communities. If you are not a resident in one of these states, you can see our complete list of Bank Promotions available nationwide for more offers.
- Availability: IN, IL, OH (Bank Locator)
- Routing Number: 74913712
- Customer Service: 1-800-205-3464
First Merchant Bank offers pretty standard rates when it comes to CDs and Savings Accounts. Check out our full list of Bank Rates and CD Rates for the best rates nationwide.
I will review the current offers below.
First Merchant Bank $50-$200 Referral Bonus

Earn up to $20 bonus with a new Checking Account.
First Merchant Bank is offering a $50-$200 reward bonus when opening a new checking account with them. Be sure to note that this offer is only available to the Avondale Meadows Banking Center.
- Account Type: Checking account
- Availability: IL, IN, OH, MI (only available to the Avondale Meadows Banking Center)
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes
- Hard/Soft Pull: Soft Pull
- ChexSystem: Yes
- Credit Card Funding: No longer available
- Monthly Fee: Varies by account, waivable.
- Early account termination fee: $50 if closed within 180 day from account opening
- Household limit: None listed
(Expires April 30, 2021)
You can compare this to several great entry level Checking accounts with bonus offers include the Chase Total Checking® ($200 bonus), Huntington Asterisk-Free Checking® ($150 Bonus), TD Bank Convenience CheckingSM ($150 bonus), and HSBC Advance Checking (up to $240 bonus).
How to Earn $50 Bonus
- Earn $50 for opening a new Carefree Checking Account or Simple Access Account
- Earn $100 for opening a new Advantage Checking Account or First Direct Checking Account
- OR Earn $200 for opening a new Elite Checking Account
- Must complete 15 transactions within 60 days of account opening.
- Must use promo code 202021AVON.
- First Merchants Carefree Checking
- Loan discounts of 0.25%¹
- Free ATMs nationwide with MoneyPass
- Free Overdraft Protection Transfers from any linked account
- Mobile and Text Banking
- Free Online Banking including Bill Pay (must be 18 years of age for Bill Pay)
- Quickly and easily send money to friends and family with Zelle®. Available within our mobile app.4
- Free Enhanced MasterCard Debit Card with ID Theft Protection
- Samsung Pay and Apple Pay
- First Merchants Simple Access Checking
- No overdraft fees
- Paper statements or eStatements
- Free ATMs nationwide with MoneyPass
- Free Mobile and Text Banking
- Online Banking including Bill Pay (must be at least 18 years old for Bill Pay)
- Free Enhanced MasterCard Debit Card with ID Theft Protection
- Money orders and official checks may be purchased for half price with cash
- Samsung Pay and Apple Pay
- First Merchants Advantage Checking
- Earns interest
- Money Market Account with Monthly Maintenance Fee Waived
- Loan discounts of 0.25%
- 50% discount on Personal Checks
- Free Official Checks and Money Orders
- Free ATMs nationwide with MoneyPass
- Free Overdraft Protection Transfers from any linked account
- Free Mobile and Text Banking
- Free Online Banking including Bill Pay (must be 18 years of age for Bill Pay)
- Quickly and easily send money to friends and family with Zelle®. Available within our mobile app.
- Free Enhanced MasterCard Debit Card with ID Theft Protection
- Samsung Pay and Apple Pay
- Free eStatements (paper statements are $3 per month)
- First Merchants Advantage Checking is FREE for seniors (62 and older)
- First Merchants Carefree Checking
- Make one transaction per month1 OR
- Maintain $100 minimum combined personal deposit balances.
- Otherwise, $5 monthly maintenance fee.
- First Merchants Simple Access Checking
- $4 monthly fee
- First Merchants Advantage Checking
- Make one direct deposit of at least $500 monthly2 OR
- Make 15 debit card transactions per month OR
- Maintain $1,500 minimum combined personal deposit balances.
- Otherwise, $15 monthly maintenance fee.
- Offer valid only for accounts opened between December 21, 2020, and April 30, 2021.
- Must be 18 years old or older at the time of account opening and reside in Marion County, Indiana
- Offer valid only for households with no current First Merchants Bank checking accounts.
- Cannot be combined with other offers.
- Get up to $200 for opening a new First Merchants checking account.
First Merchant Bank $50 Checking Bonus

Earn up to $200 reward bonus with First Merchant Bank
First Merchant Bank is offering a $50 MasterCard Reward bonus for each qualifying referrals made. You can earn up to $500 yearly with this promotion.
- Account Type: Checking account
- Availability: IL, IN, OH, MI
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes
- Hard/Soft Pull: Soft Pull
- ChexSystem: Yes
- Credit Card Funding: No longer available
- Monthly Fee: Varies by account, waivable.
- Early account termination fee: $50 if closed within 180 day from account opening
- Household limit: None listed
(No expiration date listed)
You can compare this to several great entry level Checking accounts with bonus offers include the Chase Total Checking® ($200 bonus), Huntington Asterisk-Free Checking® ($150 Bonus), TD Bank Convenience CheckingSM ($150 bonus), and HSBC Advance Checking (up to $240 bonus).
How to Earn $50 Bonus
- Referrer:
- Earn a $50 Mastercard® Reward Card for each individual referred (Referred Person) to First Merchants Bank who registers for the offer, opens a new First Merchants Personal Checking Account with a deposit of $100 or more and completes the requirement within the time specified in the offer.
- The Referrer must register for the program and share the offer with their friends, family or coworkers. A Referrer may receive up to ten (10) Mastercard Reward Cards ($500 value) within a calendar year, but only one Referrer may receive a Mastercard Reward Card for each Referred Person who fulfills the requirements. This offer cannot be combined with other offers.
- Referred Person:
- To earn a $50 Mastercard Reward Card, the Referred Person must register by following the link provided in the referral email or on social media,
- Open a new First Merchants Personal Checking Account with a deposit of $100 or more and meet the following requirement within 60 days of account opening:
- Complete fifteen (15) debit card transactions (excluding ATM transactions)
- All FREE features
- Earn a high checking interest rate
- No fee Money Market Savings
- CD and Money Market interest rate bonus
- Free official checks and money orders
- Discount on safe deposit box rental
- Elite Checking:
- Maintain $15,000 minimum combined personal deposit balances; otherwise, $20 monthly maintenance fee
- Advantage Checking:
- Make 15 debit card transactions or $500 direct deposits or maintain $1,500 minimum combined personal deposit balances; otherwise, $15 monthly maintenance fee
- Carefree Checking:
- Make one customer-initiated transaction per month or maintain $100 minimum combined personal deposit balances; otherwise, $5 monthly maintenance fee
- Please allow 4-6 weeks after completion of all requirements for delivery of the Mastercard Reward Card. The Mastercard Reward Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions delivered with the card. The Mastercard Reward Cards may be reported as income to the IRS.
Mastercard is a registered trademark of Mastercard, Inc. Mastercard is not a participant or sponsor of this promotion.
(Expired) First Merchant Bank $100/$200/$400 Checking Bonus

Earn up to $400 bonus with a new Checking Account.
Take advantage of a $100/$200/$400 bonus when you open a new Checking Account.
- Account Type: Elite, Advantage, or Carefree Checking Account
- Credit Inquiry: Soft Pull
- Chex Systems: Yes
- Opening Deposit: $100
- Credit Card Funding: None
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes
- Monthly Fee: Can be waived, see below
- Additional Requirements: See below
- Household Limit: 1
- Closing Account Fee: Unknown
(Offer expires 12/31/2020)
If you’re looking for more advanced features for a checking account, you may want to compare this offer to the following: Chase Private Client ($2,000 Bonus), HSBC Premier Checking ($450 Bonus), Huntington 25 Checking ($500 Bonus), as well as the TD Bank Beyond Checking ($300 Bonus).
Earn $100/$200/$400 Checking Bonus
- Stop by a Banking Center near you or open an account online using promo code 2020CKMD.
- Must have a direct deposit of at least $500 within 60 days of account opening.
- Offer valid only for accounts opened between April 3, 2020, and December 31, 2020.
- Offer valid only for households with no current First Merchants Bank checking accounts.
- Cannot be combined with other offers.
- Offer valid to recipient only.
- All FREE features
- Earn a high checking interest rate
- No fee Money Market Savings
- CD and Money Market interest rate bonus
- Free official checks and money orders
- Discount on safe deposit box rental
- Elite Checking:
- Maintain $15,000 minimum combined personal deposit balances; otherwise, $20 monthly maintenance fee
- Advantage Checking:
- Make 15 debit card transactions or $500 direct deposits or maintain $1,500 minimum combined personal deposit balances; otherwise, $15 monthly maintenance fee
- Carefree Checking:
- Make one customer-initiated transaction per month or maintain $100 minimum combined personal deposit balances; otherwise, $5 monthly maintenance fee
- You must not have closed a personal checking account within 180 days of the promotion start date (on or after April 13, 2020).
- The primary account holder of the participating checking account must be 18 years old or older at the time of account opening and reside in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio or Michigan.
- First Merchant’s employee accounts are not eligible for this promotion.
Bottom Line
First Merchants Bank is currently having a promotion where you can earn up to a $400 bonus simply by opening a new checking account. In addition to these fantastic bonuses, you or your friends will have access to a range of account features to better your banking experience!
Feel free to leave a comment about what you like/dislike about First Merchant Bank. Your feedback is highly appreciated and makes our site even better!
*Check back for updated First Merchant Bank promotions, bonuses and offers.
PROMOTIONAL LINK | OFFER | REVIEW |
Chase Business Complete BankingSM | $300 Cash | Review |
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HSBC Premier Checking Member FDIC | Up To $600 | Review |
Huntington 25 Checking | $300 Cash | Review |
TD Bank Beyond Checking | $300 Cash | Review |
TD Bank Convenience CheckingSM | $150 Cash | Review |
Huntington Bank Unlimited Plus Business Checking | $750 Cash | Review |
Huntington Bank Unlimited Business Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
Huntington Bank Business Checking 100 | $200 Cash | Review |
Axos Bank Basic Business Checking | $100 Cash | Review |
Aspiration Spend & Save Account | $100 Cash | Review |
Ally Invest | Up to $3,000 Cash | Review |
BlockFi | Up To $250 BTC | Review |
American Express High Yield Savings | 0.40% APY | Review |
Discover Cashback Debit Account | $360 Cash | Review |
How long must you keep your account open?
40 debits in 60 days req. You’ll have to make a purchase almost every day for 2 months!! That’s a lot of work!
Current offer thru 12/31/18 says offer only valid in Indiana :/
I tried to apply online. They said that I could not open the checking account because I had an adverse credit history, but they did not disclose which credit bureau provide the report (I thought this was required by law).
appears to be hard pull – had to answer lot of credit questions when opening online and was advised after opening must have DD of $50…I don’t have DD availability 🙁
CSR said monthly DD is also required (but can be any amount).
has anybody checked whether hard or soft pull?
I applied online more than a month ago. Creditcarma does not show hard pull.
Has anyone checked whether paypal transfer counts as a direct deposit?