Episode 17: Chase Closed All My Accounts, Help!

Update (3/15): We update the story in this podcast about a Chase Shutdown in Episode 19. Including how the listener was able to convince Chase to reopen her personal CC account. 

We’re back with another jam-packed “free” episode this week…

0:40 $600 Citizen’s Bank Checking Bonus (link)

• Requires recurring/single (?) $2,000 Direct Deposit
• Expires May 16th, 2019

1:50 [Targeted] $500 Bank of America Banking Bonus (link)

• $300 Checking/$200 Savings
• $4,000 in Direct Deposits within 90 Days
• Probably best to go just for the checking offer (savings offer requires $20,000 in new funds)

2:55 $400 Wells Fargo Checking Bonus (link)

• Requires $3,000 in combined monthly Direct Deposit
• Eligible if haven’t gotten WF banking bonus in last 12 months
• Pairs well with needing to be a customer for Business Plat CC worth $750 towards air travel (link)

4:15 Hyatt category changes don’t go into effect until March 18 (link)

• Robert: Booked Premium Suite at Hyatt Coconut Point for 30,000 (twice the 15,000 for a standard room, going up to 20,000)
• Room goes for $859/nt in peak-ish season
• Some ideas on things to book (link)
• Hyatt allows booking 395 days out

6:00 Marriott changes go into effect March 5 (link)

• Play here is high end hotels now capped at 60,000 Marriott/nt that will go up as high as 100,000
• Marriott allows booking 50 weeks out

 7:00 Way to make Amex Bonvoy card (formerly SPG personal) earn 1 SPG point again (link)

• Card can now earn 2x Marriott rather than 3x it did previously
• With this promo you earn 1 additional point for spending in round increments of $25,000 up to 100,000 points
• Gotta love the psychology here

8:15 Chase Shutdown Story

• Shared episode about Chase Southwest Companion Pass promo with friend (link)
• Friend thought it over and saw good value in having the Companion Pass for a year because home airport is Southwest dominant and spouse could join on work trips in addition to leisure travel
• Applied for and was approved for Chase Southwest Personal card with an $8,000 limit
• Minimum spend requirement is $4,000. Charged $2,000 for an AirBnB. Charged $1,000 in cruise incidentals. Bought a $500 gift card at a grocery store. Fraud alert. Cleared. Waited a couple days. Again bought a $500 gift card at a grocery s