Consumer complaint received 2023-12-11
Company: BMO HARRIS BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CO
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Opening an account
Sub-issue: Didn't receive terms that were advertised

Complaint:
I opened a BMO Harris/BMO personal relationship checking account on XX/XX/XXXX, during that time they had a promotion running that stated if I opened this personal account and direct deposited {$7500.00} or more I would earn a {$500.00} account bonus. I opened the account, on XX/XX/XXXX I recieved an email stating thank you for opening the account and the promotion is applied to the account and the bonus will be paid assuming all requirements are met and on XX/XX/XXXX I direct deposited {$8400.00} into the account. 

Here are the terms : To take advantage of the checking offer, you must open your account between XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, and use the checking promo code thats automatically applied in the XXXX XXXX links above. Accounts opened on the final day of the promotion must have their applications submitted and approved prior to XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX You may open your account at a BMO branch, online, or by calling XXXX. 
If you open your account online by clicking XXXX XXXX  above, we will automatically apply the promo code for you. If you open your account by calling XXXX, we must receive your opening deposit and all signed account opening documents by XX/XX/XXXX. Offer is limited to one per customer and is not available for existing BMO personal checking customers ( including signers on joint accounts ) or those who have closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months. Cash bonus is not considered part of the opening deposit and will be reported to the IRS for tax purposes. You are responsible for any applicable taxes. Offer canbe changed or canceled without notice at any time and can not be combined with any other offer. Your account must be open, in good standing and must have a balance greater than XXXX when the cash bonus is paid. 
Checking Offer : Get up to a {$500.00} cash bonus when you open a new BMO Sma
rt Money Checking, BMO Smart Advantage Checking, or a BMO Relationship Checking account and have qualifying direct deposits of salary orother personal income such as a paycheck, pension payment, Social Security payment, or other governmentbenefits payment electronically deposited into the account from an employer or similar third party. We reserve the right to request documentation that the direct deposits qualify. Direct deposits via Account to Account or Peer to Peer ( i.e. XXXX, XXXX ) transfers do not qualify. 
1 ) Get a {$300.00} cash bonus when you open a new Smart Money Checking or Smart Advantage Checking account and have a cumulative total of {$4000.00} in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of opening. 
OR 2 ) Get a {$500.00} cash bonus when you open a new Relationship Checking account and have a cumulative total of {$7500.00} in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of opening. 
You are only eligible for one checking cash bonus ; you can not open multiple checking accounts and receive multiple cash bonuses. Day 1 is the day you open your account and begins the tracking period. If you open your account on a day other than a Business Day, Day 1 is the next Business Day. The checking account type you have on Day 90 will determine which cash bonus you are eligible for. In order to receive the cash bonus, you must meet the associated criteria for that account. Cash bonus is paid into the checking account approximately100 days after account opening. 

After waiting the 100 days from opening which would have been XX/XX/XXXX, I called customer service and was told that I did not qualify for the bonus as I closed a personal checking account withing the past 12 months. I did close a business elite checking account with BMO within the last 12 months and the terms stated here only say that I can not be an existing personal checking account holder or have closed a personal checking account withing the last 12 months in which this account opened on XX/XX/XXXX would be the first personal checking account with the bank. Lastly they said that even though I closed a business account it would disqualify me from receiving a personal account welcome bonus which clearly shows that they are not honoring the words in the terms and conditions. 

I have attached the welcome email for my business checking account established back on XX/XX/XXXX ( in which the from name comes from a name BMO Harris Business Banking ), the welcome email I received for my personal relationship checking account from XX/XX/XXXX, a pdf copy of the terms and conditions ande an account statem, ent showing my director deposit of {$8400.00}.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation