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Innovative ideas for raising money

Posted by Ms. Vidya Murali in Kanchiforum

Key points:

* In the US, there are many incentives obtained by participating in marketing promotions.

* Specifically, one can get money just for opening an e-account with many banks.

* If this is done in an organised way, significant sums can be raised.

* In my opinion, this kind of effort is more scalable and has a better work-to-reward ratio. Let's use the power of the Internet to further our goals.

Here are some proven ideas for raising money that can then be used to further good causes.

1. Banks like INGDirect.com give you $25 for signing up an electronic account with them. There are no minimums and no fees. They also give you a bonus for referring the service to your friends. Some of my friends have raised upto $ 500 per household just by referring their friends.

2. There are numerous other banks which give even greater incentives..upto $ 100 in some cases, just for opening an account. The idea is to avail of as many offers as possible and accumulate reward money.

3. I think it is easily possible to raise $ 1000 per household per year if done in a systematic manner.

4. If we have even 100 dedicated people who frequent this forum to participate in this activity we could raise $100,000. This is a significant sum of money in India and can definitely make a meaningful difference.

I have several ideas as to the best way of deploying these funds in India so as to make a difference on the ground, I will elaborate on the same in a different post.

Advantages -

* Above method is 100% legal. Banks are willingly offering these incentives to new customers. We are only optimizing our fund-raising efforts by focusing on these incentives.

* This is one of the easiest ways to raise money - most of the work can be done by sitting at your computer. None of the hassle that is typical of other fund-raising activities.

* Many of our people are hesitant to donate money because they think "What difference will it make ? At least let my hard earned money be with me "

Now, it is much easier to donate because this is free money. You are not digging into your pocket to donate. You get free money and you give away that money to protect your religion and your people.This is even more true if we come up with a credible way to use the funds.

* This is very easy to forward to your friends and relatives no matter where in the US they are. Whole communities can participate.

Bonuses:
( some of these are expired, some are active even though the date is past) I will post updates as soon as they are available

Cash

CitiBank
- Get iPod mini for checking account and paying bills online - NEW (, $2500 initial deposit is required)
- Get $200 for checking account and paying billls - NEW ( $1500 initial deposit is required)
- Get $200 for checking account and paying billls - NEW ( $1500 initial deposit is required)
- Get $200 for checking account and paying billls - NEW ( $1500 initial deposit is required)
- Get $200 for checking account and paying billls - NEW ( $1500 initial deposit is required)
- Get $200 for checking account and paying billls - NEW ( $1500 initial deposit is required)
Read feedback about Citibank bonuses at MSN (1, 2, 3), MoneyBB (1, 2, 3), FatWallet (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), and iBankDesign.
Find more info about this bank on Citibank resource page.

Charter One
Get up-to $195 from this bank (see below) -
- Green checking: $25 for direct deposit and $25 for bill payment
- Circle checking - $50 for direct deposit and $25 for bill payment
- $45 in gift cards for using free Bill Pay
- $25 Switch Bonus from CharterOne
Read feedback about CharterOne bonuses on
iBankDesign, MSN, MoneyBB, FatWallet (1, 2, 3) forums.
Find more info about this bank on Charter One Bank resource page.

Meadows CU - anybody can join
- $125 from Meadows CU - bonus rating - NEW
Read feedback about Meadows CU bonuses on MoneyBB, MSN Online Banking, iBankDesign forums.

PNC bank
- $101 for a new PNC bank checking account & direct deposit - bonus rating - NEW (expires on 06/30/2005)
Read feedback about PNC Bank bonuses on iBankDesign and FatWallet forums.

Eastern Bank
- $100 + companion airline ticket - (only for residents of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont) - expires on 1/31/2005? (the offer is still on the bank website, contact its customer service to verify expiration date)
Read feedback about Eastern Bank bonuses on MoneyBB, MSN, iBankDesign.com (1,2) forums.
Commerce Bank
- $100 from Commerce Bank for local customers only
Read feedback about Commerece Bank bonuses on MoneyBB, FatWallet, MSN forums.
Read feedback about Commerece Bank bonuses on iBankDesign,

Citizens Bank
- $100 for direct deposit, bill pay, using a debit card, & monthly transfers to a savings account , for local customers (MA, CT, PA, RI, DE, NH, NJ) - bonus rating - NEW
Read feedback about Citizens Bank bonuses on iBankDesign forum.

Washington Trust
- $100 for direct deposit and bill payment - (You will need Adobe Acrobat to read the page) - bonus rating - NEW
Read feedback about Washington Trust bonuses on iBankDesign forum.

TCF bank
- $75 for direct deposit + $25 GC for new account - local, in-branch deal, MI (and other states?)
Read feedback about TCF Bank bonuses on FatWallet, iBankDesign forums.

First American Bank
- $100 for direct deposit to First American Bank - (Restricted deal) - bonus rating
Read feedback about First American Bank bonuses on iBankDesign.

Union Federal Bank
- $75 for direct deposit - (Restricted deal)

NetBank
- $75 for >$500 direct deposit and a new checking account (expires on 10/31/05) - bonus rating
- $75 for Money Market and a checking accounts (expires on 6/30/05)
- $50 for a checking and MM accounts for NestEggz members (expiration date is unknown)
- $50 for a checking account or MM account via Money 2003 link (expires on 6/30/05)
- $50 for NetBank checking account with $1500 init. deposit (expires on 6/30/05)
Check all > 30 Netbank bonus links here
Read feedback about Netbank bonuses at MoneyBB (1, 2, 3), FatWallet (1, 2), MSN
Find more info about this bank on Netbank resource page.

Bank of America
- Up-to $85 via a referral invitation - NEW (expires on 5/1/2005)
- $50 from Bank of America - (expires 04/30/2005) - bonus rating
- $50 from Bank of America - (expires 04/30/2005)
- $50 from Bank of America - (expires 04/30/2005)
- $50 from Bank of America - (expires 06/30/2005)
- $100 for Bank of America account (need to find BofA ATM machine)
Read feedback about Bank of America bonuses at MoneyBB (1, 2, 3, 4), FatWallet (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), MSN (1, 2), and iBankdesign (1, 2, 3, 4).

Monson Savings Bank
- $70 for direct deposit and three bill payments - NEW
Read feedback about bonuses of Monson Savings Bank on iBankdesign forum.

Western Springs National Bank and Trust
- $50 from Western Springs National Bank and Trust for direct deposit
Read feedback about bonuses of Western Springs National Bank and Trust on iBankdesign forum.

ING Direct
- $50 from ING direct and MS Money 2004 (expires on 08/01/05)
- Get $25 for being referred to ING direct. Request a referral link here.
Read feedback about ING direct bonuses on MoneyBB, MSN Online Banking, FatWallet (1, 2), and iBankDesign forums.
Find more info about this bank on ING Direct resource page.

HSBC
- $10 or gift for free checking account
Read feedback about HSBC bonuses on MoneyBB (1, 2), FatWallet (1, 2), MSN (1, 2), iBankDesign forums.

E*Trade bank
- $50 for Complete checking - ($5000 initial deposit?)
Read feedback about E*Trade Bank bonuses on MoneyBB (1, 2), FatWallet, iBankDesign (1, 2), MSN Online Banking forums.
Find more info about this bank on E*Trade Bank resource page.

Union Bank of California
- $50 from Union Bank of California
Read feedback about UBOC bonuses on FatWallet, MSN, and iBankDesign forums.

Principal Bank
- $50 for a checking account
- $50 for a checking account at Principal Bank
- $50 for student checking account at Principal Bank
Read feedback about Principal Bank bonuses at MoneyBB (1, 2, 3, 4), FatWallet (1, 2, 3, 4), MSN, and iBankDesign
Everbank
- $50 for closing an Everbank checking account
Read feedback about Everbank bonuses at FatWallet, MoneyBB, MSN, iBankDesign.
Find more info about this bank on Everbank resource page

Lion Bank
- $50 for a new checking account & bill payment (Adobe Acrobat file) - NEW
Read feedback about bonuses of Lion Bank on iBankDesign forum.

Metlife Bank
- $50 from Metlife Bank
Read feedback about Metlife Bank bonuses on FatWallet, MoneyBB and iBankDesign.

First National Bank
- Up-to $50 for a checking account - NEW
Read feedback about bonuses of First National Bank on iBankDesign forum.

Somerset Savings Bank
- $45 from Somerset Savings Bank ($25 for free checking account + $20 for direct deposit) (local deal, NJ)
Read feedback about St. Francis Bank bonuses on MoneyBB and iBankDesign.

State Bank of Lacrosse
Get $30 from State Bank of Lacrosse - NEW (Expires on 3/4/2005)
Read feedback about bonuses of State Bank of Lacrosse on iBankDesign.

The Bank of New York
- $5 for 5 bill payments, $5 for 5 non-PIN debit card transactions, $20 for direct deposit, $10 off the first order of checks (expires on 3/13/2005)
Read feedback about BoNY bonuses at MoneyBB, MSN

First Federal bank
- $25 for direct deposit
Read feedback about bonuses of First Federal bank on iBankDesign forum.

GE Financial
- $25 from GE financial
Read feedback about GE financial bonuses at MoneyBB, MSN

Amboy Bank
- $25 for direct deposit (expiration date is unknown)
Read feedback about Amboy Bank bonuses at MoneyBB.

Ford Credit
- $25 for Ford MMA
Read feedback about Ford Credit bonuses on MoneyBB, MSN Online Banking, FatWallet, iBankDesign forums.

Fairfield County Bank
- $25 for Direct Checking - bonus rating - NEW
Read feedback about bonuses of Fairfield County Bank on iBankdesign forum

Associated Bank
- $25 from Associated Bank - NEW (Expires on 2/19/2005)
Read feedback about bonuses of Associated Bank on iBankdesign forum

MB Financial Bank
- $25 for direct deposit and 3.5% until 4/30/05 - NEW (Expires on 4/30/05).
- $25 for switching direct deposit to MB Financial - NEW
Read feedback about bonuses of MB Financial Bank on iBankdesign forum.

Virtual Bank
- $20 when a friend refers you to Virtual Bank
Read feedback about Virtual Bank bonuses at MoneyBB, MSN
Find more info about this bank on Virtual Bank resource page.

Sterling National Bank
- $20 for Internet Money Market account
Read feedback about Sterling National Bank bonuses on MoneyBB forum

First National Bank of River Falls
- $20 for direct deposit to First National Bank of River Falls
Read feedback about bonuses of First National Bank of River Falls on iBankdesign forum

First Community Bank
- $15 for Internet Banking account, bill payment & e-statements, - bonus rating - NEW
Read feedback about bonuses of First National Bank of River Falls on iBankdesign forum

First Internet Bank of Indiana
- $10 when a friend refers you to First Internet Bank of Indiana
Find more info about this bank on FirstIB resource page.

PCBanker
- $10 when a friend refers you to PCBanker. Friend gets $20. Request a referral link here.
Find more info about this bank on PCBanker resource page.

US Bank
- $8 for US Bank checking account via MoneyBB
< a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-1419695-9997448" target="_top" >
< img src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-1419695-9997448" width="468" height="60" alt="Click here to start saving with ING DIRECT!" border="0"></a>

Gifts

Macatawa Bank
- $100 Marriott Bucks from Macatawa Bank - NEW (Expires on 3/31/2005)
Read feedback about Macatawa Bank bonuses on iBankDesign forum.

Domestic Bank
- $100 Marriott Bucks for a business account - NEW
Read feedback about Domestic Bank bonuses on iBankDesign forum.

NewMil bank
- 120 gifts from NewMil bank - bonus rating

Provident Bank
- Various gifts - NEW

Miles and airline certificates

Union Federal Bank
up-to 17,000 miles
Read feedback about bonuses from Union Federal Bank on FatWallet, iBankDesign forums.

BankDirect
- AAdvantage miles from BankDirect

Alliance Bank
- 3000 miles when you open an account and set-up a direct deposit - bonus rating
Read feedback about Alliance Bank bonuses on iBankDesign forum.

Guaranty Bank
- 3000 miles for new account and direct deposit + 1 mile per $10 balance
($2500 min. daily balance and$3500 average daily $3500)
Read feedback about Guaranty Bank bonuses on iBankDesign forum.

NetBank
- up-to 7000 Delta Sky Miles for opening Netbank accounts, direct deposit and bill payments
- up-to 7000 United Mileage Plus Miles for opening Netbank accounts, direct deposit and bill payments
Check all > 30 Netbank bonus links here
Read feedback about Netbank bonuses on MoneyBB (1, 2, 3), FatWallet (1, 2), MSN forums.
Find more info about this bank on Netbank resource page.

DISCLAIMER -

* I do not have any commercial interest in any of the above
* Neither me nor my family has any kind of ownership / equity in any of the banks/institutions mentioned above
* I am only an end-user who has used the above incentives ; I am only narrating my experience as a possible method of helping our cause; I am not promoting or recommending any of the firms or business entities

* Please use your discretion and good judgement in all decisions.

I do wish to say that we have obtained significant monetary gains by following above plan, of which substantial money has been donated to Kanchi Kamakoti related charity.

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