I gave a talk last night to a group of unemployed/underemployed Twin Cities residents. At the end of my talk I mentioned a way to make an easy 50 bucks. I was pleasantly surprised when the room started to buzz. For example, TCF has an offer through the end of the month. Open a checking account with $25 and get $50 deposited within 2 to 4 weeks. Normally, to get an offer like this you have to agree to direct deposit your pay check but not for this offer. One negative is that you have to order checks from TCF for about $17.50 plus $7 shipping. (If you're 50 or older, you can get the $7 waived.) Not a bad deal. Anyone who has had a TCF checking account within the past 90 days is not eligible. No early term fees that I could find if you close your account after getting your $50.

Others in the group last night said other banks have similar offers. Check with banks in your area. I went downtown Minneapolis and found that Associated Bank has a slightly better offer than TCF but only with direct deposit. You get your box of checks free, but you must have at least two direct deposits before you qualify for the $50.

M&I Bank offered me $75 if I opened a checking account with $500. If I chose direct deposit, the $500 minimum is waived. The $75 bonus offer is available through the end of the month, but the bonus will not be deposited for 45 days. An additional $25 is donated to the charity Read Indeed in your name. The first box of checks is free with the offer.

US Bank and Bremer Bank do not currently have any bonus cash offers. Which banks did I leave out that have similar offers w/o a lot of hoops to jump through?

Have you considered opening an account for the free cash and then closing it? Talk to me.