HSBC Sign Up Bonus?
Udandi commented that HSBC has a Best Buy gift card bonus, which was mentioned at Boston Gal’s blog.
However, I’d argue that it’s not much of a bonus at all since I’d rather have a cash referral bonus for me and for my referrer. I know that there’s very little I’d want to get for $25 bucks at Best Buy and it’s a slippery slope. I would go straight for the $40 PSP games. Armed with a $5 off coupon, I’m still going to *spend* money rather than save it, so I’d say that it’s not much of a bonus at all. I’m not a big consumer of PSP games or electronic things.
I just spent $80 on two games in San Francisco at the Sony Metreon store when I was killing some time (due to lost my luggage). I think those are the last two games I’ll want for at least a year since I’m not a big gamer. I’m actually pretty lousy so it’s going to take me a while to beat the Katamari game. Heck, I even cut my thumbnails so I could play better, that’s how bad I am.
I had a really hard time finding HSBC’s rate card, and their CD’s all have $1000 minimums. I can get 5% rates from ING for short term CD’s for any amount, so it’s actually easier for me to lock up my funds and preserve the cash. I’d be getting pretty close to the same rate as HSBC as well.
I was being impulsive when I asked for referrals. I got fed up watching the rates for ING fall behind the other competitors, but being able to tie up my money into smaller $500 laddered CD’s is more appropriate for the amount of money I’m saving, plus I might be liquidating all of it soon for health and wedding expenses.
Flexo took the plunge though. Read and decide for yourself. I think I’m out for now.
Here’s a recent post from the Consumerist and the commenters really love ING for all the same reasons I do.
udandi wrote:
You’re right about it not being much of a bonus!
I dig ING’s ease of use and their customer service has been helpful, besides it’s still better than my bank’s rates so I feel like I’m still doing okay.
Posted on 15-Jul-06 at 12:43 am | Permalink