Billboards have been popping up all over the city where I live advertising a John Mellencamp concert sponsored by a local bank. You're probably thinking, "Big deal." But big-name entertainers rarely come to my city, which is relatively small.
DOWNLOAD: The Kip Tips iPad App
I do like a few of his songs, so I thought about going to the May 19 concert because I had heard that the bank was giving away free tickets. Turns out the tickets are only free to current account holders and those who open a new account.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Now, I wouldn't switch banks just to get Mellencamp tickets. But as a financial journalist, I checked out the bank's Web site to see what sort of accounts it has. It does offer free checking on all but one of its accounts and only requires a minimum deposit of $50 to open an account. However, it only provides free online bill payment if you have direct deposit. And this regional bank with locations in only ten cities doesn't offer any reimbursement to account holders (other than students) for fees if they have to get cash from another bank's ATM.
I won't be opening an account there, but I wonder how many people did to get free concert tickets (my calls to the bank weren't returned). Would you open an account to get free concert tickets? What if the tickets were for your all-time favorite band? What if a bank was offering a chance to win, say, a free car or home -- would that tempt you to open an account? Share your comments below.
Get 100 of our top money-saving tips by downloading the new iPad app or purchasing the PDF version.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Gain on Tech, Auto Tariff TalkThe Trump administration said late Friday that it will temporarily halt tariffs on some Chinese tech imports.
-
Sam's Club Plans Aggressive Expansion: Discover Its New LocationsSam's Club expansion plans will open up to 15 new stores each year. Learn where they plan to open in 2025.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
-
How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and MoreTravel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
-
How to Appeal an Unexpected Medical Billhealth insurance You may receive a bill because your insurance company denied a claim—but that doesn’t mean you have to pay it.
-
Amazon Prime Fees Are Rising. Here’s How to Cancel Your Amazon Prime MembershipFeature Amazon Prime will soon cost $139 a year, $180 for those who pay monthly. If you’re a subscriber, maybe it’s time to rethink your relationship. Here’s a step-by-step guide to canceling Prime.
-
How to Haggle for Almost AnythingSmart Buying Learning how to haggle is an invaluable skill. These strategies will help you negotiate a better price for just about any product or service.
-
Disability Insurance Can Provide COVID CoverageCoronavirus and Your Money If you are concerned about long-term complications from COVID-19, consider disability insurance coverage.
-
21 Things You Can't Return to Amazon — Either Online or In-StoreDid you know there are things you can't return to Amazon? Before adding these 21 items to your cart, be sure to read Amazon's return policy first.
-
How to Avoid a Charity Scampersonal finance Scammers never quit, even when you're trying to be altruistic. But you can avoid getting duped if you do your homework.
