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Worth it or not?
February 4, 2008
10:44 pm
Maxime
Guest
Guests

I've got a loose 5,000$ at ING right now at some 3,65%.

If I transfer it to HSBC which I don't have an account yet, I'd make around 15$ extra with their 4.75% promotional rate till May.

Is it worth the 15$ (I wanted to open an account with them anyways) or should I wait for the 50$ or 25$ promotion they have already done back in the time or should I take advantage of this and make a 15$ welcome promotion myself?

Thanks

Max

February 4, 2008
11:35 pm
Maxime
Guest
Guests

In other words, should I register right now or wait for an evnentual 25$ or 50$ welcome bonus?

February 5, 2008
2:25 am
Peter
Admin
Forum Posts: 1405
Member Since:
May 15, 2007
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Unfortunately I don't have the insider information to give you the proper advice on that 😛 My general thought is that it's simply a good idea to have a couple of accounts so that it is easy to shift money when a better rate comes around. Sometimes that peace of mind is worth forgoing the $10 to $35 opportunity lost if a bonus comes around later.

February 5, 2008
8:16 am
Maxime
Guest
Guests

Well, let's hope they do not tamke any promotional offers in the next year or I'll be very angry 😀

Oh Peter, btw, have you gotten the 20$ bonus for referral to ICICI? My account has been opened yesterday and i've received my client number, I've changed the password with Forgot password recovery and I see I only have 100$ deposited so I think I'll wait before calling their incredible customer service to see where's the 20$.

February 5, 2008
2:41 pm
Peter
Admin
Forum Posts: 1405
Member Since:
May 15, 2007
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Nope, I haven't received a bonus yet. I guess... give it a week and then call to complain?

February 5, 2008
7:14 pm
Maxime
Guest
Guests

Yeah I think I'll do that and I'll insist on the point they told me 2 times via phone that I would get the bonus and 1 time via e-mail too that even if I was living in Quebec I owuld get the bonus for referral. So, if I don't get the bonus, I would conclude that they do not understand any word of English or they are big dumb*%@$s.

February 5, 2008
11:45 pm
Peter
Admin
Forum Posts: 1405
Member Since:
May 15, 2007
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I just received the bonus -- hopefully you have gotten yours.

February 6, 2008
7:50 am
Maxime
Guest
Guests

Allright, I'll check tonight. I'm not home right now and I didn't learn my account number yet so I can't check. But obviously if they gave you the bonus, I should receive it too.

February 7, 2008
4:11 pm
Maxime
Guest
Guests

Oh god wow....

I got the 20$ bonus deposited in my account

I'm astounished....

February 8, 2008
8:23 am
Craig
Guest
Guests

I took advantage of their $50 account-opening promo last year and the $50 was deposited when they said it would be; even a few days earlier as I recall. I haven't used the account since then because their savings rate hasn't been competitive, but I yesterday transferred my emergency fund from ICICI to HSBC to take advantage of the 4.75% promo rate. I also put a reminder in MS Outlook to transfer the funds out again before May 2 if their regular savings rate is still uncompetitive at that time.

February 9, 2008
3:50 pm
Maxime
Guest
Guests

That's the best thing to do IMO.

However I would like to know if it's possible to transfer directly from ING to HSBC and directly from ICICI to HSBC because as soon as my HSBC account will be opened I'd like to xfer my money ASAP to benefit of the 4.75% rate. I sure can do it indirectly via my main banking account but is there an option available to bypass this way?

February 9, 2008
6:27 pm
jc
Guest
Guests

You could link additional accounts if you have
(a) a blank personalized cheque marked "VOID", or
(b) an original bank statement, bearing your full name and current address.
You will need to send it to HSBC with the authorization form to have it linked.

Since you cannot obtain a authorization form until your new account is opened, it will be quicker to transfer it through your main bank account first.

**I have never linked any accounts that did not provide cheques since I do not know if the transfer will fail or incur any fees not disclosed.

February 13, 2008
1:17 am
Bill
Guest
Guests

Maxime said:

I've got a loose 5,000$ at ING right now at some 3,65$.


If I transfer it to HSBC which I don't have an account yet, I'd make around 15$ extra with their 4.75% promotional rate till May.


Is it worth the 15$ (I wanted to open an account with them anyways) or should I wait for the 50$ or 25$ promotion they have already done back in the time or should I take advantage of this and make a 15$ welcome promotion myself?


Thanks


Max


The 1.1% difference in interest rates on $5000 is only 15 cents a day. Assuming you get your application in the mail immediately, and get your account set up and your application mailed back in 2 weeks round trip and then transfer your funds, you will probably only have a maximum of 74 days left of the promotion for a difference of $11.15 less the cost of postage, time, etc. Is it worth it? You tell me.

Bill.

February 13, 2008
1:28 pm
Maxime
Guest
Guests

Yesh I did this calculation already.

However I got a 6000$ GIC ending soon and got some money from school loans coming in too and the money I make from working. So at the end this would make pretty much the 25$ bonus they offered last year.

February 13, 2008
2:04 pm
mike
Guest
Guests

Have you had a look at the 5.5% promo rate at CT. I believe it will give 5.5% for 3 months from the time your first deposit arrives.

March 12, 2008
7:20 pm
Maxime
Guest
Guests

@Bill:

"The 1.1% difference in interest rates on $5000 is only 15 cents a day. Assuming you get your application in the mail immediately, and get your account set up and your application mailed back in 2 weeks round trip and then transfer your funds, you will probably only have a maximum of 74 days left of the promotion for a difference of $11.15 less the cost of postage, time, etc. Is it worth it? You tell me.

Bill."

With the 3.3% interest rate of ING and 3.60% or ICICI, now I am happy to have opened a HSBC account. It was worth the trouble and I can pay my Mastercard bills directly.

Happy I am.

March 12, 2008
9:28 pm
dewy
Guest
Guests

mike said:

Have you had a look at the 5.5% promo rate at CT. I believe it will give 5.5% for 3 months from the time your first deposit arrives.


I believe CTFS gives 4.6% promo rate for first 90 days, and $20 bonus

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