National City Offering a $150 Visa Gift Card to Open Free Checking Account

National City is offering a promotion to open one of their checking accounts. Open any one of their checking accounts online, via the phone, or in a branch and follow the following steps to get the cash:

1. Within 60 days of setting up the accounts set up a direct deposit of your entire paycheck into the account.
2. Accept their free Visa CheckCard and make at least 10 purchases within 60 days of opening the account.

The offer is only good for new money and only to households who don't already have a checking account relationship with National City. The offer is also only good until midnight tomorrow (Dec 31st). Sorry for the late notice on this one but I just found it.

Besides having your entire paycheck set up for the direct deposit, they'll also accept ACH transactions of a pention or social security benefits as long as the amount is over $250.

The offer is valid for all of their checking types, including their Free Checkiing and Free Checking Plus.

National City had a rocky year in 2008. It's stock cratered amid a wave of foreclosures and the bank was purchased by PNC Corp in October. It looks like they want to continue to acquire customers through the transition.