Their documentation doesn't seem very good... I hate actually engaging in financial matters (as opposed to discussing it), so I'm wondering how easy it actually is to claim the $50.
For example, could I just take my existing debit card and add some money to a new account in ING, and then immediately use the ING account for purchases at Amazon or for a Paypal donation, satisfying the 3 small purchases rule that way?
If it's that easy, then I think I could give this a shot. But if the easiest way involves schlepping down to my credit union to wrangle about a bank draft or mailing off personal checks and photocopies of ID or whatnot, then the mental effort is just too much, even for $50. I'm willing to do effort to get $50 when the activity is fun, like trading on Intrade, but not if all it is is financial bureaucracy.
wrangle about a bank draft or mailing off personal checks and photocopies of ID or whatnot
I was able to deposit money in my new ING account by copying numbers from my checkbook into the form on their website. Didn't have to leave the house.
If I gave you $50 you hadn't planned on receiving, would you consider giving it to charity?
Here's your chance to find out.
Just in time for the Tallin-Evans matching fundraiser, ING Direct has started offering a free $50 cash sign-up bonus. I've personally used ING for 10 years and referred over 20 people to similar promotions of theirs in the past so I can confirm that this is legit.1
It's a simple, effective way to get started as an optimal philanthropist for free:
Full disclosure: I was an SIAI Visiting Fellow in 2010. I've also used ING Direct as a customer the past 10 years, but otherwise have no financial interest in them.
[1] This isn't one of those bogus "intro" deals where you have to make sure you cancel the service later on or risk getting charged fees. ING has no fees, no minimum balance requirements, no sleazy marketing emails, and consistently good savings rates. If you want to use them for their good service after signing up, great, if not, no worries. All you have to do to qualify for the $50 is make 3 small purchases you were planning to make anyway with their new debit card. I know it's a trivial inconvenience, but I think it's worth it to be able to donate up to $100 to charity without actually spending any money.
[2] Profit denominated in warm fuzzies, karma, and post-Singularity catgirls.