New Bank of America Checking Offer--$100 bonus

Bank of America is currently offering a $100 bonus to new checking customers.
Update 8/2: See new post about additional states available for bonus offers.

The details:

Open a new personal checking account by October 1, 2012.

Use offer code CHMBRD when opening your account online. Or print and present the bonus page when opening your account at a banking center.

Set up and receive a qualifying Direct Deposit with your new account within 90 days from account opening.

The offer is available only in AR, CA, DC, DE, FL, IA, IL, KS, MD, ME, MI, MO, NH, NM, NV, PA, RI, TX, VA.

Completely free checking accounts have fallen by the wayside, but it looks like monthly fees can be avoided by not making teller transactions or keeping a minimum balance.

I'm on the fence about whether to sign up for this deal. I closed a BOA checking account about five years ago, so I'd likely be considered a new customer. But changing my direct deposit is a pain. Oh, I already have too many checking accounts I'm not using.

But my main incentive would actually not be the $100. It's the lack of fees for using a BOA ATM or debit card internationally that's the draw. While I plan to use my no foreign transaction fee Visa card as much as possible, not everywhere accepts credit cards and many places in Europe only accept "chip and PIN" cards.

Here's what I found on their website about international travel.

Use your debit card or ATM card within the Global ATM Alliance in the countries shown with no ATM operator fees or Non-Bank of America International ATM Fee. International Transaction Fees of 1% for converting your currency may apply. Some members may have locations in countries other than the country listed in the coverage area. Only ATMs in the country listed are considered part of the Alliance.

• BNP Paribas (France)
• BNL Banca Nazionale Del Lavoro (Italy)
• Barclays (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands)
• Deutsche Bank (Germany)
• Scotiabank (Canada and the Caribbean, Caribbean countries include: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles (St Maarten), St Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands)
• Westpac (Australia and New Zealand)

In addition, Bank of America has arranged for you to use your debit or ATM cards in China at China Construction Bank ATMs (China Construction Bank ATMs in Hong Kong are not included) and in Mexico at Banco Santander with no ATM Operator Fees or Non-Bank of America International ATM fees. An International Transaction fee for converting your currency may apply.