• February 9, 2010

M&T Bank is encouraging customers to customize their checking account bonus to receive as much as $150 when opening new accounts between now and mid-April.

The Buffalo, N.Y.-based bank's "Build Your Own Bonus" incentive provides new customers with bonuses based on the banking services they will use. Customers will receive an initial bonus of as much as $100 for activating direct deposit with their new checking account, although bonus amounts vary based on the type of checking account.

Additional $25 bonuses can be tacked on when customers activate additional services, such as Web bill pay and overdraft protection. The maximum bonus under M&T's Build Your Own Bonus promotion is $150. A $25 initial minimum deposit is required to receive the bonus. The promotion does not apply to M&T's Totally Free, @ College or Basic Banking accounts.

M&T Bank has more than 750 branch offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C. --Tanya Irwin