But because most banks buy in bulk, the per-item cost usually falls below that taxable threshold. And several banks said their customers haven't balked when pricier giveaways triggered the tax requirement.

Still, gift programs aren't for everyone. Credit unions, for instance, tend to have fewer offers.

Brent Allen, executive vice president of Riverdale-based America First Credit Union, said it usually does not offer straight giveaways.

"What we have done on occasion is, people who take advantage of a certain service, we'll put them into a drawing. . . . We've just finished up a loan promotion, for example, and we gave away some family trips to Disneyland for people who participated and got a new loan during the period," he said.

For the most part, Allen said, America First tries to attract customers without freebies.

"We tout the advantages of a credit union, low fees, reasonable rates," he said. "We try to sell the overall package rather than give away a freebie to promote one certain thing."

---

E-mail: gkratz@desnews.com