American Express Bank Bonuses – $250 Checking, 30k Biz Checking

American Express is a bank most well-known for its credit card offers. I know American Express credit card offers are often quite generous and their Membership Rewards program is one of the best.

But until recently, American Express hasn’t had too many bonuses on their bank accounts.

Last year, they had an offer for their High Yield Savings (it has since expired) and they always seem to have their ever-green Business Checking offer, but now they’ve added a nice little offer on their Rewards Checking account too:

Table of Contents
  1. American Express Rewards Checking – $250 [EXPIRED]
  2. American Express High Yield Savings – $350 [EXPIRED]
  3. American Express Business Checking – 30,000 Membership Rewards Points
  4. How do these offers compare?

Editor’s Note: As of October 31st, 2023, American Express is no longer offering this new account bonus. For other bank bonuses, check out our post on the best bank bonuses and promotions or click here to sign up for our email newsletter and get notified of new bank promotions. While there are no bank bonuses, there are a few credit card bonuses worth checking out!

American Express Rewards Checking – $250 [EXPIRED]

American Express has a Rewards Checking account that really should get more attention than it does. It’s a checking account that offers you 1.00% APY, which is already noteworthy in a world where most checking accounts offer nothing.

There are no monthly fees, no minimum deposit, and you earn 1 Membership Rewards point for every $2 of eligible debit card purchases. Being able to earn rewards on a debit card is also quite rare.

Plus, they have a welcome bonus of $250 when you open an account by 10/31/2023 and receive a qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more by December 10th. Bonus is deposited within 8-12 weeks of satisfying the requirements.

⚠️ One big caveat – they are currently only accepting applications from existing Card Members with a U.S. Basic Consumer Card issued by American Express National Bank with 3+ months tenure. Current and prior American Express Business Checking customers are not eligible to apply at this time.

👉 Learn more about American Express Rewards Checking

(Offer expires 10/31/2023)

American Express High Yield Savings – $350 [EXPIRED]

American Express previously had a high-yield savings promotion where you could get a $350 cash bonus when you deposited $25,000 or more into a high-yield savings account. This offer last expired in late 2022 and has yet to return.

We will update this post if they bring it back.

American Express Business Checking – 30,000 Membership Rewards Points

Do you run a business? Does it need a checking account?

American Express has an offer where you can get 30,000 Membership Rewards Points if you:

  • Deposit $5,000 within 20 days of opening your account, AND
  • Maintain an average account balance of $5,000 for 60 days, AND
  • Make 10 or more qualifying transactions within 60 days of opening your account.

Qualifying transactions include mobile deposits, and electronic/online transactions including ACH, Wire, and Bill Payments.

This account also offers 1.30% APY on balances up to $500,000 and has no monthly maintenance fees.

👉 Learn more about this offer

How do these offers compare?

The American Express Rewards Checking offer is pretty good for an offer that requires just a single direct deposit. It has a very long time horizon, you have until December 10th, so you have a long time to switch it over. I know a lot of retirees on Social Security often complain that switching that direct deposit takes several weeks, which makes it hard for other bonuses, but this one seems tailor-made for that timeline.

Here are comparable offers – as you can see, the welcome bonus amount is quite competitive for a direct deposit of that size:

U.S. Bank – up to $450

Earn up to $450 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account and complete qualifying activities. Subject to certain terms and limitations. Offer valid through December 31, 2024. Member FDIC.

Offer may not be available if you live outside of the U.S. Bank footprint or are not an existing client of U.S. Bank or State Farm.

👉 Click here to learn more

BMO Checking – $300

BMO is offering a $300 bonus* when you open a BMO Checking account and have $4,000 in direct deposits within 90 days of opening. It is a very straightforward offer that is available nationwide.

*Conditions apply

👉 Click here to learn more


Bank of America – $300 Bonus Offer

Bank of America offers a $300 Bonus Offer cash bonus if you open a new account and Set up and receive Qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $2,000 or more into that new eligible account within 90 days of account opening. Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking accounts are not eligible for this offer. It has a monthly fee that is easy to have waived.

👉 Click here to learn more


Chase Total Checking® – $300

Chase Bank will give you $300 when you open a Total Checking account and set up and receive direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days. There is a $12 monthly fee that is waivable with a monthly direct deposit of just $500, so no gotchas on this deal!

👉 Click here to learn more

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About Jim Wang

Jim Wang is a forty-something father of four who is a frequent contributor to Forbes and Vanguard's Blog. He has also been fortunate to have appeared in the New York Times, Baltimore Sun, Entrepreneur, and Marketplace Money.

Jim has a B.S. in Computer Science and Economics from Carnegie Mellon University, an M.S. in Information Technology - Software Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a Masters in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. His approach to personal finance is that of an engineer, breaking down complex subjects into bite-sized easily understood concepts that you can use in your daily life.

One of his favorite tools (here's my treasure chest of tools, everything I use) is Empower Personal Dashboard, which enables him to manage his finances in just 15-minutes each month. They also offer financial planning, such as a Retirement Planning Tool that can tell you if you're on track to retire when you want. It's free.

>> Read more articles by Jim

Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank or financial institution. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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