Banks used to offer t-shirts and toasters to get new customers to open an account.
Today, they offer bonus money for you to open an account and, in many cases, set up a direct deposit from your employer or government benefits. Some don’t even ask for that.
On this page, I’m going to share the best bank promotions I know about, both checking account offers and savings account offers and bonus sign up offers worth considering. We start with nationwide bonuses but also include a few high dollar bonuses from banks with a smaller geographic footprint.
The minimum promotional bonus is $100 to get on this list and most banks will do a soft pull of your credit report for identity confirmation purposes. Some may do a hard pull but it’s rarer, so check that first if it’s a concern for you.
The list only contains bonuses for personal bank accounts. If you need an account for your business, see our list of business bank account bonuses and promotions.
We share our favorite bonuses and you can scroll down for more details on each bonus:
💵 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.
Best Bank Bonus Offers
We list many on this page because we know you like to see them – but here is a list of the ones we like the most. They are high dollar amounts, widely available (geographically), and from banks you’ve heard of before. There are regional banks on the full list below but this list should have at least one or two (if not more) banks you can do business with:
Bank | Bonus* | Expiration Date | Direct Deposit Required? |
---|---|---|---|
🏆 U.S. Bank | up to $450 | 12/30/2024 | Yes |
🏆 BMO | $300 | 2/3/2025 | Yes |
Truist | $400 | 4/30/2025 | Yes |
Capital One | $250 | at an unknown date, they did not list one | Yes |
Barclays | $200 | 1/6/2025 | No |
KeyBank | $300 | 12/13/2024 | Yes |
Bank of America | $300 Bonus Offer | 1/31/2025 | Yes |
Citizens Bank | up to $400 | 11/21/2024 | Yes |
Chase | $300 | 1/22/2025 | Yes |
PNC Bank | up to $400 | 1/2/2025 | Yes |
SoFi Money® | up to $300 | 12/31/2024 | Yes |
*Terms and conditions of each offer will apply
Table of Contents
- 🏆 U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking – up to $450
- 🏆 BMO
- Truist Bank — $400
- Capital One 360 Checking – $250
- Barclays Tiered Savings Account – $200
- KeyBank Checking Account — $300
- Bank of America — Cash Bonus Offer
- Citizens Bank — up to $400
- Chase Total Checking® — $300
- Chase Secure Banking℠ — $100
- Chase Private Client – up to $3,000
- PNC Bank — up to $400
- Citi Checking with Enhanced Direct Deposit — up to $450
- SoFi® Checking & Savings — up to $300
- Fifth Third Bank — $300
- PSECU – $300
- Wells Fargo Checking Account — $325
- Laurel Road – up to $240
- First Horizon Checking Bonus – $450 [EXPIRED]
- Flagstar Bank — $250 or $350
- Old National Bank — $250 or $450
- South State Bank — $200
- Alliant Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account – $100
- Associated Bank Checking — up to $600
- Santander Select Checking — $400
- Regions Bank — $100
- M&T Bank Checking — up to $200
- GTE Financial – $300 [EXPIRED]
- Fulton Bank Simply Checking — $250
- Columbia Bank Checking — up to $800
- FirstBank Bloom — $300
- Unify Financial Credit Union — $150
- Axos Bank Rewards Checking – $400 [EXPIRED]
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs — $100 [EXPIRED]
- American Express® Rewards Checking – $250 [EXPIRED]
- Conclusion
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
This content is not provided by the bank advertiser. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank advertiser.
🏆 U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking – up to $450
U.S. Bank has a promotion on their U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account – it’s a great offer for new accounts and the requirements are straightforward.
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 12/30/2024. Member FDIC.
Earn up to $450 with a new Bank Smartly Checking account. Complete the following within 90 days of account opening:- Enroll in online banking or the U.S. Bank Mobile App
- Make two or more direct deposits(s) totaling $2,000 to $4,999.99 to earn $250, $5,000 to $7,999.99 to earn $350 or $8,000 or more to earn $450.
(Offer expires 12/30/2024)
🏆 BMO
BMO Checking Account — Earn $300
Get a $300 cash bonus* when you open a BMO Smart Advantage Checking Account or a BMO Smart Money Checking Account and complete qualifying activities between 11/1/2024 and 2/3/2025.
Open an account and have have $4,000 in direct deposits within 90 days of opening.
*Conditions apply
Available in the U.S. Accounts are subject to approval. BMO Bank N.A. Member FDIC
(Offer expires 2/3/2025)
Truist Bank — $400
Truist Bank will give you $400 when you open up a new Truist Bright, Truist Fundamental or Truist Dimension checking account. If you recall, Truist Bank is the new name of the bank after the SunTrust and BB&T merger.
To get the $400, you must open a new account and then receive two qualifying direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of account opening.
Open to residents of AL, AR, GA, FL, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC. You cannot have an existing personal checking account with Truist Bank or have closed one on or after 10/31/23
The promotional code for this offer is AFL2425TR1400 and you can open it online or in a branch by requesting a coupon.
There is a $50 monthly fee on these accounts but you can get it waived.
(Offer expires 4/30/2025)
Capital One 360 Checking – $250
Capital One has a $250 bonus for a new Capital One 360 Checking Account that is super easy to get. Just open an account by at an unknown date, they did not list one with the promotion code CHECKING250.
Then, 2 direct deposits each of $500 or more within 75 days of account opening and you’ll get $250 in your account. That’s it.
Valid for new 360 Checking account customers. If you had a If you had a 360 Checking, Simply Checking, or Total Control Checking account with Capital One on or after January 1, 2022, you are ineligible.
Barclays Tiered Savings Account – $200
Barclays is offering a $200 bonus for new customers.
Open a new Savings account, deposit $25,000 within 30 days of opening the account and maintain at least $25,000 in that account for 120 days.
After you’ve maintained the balance for 120 days, the bonus will be deposited in approximately 60 days. There is no direct deposit requirement.
We like this offer because you get the bonus in addition to a competitive high yield interest rate of up to 4.80% APY (with minimum balance requirements). A lot of high deposit bonus offers don’t pay any interest.
Terms Apply.
(Offer expires 1/6/2025)
KeyBank Checking Account — $300
This KeyBank checking account bonus is generous – get $300 for opening either a Key Smart Checking® with the minimum opening deposit of $10 plus one eligible direct deposit of at least $1,000 within the first 60 days of account opening.
Your $300 cash bonus will be deposited into your account within 60 days of meeting requirements. Account must not be closed at the time of gift payment.
(Only available in AK, CO, CT, ID, IN, MA, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, and WA.)
(Offer expires 12/13/2024)
Bank of America — Cash Bonus Offer
Bank of America’s $300 Bonus Offer is an online only offer and must be opened through the Bank of America promotional page.
Three Bank of America banking accounts qualify for this bonus:
- Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® – $25 minimum opening deposit and $4.95 monthly maintenance fee. See the offer page for ways to waive the monthly fee each statement cycle.
- Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking® – $100 minimum opening deposit and $12 monthly maintenance fee. See the offer page for ways to waive the monthly fee each statement cycle.
- Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking® – $100 minimum opening deposit and $25 monthly maintenance fee. See the offer page for ways to waive the monthly fee each statement cycle.
All it takes to qualify is to open a new eligible Bank of America Advantage Banking account through the promotional page 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.
Once all requirements are met, Bank of America will attempt to pay the bonus within 60 days. The offer is for new checking customers only. Additional terms and conditions apply. See offer page for more details.
*A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a direct deposit of regular monthly income – such as your salary, pension or Social Security benefits, which are made by your employer or other payer – using account and routing numbers that you provide to them.
Also, don’t forget, the Bank of America promotional offer code is MNB300CIS. If you click through the links on this site, the code will be entered automatically for you.
Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC
(Offer expires 1/31/2025)
Citizens Bank — up to $400
Citizens Bank will give you up to $400 to open a checking account and satisfy a few conditions. This offer is available in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington D.C..
The deal is a few steps – first, open a new Citizens Bank checking account and:
- Get $300 when you open a new checking account and make a single direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days
- Get an additional $100 when you open your first personal savings account on the same day and make monthly deposits of $100+ for three months in a row
That’s how you get up to $400.
(This offer expires 11/21/2024)
Chase Total Checking® — $300
Chase has this offer accessible to most consumers – the Chase Total Checking account. I’ve previously covered it on our Chase promotions page.
To get the $300, open a new account, set up, and set up and receive direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days.
You’ll be awarded the bonus within 15 business days. You must keep the account open for at least six months or they take back the bonus.
There is a $12 monthly service fee that is waived if you have a monthly direct deposit of $500+ or keep a minimum daily balance of $1,500 or have $5,000+ in any combination of qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
For this and other Chase bank promo offers, you can open your account online or request a coupon and bring it to a physical location to open your account.
Available online nationwide. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.(Offer expires 1/22/2025)
Chase Secure Banking℠ — $100
Chase Secure Banking will give you $100 when you open an account and satisfy the qualifying activities. Those activities are to complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of enrollment – the activities include debit card purchases, online bill payments, Chase QuickDepositSM, Zelle® and ACH credits. Your bonus will appear within 15 days of completing these.
There is no minimum deposit requirement and no direct deposit requirements for this offer but you must keep the account open for at least six months after coupon enrollment or they will deduct the bonus.
There is a $4.95 monthly fee.
👉 Get $100 from Chase Secure Banking
Chase Private Client – up to $3,000
Chase Private Client has a bonus of up to $3,000 when you open a new Chase Private Client CheckingSM account with qualifying activities.
The bonus is based on how much you deposit.
Deposit Amount | Bonus Amount |
---|---|
$150,000 – $249,999 | $1,000 |
$250,000 – $499,999 | $2,000 |
$500,000 or more | $3,000 |
Within 45 days of enrollment, transfer qualifying new money or securities to a combination of eligible checking, savings and/or J.P. Morgan Wealth Management non-retirement accounts. This eexcludes Chase business checking and savings accounts, any J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing & Automated Investing, J.P. Morgan Personal Advisors Accounts, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management retirement accounts and CDs.
Your bonus will be determined on day 45. Then, maintain your new money for 90 days from coupon enrollment and it will be added to your account within 40 days.
👉 Learn More about Chase Private Client
PNC Bank — up to $400
PNC Bank will give you a up to $400 cash bonus if you open a Virtual Wallet with Performance Select and establish total qualifying direct deposits above a certain limit.
The bonus has three tiers, with each tier has a different required direct deposit (and different account type) but the offer page will have all the details you need.
- Open a Virtual Wallet account and establish total qualifying direct deposits of $500+ and get $100.
- Open a Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend account and establish total qualifying direct deposits of $2,000+ and get $200.
- Open a Virtual Wallet with Performance Select account and establish total qualifying direct deposits of $5,000+ and get $400.
Also, the accounts have different fee structures so double-check what you need to do to avoid those.
Finally, this is available to residents of CA, TX, AZ, NM, CO, PA, FL, OH, WV, DE, NJ, SC, NC, GA, KY, IN, MI, IL, MD, DC, WV, and WI.
(Offer expires 1/2/2025)
Citi Checking with Enhanced Direct Deposit — up to $450
Looking for a Citi bank bonus?
Citi Checking with Enhanced Direct Deposit is a limited time offer where you can get a up to $450 bonus when you open an eligible checking account by 1/7/2025 with qualifying Enhanced Direct Deposits and completing required activities.
What are the required activities? I’m glad you asked!
You qualify for the bonus when you have two (2) Enhanced Direct Deposits directly into your new checking account within 90 calendar days from account opening. Your total combined Enhanced Direct Deposits must equal $3,000 or more for $325, must equal $6,000 or more for $450.
What is an Enhanced Direct Deposit? “An Enhanced Direct Deposit is an electronic deposit through the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network of payroll, pension, social security, government benefits and other payments to your checking or savings account. An Enhanced Direct Deposit also includes all deposits via Zelle® and other P2P payments when made via ACH using providers such as Venmo or PayPal. Teller deposits, cash deposits, check deposits, wire transfers, transfers between Citibank accounts, ATM transfers and deposits, mobile check deposits, and P2P payments using a debit card do not qualify as an Enhanced Direct Deposit.”
Your bonus will be deposited into your account within 30 days of completing the required activities.
SoFi® Checking & Savings — up to $300
SoFi has a great promotion where you can get up to $300.
To get that offer, open a SoFi Checking and Savings Account and receive qualifying direct deposits totaling at least $5,000. Your bonus amount will depend on the total of the direct deposits you receive in the 30-day evaluation window.
You will also earn up to 4.20% APY (unlocked with direct deposit or by depositing $5,000+ every 30 days, otherwise 1.20% APY) on your savings account and 0.50% APY on your checking account.
Total Qualifying Direct Deposits | Cash Bonus |
---|---|
$1 – $999.99 | $0 |
$1,000 – $4,999.99 | $50 |
$5,000 or more | $300 |
👉 Learn more about SoFi Banking
(Offer expires 12/31/2024)
For a full review, click here for our deep dive into the SoFi Checking & Savings account. We also compiled a list of other SoFi promotions too.
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus when they set up Direct Deposit of at least $1,000 during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period. Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/24. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
SoFi members with Direct Deposit or $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 4.20% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/31/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet
Fifth Third Bank — $300
Fifth Third Bank has a new account bonus of $300 bonus if you open a Fifth Third checking account and make direct deposits totaling $2,000 or more within 90 days of account opening. The Fifth Third Essential, Enhanced, Preferred, Free Checking or Free Checking plus Extra Time are all qualifying accounts.
You can do open an account at a branch or apply online, which is great for times like now. Your cash bonus is deposited within 10 days of meeting the requirements.
The offer code should be automatically applied but just in case, the code is LFWHHF.
This is only available to new customers and you can only get one new account-related gift incentive each calendar year. Valid for customers in their service area, which includes Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Illinois.
(Offer expires 11/16/2024)
PSECU – $300
Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) has an $300 bonus that has a few requirements, or “stages” to it:
Stage 1 – Join PSECU by clicking this link to visit the site and joining them using the promo code RIGHTNOTE. Once you’ve joined, add a free checking account ($5 minimum deposit). Sign up and log into digital banking and set up a qualifying payroll direct deposit(s) that total at least $500 per calendar month.
Stage 2 – Within 120 of meeting Stage 1 requirements, continue the recurring direct deposits for 3 consecutive months AND complete a minimum of 10 eligible debit card purchases (at least $10 each) within 120 days.
You can qualify if you attended, work in, or graduated from a partner college in PA or are a state or local government employee. You can also qualify if you have a relative who is already a PSECU member.
Finally, you can always join the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society to qualify. If you do that, it costs $20 but PSECU will cover $10 of it.
See terms and conditions at go.psecu.com/rightnote. also see below*
(Offer expires 12/31/2024)
Wells Fargo Checking Account — $325
Get a $325 welcome bonus for new Wells Fargo Everyday Checking customers when you meet a few easy requirements:
- Open an Everyday Checking account online with a deposit of $25 or more,
- Then, receive a total of $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits into the new checking account within 90 days from account opening.
The Everyday Checking account has a $10 monthly fee that can be waived if you satisfy one of four conditions. Two of those conditions include maintaining a $500 minimum daily balance or receiving $500 or more in total qualifying direct deposits each period.
(Offer expires 1/7/2025)
Laurel Road – up to $240
Laurel Road is best known for their student loans but did you know they have a bonus on their Laurel Road Loyalty Checking account?
First, you can earn $200 when you open an account and make qualifying ACH direct deposits totaling $2,500 or more per month, starting within 60 days of account opening.
Then, you continue earning a $20 cash reward for every month you make qualifying ACH direct deposits during the first 12 months, and $10 for every month after that for as long as you have the account.
That’s up to $240 in your first year and you continue to get $10/month after that.
(This offer expires none listed)
First Horizon Checking Bonus – $450 [EXPIRED]
First Horizon has a really simple offer where you can get $450 if you open an account and make qualifying direct deposits totaling $1000 within the first 90 days.. A qualifying client-initiated transaction spans a lot of different transactions, including deposits, checks paid, ACH items, and signature and PIN-based purchases made with a First Horizon Debit Card.
This offer is available in LA, NY, SC, TX, TN, AR, MS, AL, GA, KY, FL, NC and VA. There is a $2 monthly fee but easily waived if you opt for electronic statements plus you need to keep the account open for six months or you forfeit the bonus.
(Offer expires 9/15/2024)
Flagstar Bank — $250 or $350
Flagstar Bank has a promotion on their checking accounts and it’s relatively easy to complete, as long as you live in their service area of AZ, CA, FL, IN, MI, NJ, NY, OH, or WI.
To get $250, open a Flagstar Ready Checking account and then maintain an average daily balance of $500 or more for the first 90 days. Then, set up one or more direct deposits that total $500 or more within the first 90 days.
The Flagstar Ready Checking account requires a $50 minimum deposit to open the account but there is no minimum balance requirement. It has no monthly maintenance fee when you enroll in e-statements.
To get $350, open a Flagstar Elite Checking account and then maintain an average daily balance of $500 or more for the first 90 days. Then, set up one or more direct deposits that total $500 or more within the first 90 days.
The Flagstar Elite Checking account also requires a $50 minimum deposit to open the account but there is no minimum balance requirement. It does, however, have a $15 monthly maintenance fee that is only waived if you maintain a $25,000 combined monthly average balance in all of your deposit accounts.
Finally, you must keep the account open for 180 days or you forfeit the bonus.
👉 Learn more about this promotion
(Offer expires 9/30/2024)
Old National Bank — $250 or $450
Old National Bank has two offers available and the amount of the bonus depends on the total of 2+ direct deposits made over 90 days.
The higher bonus of $450 bonus is for their ONB Preferred Checking account or ONB Everyday Checking account. It requires that you make two or more ACH direct deposits totaling $10,000 or more within 90 days of account opening.
If that amount is too high, you can still get a $250 when you open a ONB Preferred Checking or an Everyday Checking and make two or more ACH direct deposits totaling $2,000 or more.
There is a monthly service charge on both accounts that can be waived if you meet certain requirements. On the ONB Preferred Checking account, it is waived if you have a $5,000 daily balance or maintain a $25,000 combined minimum daily balance among your deposit accounts. For the ONB Everyday Checking, you can get the fee waived if you maintain $500 in direct deposits each month, maintain a daily balance of $750, or maintain a combined daily balance of $1,500 in deposit accounts.
There is a $50 minimum opening deposit.
👉 Get $250 or $450 from Old National Bank
(Offer expires 10/31/2024)
South State Bank — $200
South State Bank has an offer of $200 and you just have to satisfy one of two conditions with 60 days:
- make a minimum of 15 debit card purchases or payments, or,
- Have a monthly total of $250 qualifying direct deposit OR preauthorized automatic draft(s) of $25.
You must also be a resident of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia.
👉 Get $200 from South State Bank
(No offer expiration date shown)
Alliant Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account – $100
This is Alliant’s longest standing offer and it does not require a direct deposit, but it does require you to make transfers into the account.
Open an Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account by 12/31/2024 and make deposits of $100 a month for 12 months.
These aren’t direct deposits, they’re simple transfers. Once you’ve transferred $100 a month for 12 months, they deposit the $100 bonus.
No maintenance fees if you opt for eStatements, so you’ll definitely want to do that.
Learn more about about this offer
(Offer expires 12/31/2024)
Associated Bank Checking — up to $600
Associated Bank has a promotion associated with their three tiers of checking and savings account – the Associated Access Checking, Associated Balanced Checking, and Associated Choice Checking. Just open an account with the required minimum balance (shown below) and get a bonus based on how much you have in your account after 60 days for a period of 30 days.
For the Associated Access Checking, you need to open it with at least $25.
For the Associated Balanced Checking, you need to open it with at least $100.
For the Associated Choice Checking, you need to open it with at least $100.
Then, after 60 days, get a bonus based on your average daily balance over days 61-90:
- For amounts $1,000 to $4,999.99 – you earn $300;
- For amounts $5,000 to $9,999.99 – you earn $400;
- For amounts over $10,000 – you earn $600;
Check the fees on each of those accounts because they will vary.
You can get an additional $200 when you open a new Associated Relationship Savings account along with the checking account.
Available for residents of IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, OH or WI.
👉 Learn more
(Offer expires 12/31/2024)
Santander Select Checking — $400
Santander has a new bank account bonus that residents of the northeast United States may be interested in! Open a Santander Select Checking account with the promotion code that is shown after you enter your email address (you have to enter your first and last name plus an email address, then it shows a unique code).
Then, just satisfy a few conditions to get $400 from Santander Bank.
The conditions are easy:
- get $400 by having direct deposits totaling $5,000 or more in your account within the first 90 days;,
- keep the account open for at least 90 days,
- get paid!
You can’t be a current checking customer of Santander Bank or had a checking account in the last 12 months. There is also a $25 monthly fee that is waived if you have $25,000 in bank deposits and eligible investments held with Santander Investment Services (check the fine print for full details).
Available to residents of NH, MA, RI, CT, DE, NY, NJ, PA, or FL.
(Offer expires 12/31/2024)
Regions Bank — $100
Regions Bank has a promotion for their LifeGreen checking account. You can can get up to $100.
The $100 is structured as an annual savings bonus. Open a new Regions LifeGreen checking account or LifeGreen Savings account and earn a 1% annual savings bonus of up to $100 when you have an automatic transfer of at least $10 from your Regions checking account to your LifeGreen Savings account is required in at least 10 of any of the 12 calendar months that precede the month of your account opening anniversary. The bonus is calculated on the average monthly balance for the 12 calendar months that precede your anniversary month.
Available to residents of AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN, and TX. Make sure to read the terms very carefully to ensure you qualify.
👉 Learn more
(Offer expired not displayed)
M&T Bank Checking — up to $200
M&T Bank is offering a new account promotion that’s easy to get. Open a new checking account and set up qualifying direct deposits, totaling at least $500 within 90 days of account opening.. The bonus you get is based on the account type you open. You’ll get the bonus deposited within 90 days of the direct deposit.
When you open the account, you’ll need a promo code to qualify. We’ve seen reports of either TE or CA as the code.
This offer isn’t nationwide, go to the promotional webpage and enter your ZIP code to see if you qualify and for what amounts.
M&T Bank has branches in CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, VA, VT, WV.
👉 Learn more
(Offer expires 11/30/2024)
GTE Financial – $300 [EXPIRED]
GTE Financial is a credit union with locations in Florida but you can gain membership when you join CU Savers Club, which is free to join. Once you join CU Savings Club, open an account with promo code RGSPRNG24RM and receive a total of $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits into the new checking account within 90 days from account opening.
Then, enroll in online banking within 30 days too and you’ll get the $300 within 14 days.
WARNING: This credit union is known to use a hard inquiry on your credit report when you open an account. This can have an adverse affect on your credit score.
👉 Get $300 from GTE Financial
(Offer expiration 9/30/2024)
Fulton Bank Simply Checking — $250
Fulton Bank has a $250 promotion on their Simply Checking account.
For $250, open a Simply Checking account and set up a recurring direct deposit totaling $500 or more within 60 days.
The Simply Checking account has no monthly maintenance fees, no minimum balance, no minimum transaction requirements, and the Relationship Rewards Visa® Debit Card has no annual fee. You can open an account with just $25.
Available to residents of Delaware, Washington D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
👉 Get $250 from Fulton Bank
(Offer expires 12/31/2024)
Columbia Bank Checking — up to $800
Columbia Bank will give you up to a $800 bonus when you open a new Cash Back, Forward, or Senior checking account. You can earn various amounts for completing specific activities.
Only available to residents of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
- $100 if you have 10 point-of-sale debit card transactions within 60 days of account opening.
- $300 if you have at least $1,000 in direct deposit posted to the account within 60 days of account opening.
- $400 if you keep a minimum balance in the account of at least $25,000 for the first 120 days. You’ll earn $200 instead if the minimum balance is at least $5,000.
(No expiration listed)
FirstBank Bloom — $300
FirstBank, with branches in Colorado, Arizona, and California; is offering a $300 bonus if you open a FirstBank Bloom Package with very simple requirements.
- Just open a Bloom package between now and January 1, 2025,
- Enroll in online banking,
- Have at least one qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more for 3 consecutive months.
You can enroll online or bring it to a branch to open. The direct deposit must be payroll, pension, Social Security or other recurring government benefits and must be a single direct deposit. You must keep the account open for at least 12 months or the bonus “can be revoked.”
There is a Monthly Account Service fee for those over 26 but it can be waived if you:
- Maintain a daily $1,500 minimum balance in your Bloom Checking account, or,
- Maintain $5,000 in combined average monthly balance across your FirstBank personal accounts, or,
- Receive $500 per statement cycle in qualifying ACH direct deposits to your Bloom Checking account.
👉 Learn more
(Offer expires 1/1/2025)
Unify Financial Credit Union — $150
Unify Financial Credit Union will give you up to $150 if you open up a qualifying UNIFY Checking Account. It’s a free checking account with no minimum balance fees or a direct deposit requirement. When you join, you also get a complimentary membership to the Surfrider Foundation or Friends of Hobbs. You can apply online but have to meet the membership requirements.
The bonus has several tiers:
- Get $50 just for opening a new checking account (excluding Right Start Checking and Right Start Debit)
- Get another $50 when you set up a recurring ACH Direct Deposit of at least $500 each month within 60 days
- Then, get an additional bonus up to $50 by earning $1 bonus for each debit card transaction that exceeds $5 with your new UNIFY Visa Debit Card within the first 60 days of account opening (maximum bonus of $50).
(No expiration listed)
Axos Bank Rewards Checking – $400 [EXPIRED]
Axos Bank is running a great promotion where you can get a $400 bonus when you open an Axos Bank Rewards Checking account with the promotion code NEW400.
Then, set up direct deposit and receive at least $1,500 in monthly deposits and also maintain a minimum average daily balance of $3,000 in your Rewards Checking account to get up to $100 per month for five months
The account has a $50 minimum opening deposit but the high yield savings account has no minimum balance requirements, pays interest, and there are zero monthly maintenance fees.
(Offer expires 8/31/2024)
Marcus by Goldman Sachs — $100 [EXPIRED]
Marcus by Goldman Sachs is offering a bonus on their online savings account – they will give you $100 when you deposit $10,000 or more in new funds into a new or existing Online Savings Account within 10 days of enrollment.
This can be a new or existing account but the funds have to new to Marcus and then stay there for at least 90 days. If you have an existing account, you must add an additional $10,000 to the current balance at the time of enrollment.
A nice perk is that this account pays interest – 4.10% APY – not fantastic but better than zero!
👉 Learn more about about this offer
(Offer expires 2/15/2023)
American Express® Rewards Checking – $250 [EXPIRED]
American Express Rewards Checking has a welcome bonus of $250. All you have to do is open a Rewards Checking account by 10/31/2023 and have $4,000 in direct deposits within 90 days of opening.
There is no minimum deposit required, no monthly fees, and the account even earns interest of 1.00% APY.
👉 Learn more about American Express Rewards Checking
How do we pick what banks appear in the list? If the bonus is greater than $100 and it’s a reasonably large geographic footprint, we include it on the list. We want to show bonuses that most people can get either by visiting a branch or completing online.
We don’t have an interest in a $20 bonus for a small regional bank only a handful of people will be interested in it. Sadly, few credit unions on this list because I haven’t seen any offer bonuses. I’ve also stuck with cash bonuses, rather than other giveaways like tickets because it’s easier to compare and has broader appeal.
The expired list of promotions is there to give you an idea of what was once available. Some banks run promotions all year, rolling over the expiration date every quarter or so. Some banks run them seasonally. I keep the expired list around so you have an idea of what that bank may have offered in the past.
Conclusion
Free money is great but there are some things to pay very close attention to when it comes to bank promotions.
First, check out our guide on bank account bonuses. It’ll give you a sense of what you need to do to make sure you get your bonus money. Sometimes banks can get sneaky so learn the rules of what you need to ensure they don’t hose you.
Also, make sure you find a bank that gives you all the services you need. Bonus money is a nice sweetener but you still need a bank that gives you exactly what you need.
OK go get that bonus money!
👉 This blog post is also available as a Web Story – “Best Bank Account Promotions.”
*Level Up – Up to $300 Bonus Terms and Conditions
From 1.1.24 to 12.31.24, PSECU is running a new member incentive bonus. To receive up to $300, new members must sign up with promotional code RIGHTNOTE and satisfy each of the requirements listed below. PSECU will deposit member incentive bonus into the Regular share within 45 days after the requirements are satisfied. Promotion open to U.S. Residents who are 18 years of age or older at the time the account is opened. Limit one (1) new member Hit the Right Note bonus per tax identification number used to open a new PSECU account. Joint owners listed on accounts are not eligible to be rewarded for this bonus unless they open their own account. You will not be eligible for the Hit the Right Note bonus if you are a current PSECU member, have closed an account within the past 12 months, or have received any new member incentive bonus within the past 12 months. Members who open accounts and/or loans by fraudulent, suspicious, or illegal means, including but not limited to providing PSECU with fraudulent or fabricated information, are not eligible to participate in this bonus offer. PSECU may adjust the deposited bonus or remove the deposited bonus at any time if PSECU suspects accounts and/or loans were opened by fraudulent, suspicious, or illegal means, including but not limited to providing PSECU with fraudulent or fabricated information. $5 is required to open and maintain a Regular share account. This $5 share deposit is also required to be eligible to receive the bonus, and the member must be in good standing as defined by PSECU’s Bylaws Article II, Section 1. A $5 minimum share purchase will be made on behalf of the new member by PSECU. If the member account is closed within the first year of membership, the initial $5 share will be retained by PSECU. The Annual Percentage Yield on PSECU’s Regular share account is 0.50%. This variable rate is current as of 12.1.23 and may change. Withdrawals and fees may reduce earnings on the account. The recipient of the bonus (up to $300) is solely responsible for payment of applicable taxes on that amount. If you have any questions, please seek the advice of a qualified tax professional. All decisions of PSECU regarding this promotion are final. PSECU may terminate or change the terms and conditions of this promotion without notice. Subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
$100 Checking Bonus Requirements
You must be approved for savings and checking accounts, a PSECU debit card, and digital banking (online or mobile) account access and activate your debit card and log into digital banking within 30 days of establishing membership.
$100 Direct Deposit Set Up Bonus Requirements
You must meet the requirements of the $100 Checking Bonus and establish one or more qualifying payroll direct deposit(s) that together total $200 per calendar month, within 90 days of establishing membership. Qualifying payroll direct deposits are defined as paychecks, Social Security payments, and pension payments.
$100 Direct Deposit Bonus Requirements
You must meet the requirements of both the $100 Checking Bonus and $100 Direct Deposit Set Up Bonus and maintain the qualifying payroll direct deposit(s) for a minimum of 90 days after the first qualifying payroll direct deposit.