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Checking Account Bonus Offers Available Across the U.S.

Get paid to open a bank account with the best checking account bonus offers.
checking-account-bonus-offers
checking-account-bonus-offers

Bank savings rates remain historically low, currently at 0.43% APY. But one-way consumers can earn more for their money is through a checking account bonus offer.

Banks use checking account bonus promotions as an incentive to get you to sign up for a new account.

There are many bank promotions currently offered, but not all checking account bonus offers are a good deal for everyone's budget. Some have high minimum balance requirements and monthly fees that could eat into your bonus.

Online banks that pay you to open an account

Get paid to open a bank account.

1. Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus: $150 Bonus Offer*

upgrade-rewards-welcome-bonus

Best for Everyday Spending. New customers can receive a checking account bonus with a direct deposit requirement of $1,000 in 45 days. In addition to the $150 welcome bonus, customers with direct deposit can maximize rewards 1, for example, the Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus gives up to 2% cash back on common everyday expenses for active accounts with monthly $1,000 direct deposit.

Bonus: $150

Account Type: Rewards Checking Plus

Direct Deposit Required: Yes

Bonus Requirements: Complete a direct deposit of at least $1,000 within 45 days of account opening.

Minimum opening deposit. $0.

Rewards checking. Up to 2% cash back on common everyday expenses for active accounts with monthly $1,000 direct deposit, and up to 1% cash back for other purchases2.

Optional savings account. Add Performance Savings to earn up to 5.21% APY3.

Early direct deposit. Customers with direct deposit can get paid up to two days early4.

Monthly service fee. No monthly fees, no overdraft fees5, and get reimbursed for ATM fees with an active account.

FDIC-Insured. Up to $250,000.

APPLY NOW

2. SoFi Bank – Welcome Bonus up to $275

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Best automatic saving features. Customers can organize money, set savings goals, and save change with Vaults and Roundups. In addition to the welcome bonus up to $275, the SoFi Checking account offers no overdraft fee and no monthly fees. Members can use their SoFi debit card to access 55,000+ fee-free ATMs within the Allpoint® Network. Members with direct deposit can earn 4.50% APY on savings balances or 1.20% APY without direct deposit.

Bonus: Up to $275

Account Type: Checking Account

Direct Deposit Required: Yes.

Extra Bonus Requirements: (1) Sign up and set up direct deposit; (2) Wait for your direct deposit to hit your account; and (3) Collect the extra cash bonus of $250 depending on your direct deposit amount.

Minimum opening deposit. $100 to get the minimum $25 opening bonus

Monthly service fees. No account fees, no ATM or overdraft fees.

FDIC insured: Up to 2M

APPLY NOW

3. Chime® Checking Account: $100 Bonus Offer

chime-checking-account-bonus

Best for free overdraft protection. New customers can get $100 welcome bonus by signing up for a qualifying direct deposit. Chime® customers with direct deposit are eligible for the Chime SpotMe® overdraft feature that allows account holders to make debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals even when they don't have enough funds in their account to cover the transaction.

Bonus: $100

Account Type: Checking Account

Direct Deposit Required: Yes. Direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer or benefits provider.

Bonus Requirements: Receive a payroll direct deposit of $200 or more within the first 45 days of opening your Chime® Checking Account.

Minimum opening deposit: $0.

Monthly service fee. No account fees, no ATM or overdraft fees.

FDIC-Insured. Up to $250,000.

APPLY NOW

4. Axos Bank Rewards Checking – $100 Bonus

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Best for unlimited ATM reimbursements. Axos Bank Rewards Checking Account gives customers unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements.

Bonus: $300

Account Type: Checking Account

Direct Deposit Required: Yes.

Bonus Requirements: Qualifying direct deposits that total at least $7,000.00 each calendar month during the first seven (7) calendar months your account is open as well as maintain a minimum average daily balance of $15,000.

Promo Code: Use the promo code SUNNYBONUS when you apply for a Rewards Checking account by 12/31/23

Minimum opening deposit: $50.

Monthly service fee. No account fees, no ATM or overdraft fees.

FDIC-Insured. Up to $250,000.

APPLY NOW

5. Axos Bank Business Checking – $100 or $200 Bonus

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Best for small business tools. Axos Basic Business Account is an online business checking account that offers affordable banking for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Enjoy perks like no monthly service fees, unlimited ATM reimbursements in addition to earning a $200 bonus just to open the account.

Bonus: $100 or $200

Account Type: Business Checking Account

Direct Deposit Required: No.

Bonus Requirements: Must be a new business to earn the $200 welcome bonus while an established business can earn $100. Just use promo code NEWSBC on your application and maintain a minimum average daily balance of $10,000.

Minimum opening deposit: $0.

Monthly service fee. No account fees, no ATM or overdraft fees.

FDIC-Insured. Up to $250,000.

APPLY NOW

Can I Close the Account After Receiving Bank Bonus?

Yes, but you could get hit with an account closing fee. To qualify for a checking account bonus, you’ll likely have to set up direct deposit or at least keep the account open for a set period of time. If you choose to switch banks to get a sign-up bonus but you opened your last account within the past year, your old bank may charge you money to close the account.

Can I Get a Bank Bonus from Multiple Different Banks?

Yes, but most bonuses require a direct deposit. The direct deposit requirements may make earning bonuses more complicated for those without a paycheck from an employer or benefit payments from social security, pension or unemployment.


For those with a paycheck, your employer may be able to split your direct deposit into several banks. For others like self-employed individuals, the direct deposit requirement may be achieved through other transactions that qualify as direct deposits by the bank.

Checking Account Bonuses are Considered Taxable Income

Bank bonuses for opening new accounts are taxable. Many banks post the bonus as an interest payment that means the bank will send you a Form 1099-INT. The IRS collects taxes on bank bonuses because it is considered an addition to your taxable income for the year in which it is paid.

Does Opening a Bank Account for a Bank Bonus Impact My Credit?

Most banks will do a soft credit pull when you open a new account. This type of inquiry doesn’t impact your credit score.

However, if you have a freeze on your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, you will need to temporarily unfreeze your credit reports before applying. Opening checking accounts doesn’t have the same effect on your credit history as opening multiple credit cards but your ChexSystems report could be impacted.

Your ChexSystems report has no direct impact on your credit score but opening a new bank account can affect your ChexSystems report. ChexSystems is the bank's version of a credit bureau that stores information on how consumers manage their accounts. It's estimated that 80-90% of all banks utilize ChexSystems to help determine the risk of opening new accounts.

If a person commits check fraud or leaves their account with a negative balance, ChexSystems maintains that information in their database for up to 5 years in addition to other information like opening or closing a bank account.

Some banks may consider opening several bank accounts in a short period of time a red flag, while other banks have no issue with it.

Technically, a consumer can have an unlimited number of bank accounts as long as you haven’t left any accounts in bad standing. If you've been denied a checking or savings account and have a ding in ChexSystems, consider banks that don't use ChexSystems when looking for a new account.

Upgrade Disclaimers

1 Active Accounts with a monthly direct deposit of $1000 are eligible for additional benefits on Rewards Checking Plus such as additional cash back rewards, ATM fee reimbursement, and more. See the Active Account page for more information.

2 Rewards Checking Plus customers who set-up monthly direct deposits of $1,000 or more earn 2% cash back on common everyday expenses at convenience stores, drugstores, restaurants and bars – including deliveries – and gas stations, as well as recurring payments on utilities and monthly subscriptions including phone, cable, TV and other streaming services, and 1% cash back on all other debit card purchases. 2% cash back is limited to $500 in rewards per calendar year; after $500, customers earn 1% cash back on all eligible debit card purchases for the remainder of the year. Rewards Checking Plus accounts with less than $1,000 in monthly direct deposits 60 days after account opening will earn 1% cash back on common everyday expenses and 0.50% cash back on all other eligible debit card purchases. Some limitations apply. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.

3 The 1.5% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) for the Performance Savings account is effective as of June 1, 2023. The APY for the Performance Savings account is variable and may change at any time. Active Accounts qualify for 5.21% APY with monthly $1000 direct deposit. The APY for Active Accounts is effective as of September 1, 2023, is variable, and may change at any time. Please refer to the applicable Cross River Bank Performance Savings Deposit Account Agreement and Truth in Savings Disclosure. To earn APY, you must open and fund a Performance Savings account. Rewards Checking Plus accounts do not earn APY.

4 Early direct deposit requires set up of recurring electronic direct deposit from your employer, payroll, or benefits provider and is limited to direct deposits under $5000. Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing in which we receive notice of impending direct deposit, which is generally up to two days before the scheduled deposit date.

5 There are no overdraft fees or annual fees associated with Rewards Checking Plus accounts. Rewards Checking Plus charges no ATM fees, but third-party institutions may charge you a fee if you use their ATM/network or if you use your Upgrade VISA® Debit Card internationally. For Active Accounts, Upgrade will rebate ATM fees charged by another institution for debit card withdrawals in the United States, up to five times per calendar month. To be eligible to receive third-party ATM fee rebates in any calendar month for eligible ATM withdrawals made during that month on a Rewards Checking Plus account, the account must be an Active Account in the prior calendar month. See the Active Account page for more information. As a courtesy to new customers, Upgrade will provide third-party ATM fee rebates for 60 days after account opening regardless of account user status. Some limitations apply. Please refer to the applicable Cross River Bank Checking Deposit Account Agreement and Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.


Chime Disclaimers

1 Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime® Checking Account each month and Visa debit card activation. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member's Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime's discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won't cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See terms and conditions.

2 Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.

3 Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven location or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM. Other fees such as third-party and cash deposit fees may apply.

4 Based on a representative study conducted by Experian®, members who made their first purchase with Credit Builder between June 2020 and October 2020 observed an average FICO® Score 8 increase of 30 points after approximately 8 months. On-time payment history can have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score.

5 To be eligible to apply for Credit Builder, you need to have received a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Checking Account within the last 365 days of your application. The qualifying direct deposit must have been made by your employer, payroll provider, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit. Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, and cash loads or deposits are not qualifying direct deposits.

6 The average national savings account interest rate of 0.21% is determined by FDIC as of November 17, 2022 based on a simple average of rates paid (uses annual percentage yield) by all insured depository institutions and branches for which data are available. Visit National Rates and Rate Caps to learn more.

7 Round Ups automatically round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the round up from your Chime® Checking Account to your Savings Account. Save When I Get Paid automatically transfers 10% of your direct deposits of $500 or more from your Checking Account into your Savings Account.

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