The best current checking account bonus offer is for Huntington Bank’s Perks Checking account. You can earn a $400 bonus for receiving a direct deposit of any amount and meeting other simple requirements, making this an excellent grab if you’re eligible.
Bank bonuses vary in their bonus amounts, returns on deposit, and requirements. The best bonuses offer valuable rewards with relatively lenient requirements, allowing you to easily boost your deposit. If you’re already shopping around for a new checking account, you can likely find an account with a great bonus that also meets your financial needs.
Investopedia tracks checking and savings account promotions from 23 banks. We chose the best checking account bonuses below based on bonus amounts, bonus requirements, and account details and restrictions, like fees and state eligibility. We only feature personal checking account bonus offers of at least $300, with a return on deposit of at least 10%, and business checking bonus offers of at least $300, with a return of at least 4%.
Best Checking Account Bonuses for September 2024
- Huntington Bank: Huntington Perks Checking - $400
- Truist: Truist One Checking - $400
- Citizens Bank: Citizens One Deposit Checking - $400
- Chase: Chase Total Checking - $300
- Wells Fargo: WF Everyday Checking - $300
- Chase: Chase Business Complete Checking - $300
- U.S. Bank: U.S. Bank Business Checking - $800
- Huntington Bank: Huntington Unlimited Business Checking - $400
- Huntington Bank: Huntington Unlimited Plus Business Checking - $1,000
Bonuses aren't just available on checking accounts; many banks have special promotions for savings accounts, too, although the bonuses tend to be smaller. And the APYs on those accounts don’t usually hold up against the best high-yield savings account rates.
Huntington Bank : Huntington Perks Checking - $400
- Bonus Amount: $400
- Promotion Expiry: Oct. 7, 2024
- Qualifications: Direct deposit
- Visit the offer link above: Open a new Huntington Bank Perks Checking account through the link provided.
- Receive a direct deposit of any amount: Set up and receive a direct deposit from your employer or government benefits within 90 days of account opening.
- Keep your account open: The account must stay open for at least 90 days to qualify for the bonus.
- Receive the $400 bonus: Huntington Bank will deposit the bonus in your account within 14 days of meeting the account requirements.
This bank may offer other promotions right now as well; see more Huntington Bank Bonuses.
The bonus is only available to new personal checking account customers. Those with an existing account or who have closed a Huntington Bank checking account in the past six months are not eligible.
You must also be a resident of one of the following states to be eligible for the bonus: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.
- Minimum initial deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $10 per month; waived if you maintain a total balance of $5,000 in Huntington Bank accounts or receive at least $1,000 in total monthly deposits
- ATM fee: $3.50 for non-Huntington Bank ATMs
- Overdraft fee: $15 per overdraft item
Truist : Truist One Checking - $400
- Bonus Amount: $400
- Promotion Expiry: Oct. 30, 2024
- Qualifications: Direct deposit, debit transactions
- Visit the Truist link above and enter the promo code: You must open a new One Checking account online through the page above and enter the code given on that page to qualify for the bonus.
- Receive at least one qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more within the first 90 days: Qualifying direct deposits include payroll and government benefit payments.
- Make at least 15 qualifying debit card purchases within the first 90 days: The purchases must post to your account within that time frame. Zelle transfers do not count as debit card purchases or direct deposits.
- Receive the $400 bonus: The bonus will be issued to your account four weeks after you meet the requirements.
This bank may offer other promotions right now as well; see more Truist Bank Bonuses.
The bonus is only available to new customers who open a One Checking account online and enter the promotional code. Those who open an account in person at a branch or don't enter the code online aren't eligible.
You must keep the account open with a balance of at least 1 cent until you receive the bonus payment.
The offer is only available to residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
- Minimum initial deposit: $50
- Monthly fee: $12, waived if you meet one of the following criteria: Receive $500 or more in direct deposits per statement cycle; maintain a total balance of $500 or more in Truist accounts; have a Truist credit card, mortgage, or consumer loan (not including LightStream loans); have a linked Truist small business checking account; be a student under age 25; be 62 years old or older
- ATM fee: $3 at non-Truist domestic ATMs; $5 at non-Truist international ATMs
- Overdraft fee: $0
Citizens Bank : Citizens One Deposit Checking - $400
- Bonus Amount: $300–$400
- Promotion Expiry: Nov. 21, 2024
- Qualifications: Direct deposit, monthly deposits
- Open a new Citizens Bank checking account and your first Citizens Savings account on the same date: Open a new checking account from the linked bonus offer page. You’ll need to use the specific links on that page to qualify for this bonus, although you can choose from any of the personal checking accounts listed.
- Receive a single direct deposit of at least $500 within 60 days: If you complete this step, you’ll be eligible for a $300 bonus.
- Make three consecutive monthly deposits of $100 or more into the savings account: To earn an additional $100 bonus, you must make monthly deposits of $100 or more into the savings account for three months, starting the month after the account is opened.
- Receive your $300 or $400 bonus: The time it takes Citizens Bank to deposit the $300 bonus into your account depends on the month you opened the account. If you earn the savings bonus as well, it will be deposited into your checking account four months after account opening.
This bank may offer other promotions right now as well; see more Citizens Bank Bonuses.
To qualify for the bonus, you must not have held a Citizens Bank checking account at any time. You must open the new account online through the promotional link above.
Direct deposits must come from an employer or government benefits. Deposits from money transfer apps like Venmo or Cash App don’t qualify. Debit payments must use your debit card in person, online, or in apps. Online bill payments and transactions using ATMs and Zelle don’t qualify.
- Minimum initial deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $9.99; waived if at least one deposit is posted to your account by the end of the statement period
- ATM fee: $3 for non-Citizens ATMs
- Overdraft fee: $35 per item
Chase : Chase Total Checking - $300
- Bonus Amount: $300
- Promotion Expiry: Oct. 16, 2024
- Qualifications: Direct deposit
- Use the link above to open a new Chase Total Checking account: Follow the link to open an account online, or enter your email address to receive a promotional coupon code you can take to a Chase branch if you’d like to open the account in person.
- Receive at least $500 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days: Qualifying direct deposits include those from payroll providers and government benefits.
- Receive your $300 bonus: After meeting the requirement, Chase will disburse the bonus within 15 days.
This bank may offer other promotions right now as well; see more Chase Bank Bonuses.
The bonus is only available to customers who haven't received a new Chase checking account bonus within the past two years. Furthermore, you must not have closed a Chase account within the past 90 days or closed a Chase account with a negative balance in the past three years.
Eligible direct deposits include paychecks, contractor payments, and government benefits. Peer-to-peer transfers through services like Zelle and Cash App are not eligible direct deposits.
- Minimum initial deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $12; waived if you meet one of the following criteria: Receive $500 or more in direct deposits per statement period; keep a balance of at least $1,500 at the beginning of each day in this checking account; keep an average daily balance of $5,000 or more in combined Chase deposit accounts
- ATM fee: $3 for non-Chase domestic ATM withdrawals; $5 for withdrawals at non-Chase international ATMs
- Overdraft fee: $34 per transaction
Wells Fargo : WF Everyday Checking - $300
- Bonus Amount: $300
- Promotion Expiry: Sept. 25, 2024
- Qualifications: Direct deposit
- Follow the Wells Fargo link above: You can open an account online or, if you prefer, by visiting a local Wells Fargo branch. If you want to open an account in person, submit your email to get a promo code and bring the offer code with you to the bank.
- Open a new account with at least $25: You'll need at least $25 as an initial deposit to open the account.
- Receive $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days: Qualifying direct deposits include payroll and government benefits payments.
- Receive your $300 bonus: Once you've met the deposit requirement, Wells Fargo will disburse the bonus amount within 30 days.
This bank may offer other promotions right now as well; see more Wells Fargo Bonuses.
The bonus is only available to new consumer checking customers. You aren't eligible if you own an existing Wells Fargo checking account or you’ve received a Wells Fargo checking account bonus within the past 12 months.
- Minimum initial deposit: $25
- Monthly fee: $10; waived if you meet one of the following criteria: Maintain a daily balance of $500 or more; receive at least $500 in direct deposits per statement period; link the account to a Wells Fargo Campus ATM card or Campus Debit card; be between ages 17 and 24 (primary account holder)
- ATM fee: $2.50 for non-Wells Fargo domestic ATMs; $5 for international non-Wells Fargo ATMs
- Overdraft fee: $35 per item
Chase : Chase Business Complete Checking - $300
- Bonus Amount: $300
- Promotion Expiry: Oct. 17, 2024
- Qualifications: Deposit, maintain balance, transactions
- Follow the Chase link above to open a new Business Complete Checking account: You can open the account online, or submit your email address to get an offer code that can be used to open an account in person at a Chase branch.
- Deposit $2,000 or more within 30 days of account opening: The deposit(s) must be of new money to Chase. That means you can’t just transfer money from another Chase checking account, for example.
- Maintain at least a $2,000 balance for 60 days: If your balance drops below this level, you’ll be ineligible for the bonus.
- Complete 5 qualifying debit transactions within 60 days of account opening: Qualifying transactions include debit card purchases, Chase QuickDeposit check deposits, wire transfers, and Chase Online Bill Pay payments.
- Receive the $300 bonus: After you've met the requirements, Chase will deposit the bonus into your account within 15 days.
This bank may offer other promotions right now as well; see more Chase Bank Bonuses.
The bonus is only available to new business checking customers, including sole proprietors, limited liability corporations (LLCs), partnerships, and corporations. It excludes the following:
- People who have other Chase business checking accounts
- People who have closed a Chase business checking account in the past 90 days or with a negative balance in the past three years
- Local, state, and federal government agencies
- Political action committees and campaign accounts
- Minimum initial deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $15; waived if you meet one of the following criteria: Maintain a minimum daily ending balance of $2,000 or more; have at least $2,000 of aggregate eligible deposits at least one day before the end of the statement period; spend at least $2,000 with your Chase Ink Business Card during the most recent billing cycle
- ATM fee: $3 for non-Chase domestic ATMs, $5 for non-Chase ATMs internationally
- Overdraft fee: $34 per transaction
U.S. Bank : U.S. Bank Business Checking - $800
- Bonus Amount: $300–$800
- Promotion Expiry: Sept. 30, 2024
- Qualifications: Deposit, maintain balance
- Open a new U.S. Bank business checking account with the promotional code: Open a business checking account online and enter the promo code found on the linked page above. Choose from Silver, Gold, or Platinum Checking accounts, depending on your business needs.
- Deposit $5,000 to earn a $300 bonus, or $30,000 for an $800 bonus, within 30 days: The deposits must be of money that is new to U.S. Bank; money transferred from another U.S. Bank checking account doesn’t qualify.
- Maintain that balance for 60 days after opening the account: If you deposited $5,000 for the $300 bonus, you need to maintain a balance of at least $5,000. If you deposited $30,000 for the $800 bonus, you must maintain at least $30,000.
- Receive the bonus: After meeting the requirements, the bonus will be issued within 30 days after the month in which you complete the requirements.
This bank may offer other promotions right now as well; see more U.S. Bank Bonuses.
The bonus is only for new U.S. Bank business checking customers. If you’ve had a business checking account at U.S. Bank in the past 12 months, you won’t qualify.
- Minimum initial deposit: $100
- Monthly fee: $0 to $30 depending on tier; may be waived by maintaining a minimum balance, collecting a certain amount of business deposits each month, or having a U.S. Bank Payment Solutions Merchant Banking account
- ATM fee: $2.50 for non-U.S. Bank ATMs
- Overdraft fee: $36 per item
Huntington Bank : Huntington Unlimited Business Checking - $400
- Bonus Amount: $400
- Promotion Expiry: Jan. 7, 2025
- Qualifications: Deposit
- Visit the Huntington Bank business checking link above: You can open an Unlimited Business Checking account online. If you prefer, you can enter your email on that page to get a promotion code to open an account in person at a branch.
- Deposit $5,000 or more within 60 days of account opening: The deposit(s) must be money that is new to Huntington Bank. “New money” is money that is not currently on deposit with Huntington Bank (aside from maturing business CDs).
- Keep your account open for a minimum of 90 days after account opening.
- Receive the bonus: After meeting the requirements, Huntington Bank will disburse the bonus within 14 days.
This bank may offer other promotions right now as well; see more Huntington Bank Bonuses.
The bonus is only available to new business checking account customers. If you’ve closed a Huntington Bank business checking account in the past six months, you’re not eligible.
Only residents of the following states are eligible for this bonus: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
- Minimum initial deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $20; waived if you maintain a balance of $10,000 or more in your combined Huntington Bank deposit accounts, or if you have a qualifying Huntington Bank personal checking account
- ATM fee: $3.50 for non-Huntington Bank ATMs
- Overdraft fee: $36 per item
Huntington Bank : Huntington Unlimited Plus Business Checking - $1, 000
- Bonus Amount: $1,000
- Promotion Expiry: Jan. 7, 2025
- Qualifications: Deposit, maintain balance
- Visit the Huntington Bank business checking link above: Like many other promo offers, you can open an Unlimited Plus Business Checking account online. Or, if you prefer to open it in person, you can enter your email on this page to get a promotion code to bring to a local branch.
- Deposit $20,000 or more in new money within 30 days of account opening.
- Maintain at least a $20,000 balance for 60 days: The 60-day countdown begins after you meet the deposit requirement.
- Keep your account open for a minimum of 90 days after account opening.
- Receive the $1,000 bonus: After meeting the requirements, Huntington Bank will disburse the bonus to your account within 14 days.
This bank may offer other promotions right now as well; see more Huntington Bank Bonuses.
To be eligible, you must not currently have a Huntington Bank business checking account, or have closed one in the past six months. Deposits must be new money, not from other Huntington Bank accounts.
The bonus is only available to new business checking account owners in one of the following states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.
- Minimum initial deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $40; waived if you maintain a total balance of $50,000 or more in Huntington Bank deposit accounts, or if you have a qualifying Huntington Bank personal checking account
- ATM fee: $3.50 for non-Huntington Bank ATMs
- Overdraft fee: $36 per item
The Bottom Line
The best checking account bonuses are not only generous in terms of the bonus amount, but also relatively attainable in their requirements. They provide an excellent return on your deposit.
Bonus offers change often, so it's a good idea to shop around before opening a checking account to ensure you can take advantage of the most lucrative offers.
Bank account bonuses are taxable as income. Depending on the bank, you may receive a Form 1099-INT or a Form 1099-MISC. But even if you don’t receive this form, you’ll need to declare this income when you file your tax return.
Compare the Best Checking Account Bonuses
Promotion | Bonus Amount | Promotion Expiry | Qualifications |
---|---|---|---|
Huntington Bank Perks Checking | $400 | Oct. 7, 2024 | Direct deposit |
Truist One Checking | $400 | Oct. 30, 2024 | Direct deposit, debit transactions |
Citizens Bank: Various Checking Accounts | $300–$400 | Nov. 21, 2024 | Direct deposit, monthly deposits |
Chase Total Checking® | $300 | Oct. 16, 2024 | Direct deposit |
Wells Fargo: WF Everyday Checking | $300 | Sept. 25, 2024 | Direct deposit |
Chase Business Complete Checking | $300 | Oct. 17, 2024 | Deposit, maintain balance, transactions |
U.S. Bank Business Checking | $300–$800 | Sept. 30, 2024 | Deposit, maintain balance |
Huntington Bank Unlimited Business Checking | $400 | Jan. 7, 2025 | Deposit |
Huntington Bank Unlimited Plus Business Checking | $1,000 | Jan. 7, 2025 | Deposit, maintain balance |
Other Checking Account Bonuses
These checking account bonuses didn’t make our best list, but they may be worth exploring, especially if you were considering opening an account at one of the banks below.
- Chase Total Checking + Savings: Open a new checking account and a new savings account to earn $900 for receiving a direct deposit into the checking account and depositing $15,000 into the savings account within 30 days.
- BMO Bank Smart Advantage and Smart Money Checking: Earn $350 for receiving $4,000 in direct deposits within the first 90 days.
- BMO Bank Relationship Checking: Earn $500 for receiving $7,500 in direct deposits within the first 90 days.
- SoFi Checking/Savings: Receive direct deposits totaling $1,000 in the first 25 days to earn a $50 bonus, or direct deposits of $5,000 during that same period to earn a $300 bonus.
- PNC Bank Virtual Wallet with Performance Select: Earn $400 for receiving $5,000 in direct deposits within the first 60 days.
- PNC Treasury Enterprise Plan and Analysis Business Checking: Earn $500 for an average daily balance of at least $30,000.
- Associated Bank (any checking account): Earn $300 (for $1,000 in direct deposits) to $600 (for $10,000 in direct deposits) within the first 90 days.
More Account Bonuses From Popular Banks
- Bank of America Bonuses
- Capital One Bonuses
- Chase Bank Bonuses
- Citizens Bank Bonuses
- Discover Bank Bonuses
- Huntington Bank Bonuses
- Truist Bank Bonuses
- U.S. Bank Bonuses
- Wells Fargo Bonuses
Guide to Choosing Checking Account Bonuses
Factors to Consider When Claiming a Checking Account Bonus
Before choosing a bank and opening a new checking account to claim a promotional offer, consider the following factors:
- Fees: Some accounts have monthly maintenance fees that can cut into your account balance over time. Many banks will waive those fees if you meet certain balance requirements.
- Qualification requirements: Qualification requirements for cash bonuses can vary, but you’ll generally need to sign up for direct deposit or maintain a certain balance for a certain period of time. Those requirements can mean some of your cash isn’t available to use until after the bonus’s evaluation period is over.
- Perks: Some banks offer special benefits, such as fee-free ATMs or unlimited check writing.
- Availability: Online banks are increasingly common, but some people prefer the convenience of a brick-and-mortar bank, so find out if the bank operates branches near you.
How to Find Checking Account Bonuses
Banks often advertise promotional offers on their websites, but they aren’t always easy to find. It may be easier to use a site like Investopedia, which researches available bank offers and posts updates on a regular basis.
How to Switch Banks
If you are planning on switching banks, you can often open a new account online. The new bank will prompt you to fund the account (a minimum starting deposit is sometimes required), and you can also set up direct deposit. Once your account is funded, you can update your automatic payments for your credit cards, utilities, and other bills.
It’s a good idea to hold off on closing the old account for a month or two to make sure that all of your accounts have been updated. Otherwise, you risk late fees or missed payment fees. Once you’re sure all of your information has been updated, contact the bank to close the old account.
Although banks don’t check your credit reports when you apply for a checking account, they may check your checking history through checking account reporting companies like ChexSystems or Early Warning Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Should You Switch Banks to Claim a Checking Account Bonus?
Switching banks to get a cash bonus can be an easy way to get extra money. However, regularly chasing bank bonuses isn’t realistic or efficient for most people; every time you switch banks, you’ll have to update your direct deposit and automatic payments, and some banks charge closure fees.
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Are Checking Account Bonuses Taxable?
Cash bonuses you earn for opening a new checking account are taxable as income. The bank will send you either Form 1099-INT or Form 1099-MISC, which you’ll use to fill out your tax return and report the cash bonus.
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Are Checking Account Promotions a Good Deal?
Checking account bonuses vary by bank. Some are generous, offering hundreds of dollars with low deposit requirements, while others require you to deposit larger amounts and maintain a high minimum balance. Whether it makes sense to open a new account to take advantage of a promotional offer depends on how much extra cash you have handy, how liquid you need your money to be, and the value of the bonus offer.
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Which Banks Offer Checking Account Bonuses?
Both national and regional banks offer checking account promotional offers, including Axos Bank, SoFi, Citi, Bank of America, Chase, U.S. Bank, and more.
Methodology
Investopedia is dedicated to providing consumers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews. To rate checking account promotions, we collected hundreds of data points about promotional offers from 23 banks, including bonus amounts, fees, and account requirements, to ensure that our reviews help users make informed decisions about their banking needs. We set the following minimum thresholds to be included in our list of the best checking bonuses: personal checking account bonus offers must be at least $300, with a return on deposit of at least 10%; business checking bonus offers must be at least $300, with a return of at least 4%.