Are there banks with immediate sign-up bonuses?

No, immediate bank account bonuses are almost never offered. Most banks have requirements you need to meet to earn a bonus, such as depositing a certain amount or setting up direct deposit. On top of that, most bank bonuses are delivered anywhere from 7 to 60 days after you've met the requirements, so they are not instant.

Are there signup bonuses with no deposit requirements?

It's rare to find an instant signup bonus with no deposit requirements. Nearly all bank account bonuses require you to set up direct deposit or deposit a certain amount of cash after opening. A few banks claim to have instant signup bonuses that you'll earn immediately after opening, but the reality is that there are really no "instant" bonuses, and most take a month or two to earn. However, a few signup bonuses have easier requirements, such as Upgrade Rewards Checking and the Marcus Online Savings Account. With Upgrade, all you have to do to earn the $200 is make three debit card transactions, and Marcus' bonus is a referral program that offers an APY boost without any deposit requirements.

What bank gives you money for setting up direct deposit?

Banks like SoFi, Chase, Axos and BMO frequently offer bank account bonuses for setting up direct deposit. However, make sure you double-check the direct deposit amount requirements. For example, SoFi's direct deposit bonus requires direct deposit of at least $1,000 within 25 days of opening your account to earn a $50 bonus, or $5,000 in direct deposit to earn up to $400 within 25 days of account opening.

Is it worth opening a bank account for the bonus?

Sometimes, it can be, but make sure the account is worth your time in the long term. If the bonus comes with a bank account that has a high monthly fee, you'll end up in the red eventually. Compare the best free checking accounts if you want to avoid monthly maintenance fees.

Best Bank Bonuses with Easy Requirements in October 2026

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What banks give you money for opening an account? Chase, BMO, TD Bank, PNC and many other banks give you money as a way to incentivize you to open an account. For the most part, bank account bonuses are offered for checking accounts, though some savings account promotions might also come with perks like a temporarily boosted APY.

Just keep in mind that bank account bonuses usually come with a few requirements, such as setting up direct deposit or depositing a specific amount of money.

9.2 Excellent

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Capital One 360 Checking

An interest-bearing checking account with flexible overdraft options and international access.

$0 monthly fees
Large ATM network (70,000)
Multiple overdraft protection options
0% foreign transaction fees
Works with Zelle

Partner terms and conditions

Best bank account bonuses at a glance

Compare the best account bonuses for checking, savings and business accounts.

Bank account	Bonus amount	Expiration date	Requirements	Learn more
SoFi® Checking and Savings	$50 or $400 bonus and up to 4.20% APY on savings with a 0.90% boost for up to 6 months on new accounts. Terms apply.	December 31, 2026	What we like about the account Hybrid account, no monthly fees, high APYs on Savings and Checking, and Vaults for sorting goals.	Go to site
Capital One 360 Checking	Up to $250 with promo code	N/A	What we like about the account No monthly fees, opening deposit requirements or foreign transaction fees.	Go to site
Chase Business Complete	Up to $500	January 21, 2027	What we like about the account Unlimited electronic transactions, unlimited debit cards for employees, and no minimum opening deposit.	Go to site
Chase Total Checking	$400	January 27, 2027	What we like about the account Simple checking account with no opening deposit requirements.	Go to site
BMO Smart Advantage Checking	$400	December 15, 2026	What we like about the account No monthly fees, overdraft protection by linking savings and a large ATM network.	Read Review
PNC Business Checking	up to $400	December 31, 2026	What we like about the account Ways to avoid the monthly fee, online bill pay, cashback offers and up to 150 transactions per month.	Read Review

New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 0.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 9/23/26. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 9/23/26. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

We do not charge any account, service, or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge transaction fees for outgoing wire transfers, Instant Transfers, and global remittance transfers. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.

SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.

We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.

Earn up to 4.20% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.90% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 9/23/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#4. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

Best referral bonuses at a glance

If you already have one of these accounts, you can refer friends or family to earn some extra cash.

Bank account	Bonus amount	Expiration date	Requirement	Learn more
Current	Up to $100	N/A	Share a referral invite via email, text message, or social media apps. Once the person receives the invite link, applies your unique referral code, and makes qualifying Eligible Payroll Deposits of at least $200 within 45 days of opening the account, you and the referred friend each earn $100. Bonuses are delivered within 10 business days. There’s a $1,000 limit on referral bonuses you can earn in a calendar year. What we like about the account No monthly fees, savings pods to sort goals, a credit-building card option, and paycheck advances.	Go to site
Greenlight	Give $30, Get $50	N/A	What we like about the account Up to 5 kids per plan, custom spending controls, quickly reload kids’ cards with linked account, investing platform, chore charts and savings rewards	Go to site
Varo	$100	N/A	Both you and a friend $100 when you refer a friend to sign up for a new Varo Bank account. Referrals will need to register their email using the unique referral link and then open a new Varo Bank account. The referred person must make qualifying purchases totaling at least $500 using the Varo Debit Card within 45 calendar days of opening the new account. Bonus delivered within four to seven business days. Five referrals within a calendar year. Sharing your link on third-party social media, blogs or other similar websites may cause you to lose eligibility. What we like about the account No monthly fees, optional savings with high rate, a credit-building card, early direct deposit and no foreign transaction fees.	Read Review
BusyKid	$20	N/A	What we like about the account Chore tracking, investing, various reload options and parent-led savings match.	Read Review
Marcus Online Savings Account or CD	0.25% Bonus APY on savings for three months	N/A	What we like about the account High rates across savings accounts, no monthly fees, same-day transfers and 24/7 customer support.	Read Review
Go2Bank	Up to $50	N/A	Log in online or on the GO2bank app to access the Refer-a-friend page and get the unique share link. Once a referred friend becomes a new GO2bank customer and receives a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more within 45 days of account opening, you’ll both get $50 deposited into your accounts within 48 hours after qualifying funds are deposited. Limit up to $1,500 per calendar year through referrals. What we like about the account Near-instant mobile check deposits, cashback offers, high savings rates and waiveable monthly fee.	Read Review
TD Bank	Up to $50	N/A	Referrers must download, print and complete a referral form to send to the referred person. The referred person can then take a referral form to a TD Bank branch to open any TD personal checking account and start the process of earning the $50 bonus for both the referrer and the referred. The referred person then needs to make at least $250 in qualifying direct deposits or 15 qualifying Visa debit card purchases within 60 days of opening the account. Once the offer criterion is met, the bonus will be credited to both accounts no later than 95 days from the new account opening date. Referring customers may receive up to 10 bonuses (up to $500) within a calendar year. The referred person must be a new customer. What we like about the account Large branch network, personal and business account options.	Read Review

Methodology

Finder’s banking experts analyze more than 200 accounts in the market to narrow down the best accounts with signup and referral bonuses. We consider the bonus value, the eligibility requirements, how many accounts are available under the same bonus and the account itself based on these criteria:

No requirements to open an additional account For more, see our guide on close transaction account.
Direct deposit requirements of no more than $2,000 within a 30-day period

We also look at the features of the account itself, such as:

$0 monthly fee or easy ways to void it, with the exception of prepaid cards
Nationwide availability
Low minimum opening deposits, depending on the type of account:
- Max $100 for personal checking accounts
- Max $1,000 for personal savings accounts
- Max $1,000 for business checking and savings

Bottom line

Most bank account welcome bonuses or referral bonuses have some sort of requirements you’ll need to meet. Typically, bonuses are awarded within 30 to 90 days after you’ve met the requirements.

However, a great bonus offer doesn’t necessarily mean that bank account is best for you. Compare the best checking accounts and the best savings accounts to get the most bang for your buck.

Compare bank account bonuses by bank

Frequently asked questions

It's rare to find an instant signup bonus with no deposit requirements. Nearly all bank account bonuses require you to set up direct deposit or deposit a certain amount of cash after opening. A few banks claim to have instant signup bonuses that you'll earn immediately after opening, but the reality is that there are really no "instant" bonuses, and most take a month or two to earn.
However, a few signup bonuses have easier requirements, such as Upgrade Rewards Checking and the Marcus Online Savings Account. With Upgrade, all you have to do to earn the $200 is make three debit card transactions, and Marcus' bonus is a referral program that offers an APY boost without any deposit requirements.
Banks like SoFi, Chase, Axos and BMO frequently offer bank account bonuses for setting up direct deposit. However, make sure you double-check the direct deposit amount requirements. For example, SoFi's direct deposit bonus requires direct deposit of at least $1,000 within 25 days of opening your account to earn a $50 bonus, or $5,000 in direct deposit to earn up to $400 within 25 days of account opening.

Thank you for your feedback!

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Bethany Hickey

Banking editor

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Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

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13 Best Bank Account Bonus Offers for October 2026

Today’s best new bank account offers include up to $400 from Chase Total Checking, $400 from BMO and more.

Best bank account bonuses at a glance

Best referral bonuses at a glance

Methodology

Bottom line

Compare bank account bonuses by bank

Frequently asked questions

Bethany Hickey

Ask a question

More guides on Finder

13 Best Bank Account Bonus Offers for October 2026

Today’s best new bank account offers include up to $400 from Chase Total Checking, $400 from BMO and more.

Best bank account bonuses at a glance

How to earn SoFi® Checking and Savings bonus

How to earn Capital One 360 Checking bonus

How to earn Chase Business Complete bonus

How to earn Chase Total Checking bonus

How to earn BMO Smart Advantage Checking bonus

How to earn PNC Business Checking bonus

SoFi terms and conditions

Best referral bonuses at a glance

How to earn Current referral bonus

How to earn Greenlight referral bonus

How to earn Varo referral bonus

How to earn BusyKid referral bonus

How to earn Marcus referral bonus

How to earn Go2Bank referral bonus

How to earn TD Bank referral bonus

Methodology

Bottom line

Compare bank account bonuses by bank

Frequently asked questions

Are there banks with immediate sign-up bonuses?

Are there signup bonuses with no deposit requirements?

What bank gives you money for setting up direct deposit?

Is it worth opening a bank account for the bonus?

Bethany Hickey

Ask a question

More guides on Finder

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