This article was reviewed by Marguerita Cheng, a member of the Finder Editorial Review Board and award-winning advocate for ethical financial planning for over 20 years.
Checking account bonus offers can incentivize you to open a specific account, but the bonus might not be worth the hassle if the underlying account is subpar. Each month, our team researches over 165 accounts to find the best bonuses based on offer rules, account fees and minimum balance requirements, so you can compare your options in minutes.
What’s changed in 2021?
We regularly revise this guide to include the most up-to-date offers. Most recently, we removed expired offers from Chase and Suntrust, and we updated offers from HSBC, TD, Chase, PNC, Bank of America, Associated Bank and Citibank. We also added new offers from Capital One, Citizens Bank, Huntington Bank, M&T Bank, Monifi and Wells Fargo.
Here’s a snapshot of the best checking account promotions:
| HSBC Premier Checking | Up to $450 bonus | $0 | January 5, 2022 | Go to site |
| Chase Business Complete Banking℠ | $300 bonus | $0 | January 20, 2022 | Go to site |
| Aspiration Spend & Save Account | $100, $150 bonus | $10 | N/A | Go to site |
| TD Beyond Checking | $300 | $0 | November 30, 2021 | Go to site |
| Chase Total Checking | $225 bonus | $0 | January 19, 2022 | Go to site |
| TD Convenience Checking℠ | $150 bonus | $500 in direct deposits within 60 days | November 30, 2021 | Go to site |
| Chase Secure Banking | $100 bonus | $0 | January 19, 2022 | Go to site |
| PNC Virtual Wallet | Up to $400 bonus | $0 | October 31, 2021 | Read review |
| Bank of America Advantage Banking | $100 bonus | $25 or $100 | December 31, 2021 | Read Review |
| Associated Bank Checking | Up to $400 bonus | $25 to $100 | February 28, 2022 | Read Review |
| The Citibank Account Interest Checking | Up to $1,500 | $15,000 | January 4, 2022 | Read review |
| Capital One 360 Checking | $250 bonus | $0 | October 12, 2021 | Read review |
| Fifth Third Bank Checking account | $100 bonus | $0 | September 30, 2021 | Learn more |
| Citizens Bank Checking | $100, $300 or $400 bonus | $0 | October 28, 2021 | Learn more |
| Huntington National Bank | Up to $200 bonus | $0 | February 7, 2022 | Learn more |
| M&T Bank | $250 bonus | $0 | January 10, 2022 | Learn more |
| Monifi | $250 bonus | $0 | October 31, 2021 | Learn more |
| Wells Fargo Checking | $200 bonus | $25 | December 31, 2021 | Learn more |
Compare the best bank account bonuses and their requirements to see which ones you qualify for.
HSBC Premier Checking: Get a $450 welcome bonus
- Bonus amount: Up to $450
- Minimum deposit required: $0
- Monthly maintenance fee: $50
Offer rules
Qualify for the HSBC checking account bonus when you receive recurring direct deposits totaling at least $5,000 per month for three consecutive calendar months following the second full calendar month after opening your account.
Eligibility
Eligible to new customers who open an HSBC Premier checking account. Offer not available to current HSBC customers.
Expiration
Bonus available until January 5, 2022.
Chase Business Complete Banking: $300 bonus
- Bonus amount: $300
- Minimum opening deposit required: $0
- Monthly maintenance fee: $15
Offer rules
Earn $300 when you open a new Chase Business Complete Banking account by January 20, 2022 and deposit $2,000 within 30 days of opening your account, maintain $2,000 for 60 days and complete five transactions within 90 days. Transactions include: debit card purchases, QuickDeposit, ACH deposit and wires transfers.
Eligibility
You can receive only one new business checking account-related bonus every two years from the last enrollment date and only one bonus per account. Offer not available to existing Chase business checking customers, local, state or federal government entities or agencies, non-profit organizations, political action committees, or account holders with campaign accounts or accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance.
Expiration
Bonus available until January 20, 2022
Aspiration Spend & Save: up to $150 bonus
- Bonus amount: $100, $150
- Minimum deposit required: $10
- Monthly maintenance fee: $0 to $15
Offer rules
Get a $100 bonus when you open a standard Aspiration Spend & Save Account or a $150 bonus when you open an Aspiration Plus account. You must deposit at least $10 into your account and make at least $1,000 in qualifying purchases with your debit card within 60 days. The bonus will post to your account within 120 calendar days of account opening.
Eligibility
Open to new Aspiration Spend & Save customers.
Expiration
N/A
TD Beyond Checking: $300 bonus
- Bonus amount: $300
- Minimum deposit required: $0
- Monthly maintenance fee: $25
Offer rules
The $300 TD Beyond Checking account bonus offer is available to new customers who open a TD Beyond Checking account and receive direct deposits totaling $2,500 or more within 60 days.
Eligibility
This offer is available to new personal checking Customers who do not have an existing or prior personal checking account at TD Bank within the preceding 12 months, open their account online via this promotion page and complete the required qualifying criteria.
Expiration
Bonus available until November 30, 2021
Chase Total Checking: $225 bonus
- Bonus amount: $225
- Minimum deposit required: $0
- Monthly maintenance fee: $12
Offer rules
With this Chase checking account bonus, you’ll earn $225 when you open a new Chase Total Checking® account by January 19, 2022, and set up direct deposit within 90 days. You’ll receive your bonus within 15 business days of receiving your first direct deposit.
Eligibility
You can receive only one new checking account-related bonus every two years from the last enrollment date and only one bonus per account.
Expiration
Bonus available until January 19, 2022
TD Convenience Checking℠: $150 bonus
- Bonus amount: $150
- Monthly maintenance fee: $15
- Minimum deposit required: $500 in direct deposits within 60 days
Offer rules
Earn the $150 TD Bank checking account bonus when you open a TD Convenience Checking℠ account and receive at least $500 in direct deposits within 60 days.
Eligibility
Only for new customers located in one of the 16 states it serves: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C.
Expiration
Bonus available until November 30, 2021
Chase Secure Banking: $100 bonus
- Bonus amount: $100
- Minimum deposit required: $0
- Monthly maintenance fee: $4.95
Offer rules
Open a new Chase Secure Banking account and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of coupon enrollment to earn a $100 bonus. There’s no minimum deposit required, but the account does have an unavoidable monthly fee of $4.95.
Eligibility
This offer is exclusively available to new Chase customers. Qualifying transactions include debit card purchases, online bill payments, Chase QuickDeposits, Zelle transfers and ACH credits.
Expiration
Bonus available until January 19, 2022
PNC Virtual Wallet: Up to $300 bonus
- Bonus amount: $100, $250 or $400
- Minimum deposit required: $25
- Monthly maintenance fee: $7 to $25
Offer rules
Earn a $100 bonus when you receive monthly direct deposits of $500 or more; earn a $250 bonus when you receive monthly direct deposits of $2,000 or more or earn a $400 reward when you receive monthly direct deposits of $5,000 or more.
Eligibility
The new account must be opened online at pnc.com/virtualwallet or at a branch by October 31, 2021. Your bonus will be credited to your account 60 to 90 days after all conditions are met.
Expiration
Bonus available until October 31, 2021
Bank of America Advantage Banking: $100 bonus
- Bonus amount: $100
- Minimum deposit required: $25 or $100
- Monthly maintenance fee: $4.95 to $25
Offer rules
Earn this $100 Bank of America checking account bonus when you open a BofA Advantage Banking account and receive qualifying direct deposits of $1,000 or more within 90 days. Must use the offer code DDX100CIS when opening your account to qualify.
Eligibility
For new personal checking customers only. You’re not eligible if you’ve been an owner or co-owner of a Bank of America personal checking account within the last six months.
Expiration
Bonus available until December 31, 2021
Associated Bank Checking: up to $400 bonus
- Bonus amount: $200, $300 or $400
- Minimum deposit required: $25 to $100
- Monthly maintenance fee: $0 to $25
Offer rules
Open a new Associated Bank checking account and make at least $500 in direct deposits within the first 90 days of opening. Once your account has been open for 90 days, Associated Bank will calculate the average daily balance of all your deposit accounts for days 31 to 90. You’ll earn a $200 bonus for balances between $1,000 and $4,999.99, $300 for balances between $5,000 and $9,999.99 and $400 for balances over $10,000 The bonus will be credited to your account within 120 days of account opening.
Eligibility
Offer limited to a new personal Associated Bank checking account. Must be funded with new money.
Expiration
Bonus available until February 28, 2022
The Citibank Account Interest Checking: Up to $1,500 bonus
- Bonus amount: $300, $700, $1,500
- Minimum deposit required: $0
- Monthly maintenance fee: $0 to $30
Offer rules
Score a Citibank checking account bonus when you open a new, qualifying account by January 4, 2022, then deposit at least $15,000 within 20 days and maintain your balance for 60 consecutive days from the 21st day. Deposit $15,000 to $49,999 to earn $300; deposit $50,000 to $199,999 to earn $700 and deposit $200,000 or more to earn $1,500.
Eligible account packages include:
- Basic Banking. Has a $12 monthly fee unless you have a qualifying monthly direct deposit and bill payment, or maintain a combined average monthly balance of $1,500 across all eligible linked accounts.
- Citibank. Has a $25 monthly fee unless you maintain a combined average monthly balance of $10,000 across all eligible linked Citibank deposit, retirement and investment accounts.
- Citi Priority. Has a $30 monthly service fee if you don’t maintain a combined average monthly balance of at least $50,000 across all Citi Priority deposit, retirement and investment accounts.
- Citigold. Requires a combined average monthly balance of at least $200,000 across all Citigold deposit, retirement and investment accounts.
Eligibility
Available only to new Citibank customers.
Expiration
Bonus available until October 4, 2021
Capital One: $100 bonus
- Bonus amount: $100
- Minimum deposit required: $0
- Monthly maintenance fee: $0 to $25
Offer rules
With this Capital One checking account bonus, you’ll earn $100 when you open a new Capital One 360 Checking account before October 12, 2021, and use promo code SHARE100. If you receive two direct deposits greater than $200 each within 90 days of account opening, you’ll receive $100 by March 31, 2022.
Eligibility
Must open a new Capital One 360 Checking account by October 12, 2021, use promo code SHARE100 and receive at least two direct deposits, each of $200 or more, within 90 days of opening the account.
Expiration
Bonus available until October 12, 2021
Fifth Third Bank Checking: $250 signup bonus
- Bonus amount: $250
- Minimum deposit required: $0
- Monthly maintenance fee: $0 to $25
Offer rules
Open any personal Fifth Third checking account and receive a $250 bonus when you have direct deposits totaling $1,000 within 60 days of account opening. You must grab a unique offer code from Fifth Third Bank’s website before you open your account. You won’t get the bonus unless you provide that code with your application.
Eligibility
Not available to existing Fifth Third checking customers or those who closed an account within the last 12 months. If you meet the requirements, your bonus will be deposited into your account within 10 business days.
Expiration
Bonus available until November 30, 2021
Citizens Bank Checking: Up to $400 bonus
- Bonus amount: $100, $300 or $400
- Minimum deposit required: $0
- Monthly maintenance fee: $0 to $25
Offer rules
Earn $300 by opening a new personal checking account by October 28, 2021 and receiving at least one direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening. Get an additional $100 by making 50 debit card purchases within 60 days.
Eligibility
Must open a new Citizens Bank checking account via the promotional page by October 28, 2021. Must receive at least one direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days.
Expiration
Bonus available until October 28, 2021.
Huntington National Bank: Up to $200 bonus
- Bonus amount: $150 or $200
- Minimum deposit required: $0
- Monthly maintenance fee: $0 to $5
Offer rules
To get the Huntington National Bank checking account bonus, you must open a new Huntington Asterisk-Free Checking or Huntington 5 Checking account via the promotions bonus web page by February 7, 2022, and you must deposit at least $1,000 within 60 days. If you open an Huntington Asterisk-Free Checking, you’ll get a $150 bonus, and if you open a Huntington 5 account, you’ll qualify for the $200 bonus.
Eligibility
Must open a new Huntington National Bank checking account via the website’s promo page and deposit at least $1,000 into the account within 60 days. This offer is only available to residents of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Expiration
Bonus available until February 7, 2022.
M&T Bank checking: $250 bonus
- Bonus amount: $250
- Minimum deposit required: $25
- Monthly maintenance fee: $0 to $24.95
Offer rules
Open a new M&T Bank EZChoice Checking, M&T Bank MyChoice Plus Checking or M&T Bank MyChoice Premium Checking account by 1/10/2022 and receive at least $500 in direct deposits within 90 days to qualify for the bonus.
Eligibility
Must open a new personal M&T checking account by January 10, 2022, and make qualifying direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days of account opening.
Expiration
Bonus available until January 10, 2022.
Monifi: $250 bonus
- Bonus amount: $250
- Minimum deposit required: $25
- Monthly maintenance fee: $0 to $24.95
Offer rules
Get a $250 bonus when you open a Monifi account before October 31, 2021 and receive at least two direct deposits of $1,000 or more within 90 days of opening your account.
Eligibility
Must set up direct deposit for an account opened between June 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021, and you must receive two direct deposits of at least $1,000 each within 90 days.
Expiration
Bonus available until October 31, 2021.
Wells Fargo checking: $250 bonus
- Bonus amount: $200
- Minimum deposit required: $25
- Monthly maintenance fee: $0 to $10
Offer rules
With this Wells Fargo checking account bonus, you’ll earn $200 when you open a new Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account by December 31, 2021, and receive direct deposits totaling at least $1,000 within 90 days.
Eligibility
Must be a new Wells Fargo Everyday Checking customer.
Expiration
Bonus available until December 31, 2021.
When choosing a checking account based on its bonus, consider the following criteria before making your decision:
- Bonus amount and conditions. Make sure you can comfortably meet the requirements needed to earn the bonus.
- Consider if the bonus is worth it. Even if the bonus is good, the account may not be worth it if it comes with high fees and strict requirements.
- Account fees. See which fees are tied to the account and if there are easy ways to avoid them.
- Opening deposit or minimum balance. Calculate that you can afford the opening deposit and meet the minimum balance requirements to avoid fees.
3 checking account bonus benefits
Checking account bonus offers are great for several reasons:
- Free money. You can get rewarded with hundreds of dollars for simply switching banks or spending money you were going to spend anyway.
- Spend on anything. Once the bonus arrives in your account, you can use the funds to go on a shopping spree, pay off debt or anything you want.
- Easier to earn. Compared to credit card bonuses, checking account bonuses are easier to earn because you’re typically not required to spend thousands of dollars within just a few months.
4 things to consider before using a checking account bonus offer
But these attractive offers might not always work in your favor.
- Might be a less-than-stellar account. While the bonus offer can incentivize you to open a specific account, don’t get blinded by the dollar amount if the account features are subpar. Once the bonuses expire, you’ll be stuck with the account.
- Must meet requirements. Some checking accounts require you to live in a certain state, maintain a minimum balance or receive regular direct deposits to qualify for the bonus. Read the fine print before signing up.
- Might not be a good bank. Just because a bank offers a generous bonus doesn’t make it a good financial institution. Consider other factors and ask yourself if you’d switch to that bank even if it didn’t offer a bonus.
- Bonuses are taxable. The IRS considers checking account bonuses as taxable income. This reduces the amount of money you get to keep and can complicate things when tax-time rolls around.
Do I have to report my checking bonus on my taxes?
Yes. Under IRS rules, checking account bonuses are considered taxable income. If you receive a bonus, your bank will typically send you a 1099-INT form, instructing you to include the amount as part of your income when you file. Bonuses from savings accounts are also taxable, but rewards from credit cards are considered non-taxable rebates.
Finding a checking account with a bonus is easy money in your hand. Get a head start on growing your account balance and compare your options to find an account that suits your needs.
Use this table to compare checking accounts based on their fees and checking account bonus offers.
