Bank Promotions [2024 – Best Checking Account Offers]
By Maddy Scheckel There are over 4,000 banks in the U.S. – which raises a difficult question.
How can you choose between them?
Here’s an idea: Go with the bank that gives you the most money.
Many banks will give you a bonus when you open an account and meet basic requirements.
But bank promotions can get confusing, which is why I’m here to help.
I’ve listed and analyzed the best checking account offers available right now. That way, you can decide which will benefit you the most.
Source: Unsplash
10 Best Checking Account Bank Promotions
Some bank promotions are super generous but come with intense requirements. Others don’t offer as much money but make it easier to qualify.
In this list, I’ve included the best checking account offers from across the spectrum.
1 – Chase Bank (Private Client)
Checking Account Bonus Offer: $1,000 – $3,000 (depends on deposits you make in the first 45 days)
Monthly Fee: $35 (waived if criteria are met)
Requirements: Already have Chase personal checking and savings accounts or an eligible J.P. Morgan Wealth Management non-retirement account; minimum deposit $150,000+
The Chase Bank Private Client checking account is a high-end account that gives you a special relationship with the bank.
The size of the bonus depends on the deposits you make within 45 days of opening the account:
- $150,000 – $249,999 deposit = $1,000 reward
- $250,000 – $499,999 deposit = $2,000 reward
- $500,000+ deposit = $3,000 reward
Those bonuses are massive – but so are the required deposits. And the funds for these deposits can’t come from your existing Chase accounts.
If you’re already a Chase client and you have lots of new money to deposit, go talk with a Private Client Banker. That’s the first step towards receiving this amazing offer.
2 – Citigold Checking Account
Checking Account Bonus Offer: $200 – $2,000 (depends on the amount deposited within the first 20-30 days and minimum balance levels during a 60-day “maintenance period”)
Monthly Fee: None
Requirements: No existing Citibank checking account; maintain a monthly balance of $10,000+ in eligible linked accounts
The Citigold Checking Account is one of the most generous bank promotions – but it’s also hard to qualify for.
The minimum balance is $10,000. That’s a lot of money, but balances from eligible linked retirement, investment, and deposit accounts can contribute to the total.
The size of your bonus depends on your balance within the checking account, specifically.
Citibank starts recording your balance 21 days after you open an account or 31 days if you enroll by phone. Your balance is then monitored for 60 days, and the lowest daily balance determines the size of your bonus:
- $10,000 – $29,999 balance = $200 max bonus
- $30,000 – $74,999 balance = $500 max bonus
- $75,000 – $199,999 balance = $1,000 max bonus
- $200,000 – $299,999 balance = $1,500 max bonus
- $300,000+ balance = $2,000 max bonus
*Note: Make sure you apply online! If you open an account but don’t explicitly apply for the promotion, you might not get the bonus.
Also, qualifying deposits to your checking account must be “new-to-Citibank funds.” This means they can’t come from other accounts you have with Citibank.
3 – Citi Priority Account
Checking Account Bonus Offer: $200 – $2,000 (depends on the amount deposited within the first 20-30 days and minimum balance levels during a 60-day “maintenance period”)
Monthly Fee: $30 (waived if criteria are met)
Requirements: No existing Citibank checking account; maintain a $10,000+ combined average monthly balance in eligible linked accounts
The bonuses for the Citi Priority Account are exactly the same as they are for the Citigold Checking Account described above.
That means the bonus size depends on your account’s smallest daily balance during a 60-day maintenance period – which begins on your account’s 21st day of existence (or 31st day if you signed up for the promotion over the phone).
The larger your minimum daily balance, the larger your bonus:
- $10,000 – $29,999 balance = $200 max bonus
- $30,000 – $74,999 balance = $500 max bonus
- $75,000 – $199,999 balance = $1,000 max bonus
- $200,000 – $299,999 balance = $1,500 max bonus
- $300,000+ balance = $2,000 max bonus
Remember, you must fund the account with money that’s not already held by Citibank.
And don’t assume you’ll get the bonus just by opening the account. Citibank is very clear – you need to sign up for the promotion separately.
4 – PNC Bank Virtual Wallet Checking
Checking Account Bonus Offer: $50 – $400 (depending on the specific product chosen)
Monthly Fee: $7 – $25 (waived if criteria are met)
Requirements: No PNC Bank checking account in the last 90 days, no PNC promotional premium earned in the past 24 months; account receives direct deposits totaling at least $500 (for the minimum bonus) within 60 days
The checking account bonus for PNC Bank’s Virtual Wallet has simple requirements, which makes it one of the best bank promotions.
The Virtual Wallet comes in three different levels, each with a different bonus:
- Virtual Wallet: $50 bonus
- Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend: $200 bonus
- Virtual Wallet with Performance Select: $400 bonus
To qualify for the bonus, you’ll need to receive direct deposits to your PNC Virtual Wallet Checking account – and those deposits must reach these totals within 60 days:
- $500 for the basic Virtual Wallet
- $2,000 for Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend
- $5,000 for Virtual Wallet with Performance Select
5 – BMO Harris Checking
Checking Account Bonus Offer: $300 – $500 (depending on the account level)
Monthly Fee: $0-$25 (depends on the account level, waived if criteria are met)
Requirements: No prior BMO checking account within the last 12 months, receive $4,000+ in qualifying direct deposits within first 90 days
BMO Harris offers three checking accounts, each with a lucrative bonus.
The two basic options are the Smart Advantage Account and Smart Money Account. Each offers a $300 bonus if you receive $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account.
The BMO Premier account is a higher-level option. That means a bigger bonus – $500! But also stricter requirements: at least $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits in the first 90 days.
6 – US Bank Smartly Checking
Checking Account Bonus Offer: $300
Monthly Fee: $6.95 (waived if criteria are met)
Requirements: No U.S. Bank checking account in the past 2 years; haven’t received a U.S. Bank promotion in the past 2 years; $25 minimum opening deposit; enroll in mobile or online banking within 90 days; complete 2+ direct deposits worth at least $5,000 total within 90 days; spend at least $100 through 10+ debit card purchases within 90 days
The U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account offers a generous bonus of $300, which can rise to $400 if you open a U.S. Bank Standard Savings account as well.
*Note: To receive this additional bonus, you must manually enter the promo code 2023MAY on both account applications.
There are a lot of requirements, but most of them are pretty achievable if you have a steady income.
Getting $5,000 in direct deposits within 90 days sounds tough at first. But if you earn at least $1,667 a month (after taxes) and your employer offers direct deposits, you can totally pull it off!
And from there, it’s just a matter of enrolling in online or mobile banking and consistently using your debit card. Easy-peasy!
Source: Unsplash
7 – TD Bank Beyond Checking
Checking Account Bonus Offer: $300
Monthly Fee: $25 (waived if criteria are met)
Requirements: No prior TD Bank checking account within the past 12 months; $2,500 in qualifying direct deposits within 60 days
The welcome bonus from TD Bank is one of the most straightforward bank promotions available.
It’s this simple: If you receive at least $2,500 in direct deposit in the first 60 days, you’ll get $300 credited to your account (note: bonus will be credited to your account within 180 days).
And if $2,500 in direct deposits sounds like a lot, consider the TD Convenience Checking account. The bonus goes down to $200, but you’ll only need $500 in qualifying direct deposits.
8 – Fifth Third Personal Checking
Checking Account Bonus Offer: $225
Monthly Fee: $0 – $25 (depends on account category, waived if criteria are met)
Requirements: No prior Fifth Third checking account within the past 13 months; $500+ in direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account
The $225 bonus from Fifth Third Bank isn’t massive, but it’s still one of the best checking account offers because it’s so easy to qualify for.
You just need to receive a minimum of $500 in direct deposits within 90 days.
Oh, and you have to fund the account within 45 days so it won’t be shut down.
9 – Chase Total Checking
Checking Account Bonus Offer: $200
Monthly Fee: $12 (waived if criteria are met)
Requirements: No prior Chase checking account within last 90 days; no Chase checking account closed with negative balance within last 3 years; direct deposit made to account within 90 days
The Chase Total Checking bonus is great because there’s no minimum direct deposit amount. You just need to receive a direct deposit of some sort within 90 days, no matter the size.
Well, there is one caveat. You know those tiny deposits that companies sometimes make as a way of verifying your bank account info? Those are called “micro-deposits,” and they won’t count.
But any direct deposit beyond that will work!
10 – Bank of America Advantage Banking
Checking Account Bonus Offer: $100
Monthly Fee: $0 – $25 (depends on account category, waived if criteria are met)
Requirements: No existing Bank of America personal checking account; receive $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days
Bank of America’s $100 offer might not be super lucrative, but it’s definitely worth taking if you’re considering Bank of America, anyway.
And, hey, $100 is nothing to scoff at!
To qualify for the bonus, all you have to do is set up direct deposit and receive at least $1,000 in the first 90 days and use the offer code DNE100CIS.
Commonly Asked Questions About Bank Promotions
What Banks Are Giving Money for Opening Accounts?
Many of the best banks in America will give you money for opening an account, including:
- Chase Bank
- Citibank
- PNC Bank
- BMO Harris Bank
- U.S. Bank
- TD Bank
- Fifth Third Bank
- Bank of America
How to Get $400 From US Bank?
You can get a $400 bonus if you open a U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account and a U.S. Bank Standard Savings account using this promo code: 2023MAY. You’ll also need to meet these requirements within 90 days:
- Enroll in mobile or online banking
- Receive 2+ direct deposits worth at least $5,000 in total
- Spend at least $100 through 10+ debit card purchases
What is the $2000 Bonus Bank Account?
Chase Bank offers a $2,000 bonus, but you’ll have to deposit at least $250,000 into the account within 45 days. Citibank also offers a $2,000 bonus for clients who maintain a $300,000+ daily balance during a 60-day maintenance period.
How Can I Get $250 From Capital One?
Capital One used to offer a $250 bonus for opening a new checking account, but the promotion has already expired. Check back here for the new promotion soon!
$1,000 Bank Bonus?
CitiBank and Chase Bank both offer bonuses of $1,000+. With the Chase Bank Private Client checking account, you can get $1,000 by depositing $150,000+ within 45 days. With some Citibank checking accounts, you can get $1,000 if you maintain a $75,000+ balance during the 60-day maintenance period.
Bank Offers to Open a New Account?
Many of the largest banks in the U.S. offer bank promotions that will give you money when you open a new checking account and meet certain requirements. Some of the easiest options include:
- TD Bank – $300 bonus
- Fifth Third Bank – $225 bonus
- Chase Bank (Total Checking) – $200 bonus
And if you’d like to learn which budgeting app could best help you manage your finances and grow your bank balance, check out these comparisons:
Then use a net worth tracker to see how your new financial strategies are paying off.
Banks With Immediate Sign-Up Bonus?
Lots of bank promotions include a sign-up bonus, but most of them aren’t immediate. You usually have to meet some requirements within a set time period (often 60-90 days). The Chase Bank Total Checking Account bonus could arrive faster since you need just a single direct deposit to qualify.
Fortunately, we also have this list of banks with immediate sign-up bonus.
