Banks pay these bonuses to new customers who open an account and set up direct deposit.
Top picks
Chase Total Checking
SoFi Checking and Savings
CurrentOffers verified on each bank’s site at this update. Terms apply.
The three best bank account bonuses
All three need a direct deposit. Chase and SoFi run other offers too: see Chase Bank promotions and SoFi promotions and sign-up bonus offers.
1. Chase Total Checking
Best overallWhy we picked it It has the lowest direct deposit requirement of the three and the longest window to meet it.
- $1,000 can span several paychecks
- Bonus pays within 15 days
- $15 monthly fee without a waiver
- New Chase checking customers only
Offer expires 01/27/2027. Not available to existing Chase checking customers, those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. One new checking account opening bonus every two years. $0 Monthly Service Fee with any one of: $500+ in qualifying electronic deposits, a $1,500 balance at the beginning of each day, a $5,000 average beginning day balance across linked qualifying accounts, or a linked qualifying checking account. Otherwise a $15 Monthly Service Fee applies. Account subject to approval. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
2. SoFi Checking and Savings
Best for larger paychecksWhy we picked it It pays the largest bonus of the three when direct deposits reach the top tier.
- No monthly fee
- $1,000 in deposits still earns $50
- Top tier needs $5,000 in 25 days
- Under $1,000 earns nothing
The $450 is three bonuses: up to $400 for direct deposit through 12/31/2026, $25 for opening your first SoFi account with $50 or more, and $25 for enrolling in SoFi Plus, a paid subscription, each within 25 days. SoFi lists the two $25 bonuses through October 21, 2026. Only recurring income such as payroll or benefits counts as direct deposit. See SoFi for full terms. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
3. Current
Best with no credit checkWhy we picked it It has no credit check to open, which makes it an option for applicants other banks have declined.
- No credit check to open
- No monthly fee
- Payroll or government deposits only
- No bonus without code WELCOME75
New customers only. Transfers and payment apps do not count. Current’s fee schedule has no monthly fee. It does list a $5 monthly inactivity fee after 12 months without activity and a $10 account closure fee. Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC, and/or Cross River Bank, Member FDIC.
Before you switch your direct deposit
Four things readers ask before moving a paycheck.
If your employer lets you split your direct deposit, you can send part of each paycheck to the new account. The deposits only have to add up to the required total inside the window, and a transfer from your own bank does not count.
Once the bonus posts, you can direct your paycheck elsewhere. Before you do, know that Chase charges its $15 monthly fee in any month you do not meet a waiver, and read each account’s closure terms.
Chase reports it as interest on Form 1099-INT. SoFi uses Form 1099-MISC. Current does too, once your rewards reach $600 in a calendar year. You owe the tax whether or not a form arrives.
These are separate companies. Completing them one at a time keeps one paycheck from having to meet two deadlines.
Bonuses for other situations
Two offers that do not require a direct deposit: one for savers and one for teenagers.
Raisin
Best with no paycheck to moveSign up with code STACK. You have 14 days from your first deposit to reach your tier. The bonus runs from $40 at $10,000 to $900 at $200,000.
New customers only. Adding $1,000 or more in a second product type adds $10 to $100. Raisin is not a bank. Accounts are held at FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions.
Chase High School Checking
Best for teens 13 to 17Opened at a branch with a parent or guardian who already has an eligible Chase checking account. There is no online application.
Offer expires 01/27/2027. $0 Monthly Service Fee for students 13 to 17 at opening with the account linked to the parent or guardian’s personal checking. One new checking account opening bonus every two years. Account subject to approval. See Chase for details. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
MoreBank promotions without direct deposit
Compare bank account bonuses
| Account | Bonus | Direct deposit required | Monthly fee | Offer ends | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top three, with direct deposit | |||||
| Chase Total Checking | $400 | $1,000 total within 90 days | $15 or $0 | 01/27/2027 | Get $400 |
| SoFi Checking and Savings | Up to $450 | $5,000 within 25 days ($1,000 earns $50) | $0 | 12/31/2026 | Get up to $450 |
| Current | $75 | $1,500 in payroll within 35 days | $0 | No end date listed | Get $75 |
| For other situations | |||||
| Raisin | Up to $1,000 | None ($10,000+ in savings for 90 days) | $0 | First deposit by 10/31/2026 | Get the bonus |
| Chase High School Checking | $125 | None (5 transactions in 60 days) | $0 for ages 13 to 17 | 01/27/2027 | Get offer code |
Offers verified on each bank’s site at this update. Terms apply.
How we chose these
Bonus size, the deposit required, the time allowed, the monthly fee and how to avoid it, and the offer end date.
Every figure was checked on the bank’s own offer page at this update.
Offers can change or end early, so confirm the terms with the bank before you apply.
Bank account bonus FAQs
Chase Total Checking is the easiest large one. It pays $400 once your direct deposits total $1,000 or more within 90 days. For an account with no credit check, Current pays $75 with code WELCOME75 after $1,500 in payroll deposits in the first 35 days.
It depends on the bank. Chase pays within 15 days of you meeting the requirements. SoFi totals your direct deposits over 25 calendar days and then pays within 7 business days. Current pays within 10 business days of your payroll deposits reaching $1,500. Raisin credits its savings bonus within 30 days after the 90 day hold.
Yes. Chase, SoFi and Current are separate companies, so earning one bonus does not stop you from earning another. Chase itself pays one new checking bonus every two years. Space them out so each one gets its own direct deposits. Chase Total Checking gives you 90 days, which makes it a good one to start with.
Yes. Raisin pays $40 to $1,000 with code STACK when you deposit $10,000 or more into savings and hold it for 90 days, with no direct deposit at all. The amount depends on how much you deposit. SoFi also pays $25 for opening your first SoFi account and depositing $50 or more within 25 days, an offer it lists through October 21, 2026. For teens 13 to 17, Chase High School Checking pays $125 after 5 qualifying transactions within 60 days.
Yes. A bank bonus is taxable income. Chase reports it as interest on Form 1099-INT. SoFi uses Form 1099-MISC. Current does too, once your rewards reach $600 in a calendar year. You owe tax on it whether or not a form arrives, so do not count on keeping the full headline number.
