These bonuses pay for a deposit you hold or a few everyday transactions, with no direct deposit required.
Top picks
Raisin
CIT Platinum Savings
Chase High School Checking℠Offers verified on each bank’s site at this update. Terms apply.
The five best bank bonuses without direct deposit
Ranked by the most each one can pay. If you can move a paycheck after all, compare the best bank account bonuses that ask for one.
1. Raisin
Best for large balancesWhy we picked it It has the largest bonus on this page, and the top tiers reward balances of $100,000 or more.
- No paycheck or transactions needed
- No platform fees
- $10,000 earns $40
- Withdrawals can cut the bonus
New customers only. Enter code STACK at sign-up and start your first deposit while the offer runs. The bonus is $40 at $10,000, $100 at $25,000, $200 at $50,000, $425 at $100,000 and $900 at $200,000. A second product type with $1,000 or more adds $10 to $100. Raisin is not a bank. Deposits are held at FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions.
MoreRaisin review and how the bonus tiers work
2. Chase Secure Banking℠
Best checking bonus for transactionsWhy we picked it Ten everyday transactions earn $175 with no direct deposit: debit card purchases, online bill payments, Zelle, Chase QuickDeposit or ACH credits. You can open it with or without a deposit.
- Debit purchases and Zelle count
- Opens online with no deposit required
- $4.95 monthly fee unless you qualify for the waiver
- Not for current Chase checking customers
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 $250 or more in qualifying electronic deposits each statement period or an account owner who is age 17 to 24. Otherwise a $4.95 Monthly Service Fee applies. Account subject to approval. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
3. Chase High School Checking℠
Best for teensWhy we picked it It is the only offer here for teenagers, and five everyday transactions earn it.
- Debit purchases and Zelle count
- Bonus pays within 15 days
- Opened in a branch, not online
- Parent needs Chase checking
For teens 13 to 17, opened in a branch with a parent or guardian who has an eligible Chase checking account. Qualifying transactions include debit card purchases, online bill payments, Chase QuickDeposit, Zelle and ACH credits. $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.
4. SoFi Checking and Savings
Best for a small depositWhy we picked it It takes the least money of any offer here: a $50 deposit.
- Only $50 to qualify
- No account or maintenance fees
- Smallest bonus on this page
- First SoFi account only
The $25 is SoFi’s invite bonus for opening Checking and Savings as your first SoFi product and depositing $50 or more within 25 days. Transfers from payment apps such as Venmo, PayPal and Zelle do not count. This invite offer is for a limited time. Eligible direct deposits of $5,000 or more can add $400. See SoFi for current rates and full terms. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
MoreSoFi promotions and sign-up bonus offers
5. CIT Platinum Savings
Best for savings rateWhy we picked it No direct deposit and no transaction hoops. CIT pays 3.75% APY once your balance reaches $5,000, with no monthly service fee and $100 to open, according to CIT. CIT shows no sign-up bonus on its savings page, so pick Raisin if the bonus is what you are after.
- 3.75% APY on balances of $5,000 or more
- No monthly service fee
- Balances under $5,000 earn 0.25% APY
- No sign-up bonus listed on its savings page
The APY is variable and can change. CIT Bank, Member FDIC.
Before you open an account for the bonus
Four things that decide whether a bonus without direct deposit pays out.
Banks mean a paycheck, pension or government benefit sent by an employer or agency. Chase and SoFi both rule out transfers from another bank, payment apps such as Zelle, check deposits, wires and tax refunds.
Some transfers show up labeled as a direct deposit. The label does not earn a bonus. SoFi’s terms say it decides what qualifies at its sole discretion and may ask for documentation, so do not plan around it.
Raisin pays on the lowest balance you keep during its 90 days. Chase pays only if the account is open and unrestricted on payout day.
Chase reports its bonuses as interest on Form 1099-INT, and SoFi uses Form 1099-MISC. Set part of it aside.
MoreBusiness checking account promotions
Compare bank promotions without direct deposit
| Account | Bonus | What you have to do | Monthly fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranked picks: personal accounts, by bonus size | ||||
| Raisin | Up to $1,000 | Hold $10,000+ for 90 days | $0 | Get the bonus |
| Chase Secure Banking℠ | $175 | 10 transactions in 60 days | $4.95 or $0 | See at Chase |
| Chase High School Checking℠ | $125 | 5 transactions in 60 days | $0 for ages 13 to 17 | Get offer code |
| SoFi Checking and Savings | $25 | Deposit $50 within 25 days | $0 | Get $25 |
| CIT Platinum Savings | None listed | No bonus; savings pays 3.75% APY on $5,000+ | $0 | See CIT |
Offers verified on each bank’s site at this update. Terms apply.
How we chose these
Bonus size, what the bank asks for instead of a direct deposit, how much cash it ties up, the monthly fee and the offer end date.
The five ranked picks are personal accounts, in order of the most each can pay. CIT Platinum Savings shows no sign-up bonus, so it comes last and is listed for its savings rate. Chase Secure Banking℠ is the only one with a monthly fee, and Chase waives it if you qualify.
Every figure was checked on the bank’s own offer page at this update. Offers can change or end early, so confirm the terms before you apply.
Bank promotions without direct deposit FAQs
Raisin pays up to $1,000 with code STACK for holding $10,000 or more for 90 days. Chase High School Checking pays teens $125 after five qualifying transactions, and SoFi pays $25 for a $50 deposit. None of them asks for a direct deposit.
Yes. Chase Secure Banking pays $175 after 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days, with no direct deposit and no deposit required to open. Chase High School Checking pays teens $125 after five. Most larger checking bonuses still require a direct deposit.
No. Chase defines a direct deposit as a paycheck, pension or government benefit sent by your employer or the government, and its terms exclude transfers from another bank. SoFi’s terms exclude bank transfers too. A transfer does work for the deposit-based bonuses on this page: Raisin and SoFi’s $25 offer both accept money moved from an outside bank.
No bank on this page pays the moment you sign up. The closest is Chase Secure Banking, which can be opened without a deposit and pays $175 within 15 days after you complete 10 qualifying transactions. If you mainly need an account that costs nothing to start, see how to open a bank account online with no deposit.
Part of it. SoFi pays $25 for opening Checking and Savings as your first SoFi product through an invite link and depositing $50 or more within 25 days. The $400 piece requires eligible direct deposits of $5,000 or more.
Yes. A bank bonus is taxable income. Chase reports it as interest on Form 1099-INT, and SoFi uses Form 1099-MISC. You owe tax on it either way, so do not count on keeping the full amount.
