Banks With the Best Signup Bonuses
Written by
Sophia Acevedo
Edited by
Melanie Grafil
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Chase, Wells Fargo and SoFi® are just a handful of banks that offer a bonus for opening an account. Banks with immediate intro bonuses are rare, but those that pay within 30, 60 or 90 days are relatively easy to find.
Of course, when you open a new checking account, there are other things to look for beyond banks that pay you to open an account instantly. The best bank for you may depend on factors like accessibility and ATM access. Take a look at the bank’s other features and offerings, such as high-yield savings accounts, CDs, and an intuitive mobile app.
When all is said and done, a bank that offers you the features you want, along with a generous intro bonus, is worth its weight in gold. Here are options you might consider for personal banking.
Banks With the Best Personal Checking Account Bonuses
Here’s a deeper dive into banks with the best sign-up bonuses once you meet certain stipulations, such as direct deposit requirements and keeping the account open for a certain time frame.
| Bank Account Name | Bonus Amount | Annual Percentage Yield | Time Until Payout | Monthly Service Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Total Checking | $300 | None | 15 days after meeting requirements | Yes — waivable |
| Chase Private Client Checking | Up to $3,000 | 40 days after meeting requirements | Yes — waivable | |
| PNC Virtual Wallet® | Up to $400 | Up to APY on High-Yield Savings Account | 60 to 90 days after meeting requirements | Yes –waivable |
| Citi® Regular Checking | $325 | None | 90 to 120 days after account opening | Yes — waivable |
| M&T Bank EZChoice Checking | $100 | None | 90 days after meeting requirements | None |
| M&T Bank MyChoice Plus Checking | $150 | Up to | 90 days after meeting requirements | Yes –waivable |
| M&T Bank MyChoice Premium Checking | $200 | 90 days after meeting requirements | Yes — waivable | |
| TD Complete Checking | $200 | None | 180 days from account opening | Yes — waivable |
| TD Beyond Checking | $300 | 180 days from account opening | Yes; waivable | |
| Truist One Checking | $400 | None | 4 weeks after meeting requirements | Yes — waivable |
| Wells Fargo Everyday Checking | $325 | None | 30 days after meeting requirements | Yes — waivable |
| Fifth Third Momentum Checking | $300 | None | 10 days after meeting requirements | None |
| Key Smart Checking | $300 | None | 60 days after meeting requirements | None |
| KeyBank Hassle-Free Account | $300 | None | 60 days after meeting requirements | None |
| Key Select Checking | $500 | 60 days after meeting requirements | Yes — waivable | |
| SoFi Checking and Savings | Up to $300 | Up to on SoFi Savings | 7 days after direct deposit bonus period ends | None |
Chase
Chase may have high fees and low interest rates on its savings accounts, but the largest bank has multiple checking accounts with bonuses. Chase Total Checking and Chase Private Client Checking are two standout options for customers.
Open a Chase Total Checking account by Jan. 21, 2026, and earn a $300 cash bonus when you make direct deposits of at least $500 within 90 days of enrolling. You’ll need to wait another 15 days to get your cash.
It’s not hard to waive the fees with a Chase account. Just make sure you meet one of the following criteria to waive the $15 monthly service on Chase Total Checking:
- Have direct deposits of at least $500 each month
- Have a beginning day balance of at least $1,500 every day
- Have an average beginning day balance of at least $5,000 in your Chase Total Checking plus other linked qualifying Chase accounts
As the biggest bank in the U.S., Chase has a large network of branches and fee-free ATMs, plus a user-friendly app and a full suite of products, including loans and bank accounts for kids.
Chase Private Client customers can earn a bonus of up to $3,000 based on the amount of deposits of new money or securities into eligible accounts.
- Earn $1,000 for depositing between $150,000 and $249,999.
- Earn $2,000 for a deposit of $250,000 to $499,999.
- Earn $3,000 when you deposit $500,000 or more.
There are no direct deposit requirements, but you must make the deposits within 45 days and maintain the money in that account for at least 90 days. You’ll have to meet with a banker to open a Chase Private Client Checking Account.
PNC Bank
PNC Bank is offering a generous $400 intro bonus when you open a combined checking and savings account with a Virtual Wallet by Nov. 11, 2025. The benefits of a Virtual Wallet include combining a “spend” account with a “Reserve” account, which is a secondary, interest-earning checking account for short-term planning, plus a “Growth” account, which is long-term savings.
You may be able to find higher interest rates at online banks. PNC offers interest rates starting at and up to for customers who meet specific criteria and have exceptionally high balances in their growth account.
PNC Virtual Wallets
PNC offers three tiers of Virtual Wallet accounts. When you set up a regular Virtual Wallet, you can earn $100 when you receive qualifying direct deposits of $500 or more. The bank account has a $7 monthly service charge, which is waived with $500 in direct deposits per month.
The PNC Bank Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend pays qualifying customers $200 with $2,000 or more in direct deposits. The account has a $15 service charge, waived with $2,000 in direct deposits.
A Performance Select account pays $400 when you have qualifying direct deposits of $5,000 or more. There is a $25 service fee, waived with $5,000 per month in direct deposits.
The initial direct deposit must be credited to your account within 60 days to qualify for the bonus, and the bonus will be paid within 60 to 90 days of account opening.
Citi®
Citi is offering a $325 intro bonus with a new Citi Regular Checking Account. To qualify, you must open Citi Regular Checking through the promotional page by Jan. 12, 2026, and deposit at least two direct deposits totaling at least $3,000 within the first 90 days.
You must open the account online. This offer is not available by phone or at a branch.
Citi Regular Checking has a $15 monthly service fee ,waived for customers who receive $250 in direct deposits each month or are in relationship tiers. Keep in mind that the $3,000 deposit requirement for the bonus differs from the direct deposit requirement to waive the fee.
M&T Bank
M&T Bank has fairly straightforward requirements to earn up to $200 in your new checking account between Oct. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2025. You only need to $500 in direct deposits within 90 days of opening an account to earn the bonus. A new EZChoice checking customer can earn $100 cash back. Best of all, there are no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements for this account.
MyChoice Plus delivers $150 to qualifying new customers. You can choose an interest-bearing checking account, and you can waive the $14.95 monthly fee with direct deposits totaling $1,500 or more per month or with a $2,500 or more average daily balance.
The MyChoice Premium account is an interest-bearing checking account with tons of benefits. There is a $24.95 monthly fee, but you can waive it with a $7,500 or more average daily balance or $25,000 in combined balances in eligible M&T accounts. Earn a $200 bonus with your direct deposit of just $500.
TD Bank
TD Bank is offering $200 to $300 to new checking customers through Oct. 31, 2025. A TD Beyond interest-earning checking account pays $300 when you have $2,500 in qualifying direct deposits within 60 days. Or, you can open TD Complete Checking and earn $200 with just $500 in direct deposits in 60 days. Bonuses will be paid within 180 days of account opening.
TD Bank Beyond Checking has a $25 monthly fee, and TD Complete Checking has a $15 monthly fee, but each account offers three ways to waive the fee.
Truist Bank
Truist was formed when BB&T and SunTrust Bank merged in 2019. It’s the eighth-largest bank in the U.S., just behind competitors that are household names like Chase Bank and Wells Fargo.
Now through Oct. 29, 2025, Truist is offering a $400 bonus to new checking account customers. To qualify for the Truist Bank promotion, you must have at least two direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of opening the account. To take advantage of this offer, you’ll need to open your account online and use promo code TRUIST25DC400.
Truist has no overdraft fees, six ways to waive the $12 monthly maintenance fee, and five levels of benefits with automatic upgrades depending on your average account balance of all linked Truist accounts and investments. The downside? The offer is only available to customers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia or the District of Columbia who open an account online.
Wells Fargo
Like most other banks on this list, Wells Fargo has a checking account bonus for new customers.
To earn a $325 checking bonus, open an Everyday Checking account online or at a branch by Oct. 15, 2025, with at least $25 minimum opening deposit and $1,000 or more in qualifying electronic deposits within 90 calendar days. After 90 days, if you have met the requirements, you’ll receive your bonus in 30 days.
The bank’s checking account has a $10 monthly service fee, with four ways to waive fees. However, after Oct. 25, 2025, there will be changes to the ways fees are waived.
Fifth Third Bank
Through Jan. 7, 2026, Fifth Third Bank is offering a $300 bonus when you open a checking account and make direct deposits of $500 or more within 90 days of opening your account. Once you’ve met these requirements, you’ll receive your bonus within 10 days, making Fifth Third one of the fastest banks to pay a intro bonus. You could receive your bonus in as little as 10 days if you receive $500 in direct deposits on the first day you open the account. Fifth Third Momentum Checking also has no monthly service fees.
KeyBank
KeyBank has $300 and $500 checking account bonuses. To earn $300, open Key Smart Checking or KeyBank Hassle-Free Account online by Dec. 19, 2025, make a $10 minimum opening deposit, and receive at least $2,000 in direct deposits within the first 90 days. To earn $500, open Key Select Checking online by Dec. 19, 2025, make a $50 minimum opening deposit, and receive $5,000 in direct deposits within the first 90 days. Bonuses will be deposited into the checking account within 60 days of following all the steps.
Key Smart Checking and KeyBank Hassle-Free Account have no maintenance fee and no minimum balance requirements. Key Select Checking is an interest-earning checking account with a $25 monthly service fee. The fee is waived during the first three months. After that, you’ll need to waive fees each statement cycle by having a combined balance of $15,000 or more across eligible accounts, or by receiving direct deposits of $3,000 or more.
SoFi®
SoFi is an online bank with tons of great features. You can earn a $50 cash bonus when you open an account and have at least $1,000 in direct deposits within 25 calendar days from account opening. If you make eligible direct deposits of $5,000 or more within 25 calendar days from account opening, that bonus increases to $300. Funds will be deposited into your account within 7 days. This offer expires on Jan. 31, 2026, and direct deposits that clear after that date won’t count toward bonus qualifications.
In addition to earning a bonus, new customers can also get a APY boost on SoFi Savings by setting up a new account with eligible direct deposits. The interest rate boost lasts six months, and you’ll also need to maintain your SoFi Plus subscription for that period.
The standard rate for SoFi Savings is APY, so the boost raises it to . The standard rate for checking balances for SoFi members who receive eligible direct deposits is APY.
Tips for Maximizing Bank Bonuses
To maximize your bank account bonus, read all the qualification requirements, paying special attention to any deadlines mentioned. If you need to keep money in an account for a certain number of days, factor in delays from transfers or deposits to ensure you fully complete the qualifications.
Once you’ve earned a bonus, keep your bank account in good standing and avoid bank fees. Banks commonly define good standing as a bank account that has a positive balance with no blocks due to overdraft fees or pending transactions.
Banks do not usually permit customers to earn multiple intro bonuses at the same time, but you could earn bonuses from different banks. However, you’ll need to pay extra attention to the bonus disclosure materials since most banks have early account closure fees to prevent churning bank bonuses. Keep in mind that bank account closures can be reported to ChexSystems, which many banks use to assess your ability to open a bank account.
Ultimately, bank account bonuses can be one way to earn extra cash, but it’s not a long-term financial strategy.
Bank Bonus Tax Implications
Intro bonuses are taxable income just like interest that you earn on a savings account or income from an employer, so you’ll need to include it when you file for taxes. Your tax rate will depend on your tax bracket.
Banks typically send 1099-INT Form, which you will receive by January 31 of the following year. Your 1099-INT can be added to Form 1040 or 1040-SR on your tax return. Even if you don’t get a form from a bank, make sure to report any bank account earnings.
Bank account bonuses usually do not impact taxes significantly, unless you earn a significant bonus amount for the year. Consider setting aside money throughout the year for taxes if you think there may be a more significant tax implication for your bonus earnings.
Dawn Allcot contributed to the reporting for this article.
Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Oct. 8, 2025.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
*J.P. Morgan Wealth Management is a business of JPMorgan Chase & Co., which offers investment products and services through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (JPMS), a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC. Insurance products are made available through Chase Insurance Agency, Inc. (CIA), a licensed insurance agency, doing business as Chase Insurance Agency Services, Inc. in Florida. Certain custody and other services are provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPMCB). JPMS, CIA and JPMCB are affiliated companies under the common control of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Products not available in all states.
Chase Total Checking has a monthly fee of $12 ($15, effective Aug. 24, 2025) or $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period: Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNowSM network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network, OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account, OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% 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 stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00 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 Oct. 8, 2025. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
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 during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. 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 Dec. 7, 2023 and will be available through Jan. 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 3.80% 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 3.80% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% 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 Oct. 8, 2025. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS: • NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNEMENT AGENCY • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
Earn up to 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.80% APY as of Aug. 5, 2025) for up to six months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by Jan. 31, 2026. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Chase. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Chase.
