Best Bank Bonus Now Without Direct Deposit Requirement

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This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.

Are you looking for a checking account with more rewards for 2021? You’re in luck as we’ve rounded up the best checking account bonuses, giving you an excellent place to start. If you’re wondering if bank bonuses are worth it, know that banks are willing to reward your loyalty by giving you cash rewards.

The Best Checking Account Bonuses for 2021

It’s easy to solely focus on maximizing credit card bonuses but overlook checking accounts. After all, credit cards tend to be more exciting and are usually advertised more frequently. However, having the right checking account can both pad your wallet and make it easy to access your cash.

Many banks use account opening bonuses to draw in new customers, but many require you to make a specific kind of direct deposit to qualify. In other words, a certain bank may require customers have a direct deposit of at least $500 made into their account every month in order to receive the bonus and avoid monthly fees. Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking®: $12, waived with at least one qualifying direct deposit of at least $250 each month or a $1,500 minimum daily balance. Preferred Rewards clients or students. No deposit bonuses have very high wagering requirements – sometimes up to 100x. This means that if you got $10 of free credit, you’ll have to play for example 1000 spins at $1 each to roll it over. Citibank: Cash bonuses of $200, $400, $700 or $1,500 for new regular or interest-bearing checking. . Earn $750 bonus when you open a Huntington Unlimited Plus Business Checking account and make total deposits of at least $20,000 within 60 days of account opening. The $750 bonus will be deposited into your account after all requirements are met.

However, note that before applying for any bonus, make sure you read the bonus offer details. Look for any potential fees. Don’t give back your earnings to the bank because of extra fees.

Here are some of the best checking account bonuses for 2021.

Chase Bank ($200 Bonus Cash)

Chase Total Checking® is offering the chance to earn $200 for a limited time. To earn the full $200 bonus:

  • Open a Chase Total Checking® account by 04/14/2021
  • Set up direct deposit
  • Receive the money within 15 business days

This checking account is great for personal banking because it’s easy to waive the monthly fee. However, you will need to pay non-Chase ATM fees, money orders, and anything other than essential Chase banking services. If you need local bank access for deposits and withdrawals, this is a good option. Both the online and mobile Chase Bank platforms are free to use.

You can waive the $12 monthly account fee by meeting one of these conditions:

  • Direct deposits of at least $500 per month OR
  • Minimum $1,500 balance at the beginning of the day OR
  • Average $5,000 or more daily balance in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances

Having a Chase Total Checking® account doesn’t automatically waive the monthly fee for your linked Chase Savings℠ account.

If you’re interested in a business account, check out the Chase Business Complete Banking℠ option. Account-holders have multiple ways to waive monthly service fees, including maintaining a minimum daily balance or purchases on their Chase Ink® Business credit card. New members can get $300 as a new Chase business checking customer when you open a Chase Business Complete Banking℠ account with qualifying activities. This offer expires 04/15/2021.

Related: Best Chase Checking Accounts

CIT Bank

The CIT Bank eChecking account doesn’t offer a signup bonus but offers these perks:

  • No monthly service fees
  • The entire account balance earns interest
  • Up to $30 in monthly non-network ATM fee reimbursements
  • Online bill pay

The minimum initial deposit is $100. You do not need to enroll in direct deposit or maintain a minimum balance, hassles that some of the other banks require to earn a bonus or waive the monthly service fee. Having an average daily balance of at least $25,000 waives the $10 outgoing wire transfer fee.

An eChecking account can be your best option if you want a (mostly) fee-free checking account or only have a small amount of cash to deposit. Two incidental fees you might pay are a $30 overdraft fee and a 1% fee for international purchases and ATM withdrawals. While CIT Bank is an online-only bank, you have plenty of ways to access your cash. For instance, you can transfer money to friends using Zelle, Samsung Pay, or Apple Pay.

Savings Options Worth Mentioning

CIT Bank has several savings account options you may like as well. The CIT Bank Money Market Account requires a $100 initial deposit. Unlike other money market products, this one doesn’t come with a debit card or paper checks. But you can enroll in online bill pay and can make up to six free monthly withdrawals. This account can be a good option if you don’t want separate savings and checking accounts.

The CIT Bank Savings Builder High Yield Savings Account can motivate you to save at least $100 each month. After the minimum $100 initial deposit, a recurring monthly deposit of $100 (or a minimum $25,000 account balance) lets you earn up to 0.40% APY. This interest rate is higher than most standard savings accounts.

Each account can have higher interest rates and make it easier to waive the monthly service fee than most brick and mortar banks.

Chime Bank

The information for Chime Bank has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Chime Bank offers a free Spending Account that’s similar to checking accounts that banks offer. There are no monthly account fees and you get a free Visa debit card. You cannot get a paper checkbook but Chime will mail checks of up to $5,000 for free within the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Your Chime Spending Account includes these perks:

  • Free-free SpotMe overdraft protection
  • Receive direct deposits up to two days early
  • Over 38,000 fee-free ATMs (MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance networks)
  • Instant money transfers to other Chime members
  • $0 initial deposit
  • No minimum balance requirement

You can qualify for free SpotMe overdraft protection when you receive at least $500 in monthly direct deposits. Your overdraft protection limit is between $20 and $100. Chime uses your next deposit to repay the negative payment balance.

Your Chime Visa debit card can make fee-free withdrawals at MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs across the United States. If you forget your card, the Chime App lets you instantly freeze and unfreeze your card.

Savings Accounts Worth Mentioning

One downside of opening a Chime Bank Spending Account is no signup bonus. Chime Bank is a good option if you’re new to banking or want a simple fee-free account. If you transfer money to friends often, Chime Bank has fewer instant transfer capabilities than other banks. You can make instant transfers to other Chime members using Chime’s Pay Friends mobile app. Chime supports other third-party payment apps including Apple Pay and Google Pay.

It’s possible to make up for the lack of a Spending Account bonus by stashing your extra cash into a High Yield Chime Savings Account. All deposits currently earn 1.00% APY with no required minimum balance. You won’t pay a monthly account fee with this savings account either.

You can optimize your spending and savings accounts by enabling savings round-ups with your Chime debit card. Chime can round up your debit card purchases and transfer the round-up to your savings account. It’s also possible to schedule recurring transfers from each Spending Account direct deposit.

Citi (Up to $700)

The information for Citi has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Citi is currently offering a checking account bonus worth up to $700. You will also need to open a new eligible checking and savings account and complete the required activities to earn the full bonus. Here’s how much you can earn if you complete the following activities:

  • $700 cash bonus: Open a new eligible checking and savings account in the Citi Priority Account Package during the offer period (01/06/2021 to 04/01/2021); Deposit $50,000 in New-to-Citibank funds between the new checking and savings accounts within 30 days of account opening; Maintain a minimum balance of $50,000 between the checking and savings accounts for 60 consecutive calendar days. You will receive your bonus within 90 days after completing the required activities.

If depositing $50,000 is a bit too steep, you may consider the Basic Banking Package that earns $300.

  • $300 cash bonus: Open a new eligible checking and savings account and complete required activities in the Citibank Account Package during the offer period 01/06/2021 to 04/01/2021; Within 30 days of opening your account, deposit $15,000 in New-to-Citibank funds into the new checking and savings accounts; Maintain a minimum balance of $15,000 between the checking and savings accounts for 60 consecutive calendar days.

Related: Best Citi credit cards

Bank of America ($100 Bonus Cash)

The information for Bank of America has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Bank of America has one of the smallest yet easiest bonus offers to earn. Non-BofA customers can earn $100 by opening one of three Advantage Banking checking accounts. It’s possible for current BofA customers to qualify for a targeted bonus as high as $300.

Open an eligible account by June 30, 2021, using this link, and make a minimum initial deposit ($25 or $100). Then, set up and receive two qualifying direct deposits of at least $250 each within 90 days of account opening.

All three checking account options let you earn Preferred Rewards with select credit cards including the Bank of America Travel Rewards.

Related: Best Bank of America credit cards

Bank Bonuses No Direct Deposit

HSBC (Up to $450 Bonus Cash)

The information for HSBC has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you have a high net worth, check out the HSBC checking account promotions. It’s possible to get up to $450 bonus cash which is a large checking account bonus.

As a heads up, HSBC bonus offers have some of the strictest terms and conditions. After meeting the initial account setup rules, you may need to maintain minimum activity for several months.

Premier Checking

You will need to open a Premier Checking account to get a $450 cash bonus. The promotion requirements include:

  • Opening an account by March 31, 2021
  • Make recurring monthly Qualifying Direct Deposits totaling at least $5,000 from a third party to your HSBC Premier checking account(s) for 3 consecutive calendar months from the second full calendar month after account opening
  • Automatically receive a $450 Welcome Deposit in your checking account 8 weeks after completing qualifying activities

Premier Checking benefits include:

  • No fees on everyday banking transactions (includes wire transfers)
  • Unlimited ATM withdrawals
  • Global Premier status at all worldwide HSBC affiliates

Advance Checking

An easier HSBC promotion to qualify for is for an Advance Checking account. You get a $200 cash bonus after these actions:

  • Open an account using this webpage by March 31, 2021
  • Make recurring monthly Qualifying Direct Deposits totaling at least $500 from a third party to your HSBC Advance checking account(s) for 3 consecutive calendar months from the second full calendar month after account opening
  • Automatically receive a $200 Welcome Deposit in your checking account 8 weeks after completing qualifying activities

Santander ($400 Bonus Cash)

The information for Santander has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Open a Santander Simply Right checking account and you can earn $400 bonus cash:

  • Open a Simply Right checking account by March 31, 2021, using the unique promotion code shown on this page after you provide your name and email address
  • Direct deposits must total $4,000 or more within the first 90 days
  • Keep your account open for at least 90 days

This offer is only available to residents of NH, MA, RI, CT, DE, NY, NJ, or PA. If you live in one of these states, this can be one of the easier checking account bonuses to earn.

PNC Bank (Up to $200 Bonus Cash)

The information for the PNC Bank has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You can earn $200 by joining PNC Bank.

  • $200 bonus cash: Open and establish total qualifying direct deposit(s) of $2,000 or more to the new Virtual Wallet Checking Pro.

To qualify, the new Virtual Wallet Checking Pro must be opened by 03/01/2021 and a qualifying Direct Deposit(s) must be received within the first 60 days. The account must remain open in order to receive the reward, which will be credited on the account statement within 60-90 days after all conditions have been met.

Associated Bank (Up to $500)

The information for Associated Bank has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Living near an Associated Bank branch lets you earn up to $500 through May 31, 2021.

You will earn the first $400 by:

  • Open an Associated Choice Checking account
  • Have direct deposits totaling $500 or more into your new checking account, within 90 days of account opening
  • Add funds into your checking or other deposit accounts
  • Collect your bonus in 120 days

Summary of Best Checking Account Bonuses 2021

If you live in a region served by one of the brick and mortar banks, this can be a fun way to add some extra cash to your wallet. Banks may only offer these banks to new customers. If you can achieve the bonus offer requirements, it can be worth opening a new bank account. Hopefully one of these best checking accounts bonuses in 2021 options works for you.

FAQs

Which banks offer a bonus for opening an account?

Best Bank Bonus Now Without Direct Deposit Requirement

Most national banks offer one-time signup bonuses for new bank customers. It’s possible to earn bonuses for opening new checking and savings accounts. How much you can earn depends on which account you open and the bonus requirements.

For instance, offers that require larger initial deposits or direct deposits tend to offer higher bonus payouts.

Some of the banks to consider looking at first include:

  • Chase
  • Citi
  • Bank of America
  • Wells Fargo
  • PNC
  • Fifth Third Bank
  • US Bank
  • HSBC
  • TD Bank

You are less likely to find bonus offers for online-only banks. However, it’s easier to avoid ongoing fees that traditional banks usually charge.

Are checking account bonuses taxable?

Yes, any bonus cash you earn from a checking account or savings account signup offers is taxable income. When your bank sends you a Form 1099 tax form to report your taxable interest earned for the calendar year, this form will include your bonus cash too.

Paying income tax is one downside of checking account bonuses. To avoid this tax, you may focus on earning credit card signup bonuses which are not subject to taxes under current tax rules.

Which bank is best to open a checking account?

The best bank to open a checking account mostly depends on where you live. Most brick-and-mortar banks require you to enter your zip code to see your available account options. For example, you may live in an area served by Chase Bank but not by Bank of America.

If possible, try opening a Chase Bank checking account first. They make it easy to avoid recurring fees with the Chase Total Checking® account. If you have a large cash surplus, you may consider opening a Chase Sapphire℠ Checking account. This “ultimate” account gives you complimentary access to most banking services. It can also be a good fit if you own a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

To easily avoid fees, consider joining an online bank like Capital One 360 or Discover Bank. If you don’t need local branch access, this is a free way to get a debit card and have a place to enroll in direct deposit.

Related Articles:

Advertisement
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases.
  • 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
  • Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
  • Earn 2x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services.

The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Contents

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.

Are you looking for a checking account with more rewards for 2021? You’re in luck as we’ve rounded up the best checking account bonuses, giving you an excellent place to start. If you’re wondering if bank bonuses are worth it, know that banks are willing to reward your loyalty by giving you cash rewards.

The Best Checking Account Bonuses for 2021

It’s easy to solely focus on maximizing credit card bonuses but overlook checking accounts. After all, credit cards tend to be more exciting and are usually advertised more frequently. However, having the right checking account can both pad your wallet and make it easy to access your cash.

However, note that before applying for any bonus, make sure you read the bonus offer details. Look for any potential fees. Don’t give back your earnings to the bank because of extra fees.

Here are some of the best checking account bonuses for 2021.

Chase Bank ($200 Bonus Cash)

Chase Total Checking® is offering the chance to earn $200 for a limited time. To earn the full $200 bonus:

  • Open a Chase Total Checking® account by 04/14/2021
  • Set up direct deposit
  • Receive the money within 15 business days

This checking account is great for personal banking because it’s easy to waive the monthly fee. However, you will need to pay non-Chase ATM fees, money orders, and anything other than essential Chase banking services. If you need local bank access for deposits and withdrawals, this is a good option. Both the online and mobile Chase Bank platforms are free to use.

You can waive the $12 monthly account fee by meeting one of these conditions:

  • Direct deposits of at least $500 per month OR
  • Minimum $1,500 balance at the beginning of the day OR
  • Average $5,000 or more daily balance in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances

Having a Chase Total Checking® account doesn’t automatically waive the monthly fee for your linked Chase Savings℠ account.

If you’re interested in a business account, check out the Chase Business Complete Banking℠ option. Account-holders have multiple ways to waive monthly service fees, including maintaining a minimum daily balance or purchases on their Chase Ink® Business credit card. New members can get $300 as a new Chase business checking customer when you open a Chase Business Complete Banking℠ account with qualifying activities. This offer expires 04/15/2021.

Related: Best Chase Checking Accounts

CIT Bank

The CIT Bank eChecking account doesn’t offer a signup bonus but offers these perks:

  • No monthly service fees
  • The entire account balance earns interest
  • Up to $30 in monthly non-network ATM fee reimbursements
  • Online bill pay

The minimum initial deposit is $100. You do not need to enroll in direct deposit or maintain a minimum balance, hassles that some of the other banks require to earn a bonus or waive the monthly service fee. Having an average daily balance of at least $25,000 waives the $10 outgoing wire transfer fee.

Checking account cash bonus offers

An eChecking account can be your best option if you want a (mostly) fee-free checking account or only have a small amount of cash to deposit. Two incidental fees you might pay are a $30 overdraft fee and a 1% fee for international purchases and ATM withdrawals. While CIT Bank is an online-only bank, you have plenty of ways to access your cash. For instance, you can transfer money to friends using Zelle, Samsung Pay, or Apple Pay.

Savings Options Worth Mentioning

CIT Bank has several savings account options you may like as well. The CIT Bank Money Market Account requires a $100 initial deposit. Unlike other money market products, this one doesn’t come with a debit card or paper checks. But you can enroll in online bill pay and can make up to six free monthly withdrawals. This account can be a good option if you don’t want separate savings and checking accounts.

The CIT Bank Savings Builder High Yield Savings Account can motivate you to save at least $100 each month. After the minimum $100 initial deposit, a recurring monthly deposit of $100 (or a minimum $25,000 account balance) lets you earn up to 0.40% APY. This interest rate is higher than most standard savings accounts.

Each account can have higher interest rates and make it easier to waive the monthly service fee than most brick and mortar banks.

Chime Bank

The information for Chime Bank has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Chime Bank offers a free Spending Account that’s similar to checking accounts that banks offer. There are no monthly account fees and you get a free Visa debit card. You cannot get a paper checkbook but Chime will mail checks of up to $5,000 for free within the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Your Chime Spending Account includes these perks:

  • Free-free SpotMe overdraft protection
  • Receive direct deposits up to two days early
  • Over 38,000 fee-free ATMs (MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance networks)
  • Instant money transfers to other Chime members
  • $0 initial deposit
  • No minimum balance requirement

You can qualify for free SpotMe overdraft protection when you receive at least $500 in monthly direct deposits. Your overdraft protection limit is between $20 and $100. Chime uses your next deposit to repay the negative payment balance.

Your Chime Visa debit card can make fee-free withdrawals at MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs across the United States. If you forget your card, the Chime App lets you instantly freeze and unfreeze your card.

Savings Accounts Worth Mentioning

One downside of opening a Chime Bank Spending Account is no signup bonus. Chime Bank is a good option if you’re new to banking or want a simple fee-free account. If you transfer money to friends often, Chime Bank has fewer instant transfer capabilities than other banks. You can make instant transfers to other Chime members using Chime’s Pay Friends mobile app. Chime supports other third-party payment apps including Apple Pay and Google Pay.

It’s possible to make up for the lack of a Spending Account bonus by stashing your extra cash into a High Yield Chime Savings Account. All deposits currently earn 1.00% APY with no required minimum balance. You won’t pay a monthly account fee with this savings account either.

You can optimize your spending and savings accounts by enabling savings round-ups with your Chime debit card. Chime can round up your debit card purchases and transfer the round-up to your savings account. It’s also possible to schedule recurring transfers from each Spending Account direct deposit.

Citi (Up to $700)

The information for Citi has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Citi is currently offering a checking account bonus worth up to $700. You will also need to open a new eligible checking and savings account and complete the required activities to earn the full bonus. Here’s how much you can earn if you complete the following activities:

  • $700 cash bonus: Open a new eligible checking and savings account in the Citi Priority Account Package during the offer period (01/06/2021 to 04/01/2021); Deposit $50,000 in New-to-Citibank funds between the new checking and savings accounts within 30 days of account opening; Maintain a minimum balance of $50,000 between the checking and savings accounts for 60 consecutive calendar days. You will receive your bonus within 90 days after completing the required activities.

If depositing $50,000 is a bit too steep, you may consider the Basic Banking Package that earns $300.

  • $300 cash bonus: Open a new eligible checking and savings account and complete required activities in the Citibank Account Package during the offer period 01/06/2021 to 04/01/2021; Within 30 days of opening your account, deposit $15,000 in New-to-Citibank funds into the new checking and savings accounts; Maintain a minimum balance of $15,000 between the checking and savings accounts for 60 consecutive calendar days.

Related: Best Citi credit cards

Bank of America ($100 Bonus Cash)

The information for Bank of America has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Bank of America has one of the smallest yet easiest bonus offers to earn. Non-BofA customers can earn $100 by opening one of three Advantage Banking checking accounts. It’s possible for current BofA customers to qualify for a targeted bonus as high as $300.

Open an eligible account by June 30, 2021, using this link, and make a minimum initial deposit ($25 or $100). Then, set up and receive two qualifying direct deposits of at least $250 each within 90 days of account opening.

All three checking account options let you earn Preferred Rewards with select credit cards including the Bank of America Travel Rewards.

Related: Best Bank of America credit cards

HSBC (Up to $450 Bonus Cash)

The information for HSBC has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you have a high net worth, check out the HSBC checking account promotions. It’s possible to get up to $450 bonus cash which is a large checking account bonus.

As a heads up, HSBC bonus offers have some of the strictest terms and conditions. After meeting the initial account setup rules, you may need to maintain minimum activity for several months.

Premier Checking

You will need to open a Premier Checking account to get a $450 cash bonus. The promotion requirements include:

  • Opening an account by March 31, 2021
  • Make recurring monthly Qualifying Direct Deposits totaling at least $5,000 from a third party to your HSBC Premier checking account(s) for 3 consecutive calendar months from the second full calendar month after account opening
  • Automatically receive a $450 Welcome Deposit in your checking account 8 weeks after completing qualifying activities

Premier Checking benefits include:

  • No fees on everyday banking transactions (includes wire transfers)
  • Unlimited ATM withdrawals
  • Global Premier status at all worldwide HSBC affiliates

Advance Checking

An easier HSBC promotion to qualify for is for an Advance Checking account. You get a $200 cash bonus after these actions:

  • Open an account using this webpage by March 31, 2021
  • Make recurring monthly Qualifying Direct Deposits totaling at least $500 from a third party to your HSBC Advance checking account(s) for 3 consecutive calendar months from the second full calendar month after account opening
  • Automatically receive a $200 Welcome Deposit in your checking account 8 weeks after completing qualifying activities

Santander ($400 Bonus Cash)

The information for Santander has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Open a Santander Simply Right checking account and you can earn $400 bonus cash:

  • Open a Simply Right checking account by March 31, 2021, using the unique promotion code shown on this page after you provide your name and email address
  • Direct deposits must total $4,000 or more within the first 90 days
  • Keep your account open for at least 90 days

This offer is only available to residents of NH, MA, RI, CT, DE, NY, NJ, or PA. If you live in one of these states, this can be one of the easier checking account bonuses to earn.

PNC Bank (Up to $200 Bonus Cash)

The information for the PNC Bank has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You can earn $200 by joining PNC Bank.

  • $200 bonus cash: Open and establish total qualifying direct deposit(s) of $2,000 or more to the new Virtual Wallet Checking Pro.

To qualify, the new Virtual Wallet Checking Pro must be opened by 03/01/2021 and a qualifying Direct Deposit(s) must be received within the first 60 days. The account must remain open in order to receive the reward, which will be credited on the account statement within 60-90 days after all conditions have been met.

Associated Bank (Up to $500)

The information for Associated Bank has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Living near an Associated Bank branch lets you earn up to $500 through May 31, 2021.

You will earn the first $400 by:

  • Open an Associated Choice Checking account
  • Have direct deposits totaling $500 or more into your new checking account, within 90 days of account opening
  • Add funds into your checking or other deposit accounts
  • Collect your bonus in 120 days

Summary of Best Checking Account Bonuses 2021

If you live in a region served by one of the brick and mortar banks, this can be a fun way to add some extra cash to your wallet. Banks may only offer these banks to new customers. If you can achieve the bonus offer requirements, it can be worth opening a new bank account. Hopefully one of these best checking accounts bonuses in 2021 options works for you.

FAQs

Which banks offer a bonus for opening an account?

Most national banks offer one-time signup bonuses for new bank customers. It’s possible to earn bonuses for opening new checking and savings accounts. How much you can earn depends on which account you open and the bonus requirements.

For instance, offers that require larger initial deposits or direct deposits tend to offer higher bonus payouts.

Some of the banks to consider looking at first include:

  • Chase
  • Citi
  • Bank of America
  • Wells Fargo
  • PNC
  • Fifth Third Bank
  • US Bank
  • HSBC
  • TD Bank

You are less likely to find bonus offers for online-only banks. However, it’s easier to avoid ongoing fees that traditional banks usually charge.

Are checking account bonuses taxable?

Yes, any bonus cash you earn from a checking account or savings account signup offers is taxable income. When your bank sends you a Form 1099 tax form to report your taxable interest earned for the calendar year, this form will include your bonus cash too.

Paying income tax is one downside of checking account bonuses. To avoid this tax, you may focus on earning credit card signup bonuses which are not subject to taxes under current tax rules.

Which bank is best to open a checking account?

The best bank to open a checking account mostly depends on where you live. Most brick-and-mortar banks require you to enter your zip code to see your available account options. For example, you may live in an area served by Chase Bank but not by Bank of America.

If possible, try opening a Chase Bank checking account first. They make it easy to avoid recurring fees with the Chase Total Checking® account. If you have a large cash surplus, you may consider opening a Chase Sapphire℠ Checking account. This “ultimate” account gives you complimentary access to most banking services. It can also be a good fit if you own a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

To easily avoid fees, consider joining an online bank like Capital One 360 or Discover Bank. If you don’t need local branch access, this is a free way to get a debit card and have a place to enroll in direct deposit.

Related Articles:

AdvertisementMeeting direct deposit requirement
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases.
  • 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
  • Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
  • Earn 2x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services.

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