Checking Account Promotions

Checking account promotions and bonuses can be a welcome perk to any consumer looking to move their business over to a new bank. Most checking accounts hardly pay any interest these days, so it may be worth opening one of these checking accounts just for the extra cash you can earn.

How do these promotions work? It varies from bank to bank – some will offer to deposit a bonus directly to a new account that’s remained open for a certain amount of time. Others offer a bonus in the form of rewards points, which can be exchanged for gift cards or other items. If you already have an account you’re happy with, your bank may even offer a bonus for referring friends to open an account at the same bank, so make sure to ask! Check out the checking account promotions below to see if there’s one worth pursuing.

Do you know of a great offer that isn’t listed below? Let us know in the comments or email us.

Available Online/Nationwide

$50 - Capital One 360 (Online Bank)

Capital One 360 is the new face of what used to be ING Direct. They’ve retained the same great products like their free interest checking account: 360 Checking. There’s even no overdraft fee for those times when you slip up. Just pay a small amount of interest on your overdrawn balance until you get your balance back to positive. To get the $50 bonus, all you have to do is open an account and make 3 card or Person2Person payments within 45 days.

1.25% Bonus APY – EverBank (Online Bank)

EverBank is another online bank with a simple high yield checking account with no monthly fees. First time Yield Pledge Checking Account holders receive a 6-month bonus rate of 1.25% on balances up to $100,000.  Even after the bonus rate expires, EverBank’s checking account offers top-tier interest rates. Their Yield Pledge guarantees that rates will always be in the top 5% of competitive accounts at leading banks, so don’t worry about being left out in the cold once the bonus rate expires.

$150 – Chase (Nationwide) Expires 7/6/2013

Customers new to Chase can take advantage of a $150 bonus when opening a new Chase Total Checking Account. All you have to do to receive the bonus is deposit at least $100 within the first 10 days and initiate a direct deposit to the account within 60 days. Be warned: closing the account within 6 months will result in Chase deducting the bonus amount from your account at closure. To waive a monthly fee with this account, you’re required to maintain a $1,500 minimum balance or a $500 monthly direct deposit.

$50-$100 – US Bank (Nationwide)

Existing US Bank customers can take part in the S.T.A.R.T. program, plus it’s a great incentive to save. Just set up recurring transfers from a U.S. Bank Package Checking account into a Money Market Savings account and earn a $50 Rewards Visa card once you reach $1000. If you are able to maintain a balance of $1000+ for a whole year you’ll get another $50 card!

Available Locally

$15 Best Buy giftcard -  Advance Financial Federal Credit Union (Chicago, IL) Expires 6/30/2013

Those who open a new checking account at a Advance Financial Federal Credit Union up through April 30th will automatically recieve a $15 Best Buy gift card and be entered into a drawing for a new TV. You have to be a new member to take advantage of this great deal.

Up to $250 – The Bank of Maine (Maine)

With the Bank of Maine’s Promise Rewards Checking Account, you can get a special bonus on top of the rewards benefits offered with this free account. Meet each of these requirements to earn a bigger bonus for opening a new account: make 10 debit card transactions in the 2nd statement period (+$50), activate direct deposit by the end of the 2nd statement period (+$100), make 5 bill payments to 5 different payees of at least $25 each within the 2nd statement period (+$100).

$125 - BB&T (Southeast) Expires 5/31/2013

New BB&T customers can now get a $125 bonus when opening a personal checking account. The requirements to access the extra cash are pretty simple. First, open any checking account with the bank by May 31, then make either 2 direct deposits totaling $100+ or 3 online bill payments of $25+ each within 90 days of account opening. Then, as long as your balance is in good standing at that time, you will receive the bonus!

$50 – Bethpage Federal Credit Union (Long Island, NY)

At Bethpage FCU, you can get a free checking account that earns interest, includes no ATM fees AND will pay a $50 bonus. The only requirement for earning the cash bonus is to trade in your old debit card or unused checks from another financial institution. Anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school on Long Island can become a member. 

Up to $125 – CertusBank (Southeast)

CertusBank is offering a bonus payment for new customers opening any of their checking accounts (including a free account). To earn a $100 bonus, receive at least 1 direct deposit and make at least 1 online bill payment within 60 days of account opening. Get an extra $25 just for using your debit card to make a purchase 5 times within the first 60 days.

Up to $100 - Columbia Bank (New Jersey)

New customers signing up for checking accounts at Columbia Bank can earn up to $100. To earn the full amount, simply sign up for a new account and within 60 days use direct deposit and complete one bill payment.

$50 - First American Bank (Chicago, IL)

Students who open up a new checking account at First American Bank can earn an extra $50 at the same time.. You’ll earn the bonus as soon as you’ve made 10 deposits/withdrawals with the new account! The bonus can be taken away, however, if you close the account within the first 6 months.

iPod Touch/Kindle Fire - First Bank (Colorado/Arizona/California)

Attention residents of Colorado, Arizona, and Riverside County, CA. If you’re looking for a new checking account, First Bank is offering either a iPod Touch or a Kindle Fire HD to customers who open a new free checking account. Once the account is open, you must sign up for online banking, have at least one direct deposit greater than $300 or three bill payments made to three different companies from the new account within 90 days of opening. Account must be in good standing at that time to receive the gift.

Up to $100 - First Trade Union Bank (Boston, MA) Expires 5/31/2013

To earn this bonus, new customers must open a checking account and initiate a monthly direct deposit of at least $100. For each month a direct deposit is received, First Trade Union Bank will deposit $10 to your account.

Up to $300 - HomeStreet Bank (Pacific Northwest/Hawaii)

Home Street Bank is offering up to $300 in cash to new customers who open up new checking accounts. To achieve the $300 in cash you must sign up for free direct deposit ($100), use your VISA check card ($80), use their free bill pay ($75), hand over your old checks and debit card ($25), and sign up for free e-statements ($20). There are minimum deposits required for certain checking accounts, anywhere from $50 to $2500.

$100 - M&T Bank (Northeast)

To earn a $100 bonus with M&T Bank, simply open a new MyChoice Checking account and direct deposit $100+ within 90 days. The account has a $6.95 monthly charge that can be waived with either: 1 monthly direct deposit of $200+, 10+ debit card purchases per month, or an average monthly balance of $500.

$100 - Mountain America Credit Union (Utah)

This checking account bonus is especially for Utah Jazz fans! To get an extra $100, simply print out the coupon and bring it into a branch to open a new checking account. Make sure enroll in eStatements and initiate direct deposit to ensure that you’ll get the bonus. Mountain America’s MyFree Checking is a great option with no monthly fees.

Up to $125 – Popular Community Bank (CA, FL, IL, NY, NJ)

Get $25 when you bring in your debit card and unused checks from another banking institution. Get another $50 bonus when you register for online Bill Pay and pay a bill within the first 60 days. Finally, get another $50 bonus for direct depositing at least $100 within the first 60 days.

$100 – Provident Credit Union (Redwood City, CA)

With the New Membership Starter Package, you’ll get to choose between 3 different checking accounts (including their Simply Free Checking account) and can earn a $100 bonus in the process. To take advantage of the offer, new members must either perform 5 check card transactions per month, pay two bills per month using online bill pay or make a deposit once permonth for the two months following the date of membership. Make sure to use the promotional code 9336 to receive the bonus. People who live or work in one of 10 California counties or Los Angeles are eligible to join. Full membership details can be found here.

$100 – Sound Credit Union (Tacoma, WA)

This credit union makes it easy to earn $100.  Members just need to open a new checking account (choose from 5 options, including a free account) and then set up a new recurring payroll direct deposit of $250+ per month.  

Up to $100 – Western State Bank (ND, AZ)

Western State Bank will offer new personal checking customers up to $100 in bonus credit for meeting 4 different requirements (each requirement earns $25). To get the full bonus, just sign up for direct deposit, pay 5 bills with Bill Pay, make 10 cash and check card transactions, and open a Treasury Market Account with the bank.

$25 – Widget Financial Credit Union (Erie, PA)

Open a new Free Checking account at this credit union and set up direct deposit to get a $25 bonus credited to your account. Accounts opened before May 31, 2013 will get an even larger bonus of $77 to honor the credit union’s 77 years in operation.