Bank of America is one of the largest banks in the U.S. and offers thousands of branches across the country. If you’re looking to open a checking account with a large national bank that offers online chat support and well-rated mobile apps, Bank of America checking account bonuses are worth considering.
The bank bonus is an up to $500 cash offer when you open your choice of eligible Bank of America Advantage Banking checking account and complete requirements. There are three different accounts to choose from. Here are the complete details on how to qualify for the checking account bonus offer and the different accounts that are eligible for the promotion.
| What you'll get | Up to $500 cash offer. |
| Expiration date | 09/30/2026. |
| Where to open | Online; Advantage Plus Banking® and Advantage Relationship Banking® accounts may also be opened through a Bank of America or Merrill associate. |
| How to qualify | The offer is for new checking customers only. Open a new eligible Bank of America Advantage Banking account through the promotional page. For the Advantage SafeBalance Banking® offer, make 20 or more qualifying debit or Zelle transactions within 60 days of opening the account. For the Advantage Plus Banking® and Advantage Relationship Banking® offers, set up and receive Qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $2,000 or more into that new eligible account within 90 days of account opening. Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking accounts are not eligible for these offers. Additional terms and conditions apply. See offer page for more details. |
| Account monthly fee | $4.95, $12 or $25 depending on account; options available to have fee waived. |
| When you’ll get the bonus | Bank of America will attempt to pay the bonus within 60 days of completing all requirements. |
What is a Qualifying Direct Deposit* at Bank of America?
Bank of America says: “*A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a direct deposit of regular monthly income – such as your salary, pension or Social Security benefits, which are made by your employer or other payer – using account and routing numbers that you provide to them.”
How to earn the $100 Bank of America checking account bonus
Here are the steps to take to become eligible for the $100 cash offer:
- Before the offer expires on 09/30/2026, open an Advantage SafeBalance Banking® account online at the promotional page.
- Within 60 days of opening the account, make 20 or more transactions. Qualifying transactions include posted purchases, one-time and recurring payments made with your digital or physical debit card, and posted Zelle transactions of funds being sent from or received by the enrolled Advantage SafeBalance Banking® account.
- Note that the minimum deposit required to open the Advantage SafeBalance Banking® is $25. Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking, Advantage Plus Banking® and Advantage Relationship Banking accounts are not eligible for this offer.
- Keep your account open and in good standing.
- Once you meet all the requirements, the bank will attempt to pay the bonus within 60 days.
Note that additional terms and conditions apply. See offer page for more details.
» Compare: See our picks for the best bank bonuses
How to earn the Bank of America checking account bonus of up to $500
Here are the steps new checking customers must take to become eligible for the up to $500 cash offer:
- Before the offer expires on 09/30/2026, open your choice of account online at the promotional page: Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking® or Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking®.
- Within the first 90 days of opening your account, receive Qualifying Direct Deposits* (see definition above) totaling at least $2,000. You must receive at least $2,000 to be eligible for the $100 bonus, at least $5,000 to be eligible for the $300 bonus or at least $10,000 to be eligible for the $500 bonus.
- Note that the minimum deposit to open the Advantage Plus Banking® and Advantage Relationship Banking® accounts is $100. The Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking and SafeBalance Banking® accounts are not eligible for this offer.
- Keep your account open and in good standing.
- Once you meet all the requirements, the bank will attempt to pay the bonus within 60 days.
Note that additional terms and conditions apply. See offer page for more details.
Is the Bank of America checking account bonus worth it?
The offer is worthwhile if the account you’re opening is one that fits your needs and if you can meet one of the requirements to have the monthly fees waived.
For the Advantage Relationship Banking® account, however, the offer is lackluster. This account requires a large balance to have the monthly fee waived. It also barely pays any interest — just 0.01% to 0.02% APY; see the bank site for today’s rates), depending on your balance. Let’s say you deposited $20,000 (the minimum balance required to have the monthly maintenance fee waived). While the bank would provide a $500 bonus offer, you’d need to keep the cash in the account for more than 60 days; in that time, it would yield less than a dollar in interest.
If you put that $20,000 in a high-yield savings account earning a 4% annual percentage yield, you’d get more than $100 within two months. If you kept the money in the savings account for a year, you’d gain $800 in interest. The Advantage Relationship Banking® account would yield just $2.
» For accounts that pay interest, check out NerdWallet's picks for best rewards checking accounts.
Who is eligible for this offer?
Only new Bank of America checking customers are eligible to enroll in this bonus. If you owned or were a co-owner of a Bank of America personal checking account in the last 12 months, then you are not eligible for the offer.
What accounts are eligible for this offer?
Three checking accounts are eligible for a bonus opportunity:
- Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking®.
- Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking®.
- Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking®.
What are the differences among the checking accounts that are eligible for this bonus?
The offer allows you to choose from three eligible checking accounts, so you can select the one that most closely fits your needs:
Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking®.
This account is best for people younger than 25 or who tend to overdraft their account.
- Minimum deposit to open: $25.
- Monthly maintenance fee: $4.95. The fee is waived each statement cycle if an account owner is younger than 25 or maintains a $500 minimum daily balance in the account.
- Notable features: Doesn’t allow overdrafts (transactions that would overdraw your account will be declined); if the account has a negative balance, no overdraft fee is charged.
Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking®
This account is best for people who can meet the minimum daily balance requirement and don’t tend to overdraw their account.
- Minimum deposit to open: $100.
- Monthly maintenance fee: $12. The fee is waived each statement cycle if you make a minimum of one Qualifying Direct Deposit* of at least $250.
- Notable features: This is a standard checking account that allows you to overdraft your account (with a maximum of two overdraft fees per day) or opt to have the bank decline transactions that would overdraw your account.
Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking®
This account is best for those who keep a large balance.
- Minimum deposit to open: $100.
- Monthly maintenance fee: $25. The fee is waived each statement cycle if you maintain a daily balance of at least $20,000 in the account.
- Notable features: This account is best if you plan to keep a large balance in it. The account pays interest but the rate is a dismal 0.01% to 0.02% APY depending on your balance; even with the bonus, that minimum amount required to have the monthly fee waived would earn more in one of the best high-yield online savings accounts.
What accounts are ineligible for this offer?
Advantage SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking accounts are not eligible for the Bank of America checking bonus.
