13 Best Bank Bonuses and Promotions of December 2024 (up to $3,000)
The best bank sign-up bonuses can earn you hundreds or even thousands of dollars if you meet the requirements.
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More than 100 financial institutions surveyed by our team of experts.
More than 50 data points considered for each bank, credit union and banking technology firm (or neobank) to be eligible for our roundups. For this bank promotions roundup, more than a dozen data points were considered per offer.
Bank promotions generally consist of cash bonuses when you open a new checking or savings account. To qualify for this one-time perk, you’ll likely have to set up direct deposit with the bank and keep the account open for at least a few months. While there are many sign-up bonuses for new accounts out there, not all are worthwhile. We’ve rounded up the top promotions available, and the best bank bonuses for you will depend on your unique financial goals and situation. Check out the details on these offers to better determine what’s right for you.
That's on top of any financial institution sign-on bonuses. Get access by joining NerdWallet+.
That's on top of any financial institution sign-on bonuses. Get access by joining NerdWallet+.
Learn moreabout NerdWallet Plus Funded AccountAll eligible products require partner approval. See partner terms and conditions before applying.Best Bank Bonuses and Promotions of December 2024 (up to $3,000)
Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Monthly fee | APY | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|
4.5/5 | $0 | 1.20% With $0 min. balance for APY | Learn more at SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC | |
4.6/5 | $12.00 Waived with direct deposit or $1,500 minimum balance | N/A | Learn more at Chase, Member FDIC | |
3.0/5 | $25.00 With options to waive | 0.01% With $2,000 min. balance for APY | Learn more at PNC, Member FDIC | |
3.0/5 | $35.00 $0 with qualifying activities | 0.01% With $0 min. balance for APY | Learn more at Chase, Member FDIC | |
3.7/5 | $12.00 Learn about ways to waive the fee. Click 'Learn More' | N/A | Learn more at Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC | |
4.9/5 | $0 | N/A | ||
3.7/5 | $15.00 Waived with direct deposit or $500 minimum balance | N/A | Learn more at TD Bank, Member FDIC | |
3.5/5 | $4.95 | N/A | Learn more at Chase, Member FDIC | |
4.5/5 | $15.00 Waived with $2,000 minimum balance | N/A | Learn more at Chase, Member FDIC | |
4.9/5 | $0 | 3.10% With $100 min. balance for APY | ||
2.7/5 | $5.00 | 0.02% With $0.01 min. balance for APY | ||
3.4/5 | $15.00 | N/A | ||
4.1/5 | $10.00 Waived with direct deposit or $500 minimum balance | N/A |
Our pick for
Checking and Savings Account Bonus Offers
APY
1.20%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
$300
Earn up to $300 with direct deposit. Terms apply.
APY
0.01%
With $2,000 min. balance for APY
Bonus
$400
Requirements to qualify
Monthly fee
$25.00
With options to waive
Overdraft star rating
Not yet rated
APY
N/A
Bonus
$200
Requirements to qualify
Monthly fee
$0
Overdraft star rating
4.0/5
Our pick for
Checking Account Bonus Offers
APY
N/A
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
Monthly fee
$12.00
Waived with direct deposit or $1,500 minimum balance
Overdraft star rating
4.0/5
APY
0.01%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Bonus
$3,000
Requirements to qualify
Monthly fee
$35.00
$0 with qualifying activities
Overdraft star rating
Not yet rated
APY
N/A
Bonus
N/A
Monthly fee
$12.00
Learn about ways to waive the fee. Click 'Learn More'
Overdraft star rating
4.5/5
APY
N/A
Bonus
$200
Requirements to qualify
Monthly fee
$15.00
Waived with direct deposit or $500 minimum balance
Overdraft star rating
Not yet rated
APY
N/A
Bonus
$100
Requirements to qualify
Monthly fee
$4.95
Overdraft star rating
Not yet rated
APY
N/A
Bonus
$325
Requirements to qualify
Monthly fee
$15.00
Overdraft star rating
Not yet rated
APY
N/A
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
Monthly fee
$10.00
Waived with direct deposit or $500 minimum balance
Overdraft star rating
4.0/5
Our pick for
Business Checking Account Bonus Offers
APY
N/A
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
Monthly fee
$15.00
Waived with $2,000 minimum balance
Overdraft star rating
Not yet rated
Additional information about bank bonuses: checking account bonuses, bank sign-up bonuses and more
What does the Fed rate announcement mean for bank account bonuses?
In November 2024, the Federal Reserve announced it would lower the federal funds rate (the rate which commercial banks use to borrow and lend money to one another). Previously, the Fed changed the rate in September 2024, which was the first change that year and a decrease. The Fed increased the rate four times in 2023 and seven times in 2022.
The changes haven’t directly affected bank bonuses, but it could still be a good time to open a new bank account in case savings account interest rates fall. So you could take advantage of both a bank bonus and current APYs in a new savings account.
» MORE: See what the Fed rate means for savings accounts
Are bank account bonuses worth it?
Bank promotions can be worth the effort of opening a new account and adding money if the reward is substantial enough and the requirements aren't too difficult to meet. Before signing up for a new account to earn a bank bonus, understand the details including what fees might be incurred and how long you might have to wait for the bonus to be paid. If earning a bank sign-up bonus requires depositing more than $250,000 (which is the standard amount that’s insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.), you’ll need to employ certain strategies to make sure that all your money — including funds over $250,000 — is protected.
Our Nerds say:
"A cash bonus is appealing, but many checking accounts don’t earn interest, so you could miss out on thousands of dollars (much more than the maximum bonus) — which you could earn by putting that money in a high-yield savings account instead.
"Earning the highest bonus amount offered on this list requires at least $500,000. Depositing more than $250,000 would put you over Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage limits, so you’d need to consider a strategy to protect all your money."
Check out more things to look out for when considering a bank sign-up bonus.
» Prefer an account that offers rewards beyond a sign-up bonus? Check out our favorite rewards checking accounts
What do the best bank bonuses have in common?
The best bank promotions offer the opportunity to earn a significant cash bonus for signing up for a new account with no fees or fees that are easy to get waived. The best bank bonuses for you are ones that have requirements you're comfortable with, including the amount of time you'll have to keep your money in the account to earn the bonus.
Are bank bonuses taxable?
If you’ve earned a cash bonus for opening a new bank account, it's usually taxable. You are responsible for covering any tax liability. Learn more about taxes on bank bonuses.
» Churning through accounts to get bonuses? Find out whether closing a bank account hurts your credit
Should I have more than one checking or savings account?
It can be helpful to have multiple bank accounts — as long as you can meet the requirements and minimums in order to avoid fees.
The number of checking and/or savings accounts you should have depends on your individual situation. Married or partnered people, for example, might each want to have their own accounts in addition to one or more shared accounts. You might want to consider having accounts at different financial institutions for different purposes — such as having an account with a bank that works well for international travel if you’re frequently abroad, or with the bank that handles your mortgage or other loans for more seamless payment transfers. (Learn the pros and cons of keeping multiple bank accounts at different banks.)
» Looking for the right place to keep your savings? Check out NerdWallet's picks for the best savings accounts
Frequently asked questions about bank promotions and sign-up bonuses
Keep reading to find out answers to commonly asked questions about checking account bonuses and other bank promotions.
What bank gives you a bonus for opening an account?
Various banks and credit unions offer cash sign-up bonuses for opening a new account. You can find the best opportunities available by checking out our list of the best bank bonuses and promotions, updated monthly.
What bank gives you money for opening a checking account?
Banks that offer a checking account bonus to new account holders include Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, PNC Bank, SoFi Bank, N.A., TD Bank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo. See this page each month to find the best checking account promotions available.
What banks are paying $500 to open an account?
Currently, this is the best bank bonus that pays $500 or more:
How can you get $200 from Chase?
A previous bonus offered new checking customers the opportunity to earn a $200 Chase checking account bonus by opening a Chase Total Checking® account and meeting requirements. The bank now offers a Chase Total Checking® bonus of $300.
What is the $3,000 bonus at Chase Bank?
Chase Private Client Checking offers a bonus of up to $3,000 for opening a new account. Read the promotion details above to understand all the rules and requirements to earn the checking account bonus, including a super steep minimum transfer amount that may not be worthwhile.
The information related to Citi checking accounts has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
Last updated on November 27, 2024
Methodology
We took a close look at over 100 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.
Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm, All America Bank, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Associated Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Barclays, Bask Bank, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, BMO, BMO Alto, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings, BrioDirect, Capital One, Carver Federal Savings Bank, CFG Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Bank, City First Bank, Climate First Bank, Commerce Bank, Community First Credit Union of Florida, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Customers Bank, Delta Community Credit Union, Discover® Bank, E*TRADE, EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank), Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First Internet Bank, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flagstar Bank, FNBO Direct, Forbright Bank, Global Credit Union, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenwood, Hope Credit Union, Huntington Bank, Industrial Bank, Ivy Bank, Jenius Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Laurel Road Bank, LendingClub Bank, Liberty Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, My Banking Direct, NASA Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, Newtek Bank, One, OneUnited Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Poppy Bank, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank and Zynlo Bank.
NerdWallet's Best Bank Bonuses and Promotions of December 2024 (up to $3,000)
- SoFi Checking and Savings: Best for Checking and Savings Account Bonus Offers
- Chase Total Checking®: Best for Checking Account Bonus Offers
- PNC Virtual Wallet® with Performance Select - Spend: Best for Checking and Savings Account Bonus Offers
- Chase Private Client Checking℠: Best for Checking Account Bonus Offers
- Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking®: Best for Checking Account Bonus Offers
- PNC Virtual Wallet® Checking Pro - Spend: Best for Checking and Savings Account Bonus Offers
- TD Complete Checking: Best for Checking Account Bonus Offers
- Chase Secure Banking℠: Best for Checking Account Bonus Offers
- Chase Business Complete Banking®: Best for Business Checking Account Bonus Offers
- Alliant Credit Union Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account: Best for Savings Account Bonus Offers
- TD Bank TD Simple Savings: Best for Savings Account Bonus Offers
- Citi® Regular Checking Account: Best for Checking Account Bonus Offers
- Wells Fargo Everyday Checking: Best for Checking Account Bonus Offers