Bank promotions 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. Some banks have looser rules than others; we’ve outlined those requirements below.
For more sustained earnings on your balances, consider one of NerdWallet’s best high-yield online savings accounts. These accounts are free and have annual percentage yields around 2%. (The national average for savings accounts is just 0.09%.) A $10,000 balance would earn about $200 per year with one of these accounts.
Here are more details on NerdWallet’s favorite bonuses this month.
Checking account offers and savings promotions
| Discover: $150 or $200 |
| Discover Online Savings
|
| HSBC: $350 |
| HSBC Advance Checking
|
| HSBC: $750 |
| HSBC Premier Checking
|
| TD Bank: $150 or $300 |
| TD Bank checking
|
| Chase Bank: $200 |
| Chase Total Checking®
|
| Chase Bank: $150 |
| Chase Savings℠
|
| Chase Bank: $300 |
| Chase Premier Plus Checking℠
|
| Wells Fargo: $400 |
|
Wells Fargo Everyday Checking
|
| Bank of America: $100 |
|
Bank of America Advantage Banking
|
| Citibank: $200, $400 or $700 |
|
Citibank Basic Banking, Account or Priority Account Packages
|
| Santander Bank: $225 |
| Santander checking
|
| Regions Bank: $200 |
| LifeGreen Checking
|
| Capital One 360: $200 or $1,000 |
| 360 Performance Savings
|
| PNC Bank: $50, $200 or $300 |
|
PNC checking
|
| Fifth Third Bank: $250 or $500 |
|
Fifth Third checking
|
If you’re set on securing a bank bonus, keep in mind that chasing promotions may cost you in the long run if you’re unable to avoid monthly fees. (Check out a few other bonus-related pitfalls to be aware of.) But as long as you do your homework, bank promotions can be an excellent way to make extra cash.
Discover Online Savings: $150 or $200 bonus
Through Jan. 6, 2020
- What you’ll get: $150 or $200 and a 1.70% annual percentage yield.
- How to get it: First-time savings customers can open a Discover Online Savings Account using offer code NW1219 by 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 6, 2020. Deposit at least $15,000 for a $150 bonus, or $25,000 for $200. Your deposit must post by 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 20, 2020.
- Where to open: Online or by phone.
- How to qualify: You cannot have previously opened a Discover savings account, or any savings account that is co-branded or is an affinity account provided by Discover.
- When you’ll get it: You’ll get your bonus by Feb. 3, 2020, provided your account is still open.
- Monthly fee: None.
“To get your $150 or $200 bonus offer: What to do: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account by 1/6/20, 11:59 p.m. ET, online or by phone. Enter Offer Code NW1219 when applying. Deposit into your account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Deposit must be posted by 1/20/20, 11:59 p.m. ET. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.
What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers or existing or prior customers with savings accounts that are co-branded or affinity accounts provided by Discover. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account by 2/3/20. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT. Offer may be modified/withdrawn without notice."
HSBC Advance Checking: $350 bonus
Through Dec. 31, 2019
- What you’ll get: $350.
- How to get it: Open a new HSBC Advance Checking account through its promotional page. Deposit at least $5,000 across all HSBC checking and savings accounts within 30 calendar days of creating your new account. Funds must be new to HSBC and maintained for at least 90 calendar days from the day you deposited the minimum qualifying balance. You must also have qualifying monthly direct deposits for three consecutive months after the month in which you opened the account.
- Where to open: Online.
- How to qualify: You must not have had any HSBC consumer deposit or investment account from July 31, 2016, to July 31, 2019. Your account must be open and in good standing at the time you receive the bonus, and you must have had a U.S. residential address for the past two years to apply online.
- When you’ll get it: Your bonus will be deposited in your new account roughly eight weeks after you meet all the qualification requirements.
- Monthly fee: $25, avoided by maintaining $10,000 across your HSBC deposit and investment accounts, at least $5,000 with at least one recurring direct deposit per monthly cycle or a residential mortgage loan through HSBC.
"Advance Checking: Get a $350 welcome deposit for eligible new customers who open an HSBC Advance checking account with qualifying activities. Member FDIC."
HSBC Premier Checking: $750 bonus
Through Dec. 31, 2019
- What you’ll get: $750.
- How to get it: Open a new HSBC Premier Checking account through its promotional page. Receive at least $5,000 per month in qualifying direct deposits to the account for three consecutive months from the second full calendar month after account opening.
- Where to open: Online.
- How to qualify: You must not have had any HSBC consumer bank account from July 31, 2016, to July 31, 2019. Your account must be open and in good standing at the time you receive the bonus, and you must have had a U.S. residential address for the past two years to apply online.
- When you’ll get it: Your bonus will be deposited in your new account roughly eight weeks after you meet all the qualification requirements.
- Monthly fee: $50, avoided by having $75,000 across your HSBC deposit and investment accounts, recurring direct deposits of at least $5,000 from a third party to your account each calendar month or a residential mortgage loan through HSBC that was originally at least $500,000.
"Premier Checking: Get a $750 Welcome Deposit for eligible new customers who open an HSBC Premier checking account with qualifying activities. Member FDIC."
TD Bank Convenience Checking℠ or TD Beyond Checking: $150 or $300 bonus
No expiration date listed
- What you’ll get: $150 or $300.
- How to get it:
- To earn $150, open a TD Convenience account and receive cumulative direct deposits of at least $500 within 60 days of opening the account.
- To earn $300, open a TD Beyond account and receive cumulative direct deposits of at least $2,500 within 60 days of opening the account.
- Where to open: Online, via the bank’s promotional page. You must be a resident of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia or Washington, D.C.
- How to qualify: To qualify, you must not have or have had an existing or prior personal checking account at TD Bank.
- When you’ll get it: Your bonus will be paid no later than 95 days after you open the account.
- Monthly fee:
- TD Convenience Checking℠: $15, waived with a minimum daily balance of $100.
- TD Beyond Checking: $25, waived with monthly direct deposits of $5,000 or more, a daily balance of $2,500, or a combined balance of $25,000 across your eligible TD accounts.
» Want to see how TD Bank stacks up? Read NerdWallet’s review of TD Bank
Chase Total Checking®: $200 bonus
Through Jan. 21, 2020
- What you’ll get: $200.
- How to get it: Open a Chase Total Checking® account online or in person using a coupon emailed to you through the promotional page. You must have a qualifying direct deposit into the account within 90 days of opening the account. The account must remain open for six months or the bonus will be deducted at account closing.
- Where to open: The account can be opened online or at a Chase branch (find a location near you).
- How to qualify: You must not have had a Chase checking account within the last 90 days, had one closed with a negative balance, or have a fiduciary account.
- When you’ll get it: The bonus will be deposited into your account no more than 10 business days after your first direct deposit.
- Monthly fee: $12, avoided by having monthly direct deposits of $500 or more, a minimum daily balance of $1,500, or keeping a daily average balance of $5,000 in your Chase Total Checking® and qualifying linked Chase bank accounts.
» Want to see how Chase stacks up? Read NerdWallet’s review of Chase Bank
Chase Savings℠: $150 bonus
Through Jan. 21, 2020
- What you’ll get: $150.
- How to get it: Open a Chase Savings℠ account online or in person using a coupon emailed to you through the promotional page. Fund with at least $10,000 in money that’s new to Chase within 20 business days of opening the account, and maintain the $10,000 balance for 90 days.
- Where to open: The account can be opened online or at a Chase branch (find a location near you).
- How to qualify: You must not have had a Chase checking account within the last 90 days, had one closed with a negative balance, or have a fiduciary account.
- When you’ll get it: The bonus will be deposited into your account no more than 10 business days after you’ve met the requirements.
- Monthly fee: $5, avoided by maintaining an average daily balance of $300 or more, having a repeating automatic transfer of at least $25 from another Chase account you own, linking a premium Chase checking account or having an account owner under 18.
Chase Premier Plus Checking℠: $300 bonus
Through Jan. 21, 2020
- What you’ll get: $300.
- How to get it: Open a Chase Premier Plus Checking℠ account online or in person using a coupon emailed to you through the promotional page. You must have a qualifying direct deposit into the account within 90 days of opening the account. The account must remain open for six months or the bonus amount will be deducted at closing.
- Where to open: The account can be opened online or at a Chase branch (find a location near you).
- How to qualify: You must not have had a Chase checking account within the last 90 days, had one closed with a negative balance or have a fiduciary account.
- When you’ll get it: The bonus will be deposited into your account no more than 10 business days after your direct deposit.
- Monthly fee: $25, avoided by maintaining an average daily balance of $15,000 between this and other linked Chase accounts or making automatic payments on a qualifying Chase mortgage from this account.
Wells Fargo Everyday Checking: $400 bonus
Through Dec. 31, 2019
- What you’ll get: $400.
- How to get it: Open an Everyday Checking account from this webpage with $25. You can also sign up to receive an offer code via email and use that code to open an account at a Wells Fargo branch. Within 150 days of your account opening date, receive $3,000 in qualifying direct deposits each month for three consecutive months.
- Where to open: Online or in a branch.
- How to qualify: You cannot currently have a Wells Fargo consumer checking account or have received a bonus for opening one within the past 12 months.
- When you’ll get it: You’ll get your bonus within 45 days of meeting the requirements. Your account must have a balance of $1 or more to receive the bonus.
- Monthly fee: $10, waived with a $1,500 minimum daily balance, $500 or more qualifying direct deposits or at least 10 posted debit card transactions each fee period, among a couple of other options.
Bank of America Advantage Banking: $100 bonus
Through Dec. 31, 2019
- What you’ll get: $100.
- How to get it: Open a Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance, Plus or Relationship Banking checking account through the promotional page. Deposit $25 to open a SafeBalance account or $100 to open a Plus or Relationship account. Receive at least two qualifying direct deposits of at least $250 within the first 90 days of owning the account. Your account must be open to receive the bonus.
- Where to open: Online.
- How to qualify: You cannot have held a Bank of America personal checking account within the last six months.
- When you’ll get it: You’ll get your bonus within 60 days of meeting the requirements.
- Monthly fee:
- Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking checking: $4.95, may be waived as long as you’re enrolled in Preferred Rewards or are under the age of 24 and are enrolled in school.
- Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking checking: $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 under 24 may also qualify for a waiver.
- Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking checking: $25, waived with at least $10,000 in combined balances each statement cycle across linked checking, savings, IRAs and Merrill Edge and Merrill Lynch investment accounts. Preferred Rewards clients don’t have to pay the $25 fee.
Citibank Basic Banking, Account or Priority Account Package: $200, $400 or $700 bonus
Through Dec. 31, 2019
- What you’ll get: $200, $400 or $700.
- How to get it: Open a new checking (Basic Banking) or checking and savings (Account and Priority Account) account and deposit $5,000, $15,000 or $50,000, respectively, within 30 days of opening the account. Maintain that balance for 60 consecutive calendar days. Depositing $5,000 into the Basic Banking package earns you $200, depositing $15,000 into the Account Package earns you $400, and depositing $50,000 into the Priority Account package earns you $700. Funds must be new to Citibank. Your account must be open and in good standing to receive the bonus.
- Where to open: Online, through the promotional page.
- How to qualify: You must not have had a checking account with Citibank for the last 180 days to take advantage of the offer.
- When you’ll get it: You’ll receive the bonus within 90 days of meeting the requirements.
- Monthly fee:
- Basic Banking: $12, waived with one qualifying direct deposit per statement period and one qualifying bill payment per statement period or a combined average monthly balance or at least $1,500 across eligible linked accounts. Fees are also waived if the primary account holder is 62 or older.
- Account Package: $25, waived with a monthly average balance of at least $10,000 across eligible linked accounts.
- Priority Account: $30, waived with a monthly average balance of at least $50,000 across eligible linked accounts.
Santander Bank checking: $225 bonus
Through Dec. 31, 2019
- What you’ll get: $225.
- How to get it: Open a Santander checking account online or at a branch using the coupon emailed to you from the promotional page. Qualifying checking accounts include Simply Right Checking, Santander Basic Checking, Santander Select Checking and Santander Premier Plus Checking. Post direct deposits totaling at least $1,000 within 90 days of opening the account, starting the first business day after opening, and keep it open for at least that long.
- Where to open: Online or at a branch. Offer available to residents of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
- How to qualify: To qualify, you must not currently have a Santander checking account or have had one in the last 12 months.
- When you’ll get it: Your bonus will be deposited within 30 days after you meet the criteria.
- Monthly fee:
- Simply Right Checking: $10, waived by making any transaction into or out of the account in the calendar month.
- Basic Checking: $3, fee can’t be waived.
- Premier Plus Checking: $25, waive by keeping at least $25,000 across eligible deposit and investment accounts, or receive $4,000 in monthly direct deposits.
- Select Checking: $75, waive by having $150,000 in combined deposit and investment balances.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s review of Santander Bank
Regions Bank LifeGreen Checking: $200 bonus
Through Dec. 29, 2019
- What you’ll get: $200.
- How to get it: Open any LifeGreen checking account, then make at least $500 in direct deposits and at least 10 purchases with your Regions Visa CheckCard within 60 days of opening the account.
- How to qualify: You must be a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Texas; and you must not have been an owner of a Regions personal checking account on or since Oct. 1, 2018.
- Where to open: Online, using code 200PD19Q4, or at a branch, with a voucher emailed to you from this promotional page.
- When you’ll get it: Within 120 days of completing the requirements.
- Monthly fee:
- LifeGreen Checking: $10, waived with a $1,500 monthly average balance or a qualifying direct deposit of at least $500 from a single depositor or $1,000 in combined deposits ($8 with paperless statements).
- LifeGreen eAccess: $8, waived with at least 10 Regions Visa CheckCard or credit card purchases.
- LifeGreen Simple Checking: $7 ($5 with paperless statements), unwaivable.
- LifeGreen Preferred Checking: $18, waived with a $5,000 monthly average balance, a $25,000 combined minimum balance between all qualifying Regions accounts, $25,000 in combined outstanding qualifying loan balances from Regions or a qualifying Regions mortgage.
Capital One 360 Performance Savings: $200 or $1,000 bonus
Through Dec. 31, 2019
- What you’ll get: $200 or $1,000 and a 1.80% annual percentage yield.
- How to get it: Open a 360 Performance Savings account using offer code SAVE1000, and make an initial deposit of money that’s new to Capital One 360 and Capital One within 10 days of opening the account. You’ll earn $200 for balances of at least $10,000 and less than $150,000 and $1,000 for balances of $150,000 or more. Then maintain that balance for 90 days after the first 10 days. If your account dips below $150,000 at any point during the 90 days, you’ll qualify for the $200 bonus, and if it dips below $10,000, you won’t qualify for a bonus.
- How to qualify: You must not have been an owner of a savings or money market account through Capital One 360 or Capital One on or after Jan. 1, 2016. Your account must be in good standing to receive the bonus.
- Where to open: Online. You can start at this promotional page.
- When you’ll get it: Within 60 days of completing the bonus requirements.
- Monthly fee: None.
PNC Bank Virtual Wallet checking: $50, $200 or $300 bonus
Through Dec. 31, 2019
- What you’ll get: $50, $200 or $300.
- How to get it: Your bonus amount depends on the type of account you open. Options include a Virtual Wallet account, a Virtual Wallet With Performance Spend account or a Virtual Wallet With Performance Select account. Qualifying direct deposits must total at least $500, $2,000 or $5,000, depending on which account you’ve signed up for, within 60 days of opening. You must make at least 10 qualifying purchases with your PNC Bank Visa debit card in the same time period. (The same bonuses also apply to new Standard, Performance and Performance Select checking accounts without Virtual Wallet.)
- How to qualify: To qualify, you must not have had a PNC account within the last 90 days or received a PNC promotional payment within the last 12 months.
- When you’ll get it: Your bonus will be deposited within 60-90 days after all criteria have been met.
- Where to open: Online, or have a coupon emailed to you and open at a branch.
- Monthly fee:
- Virtual Wallet: $7, waived with $500 in qualifying direct deposits each month or a monthly average balance of at least $500 in your Spend and Reserve. Also waived with Virtual Wallet Student or if the account holder is 62 or older.
- Performance Spend: $15, waived with $2,000 in qualifying direct deposits each month, a monthly average balance of at least $2,000 in your Spend and Reserve or a $10,000 combined average monthly balance between deposits, investments and loans.
- Performance Select: $25, waived with $5,000 in qualifying direct deposits each month; a monthly average balance of at least $5,000 between your Spend, Reserve and other linked checking accounts; or a $25,000 combined average monthly balance between deposits, investments and loans.
Fifth Third Bank checking: $250 or $500 bonus
Through Dec. 31, 2019
- What you’ll get: $250 or $500.
- How to get it: Enter your email on Fifth Third’s promotional page and bring the code you receive into any Fifth Third branch and open an eligible account. Essential, Enhanced, Preferred, Free and Free plus Extra Time accounts (where available) all qualify. For $250, deposit at least $500 within 45 days of account opening and maintain that as a minimum daily balance for 60 days. For $500, you must meet the requirements for the $250 bonus and deposit at least $20,000 into a combination of Fifth Third checking, savings and CD products within 45 days of opening the accounts. Maintain that balance for 90 days from the day you meet the requirement.
- Where to open: Account must be opened at a Fifth Third branch. The bank has branches in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.
- How to qualify: You must not have an existing checking account with Fifth Third or have had one in the last 12 months.
- When you’ll get it: Within 10 business days of completing the requirements.
- Monthly fee:
- Essential Checking: $11, waived with a balance of $1,500 across Fifth Third deposit and investment accounts, by spending at least $500 on a Fifth Third credit card or by having another qualifying Fifth Third product. Charge reduced to $8 if you have monthly direct deposits of $500 or more.
- Enhanced Checking: $20, waived with a balance of at least $20,000 across Fifth Third deposit and investment accounts or monthly direct deposits totaling at least $5,000.
- Preferred Checking: $25, waived with a balance of at least $100,000 across Fifth Third deposit and investment accounts.
If these bonuses don’t entice you, you may want to look for a different account — see our picks for best checking accounts.
Best bank promotions and bonuses | December 2019
Here’s a recap of this month’s best bank bonuses.
| Bank | Offer amount | Bonus expiration date |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Total Checking® | $200 | 1/21/2020 |
| Chase Savings℠ | $150 | 1/21/2020 |
| HSBC Advance Checking | $350 | 12/31/2019 |
| HSBC Premier Checking | $750 | 12/31/2019 |
| Discover Online Savings | $150 or $200 | 1/6/2020 |
| Chase Premier Plus Checking℠ | $300 | 1/21/2020 |
| Wells Fargo Everyday Checking | $400 | 12/31/2019 |
| Bank of America Advantage Banking | $100 | 12/31/2019 |
| Citibank Basic Banking, Account or Priority Account Package | $200, $400 or $700 | 12/31/2019 |
| Regions Bank LifeGreen Checking | $200 | 12/29/2019 |
| Capital One 360 Performance Savings | $200 or $1,000 | 12/31/2019 |
| Santander Bank checking | $225 | 12/31/2019 |
| TD Bank Convenience or Beyond Checking | $150 or $300 | None listed |
| Fifth Third Bank checking | $250 or $500 | 12/31/2019 |
| PNC Virtual Wallet checking | $50, $200 or $300 | 12/31/2019 |
METHODOLOGY
We consider bonuses offered by brick-and-mortar and online banks and credit unions in the United States that NerdWallet has rated. Eligible bonuses are rated for inclusion based primarily on the population eligible and the potential return on money deposited. We also consider factors including bonus requirements, the amount of time the account must remain open and account quality.
