When it comes to personal banking, your checking account does the day-to-day heavy lifting. It’s likely the one you use to get your paycheck, pay your bills, withdraw money from the ATM, etc. It makes sense to ensure your most active account is working in your favor.
If you’re shopping around for a new checking account, you could supercharge your cash on hand by choosing one that offers a bonus to new customers. We analyzed the best available options to put together a list of our favorite checking account bonuses currently available.
Editor’s Picks: Best checking account bonuses of March 2026
Details accurate as of March 16, 2026.
HSBC Premier Checking Account
| Welcome bonus | Earn up to $7,000 with qualifying deposits |
| Minimum opening deposit | $0 |
| Monthly fees | Up to $50 (can be waived if you meet specific criteria) |
at HSBC
- Year Founded: 1865
- Company Headquarters: London, England
- CEO: Georges Elhedery
Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking: Up to $500
Bank of America
| Max bonus amount | $500 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $10,000 within 90 days |
| Expiration date | May 31, 2026 |
at Bank of America
- Year Founded: 1904
- Company Headquarters: Charlotte, NC
- CEO: Brian Moynihan
Bank of America offers three tiers of checking account bonus. The amount you earn will depend on the amount of direct deposits you receive within 90 days from account opening:
- Earn $100 for $2,000 in deposits
- Earn $300 for $5,000 in deposits
- Earn $500 for $10,000 in deposits
The ability to earn up to $500 for a checking account is well above the norm at the moment. With a 75-day window, those who receive at least $4,000 per month shouldn’t have a problem achieving this offer—though you may need to strategize the timing a bit, depending on the deposit schedule.
In addition to the Advantage SafeBalance Banking account, you can also open an Advantage Plus Banking and Advantage Relationship Banking to earn the bonus. The SafeBalance Banking® for Family Banking won’t earn the bonus.
No matter which account you open, you’ll pay a monthly fee between $4.95 and $25—waivable with qualifying activity. Make sure you can achieve that activity, or the fees will eat into your shiny new bonus.
Offer details reviewed on March 16, 2026.
HSBC Premier: Up to $7,000
HSBC Premier Checking Account
| Max bonus amount | Earn up to $7,000 with qualifying deposits |
| Deposit requirement | $0 |
| Expiration date | March 31, 2026 |
at HSBC
- Year Founded: 1865
- Company Headquarters: London, England
- CEO: Georges Elhedery
HSBC is currently the king of high-dollar checking account bonuses, offering up to an incredible $7,000, depending on the new cash and securities you deposit. Here are your options:
- Earn $1,500 for between $150,000 and $249,999 in deposits
- Earn $2,500 for between $250,000 and $499,999 in deposits
- Earn $3,500 for between $500,000 and $999,999 in deposits
- Earn $7,000 for $1 million or more
As you may have perceived, this account is meant for customers with a high net worth. It comes with free access to Wealth Relationship Managers, retirement planning assistance, global market insights to aid your investments, and more. It also offers benefits targeted toward those who routinely move money internationally and travel a lot. But with a $50 fee (waivable with qualifying activity), those looking for a quick bonus likely won’t find what they’re looking for with HSBC.
Read our piece detailing the launch of the HSBC checking bonus to see the other perks that come with this luxury checking account.
Offer details reviewed on March 16, 2026.
Chase Total Checking: Up to $400 bonus
Chase Bank: Chase Total Checking
| Max bonus amount | $400 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $500+ |
| Offer good through | April 15, 2026 |
at MoneyLion
- Year Founded: 1871
- Company Headquarters: New York City, NY
- CEO: Jamie Dimon
If you’re looking for an easy win, Chase Total Checking is a great option. It’s one of the most accessible bonuses, requiring just $1,000 in direct deposits within 90 days to achieve a $400 cash bonus. And with a 15-day payout timeline after qualifying, Chase doesn’t make you wait too long for your bonus, either.
Chase charges a $15 maintenance fee, waivable with qualifying activity. That can eat into your profit in a hurry if you don’t stay on top of your account each month.
It’s also worth noting that as of this writing Chase offers a massive bonus of up to $900 for those willing to open both a checking and savings account.
Offer details reviewed on March 16, 2026.
BMO Smart Advantage Checking Account: Up to $400 bonus
BMO: Smart Advantage Checking Account
| Max bonus amount | $400 |
| Deposit requirement | $4,000 within 90 days |
| Expiration date | May 4, 2026 |
at MoneyLion
- Year Founded: 1882
- Company Headquarters: Chicago, IL
- CEO: Darrel Hackett
With no monthly maintenance fees and an extremely accessible direct deposit requirement, the BMO Smart Advantage Checking Account is a low-risk way to pocket a $400 cash bonus. Direct deposit at least $4,000 within 90 days (an average of $1,334 per month), and it’s yours.
You’ll need to use a promo code to earn this bonus. The only way to get it is to relinquish your contact details to BMO which will then email you a code. You’ll have to agree to be contacted by a BMO banker about opening your account.
Offer details reviewed on March 16, 2026.
Capital One 360 Checking: Up to $250 bonus
Capital One: 360 Checking
| Max bonus amount | $250 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $1,000+ |
| Offer good through | Ongoing |
at MoneyLion
- Year Founded: 1994
- Company Headquarters: McLean, VA
- CEO: Richard Fairbank
Capital One doesn’t have the most impressive bonus on this list, but it’s perhaps the simplest. It has an ongoing deal that offers $250 to new customers who set up at least two direct deposits of $500 or more to hit the account within 75 days of opening the account. Use the promo code CHECKING250.
With a cumulative requirement of at least $1,000 deposited, this is one of the easiest-to-earn bonuses on our list. To boot, there are no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements with 360 Checking.
Offer details reviewed on March 16, 2026.
Learn more: Check out our full review of Capital One 360 and our roundup of Capital One 360 CD rates.
How checking account bonuses work
Earning a bonus for opening a checking account sounds straightforward, but there are a few things you should keep in mind to be successful.
Bonuses are usually only available for a limited time
Checking account bonus offers are generally promotional. They pop up intermittently with varying levels of generosity and accessibility. In other words, checking account bonus offers typically have an expiration date.
If you’re interested in earning a specific checking account bonus, it’s worth looking to see if the bonus has been higher in previous months. You may decide to wait a while to see if a better offer presents itself in the near future.
You must meet certain eligibility requirements
Not every checking account bonus is yours for the taking. They often come with requirements such as receiving a certain number of direct deposits in a short period of time, making a minimum opening deposit, maintaining a minimum balance, and more. On top of that, some accounts may be limited to a specific region.
You’ll owe taxes on the bonus amount
A bonus on your bank account is considered interest, which means you’ll have to pay taxes on it. You should receive a 1099-INT from the bank that issued your bonus—but even if you don’t you must still report it.
Mind the bonus restrictions
Make sure you understand not just the requirements for earning the bonus but if there are any exclusions that might disqualify you from earning it. Some examples include:
- One bonus per customer: You can’t open multiple checking accounts with the same bank to earn more than one checking account bonus. These are often limited to one per customer.
- Time restrictions: On a similar note, you can’t quickly open and close a checking account to earn the same bonus multiple times. Banks tend to limit you to one bonus every year or so.
When it makes sense to open a new checking account for a bonus
If you’re in the market for a new checking account, it can only sweeten the deal if the one that’s a fit for your needs offers an account opening bonus. Having more than one checking account can also be useful if you want to allocate funds for different purposes, such as one for living expenses and one for other expenses.
How to find the best checking account bonus for you
There is no objective “best” checking account bonus. The right one for you won’t be the same as for someone else. As there are several factors to consider, ask yourself the following questions when deciding on the perfect checking account bonus.
Can you complete the required activities?
Again, most checking account bonuses aren’t earn-immediately-upon-account-opening. You must achieve predetermined goals to earn it. Before you open a new account, make sure you understand what’s required so you can gauge whether or not you can reasonably achieve it.
For example, an account may require that you deposit $100,000 into the account within the first few months. If you can’t swing that, it’s not the best option for you—no matter how generous the bonus.
Will fees eat into your earnings?
Many checking accounts come with fees, from monthly maintenance charges to overdraft fees to additional check costs. Not all checking accounts charge these fees.
Still, you may be able to have these costs waived or lowered depending on your behavior. If your bonus will be negated by ancillary fees, it may be worth opening a free checking account with an inferior bonus.
Is there more than just a good bonus offer?
A checking account bonus is meant to simply sweeten the deal for those on the prowl for a new account. Banks issue them as extra incentive to give their product a try. It’s not meant to be the sole reason you open an account.
Think of things like overdraft protection, banking conveniences, even a strong APY. Though many checking accounts earn little-to-no interest on your deposit, there are a handful of high-yield checking accounts out there. If you already have a high-yield savings account, earning interest on your checking account may not be a priority—but if you’re torn between two similar accounts, earning interest on your money is never a bad idea.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do checking account bonuses work?
Some financial institutions offer checking account bonuses to incentivize new customers to open an account. Bonuses are typically cash deposited directly into your account after meeting a minimum balance requirement or direct deposit threshold.
Do you pay taxes on checking account bonuses?
Yes, you pay taxes on checking account bonuses. The IRS considers bonuses taxable interest and will likely send you a Form 1099-INT reporting interest payments and/or tax-exempt interest of $10 or more. Just remember that even if you don’t get a 1099, you still owe taxes on it.
Can I close a checking account after receiving a bonus?
Many banks require you to keep your account open for a certain length of time after receiving a bonus. But closing your account before you reach that threshold could mean paying an account closure fee or forfeiting your bonus.
Should I have both checking and savings accounts with the same bank?
Having all of your financial accounts under one roof can be convenient and make it easier to manage your finances, but it isn’t necessary. It may benefit you to hold different accounts with different institutions to take advantage of the best rates and fees for each account type.
Are checking accounts safe?
As long as you open a checking account with a bank that is FDIC-insured (or NCUA-insured if a credit union), your deposits are protected up to $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership category, in case of bank failure.
Is it important that a checking account has a high APY?
A high APY isn’t necessary. However, it can help you to grow your checking account balance over time. If you hope to boost your balance through earnings on interest, opting for an account with a higher APY can help to speed things along.
