- Last updated January 2025
Best Bank Bonuses Of January 2025
Top banking bonuses with accounts full of amazing features
✓ Low monthly fees & overdraft fees
✓ Easy 24/7 mobile access
✓ Large ATM networks
9.7
Truist One Checking
Our #1 bank bonus choice of 2024
Earn $400 with qualifying activities
- 100 negative balance buffer¹
- Easy-to-waive monthly fee
- Bonus rewards on credit cards
Our #1 bank bonus choice of 2024
Apply in 3 minutes
Earn $400 with qualifying activities
- Apply in 3 minutes
9.5
Experian Smart Money™
Simple & easy $50 bonus¹
- No monthly fees, no minimums²
- 55,000+ no-fee ATMs worldwide³
- Get your paycheck 2 days early⁴
9.5
Chime® Checking Account
$100 bonus with code “GRAB100”
- No monthly fees or minimums
- Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit
- Fee-Free Overdraft up to $200* with SpotMe®
9.0
Chase Total Checking®
Earn a limited time $300 bonus
- Access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
250,000+ people
have chosen a new account using SmartWealthTrends!
Our Ratings:
The rating system for the best bank bonuses consists of a combination of the following 3 components:
The potential bonus amount a customer can earn. Higher bonuses receive higher ratings.
How easy it is for a customer to qualify for the bonus. This includes requirements like direct deposit, minimum balance, and account type.
The quality and availability of customer support services provided by the bank. Higher ratings are given to banks with 24/7 support and high customer satisfaction.
Best Bank Bonus Of 2025
9.7
Truist One Checking
No overdraft fees. None.
Simple & easy $400 bank bonus
- 100 negative balance buffer¹
- Easy-to-waive monthly fee
- Bonus rewards on credit cards
How We Picked These Bank Bonuses
- Bonus Amount: We prioritized bonuses that offer significant monetary rewards. The higher the bonus, the better the value for you.
- Ease of Qualification: We examined the requirements for qualifying for the bonuses. We favored bonuses with straightforward and attainable criteria, ensuring you can easily take advantage of these offers.
- Fees and Requirements: We evaluated the associated fees and account requirements, such as minimum balance and direct deposit requirements. We aim to help you find bonuses without high costs or stringent requirements.
- Account Benefits: Beyond the bonus, we considered the overall benefits of the accounts, such as interest rates, ATM access, and additional features. This ensures you get a great account alongside your bonus.
- Bank Reputation: We only recommend bonuses from reputable banks with strong customer satisfaction and financial stability history. Your peace of mind is important to us.
What Bank Bonus Should You Choose?
How To Choose The Right Bank Bonus?
- Your Financial Habits: Choose a bonus with requirements that align with your financial behavior. For instance, if you regularly receive direct deposits, find an offer that rewards this activity.
- Account Usage: Consider how you plan to use the account. If you need easy access to ATMs or plan to maintain a high balance, pick an account that offers favorable terms for these needs.
- Long-term Value: Look beyond the bonus and evaluate the account’s long-term benefits. An account with a great bonus but high fees might not be the best choice in the long run.
- Compare Multiple Offers: Don’t settle for the first bonus you find. Compare multiple offers to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Our list is a great starting point for finding this month's top bonuses.
Disclosures
Truist:
Terms and Conditions for the 2024 Truist One Checking $400 Affiliate Offer: TRUIST400AFL24
Offer Information: Open a new Truist One Checking account online from 2/28/24 through 6/26/24, complete the following activities within 90 days of the account opening and earn $400. You must open the account online and enter the promo code to be eligible to participate in the promotion.
-Receive at least one qualifying Direct Deposit* of $500 or more AND
-Complete at least 15 qualifying debit card purchases** within 90 days of account opening. All debit purchases must be posted
to your account to qualify.
Account must be opened online. Enrollment in the promotion is required at the time of account opening using promo code TRUIST400AFL24. Please refer to the Account Opening and Enrollment section below for full instructions.
*The definition of a qualifying Direct Deposit is an electronic credit (greater than $0.00) of your salary, pension, Social Security or other regular monthly income deposited into your new checking account by your employer or outside agency. Transfers made from one account to another, or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible direct deposits.
**Qualifying Debit Card purchases include purchase transactions, including PIN Point of Sale (POS), recurring transactions, transactions made via tap or through a digital wallet, and signature-based purchases. These transactions must be posted within 90
days of the new checking account opening. ATM withdrawals at a branch using your debit card are not qualifying transactions. Zelle® transactions are not qualifying transactions. Bank fees are not included.
Offer Eligibility: Clients that are the primary account holder on an existing personal checking account with Truist or who have closed a personal checking account with Truist on or after 2/28/23 are not eligible to participate. Offer valid for Truist One Checking accounts only. Primary account holder must be 18 or older at the time of account opening. Truist employees, Directors, Officers, and Local Boards/Advisors are not eligible. Offer available only to US residents with a valid US taxpayer identification number. The qualifying checking account must be opened online and have a mailing address in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC.
Reward Processing: The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements
have been met and verified. The new checking account must be open and in good standing with a balance of at least $0.01 at the time of Truist verification and until the reward is deposited to receive the reward. Promotion is only applicable once per checking account and per client. Truist may report the value of any offer reward received to the IRS as required by law. Any applicable taxes are the
responsibility of the recipient.
Reward Forfeiture: Reward forfeiture will occur if: (1) the checking account is changed to an account type not included in this client offer, (2) the checking account is closed prior to the reward being deposited, or (3) the new checking account has a $0.00 or negative available balance at the time of qualification validation.
Other Terms: Minimum opening deposit is $50. The offer is non-transferable, may not be combined with any other checking offers, is subject to change, and may be discontinued at any time. Truist reserves the right in our sole discretion to prohibit a reward payout to non-eligible individuals for any offers claimed through third-party websites with no affiliation or prior authorization from Truist. All
promotional payouts will be processed no later than 2/28/25 at which point this promotion (and any related disbursements) will be considered final, and no further disbursements will be made.
Account Opening & Enrollment Instructions: To open and enroll your new account in the promotion, visit the offer website and click on “Open an account online.” Enter TRUIST400AFL24 into the promo code field provided, review the offer Terms and Conditions, and then select “Accept Offer”. Accounts opened without the promo code applied will not be eligible to participate in the offer.
Version 4 01222024 TRUIST400AFL24
The $100 Negative Balance Buffer is only available with Truist One Checking and allows clients to overdraw their account up to $100. There is no
decision required as this feature is automatically available when a client qualifies.
To INITIALLY QUALIFY for the $100 Negative Balance Buffer, the requirements below must be met:
-Account must be opened for a minimum of 35 calendar days
-Account must be funded with a positive balance
-A single direct deposit of at least $100 per month must be made for two (2) consecutive months
To REMAIN QUALIFIED for the $100 Negative Balance Buffer, the requirement below must be met:
-A recurring direct deposit of at least $100 per month
-For accounts that qualify for the $100 Negative Balance Buffer and also have Overdraft Protection, Truist will use the $100 Negative Balance Buffer first.
-If the account has neither, transactions that exceed the account balance will typically be declined or returned.
After qualifying, if two months pass without a Direct Deposit of at least $100, you will no longer have access to $100 Negative Balance Buffer.
The Monthly Maintenance Fee (MMF) can be waived for the Truist One Checking account for each statement cycle by:
Option 1: Making $500 or more in total qualifying Direct Deposits per statement cycle. A qualifying direct deposit is an electronic credit via ACH
deposited to your account during the current statement cycle. Pre-authorized transfers made from one account to another or deposits made via a
branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit card/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible to meet this requirement.
Option 2: Maintaining a total combined ledger balance of $500 or more in any Truist related accounts across personal deposits and all investments as
reflected on the business day before your statement cycle end date. A Ledger Balance is actual balance in your account on a specific day and does not
reflect any holds or pending transactions. Your Total Combined Balance is the sum of all balances within the Truist personal deposit accounts (checking,
savings, money market or CDs), IRAs or brokerage accounts introduced through Truist Investment Services, Inc. Related Accounts automatically
includes all applicable accounts associated with primary and secondary account holders.
Option 3: Having a personal Truist credit card, mortgage or consumer loan, excluding LightStream®.
Option 4: Having a linked Small Business Checking Account. Eligible Small Business account types include: Truist Dynamic Checking, Business Interest
Checking, Simple Business Checking and Business Value 200.
Option 5: Maintenance fees waived for students under the age of 25. Waiver for a student under the age of 25 requires that they are listed as the primary
owner. The waiver is applied automatically at account opening and expires on the 25th birthdate of the student or their stated graduation date, whichever
comes later. On this date, the account is subject to all applicable fees, including the Monthly Maintenance Fee unless at least one waiver criterion is
satisfied.
Most Truist One checking accounts start in Level 1 upon account opening and can begin increasing levels following the first month. Thereafter, Truist
One Checking levels are determined by the balance in your Truist One Portfolio (“Portfolio”). Your Portfolio includes all eligible Truist consumer deposit
balances in your checking accounts, savings, Certificates of Deposit, IRAs and/or all investments through Truist Investments Services, Inc. where you
are the primary or secondary account owner. For each of your accounts used in the Portfolio, we use the monthly average ledger balance. We then take
the sum of all of these accounts to determine the Portfolio balance for the month. Each month, your level is based on the highest Portfolio value of the
three previous months.
Leveling up can occur on a monthly basis but leveling down can only occur on a three-month basis.
Accounts that are opened with a company ID code through a company sponsored Financial Wellness program start at Level 2; Clients identified as
Truist Teammates, Premier clients, and Wealth clients start at Level Premier. The monthly maintenance fee waiver and any other associated benefits
can take up to two (2) business days to take effect.
NOTE: Truist Dynamic Business Checking linkage will be checked on the 2nd business day of the month when levels are calculated. If clients have a linked Dynamic Business Checking account, they will be granted Level Premier.
Truist Bank, Member FDIC. ©2024, Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, Truist Purple and the Truist Logo are service marks of Truist Financial
Corporation.
Experian:
The Experian Smart Money™ Debit Card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB), pursuant to a license from Mastercard International. Banking services provided by CFSB, Member FDIC. Experian is a Program Manager, not a bank.
Experian Boost® results will vary.
¹To be eligible for the $50 bonus, your Experian Smart Money™ Digital Checking Account must be credited with at least $1,000 in direct deposits within 45 business days of opening your account, and your account must stay active and in good standing at the time the bonus is paid. The bonus will be deposited into your account within 10 business days, once earned. Limit 1 bonus per cardholder. Offer subject to change by Experian at any time without prior notice. Terms and conditions apply. See the Incentives section in the Cardholder Agreement to learn more.
²See the Experian Smart Money™ Digital Checking Account & Debit Card Agreement.
³Access to over 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs with the Allpoint ATM network. You may be charged a fee for attempting a cash withdrawal with an out-of-network ATM or point-of-sale device by Experian and/or the operator including for a balance inquiry even if you do not complete a cash withdrawal. Learn more.
⁴Early access to your direct deposit depends on the timing of receipt of the incoming direct deposit file. We generally make direct deposits available up to 2 days earlier than the payment date specified in the direct deposit file. Early availability of direct deposits is not guaranteed and may vary from deposit to deposit. Daily and monthly deposit limits apply. See Cardholder Agreement.
Chime:
*Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.
*SpotMe® on Debit is an optional, no fee overdraft service attached to your Chime Checking Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Debit service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month and have activated your Visa debit card. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account for up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Debit limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime's sole discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Debit, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe on Debit will not cover any non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe on Debit Terms and Conditions.
*To be eligible for the $100.00 direct deposit promotion (the “Promotion) monetary reward, the participant (“Participant”) must: (1) have never previously opened a Chime® Checking Account (“Account”) before participating in this Promotion; (2) obtain a promotional code from either one of Chime’s official affiliate partners via webpage or email; (3) enter the promotional code into the designated field labeled “Promo Code” on the specified promotional webpage and receive a green success notification tag; (4) successfully open an Account; and (5) receive a Qualifying Direct Deposit to their Account within 30 days of opening an Account. A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a deposit of $200 or more by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) that comes from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer OR a deposit by Original Credit Transaction (OCT) from your gig economy payer. Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a Qualifying Direct Deposit are not Qualifying Direct Deposits. Eligible Participants may only receive this promotional reward once. Participants who satisfy the above conditions will receive a $100.00 credit to their Account typically within ten (10) business days after receiving the Qualifying Direct Deposit. This Promotion will run from [May 1, 2024-September 30, 2024] or as otherwise designated by Chime. Chime reserves the right to amend the Promotion duration and may permit Participants to enter a valid promo code after the listed date. In the event that the Promotion has ended, Participants will receive a “not a valid promo code” error message after they enter the applicable promotional code, so that the Participant knows they are not eligible for the monetary reward prior to enrolling in an Account. Chime reserves the right to cancel or modify the Promotion terms or terminate the Participants’s eligibility at any time with or without prior notice. An Account may be available to citizens or legal permanent residents of the fifty (50) United States (“U.S.”) or the District of Columbia; who are at least 18 years of age with a valid Social Security number; and who provide Chime with a U.S. residential street address (not a P.O. Box). Credits of $600 or more shall be reported on tax form 1099-MISC. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
Chase Total Checking®:
New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account and make direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days of coupon enrollment.
