Bank Bonuses
Banks pay you to open accounts. The table ranks every bonus we track by payout, with the requirements, fees, pull type and repeatability rules that decide whether it is worth your time.
What Counts as a Direct Deposit?
Almost every bank bonus asks for a direct deposit. Very few banks define one the same way. This page explains how banks decide what counts, which transfer methods tend to work, and how to test a bank without burning your bonus.
Soft Pull vs Hard Pull: Does Opening a Bank Account Hit Your Credit?
Opening a checking or savings account almost never touches your credit score. But almost never is not never, and the exceptions can sting. This page explains what banks actually check, which situations trigger a hard inquiry, and what to do if ChexSystems gets in your way.
Funding Bank Accounts With a Credit Card
Some banks let you make your opening deposit with a credit card. When the charge codes as a purchase, you just bought credit card spend for free. This is one of the oldest tricks in the bank bonus game, and it still works, but it demands one safety step before you try it.
Hub Accounts: The Churner's Home Base
Bonus accounts come and go. Your hub account stays. A hub is the one stable account that moves money in and out of everything else, and picking a good one is the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade in bank bonus churning.
Bank Bonus Churning: The Meta-Game
Individual bonuses are easy. The meta-game is everything around them: when you can repeat a bank, when you can close an account, what the IRS takes, and how fast you can move without tripping alarms. Learn these rules once and every bonus after that gets simpler.
| Bonus | Account | Requirements | Fee | Pull | Repeatable? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $800 $400 Silver with $5,000 in deposits, $800 Platinum with $25,000 in deposits | U.S. Bank Silver / Platinum Business Checking business |
| $0 Silver; $30 Platinum waived with $25,000 average collected balance | Soft | Not eligible if the business had a U.S. Bank business checking account in the prior 12 months or a bonus in the prior 24 months. | Open |
| $500 $300 standard, periodically raised to $500 | Chase Business Complete Checking business |
| $15, waived with $2,000 minimum daily balance or $2,000 in Chase Ink card purchases | Soft | Once per 2 years per business entity. Sole proprietors can open with an SSN. Keep 6 months to avoid clawback. | Open |
Best High-Yield Savings Rates
Where idle cash should sit between bonuses. Rates move; each row shows our last check.
| APY | Bank | Minimum | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.30% | Openbank by Santander High Yield Savings | $500 to open | Current rate leader among large banks. Not available in states with Santander branches. | View |
| 4.10% | Barclays Tiered Savings | None; top tier requires $250,000 | Tiered structure pays more on higher balances; base tier still competitive. Rate moves with the Fed. | View |
| 4.00% | Wealthfront Cash Account | $1 | Cash management account, not a bank; FDIC coverage through partner banks. Referral adds a temporary boost. | View |
| 4.00% | CIT Bank Platinum Savings | $100 to open; $5,000 balance for the top rate | Balances under $5,000 earn a much lower rate. Rate moves with the market. | View |
| 3.80% | SoFi Checking and Savings | None | Top rate requires direct deposit or $5,000 in monthly deposits; drops near 1 percent without it. | View |
| 3.75% | Marcus by Goldman Sachs Online Savings | None | Rate moves with the Fed. Referral links add a temporary rate boost. | View |
| 3.60% | Ally Online Savings | None | Buckets and round-ups included. Rate adjusts with the market. | View |
| 3.60% | Discover Online Savings | None | Periodic cash bonus offers with promo codes. Rate moves with the Fed. | View |
| 3.50% | American Express High Yield Savings | None | No checking pairing required. Typically lags rate leaders slightly. | View |
| 3.50% | Capital One 360 Performance Savings | None | Same rate on all balances. Periodic deposit-tiered bonus promos. | View |
Bonus amounts and rates verified on the date shown in our data layer and re-checked by the tracker. Bank bonuses are taxable interest income; expect a 1099. Read the churning rules before you start stacking.