Below are the most attractive bonuses available that don’t require a direct deposit. We also included investment brokerage accounts that have low deposit requirements and minimal activity needed.
| Bank | Minimum deposit | Minimum bonus |
| Raisin | $10,000 | $40 |
| MoneyLion | $0 | $5 |
| Cash App | $5 (must send) | $5 |
| Greenlight | 1 Monthly fee | $50 |
| U.S. Bank | $5,000 | $400 |
| Alliant Credit Union | $1,200 ($100 x 12 mos.) | $100 |
| Citi | $30,000 | $500 |
| Citi Business | $5,000 | $300 |
Each bank on this list is either SIPC or FDIC-insured and is available in most states.
Ranking Methodology
We ranked these bonuses by net profit after fees and time investment:
- Annualized return. Bonus amount divided by deposit requirement and holding period (see bank bonus yield calculator).
- Total fees. Monthly charges, early closure penalties, and hidden costs.
- Qualification complexity. Number of requirements and failure points.
- Minimum capital needed. Deposit threshold to earn the bonus.
#1. Raisin
| Bonus: | Up to $1,000 |
| Account type: | Savings platform (partner banks and credit unions). |
| Requirement: | Sign up with referral code raymondw059011, deposit at least $10,000 within your 14-day funding window, and maintain that balance for 90 days. |
| Holding period: | 90 days. |
| Fees: | None. |
Raisin offers tiered bonuses based on your deposit amount. The program runs in monthly windows — the current one requires your first deposit between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026:
- $10,000 to $24,999: $40 bonus.
- $25,000 to $49,999: $100 bonus.
- $50,000 to $99,999: $200 bonus.
- $100,000 to $199,999: $425 bonus.
- $200,000 or more: $900 bonus.
The platform provides access to high-yield savings accounts, CDs, and money market products from more than 100 banks and credit unions. Optional add-ons — scheduling recurring deposits, or splitting your funds between a savings product and a CD — can boost the bonus further, which is how the total reaches up to $1,000. Your funds are placed directly with partner banks, giving you FDIC insurance coverage up to $10 million across multiple institutions.
Unlike traditional banks that may require direct deposit or debit card activity, Raisin’s offer is purely balance-based.
#2. MoneyLion
| Bonus: | $5 |
| Account type: | MoneyLion Spend account (formerly RoarMoney). |
| Requirement: | Open a new account. |
| Holding period: | None. |
| Fees: | $1 monthly account fee. |
MoneyLion offers one of the most straightforward bonuses in the banking world. You can earn a quick $5 just for opening a MoneyLion Spend account — the checking product formerly branded RoarMoney.
Here’s what makes this offer stand out:
- Unlike most offers, you don’t need to deposit any money to qualify.
- There’s no requirement to set up a direct deposit to qualify. If you choose to do so, you can earn an additional $50.
- The $5 bonus is typically credited to your account within a few days of opening.
- This bonus is accessible to almost anyone, regardless of income or banking history.
- There are no fees for closing your account.
The account does come with a $1 monthly fee, but considering the ease of earning the bonus, it can still be worthwhile.
Learn more at our MoneyLion referral bonus page, or sign up for a MoneyLion Spend account through the MoneyLion app or website to get the bonus.
The process is quick and can usually be completed in just a few minutes.
#3. Cash App
| Bonus: | $5 |
| Account type: | Peer-to-peer payments app. |
| Requirement: | Sign up with referral code VJKMQVS, link a new bank account (or activate a Cash App Card if under 18), and send $5 to someone within 14 days. |
| Holding period: | None — funds are available instantly. |
| Fees: | None. |
Cash App offers one of the simplest bonuses to qualify for. After signing up and entering referral code VJKMQVS, simply send someone $5 within 14 days. Once you do, Cash App adds $5 to your balance instantly, and you can cash out right away.
The referral program also pays $5 for every friend you invite who completes the same process.
While Cash App isn’t a bank, it partners with FDIC-insured institutions like Sutton Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., to hold funds. Users also receive a free debit card that can be used anywhere Visa is accepted.
Learn more on our Cash App bonus page.
#4. Greenlight
| Bonus: | $50 |
| Account type: | Family banking app (with debit card for kids). |
| Requirement: | Sign up with a referral link, pay at least one monthly subscription fee, and actively use Greenlight for 35 days. |
| Holding period: | 35 days. |
| Fees: | $5.99–$19.98/month (first 30 days free trial). |
Greenlight offers a $50 referral bonus to new members who sign up through an existing customer’s referral link. To qualify, you’ll need to pay at least one monthly subscription fee and use the platform for 35 days. Greenlight credits the bonus after verifying you’ve met the requirements — the program terms don’t commit to a payout timeline.
All Greenlight subscription plans are eligible for the bonus. Plans range from $5.99/month for the core banking and budgeting features up to $19.98/month for the plan with investing tools and additional protections. New users get a 30-day free trial before the first monthly fee applies.
Because Greenlight is designed for families, you’ll need to create at least one child account to get started. Parents receive a debit card for their kids, which they can use to set spending limits, create savings goals, and even start investing.
For a deeper look at how the program works, see our full guide to the Greenlight referral bonus.
#5. U.S. Bank
| Bonus: | $400 to $1,200 |
| Account type: | Business checking. |
| Requirement: | $5,000 deposit for $400 bonus, $25,000 deposit for $1,200 bonus. |
| Holding period: | 60 days. |
| Fees: | $0 monthly for Business Essentials; $30/month for Platinum (waivable). |
U.S. Bank offers two attractive bonus options for new business checking accounts:
- $400 Business Essentials Bonus: Open a Business Essentials® account and deposit at least $5,000 in new money within 30 days. Keep this balance for 60 days and complete six qualifying transactions during that time. The Business Essentials account has no monthly maintenance fee and includes unlimited digital transactions.
- $1,200 Platinum Bonus: Open a Platinum Business Checking Package and deposit at least $25,000 in new money within 30 days. Maintain this balance for 60 days and complete six qualifying transactions within that time. The Platinum account has a $30 monthly fee, waived if you maintain a $25,000 balance (or meet other waiver requirements).
Use promo code Q3AFL26, which is automatically applied when you open an account.
Offer valid through: September 27, 2026
#6. Alliant Credit Union
| Bonus: | $100 |
| Account type: | Savings. |
| Requirement: | Deposit $100 for 12 straight months. |
| Holding period: | 12 months. |
| Fees: | $0 monthly fee with eStatements. |
Alliant Credit Union, in partnership with personal finance expert Suze Orman, offers a unique savings bonus that encourages consistent saving habits.
To earn the bonus:
- Open The Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account by December 31, 2026.
- Deposit at least $100 per month for 12 consecutive months.
- Maintain a minimum balance of $1,200 at the end of the 12 months.
While this bonus requires a longer commitment than some others, it promotes good saving habits and comes with a high interest rate. The lack of monthly fees and minimum initial deposit makes it accessible to most savers.
Alliant offers additional perks, such as access to 80,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide.
#7. Citi
| Bonus: | $500–$1,500 |
| Account type: | Checking (Citigold® or Citi Priority Relationship Tiers). |
| Requirement: | Deposit $30,000+ for a $500 bonus, or $200,000+ for a $1,500 bonus in new money within 45 days of opening, then maintain that balance for 45 additional days. |
| Holding period: | 90 days total (45 days to fund + 45 days to maintain). |
| Fees: | $0–$30/month depending on Relationship Tier (waived with $250+ in Enhanced Direct Deposits or required balances). |
Citi is offering up to $1,500 for new checking customers who meet the deposit and balance requirements above.
You must be new to Citi checking (no accounts in the last six months) and open your account directly from the offer page by October 26, 2026.
After you fund the account with new-to-Citi money and keep it there for 45 days, Citi will deposit your bonus within 90 to 120 days after account opening. Physical cash deposits don’t qualify.
One unique feature of this promotion is that savings balances can be combined with checking balances to meet the deposit thresholds.
Because there are no additional activity requirements, such as debit card transactions or bill payments, this offer is ideal for those who want to deposit funds, meet the balance requirements, and wait for the payout.
#8. Citi Business Checking
| Bonus: | Up to $2,000 |
| Account type: | Business checking. |
| Requirement: | Deposit $5,000 – $200,000+ within 30 days and maintain for 60 days. |
| Holding period: | 90 days. |
| Fees: | Vary based on account type. |
Citi offers new business checking customers bonuses ranging from $300 – $2,000, depending on your opening deposit amount.
To qualify, open a new CitiBusiness® Streamlined or Flexible Checking account between July 8 and October 6, 2026.
Within 45 days, make a qualifying deposit of $5,000 or more in new funds not currently held by Citi.
Maintain your balance for an additional 45 days to earn your bonus, which is deposited within 30 days from the end of the month in which you complete the requirements.
The bonus payout is tiered based on your balance:
- $5,000 – $19,999 deposit: $300 bonus.
- $20,000 to $49,999 deposit: $500 bonus.
- $50,000 to $99,999 deposit: $1,000 bonus.
- $100,000 – $199,999 deposit: $1,500 bonus.
- $200,000+ deposit: $2,000 bonus.
Other Bonuses Worth Checking Out
If you’re open to investment or crypto bonuses, here are a few quick picks:
- Banks with instant sign up bonuses – These are the fastest paying bank bonuses.
- Best brokerage bonuses sorted by effective ROI – Best bonuses for investors looking to move their portfolio.
- Crypto sign-up bonuses – Explore a list of crypto platforms offering free Bitcoin and other rewards.
- Frec – Earn up to $250 in bonus cash when you fund a new account.
- Acorns – Get a $20 welcome bonus when you start investing with Acorns.
- Free Stocks – See which brokerages are offering free shares of stock for signing up and making a deposit.
Tips for Success
If you’re just looking to make a few bucks off of a checking account you were going to open anyway, you can skip this section. But if you’re going after multiple accounts and bonuses, read on for a few tricks to maximize your efforts.
Chasing bank account bonuses can be a profitable, risk-free way to grow your money, since the banks use FDIC to insure deposits up to $250,000.
- You’ll need to make sure you meet all the requirements in the right time frame to trigger a bonus. If you’re even a day late or a dollar short, you won’t get anything.
- To maximize your chances of success, we recommend using a spreadsheet to keep track of the accounts you open, their bonuses (take a screenshot as these change often), the due dates, and the deposit requirements.
- Bank bonuses are taxable, so you’ll receive a tax form for each account at the end of the year.
