MoneyLion is an all-in-one financial app that combines banking, investing, credit-building tools, and personal finance features under one account.
When you sign up using my MoneyLion referral link, you’ll receive a $5 bonus. You can also enter referral code $thewaystowealth during signup to activate the offer. There is no deposit requirement, and opening an account will not affect your credit score.
MoneyLion also offers a $50 direct deposit bonus. To qualify, you must receive a single direct deposit of $100 or more within 60 days of opening your account.
Referral bonuses usually arrive within 24 hours to two weeks. When I signed up, my bonus posted four days after completing verification.
Sign up with our MoneyLion referral link.
My Experience
I tested this bonus myself when I opened a MoneyLion account on Monday, September 26, 2022. After creating my account and completing the standard identity verification, the $5 referral bonus posted on September 30, just four days later.
There were no additional requirements at the time — no deposit, no minimum balance, and no qualifying activity needed.
The bonus appeared simply for signing up and verifying my account.
In the screenshot, you can see the exact payout reflected in my transaction history.
MoneyLion’s referral program has stayed consistent since then, and my experience still lines up with what most users report today: the $5 posts automatically once your account is verified, and the timing can range anywhere from a day to about two weeks.
MoneyLion Rewards and Referral Program
MoneyLion Rewards is the app’s built-in earning hub, designed to give users small cash rewards for everyday activities.
Think of it as a simplified version of a rewards app like Swagbucks, but integrated directly into your MoneyLion account.
Everything you earn can be transferred into your MoneyLion Spend account — the checking product formerly branded RoarMoney — which makes it easier than managing a separate rewards wallet.
Inside the Rewards section, you’ll find several ways to earn:
- Cash-back shopping through partner retailers.
- Small earnings opportunities from games and promotions.
- Referral bonuses.
- Giveaways such as the recurring MrBeast Games drawings.
The cash-back rates are generally modest. During major shopping periods, I’ve seen offers like 4.2% at Home Depot or Walmart.
These aren’t the highest rates available compared to best cash-back portals, but if you’re already shopping inside the MoneyLion ecosystem, it can be a small boost on purchases you planned to make anyway.
MoneyLion also includes game-based earning options, though these vary.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of play-to-earn games because some of them include in-app purchases, and the “earn up to” numbers can be misleading. These may appeal to some users, but they’re not something I rely on.
The MrBeast Games giveaways are a unique feature. MoneyLion promotes that they’ve awarded millions through these drawings and choose over a thousand winners across multiple rounds. Entering is simple — you just submit through the app.
Where MoneyLion Rewards becomes most practical, in my opinion, is through referrals.
You earn $5 when someone signs up with your link and another $50 if they complete the direct deposit requirement.
Overall, MoneyLion Rewards isn’t a full replacement for a dedicated cash back or rewards platform, but it’s a useful add-on if you’re already using MoneyLion.
Other Fast or Instant Bonuses Worth Considering
If you’re looking for more ways to earn bonuses, we also maintain several guides that track the best promotions available across different categories:
- Best Brokerage Bonuses (Sorted by Effective ROI)
- Best Bank Promotions Without Direct Deposit Requirements
- Best Free Stock Bonuses
- Legit Apps That Pay You to Sign Up
- Top Banks With Instant Sign-Up Bonuses
- Best Crypto Sign-Up Bonus Offers & Promotions
Some bank-specific bonuses similar to MoneyLion are:
| Platform | Welcome Bonus | Details |
| Raisin | Up to $1,000 | Raisin Referral Bonus |
| Current | $100 | Current $100 Bonus |
| Chime | $100 | Chime $100 Bonus |
| MoneyLion | $5 (+ $50 with direct deposit) | MoneyLion Referral Bonus |
| Greenlight | $50 | Greenlight $50 Bonus |
| Cash App | $5 | Cash App Referral Bonus |
Comparing offers? Our Bank Bonus Annualized Yield Calculator shows which bonus pays the highest effective rate for your deposit size and holding period.
Also worth a look: Acorns’ $20 bonus (requires a $5 recurring investment) and Fundrise’s $25 share voucher for linking a bank account.
MoneyLion Referral Code: Final Verdict
No-deposit signup bonuses are rare. Taking that into account, this is a relatively easy $5.
As for the $50 direct deposit bonus, there are some better offers out there. One of our favorites is Chime, which gives you a $100 bonus when setting up a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more within 45 days, plus a quick card-activation step.
