Banking has turned from a traditional in-person experience to being done majority online in just the past few years. There are some banks that only operate online, allowing them to offer better incentives for you, like free sign-up bonuses, to join them since they have less overhead expenses than traditional banks. What does that mean for you? It means that if you do your research, you might be able to get thousands in free rewards as long as you pick and choose the right banks to sign up with.
The big question is which of these bonuses are worth your time?
Chase Bank – Chase Total Checking: $225
If you’ve been thinking of opening an account with Chase, there are a few different offers to consider. With their Chase Total Checking account, you can expect to see a $225 bonus to show up in your coffers if you set up a qualifying direct deposit. Just remember, you have to do it within 90 days of opening to earn this extra cash. After that, keep it open for six months or it will be deducted if you close the account.
Chase Bank – Chase Secure Banking: $100
Meanwhile, there’s also a nice incentive if you want to go with their Chase Secure Banking option. If you don’t want to or can’t do direct deposit, this is a bonus that you will still be able to earn. Instead of having to set up a scheduled direct deposit, you just have to make ten qualifying transactions within 60 days of opening. After that, the $100 bonus will be added within two weeks of that final transaction.
TD Bank – TD Convenience Checking: $150
Like Chase, TD Bank has two separate offers for two different tiers of checking accounts. The lower tier of the two is TD Convenience Checking, which has a $15 dollar monthly fee. Of course, this is waived if you have at least a minimum daily balance of $100, which will let you keep more of that bonus for yourself. Cumulative direct deposits of $500 are required here to earn that $150 bonus.
TD Bank – TD Beyond Checking: $300
If you are able to maintain a higher minimum balance, you should sign up for TD Beyond Checking instead. The $25 dollar monthly fee is waived with a minimum daily balance of $2500. Similarly, the qualifying deposits for the $300 bonus is also higher, which are cumulative deposits of at least $2500. If you’re able to maintain those numbers, why not go for the bigger chunk of cash?
Discover Bank – Discover Online Savings Account: $150 or $200
Who wants to wait in lines in a lobby or a drive-through when you can shift to online only? The aptly named Discover Online Savings account has two separate bonuses for signing up for the same account. The difference between them is the qualifying deposit for each one. If you deposit $15,000 within 30 days of the open date, there will be a $150 bonus waiting for you. If you’re able to deposit $25,000, that figure is upgraded to a $200 bonus. As for monthly fees, there aren’t any this time around, so that’s something to consider.
Citi Bank – Citi Priority Account: $300, $700, or $1500
If a couple hundred isn’t enough to sway your interest, the Citi Priority Account might catch your eye. Like the Discover offer detailed above, this bigger bonus has different tiers if you’re able to hit different milestones. The way this one works is the bank will check how much is deposited on the 20th day after account opening. As long as you keep that amount as a minimum, the corresponding bonuses will be paid out within 90 days.
The $15,000 to $49,999 tier equates to a $300 bonus to start off with. Being able to reach $50,000-$199,999 will reward you with a $700 bonus instead, while $200,000 and above will cap out at a $1500 bonus.
Bank of America – Advantage SafeBalance Banking: $100
Then again, most of us don’t have that kind of cash laying around to earn bonuses. If you’re a broke college student, you could look to Bank of America to earn an extra incentive. The reason why this account may be for you is because the low monthly fee of $4.95 is waived for students under 25. By using the code DNL100CIS with a $25 opening deposit, you’ll be able to get a $100 bonus provided you make qualifying deposits totaling $1000 within 90 days.
Final Words
No matter how much money you have, there is sure to be an account with bonuses that is right for your situation. There are many reasons to be signed with a bank, so you might as well get some extra scratch along the way. The important thing is to always read the fine print so that hidden fees and stipulations don’t blindside you. Once you are armed with the proper knowledge, you’ll be on your way to financial security with bonuses in hand.
