TL;DR
- November 2025 checking account promotions offer bonuses from $250 to $400 from banks like Capital One and TD Bank.
- Eligibility requires opening a new account, meeting direct deposit minimums, and maintaining the account for a set duration.
- These limited-time offers necessitate quick action and careful review of specific bank requirements to maximize bonuses.
Your checking account functions as the cardiovascular exercise of your financial life. This account is probably where your salary is deposited, where you handle bill payments, and where you take out cash from ATMs, among other common uses for your funds. It's wise to confirm your primary account is beneficial to you.
While relocating your bank accounts may seem as appealing as burpees and planks, it's worthwhile to confirm you're utilizing the checking account that most effectively meets your requirements. If you're exploring options for a new checking account, you might boost your available funds by selecting one that provides a bonus for new clients. We've reviewed the current choices to compile a selection of the best checking account promotions we've found.
To qualify for these bonuses, you'll typically need to fulfill specific conditions, like setting up direct deposits or maintaining a certain average daily balance. Furthermore, there are usually limitations that prevent you from being eligible. Current or past patrons, as well. However, with cash bonuses of this nature, executing those financial strategies can be rewarding.
Editor's Selections: Top checking account incentives for November 2025
| Bank and account(s) | Max bonus amount | Direct deposit requirement | Offer good through | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNC Virtual Wallet with Performance Select | $400 | $5,000 | November 17, 2025 | View offer at MoneyLion |
| Fifth Third Momentum Checking | $300 | $500+ | January 7, 2026 | View offer at MoneyLion |
| SoFi® Checking and Savings (Member FDIC) | $300 1 | $5,000 balance required to earn APY | January 31, 2026 | View offer at SoFi |
| Chase Total Checking | $300 | $500+ | January 21, 2026 | View offer at MoneyLion |
| Capital One 360 Checking | $250 | $1,000+ | Ongoing | View offer at MoneyLion |
| PNC Virtual Wallet with Performance Select | View offer at MoneyLion |
|---|---|
| Max bonus amount | $400 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $5,000 |
| Offer good through | November 17, 2025 |
| Fifth Third Momentum Checking | View offer at MoneyLion |
| Max bonus amount | $300 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $500+ |
| Offer good through | January 7, 2026 |
| SoFi® Checking and Savings (Member FDIC) | View offer at SoFi |
| Max bonus amount | $300 1 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $5,000 balance required to earn APY |
| Offer good through | January 31, 2026 |
| Chase Total Checking | View offer at MoneyLion |
| Max bonus amount | $300 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $500+ |
| Offer good through | January 21, 2026 |
| Capital One 360 Checking | View offer at MoneyLion |
| Max bonus amount | $250 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $1,000+ |
| Offer good through | Ongoing |
Details accurate as of Nov. 5, 2025.
Discover the ideal checking account bonus to suit your needs.
PNC Virtual Wallet with Performance Select: Earn a bonus of up to $400
PNC Bank's Virtual Wallet featuring Performance Select
| Max bonus amount | $400 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $5,000+ |
| Offer good through | November 17, 2025 |
- Year Founded: 1865
- Company Headquarters: Pittsburgh, PA
- CEO: Bill Demchak
Why we like this bonus
Currently, the PNC Virtual Wallet with Performance Select account provides the most substantial bonus among our leading selections. Savvy consumers seeking a new checking account will likely seize the opportunity to earn $400 in their new account.
Similar to the SoFi promotion detailed further in this piece, you'll need to deposit $5,000 or more in eligible direct deposits into your new PNC Bank account to receive the full $400 welcome bonus; however, PNC permits a full 60 days to do so.
What you should know
Once the qualifying activity is met, PNC Bank will issue the bonus within 60 to 90 days. During this waiting period, you’ll want to leave your $5,000 right where it sits. Failure to comply will result in a $25 monthly upkeep charge.
Also, a caveat is that this offer may be limited depending on where you live; account disclosures state that the offer is “contingent on product availability and may vary based on…the ZIP code of your primary address.”
Offer details reviewed on Nov. 5, 2025.
Learn more: Read our full review of PNC Bank.
Fifth Third Checking: Up to $300
Fifth Third gains momentum
| Max bonus amount | $300 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $500+ |
| Offer good through | January 7, 2026 |
at MoneyLion
- Year Founded: 1858
- Company Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH
- CEO: Tim Spence
Why we like this bonus
With a much lower direct deposit requirement and a longer time frame to complete it—$500 within 90 days—this $300 bonus offer from Fifth Third is likely more accessible to many consumers than those from SoFi or PNC Bank.
Plus, with payout occuring 10 business days after meeting requirements, this account offers one of the faster bonus timelines on our list.
Finally, there are no monthly fees or overdraft charges on this account, and you’re not required to keep a minimum deposit to leave it open.
What you should know
If you’re currently a primary or joint account owner on a Fifth Third checking account, or you were on an account that was closed in the past 13 months, you can’t get this bonus.
Also, if you’re someone who prefers to have physical bank branches available, know that Fifth Third only has locations in the following 11 states at the time of writing:
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
Offer details reviewed on Nov. 5, 2025.
SoFi: Earn up to $300
SoFi Checking & Savings
Member FDIC
| Max bonus amount | $300 * |
| Direct deposit requirement | $5,000 balance required to earn APY |
| Offer good through | Jan. 31, 2026 |
at SoFi
- Year Founded: 2011
- Company Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
- CEO: Anthony Noto
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savingsis offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults)and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.80% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00%APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Why we like this bonus
If you’re seeking an institution to store your money on an ongoing basis, rather than merely to earn a quick buck, we expect you’ll like pairing your checking account with a high-yield savings account at SoFi—offering a high APY of up to 3.80%2.
The bonus payout timeline is seven business days after the 25-day direct deposit bonus period (which begins when your first direct deposit arrives in the account) ends.
Earn an even higher APY for a limited time
New customers who open both a checking and saving account with SoFi, member FDIC—along with enrolling in SoFi Plus—by Jan. 31, 2026 have an opportunity to earn a 4.50% annual percentage yield (APY) on their savings. This represents a 0.70% APY boost on top the standard 3.80% rate. The maximum time period for the boosted APY is six months. (Terms apply. Rates are variable and subject to change.)3
SoFi Plus is available at no extra cost for customers with eligible direct deposit. Otherwise, the cost of membership is $10 per month as of this writing.
Benefits for Plus members include a 10% boost on cash-back rewards earned with certain SoFi credit cards, a 1% match on recurring deposits to SoFi Invest (paid in rewards points) and unlimited one-on-one planning sessions from SoFi Wealth.
What you should know
Know that SoFi has some strict requirements to earn the maximum. Hopeful applicants must be able to direct deposit $5,000 from qualifying sources such as a paycheck or social security. On top of that, the deposits must hit the account fairly quickly: From the day the first direct deposit hits, you only have another 25 days to meet the $5,000 threshold. Applicants who can’t meet this threshold but still manage to direct deposit over $1,000 will get a paltry $50 reward.
Offer details reviewed on Nov. 5, 2025.
Chase Total Checking $300 bonus
Chase Bank: Chase Total Checking
| Max bonus amount | $300 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $500+ |
| Offer good through | January 21, 2026 |
at MoneyLion
- Year Founded: 1871
- Company Headquarters: New York City, NY
- CEO: Jamie Dimon
Why we like this bonus
If you’re looking for a quick and easy win, Chase Total Checking is a great option. All it takes is a $500 direct deposit, and you can earn $300—nearly doubling your money with very little effort. And with a 15-day payout timeline after qualifying, Chase doesn’t make you wait too long for your bonus, either.
What you should know
One factor you should keep a close eye on is the account’s minimum balance requirement: You’ll need to keep at least $1,500 in here to avoid a monthly fee.
Also, if you’re looking to maximize your earnings rather than just score a bonus immediately, bear in mind that Chase sometimes offers a bundled bonus of up to $900 for customers who open both a checking and a savings account.
Offer details reviewed on Nov. 5, 2025.
Learn more: Check out our full review of Chase Bank and our roundup of Chase CD rates
Capital One 360 bonus: $250
Capital One: 360 Checking
| Max bonus amount | $250 |
| Direct deposit requirement | $1,000+ |
| Offer good through | Ongoing |
at MoneyLion
- Year Founded: 1994
- Company Headquarters: McLean, VA
- CEO: Richard Fairbank
Why we like this bonus
The Capital One 360 Checking offer is an ongoing deal that offers $250 to new customers. To earn the welcome bonus, set up at least two direct deposits of $500 or more to hit the account within 75 days of opening the account.
With a cumulative requirement of at least $1,000 deposited, this isn’t the easiest bonus on our list. But we like that it’s continually available to new customers and that the timeline to qualify is more than two months long.
What you should know
It can take up to 60 days for this bonus to hit your checking account. But, there are no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements with 360 Checking, so you can relocate your funds if necessary.
Offer details reviewed on Nov. 5, 2025.
Learn more: Check out our full review of Capital One 360 and our roundup of Capital One 360 CD rates.
Key facts about checking account bonuses
- The bonuses are usually only available for a limited time. These offers are meant to be promotional, not ongoing, so most of the time, checking account bonus offers will have an expiration date.
- To earn a bonus, you have to meet certain eligibility requirements. This can include receiving a certain number of direct deposits possibly for a certain amount each time, making a minimum opening deposit, maintaining a minimum balance, or any combination of these plus other actions. Make sure you understand what’s required to earn any new account bonus offer.
- You’ll owe taxes on the bonus amount. A bonus on your bank account is considered interest, which means you’ll receive FORM 1099-INT from the bank that issued your bonus and you’ll have to report on your taxes for that year.
- The fine print matters. Make sure you understand not just the requirements for earning the bonus but if there are any exclusions that might disqualify you from earning it. For example, some bonuses are only available for new customers of a bank. So if you have a different account with an institution that you are considering opening a checking account with, you may not qualify for any bonus being offered.
When to open an account for a bonus?
If you’re in the market for a new checking account, it can only sweeten the deal if the one that’s a fit for your needs offers an account opening bonus. Having more than one checking account can also be useful if you want to allocate funds for different purposes, such as one for living expenses and one for other expenses.
Best checking account guide
The right checking account for you is not going to be the same as for someone else. Any bonus that comes with opening a new checking account is one of several factors to consider. Here’s what to look for when deciding on a new checking account.
- Fees: Checking accounts often come with fees running the gamut from monthly fees to fees for additional checks to overdraft fees. There are checking accounts that don’t charge monthly fees but there may be some trade-offs. For example online-only banks typically offer accounts with no monthly fees but you lose the ability to bank in person. It’s worthwhile to compare these potential costs bfore opening a new account.
- Access to your funds. Once you have your money in a new checking account, you want to be able to use it when you need to. Aside from paper checks, make sure you understand the ATM access that comes with your account. If you tend to make frequent cash withdrawals, an account with widespread ATM availability and low to no withdrawal fees or limits should be high on your list of must-haves.
- Minimum balance requirements: Some banks require a minimum daily balance or a minimum monthly deposit amount to keep the account active, or waive monthly fees. Make sure that you can meet these requirements for any account you’re considering.
- Overdraft protection: Think of overdraft protection as insurance, you may not think it’s important but it can save you a bundle if you need it. If your budget is closer to paycheck-to-paycheck then flush with cash, overdraft protection can prevent you from expensive mishaps like bouncing checks and pricey overdraft fees.
- APY: Although many checking accounts earn little to no interest on your deposit, there are a handful of high-yield checking accounts available. If you already have a high-yield savings account, earning interest on your checking account may not be a priority, but if you’re torn between two similar accounts, earning interest on your money is never a bad idea.
- Bonus offers: You shouldn’t open an account solely for a bonus offer, but it can sweeten the deal when choosing your next account.
Checking account alternatives
While getting a bonus on a new checking account is always a nice perk, a checking account isn’t ideal for every situation. For example, many checking accounts offer no or below average APYs, so if earning interest on your money is your primary goal in opening a new bank account, another type of account will suit you better. Here are some options to consider:
Chking vs saving accounts
While these are the two most common types of accounts the average depositor holds, there are significant differences between the two. Checking accounts allow for frequent withdrawals but generally come with very low interest rates. As of February 2025, the average APY on an interest-bearing checking account was 0.07% APY according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
By contrast, savings accounts are best for depositing funds that you won’t need access to for a while. Many (but not all) savings accounts place a limit on the number of withdrawals you can make from the account each month, but in return you’re likely to earn higher interest rates. The average APY on a savings account as of February 2025 was 0.41% APY, according to data from the FDIC.
Accounts: checking vs. Money market
Money market accounts bear a resemblance to checking accounts, frequently offering debit cards or checkbooks that facilitate straightforward access to your funds whenever necessary. Money market accounts, similar to savings accounts, might impose restrictions on the quantity of withdrawals permitted each month, a difference from checking accounts. To open a money market account or qualify for its top APY, you might need to meet certain minimum balance criteria.
A money market account could be ideal for customers seeking a better APY while retaining some, though not necessarily complete, access to their money. If you're seeking an account for your daily expenses and intend to maintain a separate high-yield savings account for wealth accumulation, a conventional checking account could be a more suitable choice.
Checking accounts versus certificates of deposit (CDs)
Certificates of deposit, also known as CDs, represent a different kind of long-term savings account. But unlike savings accounts, which are liquid and the funds can be added to or withdrawn at any time,, a CD “locks up” your funds for a defined period of time depending on the term length you choose. At the end of that time, the CD “matures” which means you get back your deposit plus the interest earned. A certificate of deposit (CD) isn't suitable for ongoing financial activities such as automated savings or bill payments because it's essentially a single-transaction product. You initiate the account with a single deposit, and these funds stay untouched until the CD matures.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do checking account bonuses work?
To attract new clients, certain financial institutions provide checking account incentives, usually for a restricted duration. Bonuses are typically cash that's deposited into your account once you've met a specific minimum balance or direct deposit amount.
Do you pay taxes on bank account bonuses?
Indeed, bank bonuses are considered taxable income. The IRS views bonuses as taxable interest and will probably issue you a Form 1099-INT detailing interest payments and/or tax-exempt interest amounting to $10 or more.
You can close a checking account after receiving a bonus.
Banks often mandate that your account remain active for a specified period post-bonus receipt. If you close your account prior to reaching that limit, you might incur an account closure charge or lose your bonus.
Should I have both checking and savings accounts with the same bank?
Having all of your financial accounts under one roof can be convenient and make it easier to manage your finances, but it isn’t necessary. You might find it advantageous to maintain separate accounts across various financial institutions to capitalize on superior rates and charges specific to each account.
Are checking accounts safe?
Your funds are secured up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, should your bank fail, provided you use a financial institution that's FDIC-insured or NCUA-insured for your checking account.
A high APY for a checking account is it important?
While a high APY isn't essential, it can contribute to the growth of your checking account balance in the long run. To increase your funds via interest income, selecting an account with a superior APY can accelerate the process.
SoFi disclosures
1:
SoFi Checking and Savings members, both new and existing, who haven't yet set up Direct Deposit with us can qualify for a $50 cash bonus. This bonus is awarded when you receive at least $1,000 in total Eligible Direct Deposits. During the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (when at least $5,000 in Eligible Direct Deposits are received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). The cash bonus will be determined by the sum of all Eligible Direct Deposits. If you've met the requirements for Eligible Direct Deposit but haven't seen a cash bonus appear in your Checking account, please reach out to us at 855-456-7634 with information about your Eligible Direct Deposit. The Direct Deposit Promotion is set to commence on December 7, 2023, and will remain active until January 31, 2026. Find the complete terms on sofi.com/banking. SoFi Bank, N.A., a Member FDIC, provides SoFi Checking and Savings. SoFi members who have an Eligible Direct Deposit can get a 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on their savings balances, which includes Vaults, and a 0.50% APY on their checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.80% APY for savings (including Vaults). For members who don't have eligible direct deposit, savings balances (including Vaults) will accrue 1.00% APY, while checking balances will earn 0.50% APY. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
2:
SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. No minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount is necessary to qualify for the specified interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
3 0.70% Savings APY Boost
Earn up to 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.80% APY as of 8/5/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.