Bank account bonuses are a great way to earn extra income. I’ve been using this strategy for years, regularly earning between $5,000 and $10,000 per year in bank account bonuses. This page contains what I think are easy bank account bonuses and is an excellent starting point for beginners.
If you want to learn more about bank account bonuses or learn more advanced tactics, be sure to check out my post: The Ultimate Guide to Bank Account Bonuses.
Bank Bonuses – Personal Bank Accounts
Here’s a list of personal bank account bonuses that are a good starting point for beginners.
- Chime ($100) – Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
- DCU ($100 + 6% Interest Savings Account) – Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $100 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a saving account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000. Check out my in-depth post on how to set this account up.
- Upgrade ($100) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $100 referral bonus if you open an account and complete three debit card transactions. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Importantly, this bonus now says that it’s scheduled to end on October 31, 2022. As long as you get your account opened before October 31st, you should be eligible. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $100 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
- SoFi Money ($275) – SoFi Money is a free checking account from SoFi. They’re currently a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link. You can also make an additional $250 as well if you complete a direct deposit. This is a good bank that is also 100% free, so you won’t have to worry about managing this account. Here’s a post I wrote with instructions on how to earn your SoFi Money bonus: SoFi Money Referral Bonus: Step By Step Guide.
- Current Bank ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link.Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
- Netspend ($20 + 5% Interest Savings Account) – Netspend is a company that provides 5% interest savings accounts. If you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get a $20 signup bonus once you make your first deposit into your Netspend account of $40 or more. That means you get a 5% interest savings account and a free $20 to start! Make sure to check out my in-depth guide on how to set up these accounts.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($100) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
- Varo Bank ($30) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $30 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. It has no fees or minimum balance requirements, so you don’t have to worry about managing the account. Check out my Varo referral bonus guide here.
- Albert ($150) – If you can manage to do a real direct deposit, Albert is an easy account you can use to earn a referral bonus. Here’s a review about Albert I wrote. And here’s a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Albert referral bonus.
Bank Bonuses – Business Bank Accounts
Business bank accounts are another option with some great bank bonuses. The only requirement to open these accounts is you need to have a side business of some sort. Any side hustle will do – you don’t usually need to have a formal business structure. Even doing Uber or DoorDash will qualify you for most business bank accounts.
- Novo Bank ($40) – Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
Investing Apps
There are a lot of free investing apps offering great signup bonuses if you open an account with a referral link. Here are some of the best options.
- M1 Finance ($10) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $50 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
- SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Moomoo (10 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 5 free stocks (usually worth around $75-$100) if you open an account using a referral link and deposit $2,000. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- Webull (6 free stock) – Webull also gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$1,400 if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free stocks using Webull.
- Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
- Public (1 free stock) – Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.
Cash Back Apps
Cashback apps offer a way to earn passive income for the money you’re probably already spending. Below are some great cashback app options. Also, here’s a post I’ve written with the best cashback apps.
- Rakuten (formerly Ebates) ($40) – Rakuten is pretty much a no-brainer Google Chrome extension that everyone should have in their browser. With Rakuten, you get cashback on almost any purchase you make online – typically around 2-5% back, but often more depending on the store and the time of year. If you use my link, Rakuten will give you a $40 signup bonus once you signup and make your first purchase using the Rakuten browser extension!
- Upromise ($30) – Upromise tracks your credit card spending in the background and then gives you cashback on eligible purchases. The main difference from other cashback apps is that you’re supposed to use the cashback that you earn through Upromise to pay student loans or to fund 529 plans. Use my link and receive a $5.29 bonus when you sign up and $25 when you link a 529 plan.
Other
In this section, I’ve listed a few non-bank options offering signup bonuses if you sign up using a referral link. Check them out below.
- Arcadia Power ($25) – If you’re interested in signing up for Arcadia Power, be sure to use this referral link. You’ll get $25 towards your first utility bill after you link your electric utility account to Arcadia Power. See my Arcadia Power Review here.
Here is an easy $200 bonus from Wells Fargo Bank.
https://bonusoffer.wf.com/200checking?product_code=CHK
Bonus Requirements:
1. Open a new Wells Fargo consumer checking account with a minimum opening deposit of $25 by December 31, 2021. All account applications are subject to approval.
2. Within 90 calendar days of account opening (the “qualification period”), receive a total of $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your new checking account.
o A qualifying direct deposit is an ACH (Automated Clearing House) automatic electronic deposit of your salary, pension, Social Security, or other regular income into your bank account. Confirm with your employer or the agency or company making these payments that they use the ACH network.
o Transfers from one account to another, mobile deposits, or deposits made at a banking location, or ATM don’t qualify as a direct deposit.
Bonus Payment:
• Once the 90-day qualification period has elapsed, we will determine if you have met the offer requirements, and will deposit any earned bonus into your new checking account within 30 days.
• The new checking account must remain open throughout the 90-day qualification period and at the time we attempt to deposit any earned bonus payment. Please note that an account with a zero balance may be closed by us without prior notice, as further described in the Deposit Account Agreement.
• You are responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes due on the bonus and we will report as income to the tax authorities if required by applicable law. Consult your tax advisor.
I opened it with $500 to avoid any fees. Please be sure to read the fine print from the link.
Also, PNC has a juicy $400 bank promotion or a $250 promotion that I am going to open in 2 weeks.
https://www.pnc.com/en/personal-banking/banking/checking/campaigns/checking-offer-movers.html?
Need direct deposit of $5,000 dollars in 60 days- BUT…need to maintain $5,000 daily balance to score $400 bucks! Lower requirements for the $250 bonus.
Special notes on these bonuses: Wells Fargo requirement is 12 months from when you last obtained a bonus from them, and PNC has a 24 month waiting period from your last bonus.
Wow, thanks for putting this together!
Seems like if I just spent some time throughout the course of the week doing this, I can capture over $1K in value. Not bad.
Angie, to be successful at Bank Promotions, you need to write in MS Word, the date you opened the account at the bank, the date the bank promotion was paid and the date you closed the account. Keep this information so you know when you can go back to the same bank.
When you are ready to search for current bank promotions, I Google Bank Promotions and the current month and year, such as Bank Promotions November 2021. There are some really good sites.
Bank promotions in 2020 was $2790. 2021 is close to $4,000!!!
Wow. This is a solid $1,000 in bonuses right there just for signing up. Companies are throwing money at people these days!
i just want to warn about Current. I received my referral bonus at signupp after meeting requirements, but I have since referred 3 people who met requirements and I’m assured of it because I assisted them with setup and Current confirmed direct deposit received but claimed they didnt use my referral code. Again I knew this to not be true because it was my daughter and fiancee so I actually helped them with the setup. After Current didnt pay the first 2, I tried one more time, referring someone else and customer service rep claimed we’ werent eligible with out even taking details to further investigate the person’s account. I only kept the account open for referrals so I will be closing today. Not worth the hassle and explanation to friends and family when they dont honor.
Just an update… Just on principle. I escalated this to the BBB for banks and promptly received payment for all referrals and those that were referred received payment as well.