For many years, earning bank bonuses has acted as a sort of extra side hustle for me. For those who don’t know about bank bonuses, many banks will offer cash bonuses to new customers who open certain bank accounts and meet specific requirements. In most years, I’ve easily been able to earn over $5,000 from bank bonuses. Sometimes, I could even break the $10,000 mark. It’s pretty remarkable how much money is out there if you are willing to look for it.
Getting bank bonuses in such a high volume isn’t particularly difficult – it typically requires four things:
- The ability to do real or simulated direct deposits to different bank accounts,
- Spare cash that you can move around,
- The ability to stay very organized; and
- Some extra time on your hands.
Last year, I was lacking in those last two categories. I was massively disorganized and the amount of extra time I had on my hands wasn’t great either. As a result, in 2024, I only ended up doing two bank account bonuses and made just $525 – the lowest amount I’ve made from bank bonuses in nearly a decade.
This year, I’m changing things up a bit. I’m trying to take care of myself more and I’m focusing on being more organized so that I can properly take advantage of all the free money that banks are offering to new customers.
One upside to essentially taking a year off from bank bonuses is that the waiting period between bonuses for all the bank bonuses I typically hit has passed, meaning I have many options out there and a lot of money to collect.
Earning $2,500 Worth Of Bank Bonuses In One Week
It’s amazing how much money is sitting out there waiting to be grabbed if you’re willing to in some work. I signed up for five bank bonuses over the past week, totaling $2,550 in potential bonuses. The process of earning these bonuses is straightforward and I’ve automated everything I can, so while the money isn’t in my bank account yet, it is basically as good as mine already barring something unexpected happening.
There are certain banks that I regularly hit up when I’m eligible for the bonuses, so the ones I opened these past few weeks are regular options that I’ve hit in years past. Below are all the bank accounts I opened in the past week, along with what I’ll earn from them:
- US Bank Business Checking Account – $900 (I’ve written a post that walks through how to get this bonus)
- US Bank Smartly Personal Checking Account – $450 (this one already paid out)
- Huntington Bank Personal Checking Account – $600
- Bank of America Personal Checking Account – $300
- Live Oak Bank Personal Savings Account – $300
In addition, I also had my wife open a US Bank Business Checking Account as well, which adds another $900 in pending earnings. Theoretically, I can have my wife open all the same accounts as I do and in prior years, that’s exactly what I’ve done. However, sometimes opening these accounts requires my wife to call the bank or have to do something on her end, and getting her to do all that stuff isn’t something she enjoys, so I often will only do the bonuses for myself and do it for her when I feel that it’ll be particularly easy.
Having Cash and Staying Organized Is Key
One of the main reasons I’m able to earn so many bank bonuses is that I typically keep a large amount of cash on hand that I dedicate specifically towards bank account bonuses. I’m someone who admittedly keeps more cash on hand than I should. However, one of the reasons I’m comfortable with keeping extra cash on hand is that I typically use that money to earn good rates of guaranteed return with these bank bonuses.
In this case, many of these bank bonuses require putting $5,000 to $25,000 in an account for a certain amount of time – usually 60 to 90 days. Some of these bonuses are in high-yield savings accounts that pay around 4% interest, so once you add the return from the bonuses, it’s like getting 6-10% interest guaranteed. I’m generally very happy with that kind of return on cash that I have sitting around.
The other important thing with these bank bonuses is staying organized. Keeping yourself organized is so important because you need to keep track of everything you need to do to earn each bank account bonus, as well as the things you might need to do to avoid monthly fees. You also need to keep track of what to do with the bank account after you earn the bonus, as well as where you put any money that you add to a bank account.
There are two things you need to stay organized. First, you should have a spreadsheet to keep track of each bank account you open. I use Google Sheets and create a new spreadsheet each year with all the bank accounts I’ve opened (i.e. I’ll have a spreadsheet that says 2024 Bank Account Bonuses, 2025 Bank Account Bonuses, etc). In my spreadsheets, I keep track of the following information:
- The name of the bank account (and specifically whether its a personal or business bank account, as well as whether its a checking or savings account)
- The amount of the bank bonus
- When the bonus posted
- When I opened the bank account
- When I closed the bank account (or if still open, I’ll put when I should close the account)
- Any rules for future eligibility to get the bonus again
After the spreadsheet, you should also have a checklist with everything that you need to do for each bank bonus. I’ve recently revamped my organization system for bank bonuses. I was previously using a different notetaking app for my bank bonus checklist, but since I use Evernote as my primary notetaking app, it makes more sense to just put everything into Evernote. What I do is I have a separate notebook in Evernote that I’ve labeled Bank Account Bonuses. I then create a new note for each bank account I open with a checklist of everything I need to do. This checklist always includes the following information:
- A list of everything I need to do to earn the bank bonus
- Requirements to waive any monthly fees
- When I can close the bank account
- What I’ll do with any money that was moved into the bank account (i.e. where I’ll move the money I put into the account after I’m done with it)
When each step is met, I’ll check it off. That way, I know exactly what I’ve completed and what I still have to do. This is non-negotiable – make sure you have a good spreadsheet with all the bank accounts you’ve opened and checklists for each bank account.
Final Thoughts
There are many more bank account bonuses coming on my end, especially as I go through some of the other usual suspects in my bank bonus rotation. For example, I’m due to get my Chase Bank bonuses very soon (Chase limits customers to one bonus every 24 months, so this is one I do every 2 years). I’m also going to be getting all the Wells Fargo bonuses, as well as some more local bonuses.
I probably won’t have the skills to hit $10,000 worth of bonuses this year. But I think for sure I can get to $5,000 without too much work. It feels good to get back into the bank bonus game!
To learn more about bank bonuses and how they work, be sure to read my in-depth guide: The Ultimate Guide to Bank Account Bonuses.
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More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:
- Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
- Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
- Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
- Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
- Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
- KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
- Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
- Himiway Escape Ebike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
- Espin Sport Ebike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
- Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
- Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
- Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
- Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review.
- Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.
More Recommended Investing App Bonuses
For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:
- M1 Finance ($100) – 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 $100 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 just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Webull (20 free stock shares) – Webull's current promotion gives you 20 free shares valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free shares using Webull.
- Moomoo (15 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 2 different referral bonuses if you open an account using a referral link. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- 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.
More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses
If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.
- Upgrade ($200) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $200 referral bonus if you open an account and complete a direct deposit. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $200 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
- Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($175) – 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.
- 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.
- US Bank Business ($900) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
- GO2Bank ($50) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $50 referral bonus.
- Current ($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.
- 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.
- Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.
Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.
Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:
- SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
- 5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
- US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $900 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
- M1 Finance. 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 $100 for opening an account.
- Empower. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.
Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
How many have you done per month/year without running into issues with CHEX?
I don’t even think about Chex. Most of the big bank bonuses I go for don’t care what your chex looks like. Seems like most of the chex sensitive banks tend to be the smaller ones or credit unions.