Financial

Wells Fargo is offering a $500 bonus for opening a new Everyday Checking account and receiving $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days. It's available nationwide and runs through Jan 12, 2027. How to qualify: Open the account through the Wells Fargo offer page so the bonus code is attached. Receive a total of $1,000 or more in qualifying electronic deposits (ACH direct deposit, RTP/FedNow instant payments, or Visa/Mastercard push credits) within 90 days. The bonus posts within 30 days after you meet the requirement. Good to know: Not available if you received a Wells Fargo consumer checking bonus in the past 12 months. The $15 monthly fee is waived with $500+ in monthly qualifying deposits, a $1,500 daily balance, or if the owner is 17-24. Transfers, Zelle, mobile and branch deposits don't count. The bonus is taxable.

Rakuten is offering a $150 bonus (or 15K Bilt Points) when you are approved for the Citi Strata Premier Card through its shopping portal. It stacks with Citi's own welcome bonus. Click through Rakuten's offer page and apply in the same browser session Must be a new approved Citi Strata Premier cardholder Keep the account open at least 3 months One bonus per Rakuten account The card has a $95 annual fee and earns 3X on groceries, gas, restaurants, hotels and air travel. Citi's current welcome offer is 60,000 points.

Swagbucks is paying a $180 bonus for opening a new Chime checking account through its offer page. The bonus is tied to direct deposit. Must be a new Chime member and sign up through the Swagbucks offer Needs 2 consecutive qualifying payroll direct deposits of $200 or more each Use the same email on Swagbucks and Chime, and allow time for the reward to post One completion per user Chime is a fintech company, not a bank; banking services come from partner banks (FDIC-insured). Chime has been known to close accounts without explanation, so avoid parking large balances there.

New Chase customers can earn a $175 bonus by opening a Chase Secure Banking checking account and completing the qualifying transactions. You can open online or at a branch. No minimum deposit to open No overdraft fees $0 monthly service fee for ages 17-24 Direct deposit may arrive up to two business days early Check Chase's terms for the exact transaction requirements and deadline.

Albert is offering up to $1,000 in free stock to new Albert Investing customers, up from $200 earlier. Requirements: Create an Albert account and sign up for any Albert subscription tier Open an Albert Investing account Deposit at least $1,000 within 90 days of opening it Keep a subscription active for 6 months from account creation The six-month hold can reportedly be shortened by referring 3 eligible friends, though a report suggests that referral option may have been removed. Available nationwide, with no ChexSystems check and no monthly fees listed on the account. Check the terms on Albert's page before signing up, as the offer may change or expire without notice.

New Amazon Prime Visa cardmembers get a $200 Amazon gift card instantly on approval, with no minimum spending requirement. The offer runs through January 7, 2027. Requires an Amazon Prime membership. No annual fee. Ongoing rewards: 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel, 2% at restaurants, gas stations and local transit, 1% elsewhere. Rewards can be redeemed as cash, gift cards, travel or at Amazon checkout.

First Merchants Bank offers up to $600 for new personal checking customers who live in Indiana, Ohio or Michigan. The offer has no listed expiration date. $300 for setting up at least $500 in direct deposits per month within the first 90 days Another $300 for keeping a $15,000 minimum daily balance during the qualification period Enroll with promo code FMBSEM26 online or ask a banker Soft credit pull; ChexSystems is checked $25 monthly fee, avoidable; closing within six months forfeits the bonus One per household; existing or recently closed FMB checking customers are not eligible

Mercury, a banking platform for startups and small businesses, is offering a $500 bonus to new business checking customers who deposit $5,000 within the first 90 days. Available nationwide No direct deposit requirement and no monthly fees No expiration date listed Bonuses are taxable income Open an account

Axos Bank is offering a $300 cash bonus (paid out as $50/month over six months) when you open a new CashBack Checking & Best Savings bundle account by December 10, 2026. How to Earn the Bonus Visit the Axos Bank offer page and open a new CashBack Checking & Best Savings bundle. Enter promo code AX300 during signup. Set up a qualifying direct deposit of at least $1,500/month into your Axos Checking account each monthly statement cycle. Maintain an average daily balance of at least $5,000 each monthly statement cycle. Meet all requirements for up to six consecutive months to collect the full $300. Key Details Bonus amount: Up to $300 ($50 per qualifying month) Availability: Nationwide Monthly fees: None Credit inquiry: Soft pull only Credit card funding: Not allowed Household limit: None Early closure fee: Up to $300 if account is closed before 120 days Things to Note The account must remain open and in good standing when each monthly bonus is paid. Bonus cash is considered taxable income and may be reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC. Customers who have held a primary Axos Bank checking account within the past 12 months may be ineligible. Stacking with other promotions (e.g., Swagbucks) is not officially permitted per the terms, though it has worked for some users in the past.

Citibank is currently running multiple cash bonus tiers for new checking account holders, ranging from $325 all the way up to $4,000 depending on your deposit level. Bonus Tiers Tier 1 – $325 Bonus (Enhanced Direct Deposit) Open a new Citi checking account and enroll directly through the offer page Complete at least 2 Enhanced Direct Deposits totaling $3,000 or more within 90 days of account opening Tier 2 – $500 / $2,000 / $4,000 Bonus (New Funds Deposit) Deposit new-to-Citibank funds within 45 days of account opening Maintain the required minimum balance for an additional 45 days (days 46–90) $30,000 minimum → $500 bonus $200,000 minimum → $2,000 bonus $1,000,000 minimum → $4,000 bonus Key Requirements & Notes Must not have held a Citi checking account in the past 365 days Must be at least 18 years old Available nationwide Uses a soft pull only (no hard credit inquiry) Monthly fee is $12, waived each month with $250+ in Enhanced Direct Deposits (note: rising to $1,000 effective January 1, 2027) No early account termination fee Account can be funded with up to $1,000 via debit card Bonus is considered taxable income Referral Bonus Existing Citi customers can refer friends and earn $100 per successful referral. The referred person still qualifies for the standard bonus. Savings Account Stacking (Select States) In states like NY, CT, NJ, DC, VA, MD, CA, and NV, you may be able to pair this offer with a Citi savings account earning competitive APY through the Citi Premium Boost program: 3.50% APY for Citi Priority 4.00% APY for Citigold 4.35% APY for Citigold Private Client Offer Tracker Track your progress in the Citi app: Services → Rewards & Upgrades → Explore Rewards → Select checking account