Best bank account bonuses and promotions for December 2025 (up to $3,000)

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Updated on Dec 05, 2025

Table of contents

Bankrate’s picks for the top checking account bonuses and promotions
Bankrate’s picks for the top savings account bonuses and promotions
Why banks have sign-up bonuses
Are bank account bonuses worth it?
How are bank account bonuses taxed?

Key takeaways

Banks and credit unions are paying big for new customers. Cash bonuses and promotions for opening a new checking or savings account and meeting requirements run as high as $3,000.
Bankrate’s top picks include Chase Private Client’s up to $3,000 bonus, Capital One 360’s up to $1,500 savings offer and hundreds of dollars on offers from KeyBank and PNC.

Bank / institution	Bonus	Account type
Chase (Private Client)	Up to $3,000	Checking
Capital One 360	Up to $1,500	Savings
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Private Bank	Up to $1,000	Savings
KeyBank	Up to $500	Checking
BMO	$400	Checking
PNC Bank	Up to $400	Checking
Wells Fargo	$325	Checking
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Private Bank	$300	Checking
Chase Bank (Total Checking)	$300	Checking
SoFi	Up to $300	Checking
TD Bank	Up to $300	Checking
Capital One	$250	Checking
TD Bank	$200	Savings
M&T Bank	Up to $200	Checking

Bankrate’s picks for the top checking account bonuses and promotions

Chase Bank (Private Client): Up to $3,000 bonus

3.9

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Meet with a Private Client Banker to open a new Chase Private Client Checking account or upgrade an existing account.
Deposit new funds or securities into a J.P. Morgan Wealth Management non-retirement account, a personal savings account or a personal checking account.
Earn $1,000 for depositing between $150,000 and $249,999; $2,000 if you deposit between $250,000 and $499,999; and $3,000 if you deposit $500,000 or more.
Your balance 45 days after opening the account will determine your bonus amount but you must keep your money deposited for 90 days.

Read Bankrate's Expert Chase Bank Review

Bonus amount: $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000

Offer expires Jan. 21, 2026

Within 40 days after meeting the requirements, which means within 130 days from account opening.
The bonus requires a hefty deposit and if you choose to deposit into a savings account, your money will earn very little interest. You could earn more than the bonus amount, in the same amount of time by depositing your funds in a high-yield savings account instead. Also, the deposit requirements to earn the $2,000 and $3,000 bonuses may put you over the federal insurance limit of $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership type, per bank. Be aware and see if you can mitigate the insurance risk before committing your money.

PNC Bank: up to $400 bonus

4.2

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open a Virtual Wallet account from the offer page (or bring your coupon into a branch) and set up direct deposits. You’ll earn different bonus amounts depending on which Virtual Wallet account you open and how much you deposit.
Earn $100 by opening a Virtual Wallet and getting qualifying direct deposits of $500 or more.
Earn $200 by opening a Virtual Wallet with Performance Spend and receiving eligible direct deposits of $2,000 or more.
Earn $400 by opening a Virtual Wallet with Performance Select and receiving qualifying direct deposits of $5,000 or more.

No matter which account you open, you must receive the relevant direct deposits within 60 days of account opening.

Read Bankrate's Expert PNC Bank Review

Bonus amount: $400, $200 or $100

Offer expires Dec. 8, 2025

60-90 days after you meet the bonus requirements, which means within 120-150 days after account opening.
All these accounts charge fees, though they can be waived. Plus, these bonuses are not available in all locations. Enter your zip code on the PNC website to see what accounts and bonuses are available in your area.

BMO Bank: $400 bonus

4.5

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open either a BMO Smart Advantage Checking or a BMO Smart Money Checking account.
Receive $4,000 worth of qualifying direct deposits within your first 90 days of opening the account.

Read Bankrate's Expert BMO Bank Review

Bonus amount: $400

Offer expires Jan. 28, 2026

About 100 days after account opening.
The BMO Smart Money Checking account has a $5 monthly service fee if you’re 25 years old or older.

Wells Fargo: $325 bonus

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open an Everyday Checking account online.
Receive a total of $1,000 in direct deposits in the first 90 days of having the account.

You have to open the account through the offer page online o bring your offer code (which you can get emailed to you from the offer page) into a branch and open any consumer deposit account, not just an Everyday checking account.

Read Bankrate's Expert Wells Fargo Review

Bonus amount: $325

Offer expires Jan. 14, 2026

Within 30 days after the qualification period is over, which means approximately 120 days from account opening.
There is a fairly steep $10 monthly fee for this account (which is actually going up to $15 at the end of November 2025), though there are multiple ways to waive it.

KeyBank: up to $500 bonus

4.5

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

To earn $300: Use code KDMA0825 and open a Key Smart Checking account or KeyBank Hassle-Free Account. Make direct deposits of at least $2,000 within 90 days of opening the account.
To earn $500: Open a Key Select Checking account using the code KDMB0825. Make at least $5,000 in eligible direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account.

Read Bankrate's Expert KeyBank Review

Bonus amount: $300 or $500 bonus

Offer expires Dec. 19, 2025.

Within 60 days of meeting the requirements.
The Key Select checking account has a $25 monthly fee, though you can get it waived.

SoFi Bank: Up to $300 bonus

4.9

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open a SoFi Checking and Savings account and set up direct deposits.
After SoFi receives your first direct deposit, you have 25 calendar days to receive enough direct deposits to earn a bonus. SoFi will add up all the direct deposits you receive in that time (including the first).
If you receive $1,000 and $4,999 in direct deposits within the bonus period, you’ll earn a $50 bonus.
If you receive $5,000 or more in direct deposits, you’ll earn a $300 bonus.

Read Bankrate's Expert SoFi Bank Review

Bonus amount: $50 or $300

Offer expires Jan. 31, 2026.

Within seven business days after the 25-day bonus period ends.
You have to open both the checking and savings account at SoFi — they don’t come separately.

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Private Bank: $300 bonus

4.6

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open a new Checking or Max-Rate checking account using the promo code CHECKING25 on the offer page.
Make at least two direct deposits of at least $1,500 each within 90 days of opening your account.

Note that you must fund your account in some way within 30 days of opening it — so if your direct deposit won’t come in quickly enough, you’ll have to deposit funds some other way first.

Read Bankrate's Expert E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Review

Bonus amount: $300

Offer expires Dec. 31, 2025

About 120 days from when you open the account and complete the requirements.
You get a healthy 2% APY with the Max-Rate checking account but you’re on the hook for a $15 monthly fee if you don’t keep at least $5,000 in the account. If that doesn’t sound doable to you, consider opting for the Checking Account instead, which earns just 0.05% APY but doesn’t have a monthly account fee.

Chase Bank: Total Checking; $300 bonus

3.9

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open a Chase Total checking account on the bonus offer page.
Make qualifying direct deposits of at least $500 during the first 90 days.

You can also get this bonus if you open the account in a branch but you have to bring in a coupon offer code, which you can get from the offer page.

Read Bankrate's Expert Chase Bank Review

Bonus amount: $300

Offer expires Jan. 21, 2026

15 days after you meet all requirements.
There’s a steep $15 monthly service fee for this account if you don’t meet one of the requirements to waive it.

TD Bank: up to $300 bonus

4.4

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

To earn $200: Open the TD Complete Checking account bonus and receive $500 worth of eligible direct deposits during your first 60 days with this account.
To earn the $300: Open the TD Beyond Checking account and receive at least $2,500 worth of eligible direct deposits within your first 60 days with the account.

Read Bankrate's Expert TD Bank Review

Bonus amount: $300 or $200

Offer expires Nov. 30, 2025

No later than 180 days after opening your TD Bank checking account.
Both accounts have a monthly maintenance fee, though it can be waived.

Capital One: $250 bonus

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open a new 360 Checking account using the CHECKING250 promotional code.
Receive two eligible direct deposits of at least $500 during the first 75 days that you have this account.

Read Bankrate's Expert Capital One Bank Review

Bonus amount: $250

Offer is ongoing

Within the first 135 days of opening the account and meeting requirements.
This account earns a little interest, but if you’re after a higher APY, look at other online checking accounts like SoFi's.

M&T Bank: Up to $200 bonus

4.5

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open one of the following checking accounts on the online offer page: MyChoice Premium Checking account, MyChoice Plus checking account or an EZChoice checking account.
Receive at least $500 worth of eligible direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account.
You’ll get $100 for doing this with the EZChoice account, $150 for MyChoice Plus and $200 for MyChoice Premium.

If you're opening an account in a branch, you'll need to bring in a promotional code, which you can get emailed to you from the offer page.

Read Bankrate's Expert M&T Bank Review

Bonus amount: $200, $150 or $100

Offer expires Jan. 31, 2026

Within 90 days of completing the qualifying direct deposits.
These bonuses aren’t available in all locations. Also, the MyChoice Plus and MyChoice Premium checking accounts come with hefty monthly fees, though they can be waived if you meet the requirements.

Expert Insight

If you’re looking to keep an account for a long time, don’t let a bonus be the main decision driver of which account you choose. In this case, a bonus should be just that — superfluous to requirements, but nice to have.

Yuliya Goldshteyn

Editor, Banking

Bankrate’s picks for the top savings account bonuses and promotions

Capital One 360: Up to $1,500 bonus

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open a Capital One 360 Performance Savings account using the promo code BONUS1500.
Deposit at least $20,000 of new funds within 15 days of opening the account.
Maintain your deposit for another 90 days after the initial 15 days are done.

How much money you deposit and keep in the account will determine how big your bonus is.

- Earn $300 by depositing $20,000 - $49,999.
- Earn $750 by depositing $50,000 - $99,999.
- Earn $1,500 by depositing $100,000 or more.

Read Bankrate's Expert Capital One Bank Review

Bonus amount: $1,500, $750 or $300

Offer is ongoing

Within 165 days of opening the account and meeting requirements.
The Capital One 360 Performance savings account earns a healthy APY, though not the highest you can possibly get. The bonus you’ll earn will likely cancel out any interest rate risk you’re taking on, but you’ll want to evaluate if you want to keep your money in this account after the bonus period is up.

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Private Bank: Up to $1,000 bonus

4.6

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open a Premium Savings Account with the promo code SAVE100.
Deposit at least $25,000 of new money (i.e., money not already held in a Morgan Stanley Private Bank account or at any of its affiliates) within 30 days of opening the account.
Maintain your balance for another 45 days after those first 30 days of “funding time” are over.

How much money you deposit and keep in the account will determine how big your bonus is.

- Earn $250 by depositing $25,000 - $49,999.
- Earn $500 by depositing $50,000 - $74,999.
- Earn $750 by depositing $75,000- $99,999.
- Earn $1,000 by depositing $100,000 or more.

Read Bankrate's Expert E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Review

Bonus amount: $1,000, $750, $500 or $250

Offer expires Feb. 28, 2026

Within 105 days of you opening the account and meeting the requirements.
You can only ever earn two Personal Savings Account bonuses from this bank. Also, you'll need to deposit new money for this bank account bonus so if you already keep much of your money in Morgan Stanley accounts, you won't be eligible.

TD Bank: $200 bonus

4.4

Overview

Requirements to earn the bonus:

Open a TD Signature Savings or a TD Simple Savings account.
The requirements to earn the bonus for either account are the same: Deposit at least $10,000 within 20 days of opening the account.
After the first 20 days elapse, maintain the balance of $10,000 or more for another 90 days.

Read Bankrate's Expert TD Bank Review

Bonus amount: $200

Offer expires Jan. 31, 2026

Within 180 days of opening the account and meeting requirements.
TD Simple Savings has an extremely low APY and the standard APY for Signature Savings is also low.

Why banks have sign-up bonuses

Most often, banks run bonus promotions to bring new customers and new deposits. Bank account bonuses are typically available only to new checking or savings account holders.

It’s much easier to quantify the bonus than it is to raise the rate on what you’re paying out on deposits
Greg McBride, CFA, former Bankrate chief financial analyst

Compare: Bankrate's picks for the best checking accounts

Are bank account bonuses worth it?

Not every new bank account offer is a good deal. Bankrate curates this list of the best bank account bonuses and promotions, surfacing only the ones we think are worthwhile but opening an account is a personal finance decision — and personal is the key word.

Before signing up for an account, read the fine print and be realistic about your ability to meet the requirements. Watch out for monthly fees that could eat into your earnings and in general, make sure the account meets your needs. For example, if you need to use branches and ATMs, check that there are plenty of them in your area. That way, you’re not driving miles to meet with a banker or wasting money on out-of-network ATM fees just to earn a bonus.

Always do the math

When it comes to savings accounts, bonuses are often offered on accounts that pay minimal interest. So, while the bonus is great initially, you may be sacrificing the long-term return. Use a compound interest calculator to do the math and see whether you’re better off finding another bank that pays more interest instead of one that pays you a bonus. But if an online bank with a competitive APYs is offering a bonus, that could be a win-win.

See the highest APYs: Bankrate's list of the best high-yield savings accounts

How are bank account bonuses taxed?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) taxes any bank account bonuses you earn at the same rate as your income. Ahead of tax season, your bank will likely send you a 1099-INT form if you earned a bonus of more than $10. Alternatively, the bonus may show up on a 1099-MISC form. These forms may also be made available electronically by your bank.

Your bank may also choose not to send you a tax form for a bonus you’ve earned. If this happens, you’re still responsible for paying taxes on the bonus. You can list the income from a bank account bonus on a 1040 form, which enables you to report any additional income from sources such as unemployment compensation or money associated with prizes or awards.

As soon as you receive a bank bonus, it’s a good idea to set aside a percentage of it (based on your tax bracket) for taxes. This way, you’ll have the money to cover any related tax obligations.

Meet our Bankrate experts

Written by

Matthew Goldberg Matthew Goldberg

Former Senior Consumer Banking Reporter

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Key takeaways

Bankrate’s picks for the top checking account bonuses and promotions

Chase Bank (Private Client): Up to $3,000 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

PNC Bank: up to $400 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

BMO Bank: $400 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

Wells Fargo: $325 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

KeyBank: up to $500 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

SoFi Bank: Up to $300 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Private Bank: $300 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

Chase Bank: Total Checking; $300 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

TD Bank: up to $300 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

Capital One: $250 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

M&T Bank: Up to $200 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

Expert Insight

Bankrate’s picks for the top savings account bonuses and promotions

Capital One 360: Up to $1,500 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Private Bank: Up to $1,000 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

TD Bank: $200 bonus

Overview

When you'll get it:

What to watch out for:

Why banks have sign-up bonuses

Are bank account bonuses worth it?

How are bank account bonuses taxed?

Meet our Bankrate experts

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