$500 Checking Account Bonus Offers [December 2024]: Which Ones are Worth It?

Banks often pay signup bonuses, but finding the best ones is important, because why give up free money? It’s not unheard of to find $500 checking account bonus offers, but of course, each one has specific requirements, some of which are unobtainable for many people.

I’ve rounded up the top $500 checking account bonus offers and detailed their qualifying requirements to save you time and hassle. Some key factors to consider when choosing a signup bonus include the type of account you must open, how much money you must deposit, and any other ongoing requirements, such as a minimum monthly balance or monthly direct deposit amount.

How we evaluate products

Finding the right checking account bonus offers requires researching all aspects of the accounts. The $500 checking account bonus offers on this list were checked for the following:

• Minimum balance requirements
• Monthly maintenance fees
• Ongoing requirements
• Additional features and benefits

Earning $500+ is great, but if you won’t use the ongoing features or cannot afford the monthly maintenance fees, the account may not make sense for you. That’s why we covered all aspects of each account so you have full disclosure when deciding.

4 bank account bonus offers of $500 or more

• Chase Bank: Up to $3,000
• BMO Bank: $500
• Associated Bank: $300-$600
• Huntington Bank: $400-$600

Compare bank bonus offers of $500 or more

Bank name	Bonus amount	Required account(s)
Chase Bank	$1,000-$,3000	Chase Private Client Checking℠
BMO Bank	$500	BMO Relationship Checking
Associated Bank	$300-$600	Any Associated checking account
Huntington Bank	$400 to $600	Perks Checking or Platinum Perks Checking

1. Chase Bank: Up to $1,000-$3,000

Bank account(s)	Bonus amount	Required activity
Chase Private Client Checking	$1,000-$3,000	Open or upgrade to a Private Client checking account before Jan. 22, 2025 Deposit or transfer $150,000 or more within 45 days to eligible checking, savings, or a J.P. Morgan Wealth Management account (Private Client) Leave the funds there for at least 90 days

Chase Private Client Checking

With Chase Private Client, the amount you deposit determines your bonus. If you deposit $150,000 to $249,999 earn a $1,000 bonus; deposit $250,000 to $499,999 earn a $2,000 bonus; and deposit $500,000 or more and earn a $3,000 bonus.

The nice thing about the Chase Private Client Checking℠ account is that you can upgrade an existing account. Most bank bonuses are for new money only, but with this bonus, you can transfer funds into various accounts, using your total balance to qualify for the promotion. The accounts include:

• Personal checking accounts
• Personal savings accounts
• J.P. Morgan Wealth Management accounts (non-retirement) serviced by a Private Client Advisor

It’s important to note that business accounts, any other J.P. Morgan investment accounts, and trust accounts are not eligible.

Other benefits you’ll enjoy as a Chase Private Client include:

• No ATM fees
• No incoming wire fees
• Dedicated 24/7 advisor line
• Higher Zelle and ATM limits
• Preferred rates on auto loans

Learn more in our Chase Bank review

2. BMO Bank: $500

Bank account(s)	Bonus amount	Required activity
BMO Relationship Checking	$500	Direct deposit of $7,500 or more within the first 90 days of opening the account by February 3, 2025

To earn the $500 bonus on the BMO Relationship Checking account, you must set up a direct deposit that equals at least $7,500 across three months. The account itself only requires a $25 minimum opening balance, but there’s a $25 monthly maintenance fee unless you satisfy one of the following:

• Have a minimum daily balance of at least $10,000
• Have a combined balance of at least $25,000 across BMO accounts
• You are a client of the BMO Employee Benefits program

Benefits you get with the Relationship Checking account and less than a $25,000 balance include:

• Up to $25 in non-network ATM fees rebates per month
• Earn interest
• Discounted rate on loans

Be careful with the monthly maintenance fee, though, as it can deplete any interest you earn. If you don’t think you can keep at least a $10,000 daily balance, consider other options on this list.

Visit BMO bank

3. Associated Bank: $300-$600

Bank account(s)	Bonus amount	Required activity
Any Associated checking account	$300-$600	Open any new Associated checking account Have at least $500 direct deposited into your account within 90 days Must be open and funded by Dec. 31, 2024

The great thing about this bank is that you can open any of Associated Bank’s checking accounts and earn the bonus. The exact bonus you earn depends on how much you deposit.

Deposit Amount	Bonus
$1,000 - $4,999.99	$300
$5,000 - $9,999.99	$400
$10,000+	$600

You can choose from various accounts including:

• Access Checking: No monthly maintenance fee and a $25 minimum opening deposit for this online only account (no branch access)
• Balanced Checking: Has a $9 monthly maintenance fee that you can waive with a $1,000 balance, but you get access to their credit monitoring service and can use the bank branches
• Choice Checking: Has a $25 monthly maintenance fee that you can waive with $10,000 combined deposits, get free checks, and earn interest on your balance

Visit Associated Bank

4. Huntington Bank: Up to $600

Bank account(s)	Bonus amount	Required activity
Perks Checking or Platinum Perks Checking	$400 to $600	Open a new Perks Checking or Platinum Perks Checking by Feb. 7, 2025 Set up and receive a qualifying direct deposit within 90 days for the Perks Checking bonus Deposit at least $25,000 into your new account within 90 days for the Platinum Perks Checking bonus Keep your account open for at least 90 days Deposits must be made from a non-Huntington bank

You have two options to earn the Huntington bank account bonus of $400 or $600. Here’s how the accounts compare:

• Perks Checking: Five free non-network ATM transactions monthly, credit score monitoring, and you can earn interest on your balance
• Platinum Checking: Unlimited free non-network ATM transactions monthly, credit score and identity theft monitoring, and you can earn interest on your balance

To waive the monthly maintenance fees, you’ll need a $1,000 ($5,000 combined) balance for Perks Checking and $25,000 in combined balances for Platinum Checking.

However, please note that this offer is only available to residents in a handful of states.

Colorado Illinois Indiana Kentucky South Dakota Michigan

Minnesota Ohio Pennsylvania West Virginia Wisconsin

In addition, if you’re a current Huntington Bank customer or closed a checking account with them within the past six months, you’re not eligible for this bonus.

Visit Huntington Bank

How to choose a checking account bonus offer

Earning a $500 checking offer for opening a new account and depositing your salary or other funds into it may seem easy, but there are a few things to consider first.

• Monthly fees: Some banks offering account sign-up bonuses may charge monthly account fees. In some cases, these fees can be waived. Make sure to understand these fees and the requirements for waiving them.
• Balance requirements: Most $500 checking offers require you to receive direct deposits, maintain a balance, or a combination of both. Make sure that moving your direct deposits makes sense for you and that maintaining a certain balance is something you can achieve.
• Taxes: Bank account bonuses are generally considered taxable income along with the interest you earn on a savings or checking account. You’ll typically receive relevant tax documents during tax season. Make sure to include these documents in your tax filing.

FAQs

Bottom line

Earning a $500 checking account offer isn’t difficult, but it requires you to find a suitable offer and pay attention to its terms and conditions. These promotions change often so be sure to check back frequently and jump on any offers that catch your eye before they expire.

To explore more bank offers, check out this list of the top checking account bonuses. You can also explore more banking options in this list of the best online banks.