Best Bank Promotions That Don't Require Direct Deposit in April 2024

Banks often offer promotions that pay you to open a new account. However, to take advantage of the promotions, you usually must have a certain amount of money directly deposited into your account. So what if you don’t use direct deposit?

We’ve looked into the best bank promotions without direct deposit to give you some options to consider. With each of these promotions, we evaluated the size of the bank bonus, the reach of the financial institution offering the promotion, and the steps you need to take to earn the bonus money.

Featured checking accounts

Key takeaways

• Bank promotions usually only apply to new customers.
• You are often required to maintain a certain balance amount for 30 to 90 days to receive the bonus.
• Some promotions require you to submit a promo code when you open a new account. You may submit this code when you apply through online banking or need to take the code to a branch.
• To qualify for the bonus, the funds you deposit into your account must be new and not transferred from an affiliated bank.

Best bank promotions without direct deposit

• Citibank
• Huntington Bank
• Wells Fargo
• PNC
• Bank of America
• Chase
• Alliant Credit Union

Best bank promotions without direct deposit comparison

Bank	Bonus	Expiration date
Citibank Citi Checking	$300	7/8/2024
Huntington Bank Platinum Perks Checking	$600	6/7/2024
Wells Fargo Savings account	$525	4/1/2024
Wells Fargo Premier Checking account	$2,500	4/1/2024
PNC Business Checking or Business Checking Plus	$200	3/31/2024
PNC Treasury Enterprise Plan or Analysis Business Checking	$500 or $1,000	3/31/2024
Bank of America Business Advantage	$200	6/30/2024
Chase Secure Banking	$100	7/24/2024
Alliant Credit Union The Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account	$100	12/31/2024

Citibank

Citi checking account — up to $300

Expires 7/8/2024

• Make two Enhanced Direct deposits that equal at least $1,500
  
• Maintain a minimum balance of $1,500
• Can’t have opened another Citi checking account in the past 180 days
• Deposit funds within 90 days of account opening

This bank offers a checking account bonus that’s only for new Citi checking customers (no other Citibank checking account in the last 180 days). Checking accounts must be opened via phone or online using a residential/home (not mailing) address.

You must enroll in the cash bonus offer the same day you open a new Citi checking account like a Citi Priority or Citigold account. Citibank is FDIC insured.

How to get the bonus

1. Open a new eligible Citi® Checking account with Enhanced Direct Deposits.
2. Within 90 days, make two deposits that equal at least $1,500.
3. Your bonus will be credited within 30 calendar days after you complete the required activities.

Check out the Citi checking offer.

Minimum deposit and balance	Bonus	Expiration date
$1,500	$300	7/8/2024

Huntington Bank

Platinum Perks Checking bonus — $600

Expires 6/7/2024

• Must be a new personal checking customer
• Deposit at least $25,000 within 90 days of opening the account
• Keep the account open for at least 90 days

This bonus is only available for new personal checking customers. To qualify, you must open a new, qualifying Huntington Platinum Perks Checking account by June 7, 2024. Money deposited or transferred can’t be from any other Huntington account (except maturing personal CDs). This bonus can’t be used in combination with other consumer checking offers.

To qualify, you must reside in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. Huntington Bank is insured by the FDIC.

How to get the bonus

1. Open a new Huntington Platinum Perks account.
2. Within 90 days, deposit at least $25,000.
3. Your bonus will be credited within 14 days of meeting the requirements.

Check out the Platinum Perks offer.

Minimum deposit and balance	Bonus	Expiration date
$25,000	$600	6/7/2024

Wells Fargo

Savings account bonus — $525

Expires 4/1/2024

• For new savings customers
• Provide the bonus offer code when you apply for the account
• Deposit at least $25 at opening
• Deposit $25,000 or more by day 30 of owning the account
• Maintain an account balance of $25,000 or more from the date of your deposit through day 90 after account opening

This bonus is only available for new savings customers. Any consumer savings account is eligible except CDs and savings accounts offered by Wells Fargo Private Bank. You’ll also need to provide a bonus offer code when opening a new account which you can receive via email before opening an account.

Wells Fargo is FDIC insured.

How to get the bonus

1. Enter your email address on the Wells Fargo website and click “Email my code.”
2. Visit a Wells Fargo branch and let the banker know your code when you open the account
3. Make an opening deposit of at least $25.
4. Deposit at least $25,000 in new (non-Wells Fargo) money by day 30 of having the account.
5. Maintain a balance of $25,000 or more from the date of your deposit through day 90 of owning the account.
6. Your bonus will be deposited into your savings account within 30 days of meeting all the requirements.

Check out the savings offer.

Minimum deposit and balance	Bonus	Expiration date
$25,000	$525	4/1/2024

Premier account bonus — $2,500

Expires 4/1/2024

• Provide the bonus offer code when you apply for the account
• Deposit at least $25 at opening
• Deposit $250,000 or more by day 45 of owning the account
• Maintain a balance of $250,000 or more from the date of your deposit through day 90 after account opening

This account is available to those who upgrade from an existing Wells Fargo checking account as well as those opening a new Premier checking account. Wells Fargo employees aren’t eligible for the bonus, and you aren’t eligible if you’ve received a bonus for opening a Premier Checking account within the past 12 months.

How to get the bonus

1. Enter your email address on the Wells Fargo website and click “Get your code.”
2. Visit a Wells Fargo branch and let the banker know your code when you open the account
3. Make an opening deposit of at least $25.
4. Deposit at least $250,000 in new (non-Wells Fargo) money by day 30 of having the account.
5. Maintain a balance of $250,000 or more from the date of your deposit through day 90 of owning the account.
6. Your bonus will be deposited into your savings account within 30 days of meeting all the requirements.

Learn more about the Premier Checking offer.

Minimum deposit and balance	Bonus	Expiration date
$250,000	$2,500	4/1/2024

PNC

Business Checking or Business Checking Plus account — $200

Expires 3/31/2024

• Open a new qualifying Business Checking or Business Checking Plus account
• Maintain a minimum average ledger balance of $5,000 for the first three statement cycles
• Make at least 20 qualifying debit card purchases within the first three statement cycles

This bonus is only for new PNC business checking accounts and businesses must have an annual revenue of less than $5 million. Only business checking accounts with monthly statements are eligible. 

New accounts aren’t eligible if the signer has signing authority on an existing PNC Bank business checking account, has closed an account within the past 90 days, or has received a promotional premium in the past 12 months. Business owners may need to provide documentation for their accounts to be approved. 

PNC Bank is FDIC insured.

How to get the bonus

1. Apply for the Business Checking or Business Checking Plus account online or in person at a PNC branch.
2. If approved, make a $100 opening deposit.
3. Maintain a minimum average ledger balance of at least $5,000 for three statement cycles.
4. Use your PNC Business Debit Card to make at least 20 qualifying transactions within the first three statement cycles.
5. You receive the bonus within 90 days of meeting all the requirements.

Learn more about this business checking offer.

Minimum deposit and balance	Bonus	Expiration date
$5,000	$200	3/31/2024

Treasury Enterprise Plan or Analysis Business Checking bonus — up to $1,000

Expires 3/31/2024

• Open a new qualifying Treasury Enterprise Plan or Analysis Business Checking account
• Maintain a minimum average ledger balance of $30,000 for the first three statement cycles for a $500 bonus, or a minimum average ledger balance of $100,000 for the first three statement cycles for a $1,000 bonus

As with the other PNC business checking promotion, only business checking accounts are eligible, and businesses must have an annual revenue of less than $5 million. Only business checking accounts with monthly statements are eligible.

How to get the bonus

1. Apply for the Treasury Enterprise Plan or Analysis Business Checking account online or in person at a PNC branch.
2. If approved, make a $100 opening deposit.
3. Maintain a minimum average ledger balance of at least $30,000 or $100,000 for three statement cycles.
4. You receive the bonus within 90 days of meeting all the requirements.

Check out this business checking offer.

Minimum deposit and balance	Bonus	Expiration date
$30,000	$500	3/31/2024
$100,000	$1,000	3/31/2024

Bank of America

Expires 6/30/2024

• Open a new business checking account
• Make qualifying deposits of $5,000 or more within 30 days of opening the account
• Maintain an average balance of $5,000 or more from day 31 to 90 of having the account

To qualify, you need to open a new business checking account by 6/30/24 and deposit $5,000 or more of new money within 30 days of opening an account. In other words, deposited funds can’t come from any existing account with Bank of America or Merrill.

This account offer is only available for applicants who apply for a new account online, and you aren’t eligible if you were the owner or signer for a Bank of America Business Advantage checking account within the past 12 months.

Bank of America is insured by the FDIC.

How to get the bonus

1. Apply for a business checking account online.
2. If approved, send a signature card through the mail or take the card to a Bank of America branch.
3. Deposit $5,000 or more in new money within 30 days of opening the account.
4. Maintain a balance of $5,000 or more from day 31 to 90 of owning the account.
5. The bonus will be deposited within 60 days of meeting the requirements.

Learn more about the Business Advantage bonus offer.

Minimum deposit and balance	Bonus	Expiration date
$5,000	$200	6/30/24

Chase

Secure Banking bonus — $100

Expires 7/24/2024

• Open a new Secure Banking account online or enter an email address to get a coupon to take to a Chase branch
• Make 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of account opening, including debit card purchases and sending money with Zelle

This Chase Bank promotion is perhaps the easiest bonus to qualify for on this list. All you need to do is open a Secure Banking checking account and use it.

You qualify for the bonus if you complete 10 qualifying transactions, which include debit card purchases, sending money with Zelle, ACH credits, Chase QuickDeposit, and online bill payments.

This offer is not available to existing Chase checking customers or those whose counts have been closed within the past 90 days.

Chase is insured by the FDIC.

How to get the bonus

1. Apply for a Chase Secure Banking checking account online or enter your email address to receive a coupon. Take the coupon to your local Chase branch.
2. If approved, make 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of enrollment.
3. Your bonus will appear in your account within 15 days of completing the qualifying activities.

Learn more about the Secure Banking Checking account. 

Minimum deposit and balance	Bonus	Expiration date
N/A	$100	7/24/2024

Alliant Credit Union

Ultimate Opportunity Savings — $100

Expires 12/31/24

• Open a new Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account
• Deposit at least $100 per month for 12 consecutive months

This unique online savings account promotion is designed to encourage you to save — you’ll need to deposit $100 per month for 12 consecutive months, and have a balance of at least $1,200 to receive the bonus.

You do have to become a member of Alliant Credit Union, which you can do through certain employers or locations. You can also join by becoming a member of Foster Care to Success, Alliant’s partner charity, and Alliant covers the $5 membership fee.

This promotion is only available to new Alliant Credit Union members.

Alliant is insured by the NCUA.

How to get the bonus

1. Apply for an Alliant Credit Union Ultimate Savings account online.
2. Transfer your first $100 within 30 days of opening the account.
3. Deposit $100 per month for 12 consecutive months.
4. Have a balance of $1,200 or more when your account is reviewed 12 months after the date of your first deposit.
5. Your bonus will appear in your account within 4 weeks of completing the qualifying activities.

Learn more about the Ultimate Savings Account.

Minimum deposit and balance	Bonus	Expiration date
$1,200 after 12 months	$100	12/31/24

How to choose the best bank promotions without direct deposit

When trying to find the best bank bonuses that don’t require direct deposit, there are several important factors to consider. Those factors include:

• Size of the bonus
• Minimum opening deposit required for the new bank account
• The minimum balance required to receive a bonus
• How long must you maintain the minimum balance
• Whether there’s a monthly maintenance fee
• When the bonus is paid
• Type of account (checking, savings, money market account, etc.)
• Whether the account is paying interest
• Annual percentage yield (APY) if it’s an interest-bearing account
• Whether there are other qualifying activities you need to complete, like a certain number of debit card transactions

Most bank promotions without a direct deposit requirement are only offered on new accounts, and the money deposited into the account must be new to that bank. For example, if you use funds from your Bank of America account to open a new Bank of America Business Advantage account, you’re ineligible to receive the bonus.

Be sure to read the fine print of any bonus and note any enrollment requirements, like presenting a coupon or code to qualify.

You’ll also want to choose a bank that’s convenient for you, most likely with online banking and a mobile app. Look for a Member FDIC symbol on the website to confirm it’s FDIC insured (or NCUA for credit unions).

FAQ

Best banks promotions without direct deposit: bottom line

Not using direct deposit doesn’t exclude you from all promotions where you can earn bonus money by opening a new account. There are still several banks that provide promotions to customers without direct deposit.

That said, there are other considerations when choosing a bank than promotions. Monthly service fees, overdraft fees, ATM access for cash withdrawals, interest rates, and more should also factor into your decision. Check out our list of the best checking accounts for our overall picks, and if you’re looking to maximize interest, consider opening a high-yield savings account.

Methodology

The companies we chose for our list offered a promotion that didn’t require a direct deposit at the time of writing. We did not review all companies in the market. When evaluating these companies, we considered factors such as the promotion size, the steps involved in getting the promotion, and the reach of the bank or credit union. This article is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date.