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Best Checking Accounts for Direct Deposit & Bonuses
By: Conor Keenan Last updated on January 7, 2025
Conor Keenan, co-founder of CompareAccounts.com, is a notable personal finance expert, with work seen in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fox News, MSN and Yahoo Finance.
Editorial Independence: Our opinions, reviews, and recommendations are our own and not influenced by financial institutions or partners. Partner commissions keep our site free, but our content remains independent and is not commissioned by any partner or financial institution.
Up to $360 Bonus
- Checking Account
- No. Fees. Period.
- No Monthly Fee
- No Insufficient Funds Fee
- Fee-Free Overdraft Protection
- Set Up Direct Deposit & Access Funds up to 2 Days Sooner with Early Pay
- Access 60,000+ Fee-Free ATMs
- Send Money with Zelle®
- Cashback Bonus: up to $360 per yearⓘ
- Debit Card Cashback – Earn 1% Cash Back on up to $3,000 in Debit Card Purchases Each Month
- See Site for Details
On Discover's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
$300 Bonus
- Checking Account
- No Monthly Maintenance Fee with Paperless Statements
- Send Money with Zelle®
- Overdraft Protection Services Available
- 40,000+ Fee-Free ATMs Nationwide
- BMO Debit Mastercard® Offers Security & Convenience with Excellent Benefits
- Earn a $300 Cash Bonus*
- To be bonus* eligible, you must open your account & complete qualifying activites between 11/1/24 -2/3/25
- *Conditions apply. Accounts are Subject to Approval and are Available in the U.S. BMO Bank N.A., Member FDIC
- See Site for Details & Other Offers
On BMO's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
$300 Bonus
- Checking Account
- No Monthly Maintenance Fee
- Min. Opening Deposit: $10
- Send Money with Zelle®
- KeyBank Enhanced Debit Mastercard® Offers Security & Convenience
- Deposit Checks in The Mobile App
- 24-hour access to 40,000+ KeyBank & AllPoint® ATMs Nationwide
- Earn a $300 Cash Bonus: Make the Minimum Opening Deposit of $10, Plus One Single Eligible Direct Deposit of at Least $1,000 within the First 60 Days of Account Opening
- To be Bonus Eligible, You Must Open Your Account by May 16, 2025
- Overdraft Protection Services Available
- Accounts are Subject to Approval
- Terms & Conditions Apply
- See Site for Details & Other Offers
On KeyBank's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Compare With
- Checking Account
- Min. Opening Deposit: $25
- Monthly Fee: $25 - Waived with Minimum Monthly Balance of $20,000
- Overdraft Fee: $35 per item, up to 3 Fees per Day
- International Transaction Fee: 3%
- 1 ATM Fee Reimbursements per period
- Discount on Safety Deposit Box Rental
- If You Want to Avoid Overdraft Fees, We Recommend a Different Checking Account
Not Recommended
Not Recommended. Shown For Comparison Purposes Only.
$400 Bonus
- Checking Account
- Visa® Debit Card
- Minimum Deposit: $50
- Overdraft Fees: $0
- $100 Negative Balance Buffer for eligible clients.
- Mobile Check Deposit
- No ATM Fees at Truist ATMs
- Earn $400 with qualifying activities. For new checking clients only.
- Use Promo Code: AFL2425TR1400
- Offer valid through 04/30/2025.
- Terms & Conditions Applyⓘ
- See Site for Details
Terms and Conditions for the $400 Truist One Checking Affiliate Offer 1: AFL2425TR1400
Offer Information: Open a new Truist One Checking account online from 10/31/24 through 4/30/25, receive at least 2 qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of account opening and earn $400.
Account must be opened online. Enrollment in the promotion is required at the time of account opening using promo code AFL2425TR1400. Please refer to the Account Opening and Enrollment section below for full instructions.
*A qualifying Direct Deposit is an electronic credit (greater than $0.00) of your salary, pension, Social Security or other regular monthly income deposited into your new checking account by your employer or outside agency. Transfers made from one account to another, or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible direct deposits.
Offer Eligibility: Clients that are the primary account holder on an existing personal checking account with Truist or who have closed a personal checking account with Truist on or after 10/31/23 are not eligible to participate. Offer valid for Truist One Checking accounts only. Primary account holder must be 18 or older at the time of account opening. Truist employees, Directors, Officers, and Local Boards/Advisors are not eligible. Offer available only to US residents with a valid US taxpayer identification number. The qualifying checking account must be opened online and have a mailing address in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC.
Reward Processing: The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. The new checking account must be open and in good standing with a balance of at least $0.01 at the time of Truist verification and until the reward is deposited to receive the reward. Truist verification will occur one time after the qualification requirements are initially met. Promotion is only applicable once per checking account and per client. Truist may report the value of any offer reward received to the IRS as required by law. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the recipient.
Reward Forfeiture: Reward forfeiture will occur if: (1) the checking account is changed to an account type not included in this client offer, (2) the checking account is closed prior to the reward being deposited, or (3) the new checking account has a $0.00 or negative available balance at the time Truist verifies the qualification requirements have been met.
Other Terms: Minimum opening deposit is $50. The offer is non-transferable, may not be combined with any other checking offers, is subject to change, and may be discontinued at any time. Truist reserves the right in our sole discretion to prohibit a reward payout to non-eligible individuals for any offers claimed through third-party websites with no affiliation or prior authorization from Truist. All promotional payouts will be processed no later than 1/31/26 at which point this promotion (and any related disbursements) will be considered final, and no further disbursements will be made.
Account Opening & Enrollment Instructions: To open and enroll your new account in the promotion, visit the offer website and click on “Open an account online.” Enter AFL2425TR1400 into the promo code field provided, review the offer Terms and Conditions, and then select “Accept Offer”. Accounts opened without the promo code applied will not be eligible to participate in the offer. Once enrolled in the promotion, clients may receive promotional updates via the email address provided or by calling 800.709.8700.
Version 3 10022024 AFL2425TR1400
Truist Bank, Member FDIC. ©2024, Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, Truist Purple and the Truist Logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation.
On Truist's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
- Checking Account
- Earn up 2% Cash Back on Common Everyday Purchases
- 1% on All Other Purchases
- Earn These Rewarding Cash Back Rates with Recurring Direct Deposits of $1,000+ per Month
- No Monthly Fee
- No Overdraft Fees
- Access to Fee-Free Withdrawals at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs Nationwide
- Allpoint ATMs are conveniently located in retail locations like Walgreens®, CVS Pharmacy®, Target® & more.
- Set Up a Recurring Direct Deposit & Get Paid Up to 2 Days Early
- U.S. Based Customer Service
- Terms & Conditions Applyⓘ
- See Site for Details
On Upgrade's Secure Site,
FDIC Insured
Compare With
- Checking Account
- Out of Network ATM Fee: $2.50 in US
- Monthly Fee: $12 - Waived with Qualifying Activities
- Overdraft Fee: $10 per item
- International Transaction Fee: 3%
- Check Image Service Fee: $3 per Statement
- No ATM Fee Reimbursements
- Option to Pay for Paper Checks
- If You're Not Careful, This Checking Account's Fees Cost You More Than Its Worth
Not Recommended
Not Recommended. Shown For Comparison Purposes Only.
To recap our recommendations.
Best Checking Accounts According To CompareAccounts™
Discover® Bank Cashback Debit: Best for Online Banking Experience + Customer Service
BMO Smart Advantage Checking Account: Best For: No Monthly Maintenance Fee + Bonus*
Key Smart Checking® Account: Best For: Mobile Banking + Bonus
Truist One Checking Account: Best For: $400 Bonus From a Top 10 Bank
Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus Account: Best For Direct Deposit + Debit Card Cash Back Rates
Up to $360 Bonus
On Discover's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Best For: Online Banking Experience + Customer Service
Unleash the power of no-fee banking combined with rewards!
Discover is one of the first online focused banks to offer no monthly fees and what they call "No. Fees. Period." That means you won’t pay a monthly fee, regardless of your monthly balance. You’ll enjoy fee-free overdraft protection, and you won’t pay a fee for insuffiecient funds.
Cashback Bonus: up to $360 per yearⓘ.
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases monthly, all while protecting your money with comprehensive tools and features to prevent fraud, like the ability to freeze your debit card.
Pair your free debit card with digital wallets like Apple Pay® to enjoy seemless transactions and gain access to over 60,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide.
Experience mobile-first banking with the Discover App, make quick transfers using Zelle®, find a nearby ATM, deposit checks and much more, all from your phone.
Best of all, your deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor for peace of mind. And remember, Discover has US-based customer service available 24/7.
See Discover's Secure Site For More Details.
$400 Bonus
On Truist's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Best For: $400 Bonus From a Top 10 Bank
Earn $400 when you 0pen a new Truist One Checking account online from 10/31/24 through 4/30/25, receive at least 2 qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of account opening. New checking clients only. Terms & conditions apply.ⓘ
Use Promo Code: AFL2425TR1400
Truist provides 24-hour automated assistance and if you need to talk to someone, customer service is available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm ET, Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm ET, closed Sunday.
This account comes with FDIC insurance up to the amount allowable by law, mobile check deposit and more via their mobile app.
To top it off, this account has $0 overdraft fees, $0 ATM fees at Truist ATMs, a $100 Negative Balance Buffer if you meet the requirements, and only requires a $50 minimum deposit to open today.
See Truist's Secure Site For More Details.
Terms and Conditions for the $400 Truist One Checking Affiliate Offer 1: AFL2425TR1400
Offer Information: Open a new Truist One Checking account online from 10/31/24 through 4/30/25, receive at least 2 qualifying Direct Deposits* totaling $1,000 or more within 120 days of account opening and earn $400.
Account must be opened online. Enrollment in the promotion is required at the time of account opening using promo code AFL2425TR1400. Please refer to the Account Opening and Enrollment section below for full instructions.
*A qualifying Direct Deposit is an electronic credit (greater than $0.00) of your salary, pension, Social Security or other regular monthly income deposited into your new checking account by your employer or outside agency. Transfers made from one account to another, or deposits made via a branch, ATM, online transfer, mobile device, debit/prepaid card number or the mail are not eligible direct deposits.
Offer Eligibility: Clients that are the primary account holder on an existing personal checking account with Truist or who have closed a personal checking account with Truist on or after 10/31/23 are not eligible to participate. Offer valid for Truist One Checking accounts only. Primary account holder must be 18 or older at the time of account opening. Truist employees, Directors, Officers, and Local Boards/Advisors are not eligible. Offer available only to US residents with a valid US taxpayer identification number. The qualifying checking account must be opened online and have a mailing address in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC.
Reward Processing: The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 4 weeks after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. The new checking account must be open and in good standing with a balance of at least $0.01 at the time of Truist verification and until the reward is deposited to receive the reward. Truist verification will occur one time after the qualification requirements are initially met. Promotion is only applicable once per checking account and per client. Truist may report the value of any offer reward received to the IRS as required by law. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the recipient.
Reward Forfeiture: Reward forfeiture will occur if: (1) the checking account is changed to an account type not included in this client offer, (2) the checking account is closed prior to the reward being deposited, or (3) the new checking account has a $0.00 or negative available balance at the time Truist verifies the qualification requirements have been met.
Other Terms: Minimum opening deposit is $50. The offer is non-transferable, may not be combined with any other checking offers, is subject to change, and may be discontinued at any time. Truist reserves the right in our sole discretion to prohibit a reward payout to non-eligible individuals for any offers claimed through third-party websites with no affiliation or prior authorization from Truist. All promotional payouts will be processed no later than 1/31/26 at which point this promotion (and any related disbursements) will be considered final, and no further disbursements will be made.
Account Opening & Enrollment Instructions: To open and enroll your new account in the promotion, visit the offer website and click on “Open an account online.” Enter AFL2425TR1400 into the promo code field provided, review the offer Terms and Conditions, and then select “Accept Offer”. Accounts opened without the promo code applied will not be eligible to participate in the offer. Once enrolled in the promotion, clients may receive promotional updates via the email address provided or by calling 800.709.8700.
Version 3 10022024 AFL2425TR1400
Truist Bank, Member FDIC. ©2024, Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, Truist Purple and the Truist Logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation.
$300 Bonus
On BMO's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Best For: No Monthly Maintenance Fee + Bonus*
This account offers no monthly maintenance fee with paperless statements, available overdraft protection services & access to 40,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide.
You can easily transfer money using Zelle®, locate a nearby ATM, deposit checks & more with the BMO Digital Banking app.
The BMO Debit Mastercard® offers security & convenience with benefits like satisfaction guarantee, Mastercard Global Service® & more.
Open your account today and set up direct deposit to help you unlock this bonus.
*Conditions apply. Accounts are subject to approval and available in the U.S. BMO Bank N.A., Member FDIC.
See BMO Bank's Secure Site For More Details & Other Offers.
$300 Bonus
On KeyBank's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Best For: Mobile Banking + Bonus
New Key Smart Checking® customers can earn a $300 Cash Bonus when you make the minimum opening deposit of $10, plus one single eligible direct deposit of at least $1,000 within the first 60 days of account opening. To be bonus eligible, you need to open your account online by May 16, 2025.
This account offers no monthly maintenance fee, available overdraft protection services & access to 40,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide with your KeyBank Debit Mastercard®.
Additionally, this account offers relationship benefits like better interest rates on savings and money market accounts, more cash back, loan discounts and more.
Early Pay lets you get paid up to two days early with eligible direct deposits to a KeyBank account.
With secure online & mobile banking you can deposit checks in the mobile app, pay bills, send money, lock/unlock cards and more.
The KeyBank Enhanced Debit Mastercard® offers chip security, Tap & Go technology and all the benefits of Mastercard.
Easy direct deposit set up can have your paychecks or other recurring payments automatically deposited to your KeyBank account quickly and securely.
Accounts are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply.
Overall, this is an excellent account from a respected bank with over $187 Billion in assets.
See KeyBank's Secure Site For More Details & Other Offers.
High Cash Back Rates
On Upgrade's Secure Site,
FDIC Insured
Best For: Direct Deposit + Debit Card Cash Back Rates
Upgrade was built from the ground up to deliver an excellent digital customer experience, evident in their top rated mobile app.
Upgrade currently offers up to 2% Cash Back on their Upgrade Visa® Debit Card for common everyday purchases and 1% cash back on everything else, with a current maximum of $500 in rewards per calendar year. Gain access to these rewarding cash back rates with recurring monthly direct deposits of $1,000+.
They offer this incredible debit card & checking account with no monthly fees, and no over draft fees.
You can even get paid up to 2 days early with a recurring direct deposit.
Access to fee-free withdrawals at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs nationwide. Allpoint ATMs are conveniently located in retail locations like Walgreens®, CVS Pharmacy®, Target® & more.
Upgrade is an innovative financial technology company, not a bank. Rewards checking plus accounts are provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC and serviced by Upgrade.
U.S. based customer service is available daily via phone or email. You can open a premier savings account with Upgrade in as little as 5 minutes to complete the sign-up process.
Deposits are insured through the FDIC for up to $250,000 per depositor and interest compounds daily. Terms & conditions applyⓘ.
See Upgrade's Secure Site For More Details.
Customers Also Viewed These High Yield Savings Accounts:
3.75% APY
On Discover's Secure Site,
Member FDIC
Best For: Online Banking Experience + No Fees
Discover offers 3.75% APY with no monthly fees and $0 initial deposit.
Discover is one of the first online focused banks to offer no monthly fees and what they call "No. Fees. Period."
Whereas other banks may charge you a fee for certain services, Discover won't charge you a fee on any of the following items: monthly maintenance, official bank check, expedited delivery for official bank checks, deposited item returned, stop payment order, insufficient funds, or for closing your account.
If you're looking for a competitive APY with "No. Fees. Period." this account is for you.
See Discover's Secure Site For More Details.
What to Look for in a Checking Account
It’s always wise to compare your options when opening a new checking account.
Here are the top features to look for and compare:
1. Ease of Setting Up
Your checking account should be where you setup your direct deposit and where you pay bills from. Because of this, it needs to be easy to open an account, set up your direct deposit, and set up payees to pay bills.
All of the checking accounts we recommend have these features.
2. Monthly Fees
Monthly fees can eat into your paycheck fast. You should avoid them as much as possible. That’s why we recommend you focus on no monthly fee checking accounts to keep as much as your pay check as possible.
3. Required Initial Deposit
Does the bank require a large initial deposit? Are you comfortable depositing that much right away? These days, most banks will allow you to open an account with as little as $1 or even $0 dollars.
Some banks may offer a higher yield with a higher initial deposit. You’ll just need to decide whether that higher initial deposit will be worth any increase in yield.
4. Minimum Balance Required
Minimum balance required to maintain your account is another feature to keep a close eye on.
Most of the banks we recommend do not have large minimum balance requirements, if any minimum balance requirement at all.
The accounts we do recommend that have a higher minimum required balance are usually CD accounts, which you don’t want to open unless you want to lock up your money for 6 months, 12 months or longer.
5. Accessing Your Money
Accessing your money is very important with any checking account.
Almost all of the checking accounts we recommend come with a mobile app that gives you 24/7 access to your accounts.
Additionally, banks will issue a debit card for your checking account, that you can use physically, virtually, or contactless payments through your wallet app.
6. Transferring Your Money
As important as it is to access your accounts, you’ll likely need to transfer money in and out of your checking account often.
That’s why its important to pay attention to features like transfer or peer to peer payments with Zelle®.
7. Mobile Check Deposit
If you can’t set up direct deposit, or if sometimes you get paper checks having mobile check deposit will allow you to deposit checks into your account from anywhere.
Most checking accounts we recommend comes with mobile check deposit.
8. Overdraft Fees
Things happen. Sometimes we pay a bill or make a purchase that is more than the money in our accounts. Normally, this would incur an overdraft fee, usually these fees range betwen $25 – $50.
Most of the checking accounts we recommend do not have overdraft fees, because the last thing you need when you don’t have enough money in your account is another fee to pay.
With the above in mind, now you’re more confident to choose the right checking account for you.