By Angelina Allsop
Angelina Allsop
Contributor
Reviewed by Jessie Moore
Jessie Moore
Editor
Jessie Moore has been writing professionally for nearly two decades; for the past seven years, she's focused on writing, ghostwriting, and editing in the finance space. She is a Today Show and Publisher's Weekly-featured author who has written or ghostwritten 10+ books on a wide variety of topics, ranging from day trading to unicorns to plant care.
Banks with signup bonuses are great — free money always is. But there are other factors you should consider…
Factors that could cost you thousands in the long run.
Then again … Who wants to spend hours reviewing current bank promotions and sifting through the fine print?
I do, actually! I took the time to gather information from 14 of the best checking account offers in Sep 2023 and summarized the benefits of each one. If you’re in the market for a new checking or savings account, this article could save you a ton of time.
Summary: 16 Current Bank Promotions in Sep 2023
| Account | Bonus | Minimum |
| PNC Bank Virtual Wallet Checking Pro 4.5/5 | Up to $200 | $0 ($2,000 for the Bonus) |
| Citi Bank Priority Checking Account 4/5 | Up to $2,000 | $10,000 ($300,000 for the Bonus) |
| Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Bonus 3.5/5 | Up to $300 | $25 ($1000 for the Bonus) |
| Wells Fargo Savings Account 3.5/5 | Up to $525 | $25 ($25,000 for the Bonus) |
| SoFi Bank Checking or Savings Account 3.5/5 | Up to $250 | $0 ($5,000.00 for the Bonus) |
| MidFirst Bank Checking and Savings Account 3.5/5 | Up to $300 | $0 ($10,000 in Savings + 10 debit purchases for the Bonus) |
| Fulton Bank Relationship Banking Checking Account 3.5/5 | Up to $350 | $25 ($1,500 Direct Deposit + $1,000 in Savings for the Bonus) |
| Chase College Checking 3.5/5 | Up to $100 | $0 (Complete 10 transactions for the Bonus) |
| Chase Total Checking 3/5 | $200 + Refer a Friend Bonus up to $500 | $0 (Set up Paycheck/Pension Direct Deposit for the Bonus) |
| BMO Harris PremierTM Checking Account 3/5 | Up to $500 | $25 ($7,500 Direct Deposit for the Bonus) |
| BMO Harris Smart AdvantageTM & Smart MoneyTM Account 3/5 | Up to $300 | $0 ($4,000 Direct Deposit for the Bonus) |
| M&T Checking Bonus 3/5 | Up to $200 | $25 ($500 Direct Deposit for the Bonus) |
| Citizen’s Bank Checking Account 3/5 | Up to $400 | $0 ($500 Direct Deposit + Earn on Debit Card Purchases for the Bonus) |
| Associated Bank Checking Account 2.5/5 | Up to $400 | $25 ($10,000 for the Bonus) |
PNC Bank Virtual Wallet Checking Pro Bonus – Up to $200 bonus – Best for New Investors – (Best Overall)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Of all the banks with signup bonuses, PNC Bank is my favorite.
Not only does the bank provide a range of digital tools — spending & budget tools, Danger DaySM notifications, savings rules, and overdraft protection — but the eligibility requirement to get the bonus is very doable.
The bank also has 60,000 ATMs, no minimum balance, no monthly fees, and non-network ATM rebates of $20.00 per statement period, and 4.50% APY.
- Bonus: $200
- APY: 4.5%
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $0
- Eligibility: Open an account with $2,000 in total of direct deposits + use their Virtual Wallet Checking Pro tool.
Citi Bank Priority Checking Account Bonus – Up to $2,000 bonus
Overall Rating: 4/5
There’s a lot to like about Citibank. The bank has eliminated fees, made account monitoring easier, simplified transfers, and offers preferred pricing and rates on select products and services.
Unfortunately, earning the $2,000 bonus — and even the $200 bonus — will be out of reach for many investors.
The checking account APY isn’t great, but by opening a checking account and a savings account, you get an APY rate of 4.05% for the savings account balance.
- Bonus: $200, $500, $1,000, $1,500 or $2,000
- APY: 4.05 (Savings Account Only) Standard .01%-.1% for Checking
- Minimum deposit: $10,000
- Monthly fee: $30 or $0 (with combined average monthly balance of $30,000+ in eligible linked accounts)
- Eligibility: *New Customer Only: Open a Citi Priority Checking Account. Within 20 days, deposit and maintain an average eligible balance and keep the balance for another 60 days.
- To earn the $200 bonus, maintain a balance of $10,000 – $29,999.
- For the $500 bonus, maintain a balance of $30,000 – $74,999.
- For the $1,000 bonus, maintain a balance of $75,000 – $199,999.
- For the $1,500 bonus, maintain a balance of $200,000 – $299,999.
- For the $2,000 bonus, maintain a balance of $300,000 or more.
Important note: These balances need to be in the account within 20 days and maintained for an additional 60 days.
*Rates and bonuses may vary with your location.
Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Bonus – Up to $300 bonus
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Wells Fargo’s $300 bonus is generous considering the requirements.
The bank has 12,000 ATM locations, is reputable, is insured, and utilizes 128-bit encryption to protect your investment. They have handy features such as deposit capabilities, alerts, and online payment options, but I don’t like the low APY.
- Bonus: $300
- APY: 0.05%-.1%
- Minimum deposit: $25
- Monthly fee: $10 or $0 (with $500 balance or $500 total in direct deposit)
- Eligibility: Open a new Everyday Checking account by June 27, 2023. Receive $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits within 90 calendar days of the qualification period.
[Recently Expired] Wells Fargo Savings Account Bank Bonus – Up to $525 bonus
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
This Wells Fargo bonus is generous, but the $25k deposit requirement is steep.
The bank’s 128-bit encryption scrambler and authentication methods, secure app, and 12,000 ATM options make this a fitting choice.
But with an APY of .15%, there are better options — an account with no bonus but a higher APY has the potential to earn more than $525 every year.
- Bonus: $525
- APY: 0.05%-.1%
- Minimum deposit: $25
- Monthly fee: $5 or $0 (with a balance of $300 or 1 monthly auto-transfer of $25+)
- Eligibility: *New Savings Customers Only: Open a Way2Save® Savings account by June 27, 2023. Bring in and maintain $25,000 within 90 days.
SoFi Bank Checking or Savings Account Bonus – Up to $250 bonus
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
I love SOFI Bank’s 4.20% APY on savings account balances. I also like no account fees, 2-day-early paycheck access, and $2M of supplemental FDIC insurance provided through a network of participating banks. But the 1.20% APY on checking balances is low.
- Bonus: $25 or $250
- APY: 4.20% APY (Savings Balances) & 1.20% APY (Checking Balances)
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $0
- Eligibility: Open an account by 12/31/23. Deposit $1,000.00 – $4,999.99 within 25 days and earn a $25 bonus or deposit $5,000.00 or more within 25 days and earn $250.
MidFirst Bank Checking and Savings Account Bonus – Up to $300 bonus
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
I do like that MidFirst Bank offers no monthly service charges when you use electronic statements and no minimum deposit.
Though they offer benefits like Early Pay, an auto-save feature like EasySave, Zelle® transfers, online bill pay, mobile deposit, and a 4.00% APY for savings balances over $10K, the bonus is out of reach for most and the APY for checking is unimpressive.
- Bonus: $200 Checking Account Bonus + $100 Savings Account Bonus
- APY: .35% or 4.00% APY (Only on Savings Account Balances $10,000+)
- Minimum deposit: $0 in person ($100 online)
- Monthly fee: $4 or $0 (with paperless enrollment)
- Eligibility: Open an account. Set up $500+ in direct deposits or complete 10 debit card purchases and perform three Zelle® transactions within 90 days. Get an additional $100 when you open a Summit Savings account with $10,000+ of new money. (Limitations: One per household.)
Fulton Bank Relationship Banking Checking Account Bonus – Up to $350 bonus
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Fulton Bank offers a high bonus that is easy to qualify for and the mobile deposit, Zelle® transfers, balance alerts, and auto transfers make this a decent bank.
Though the bank offers $10 ATM rebates, the fact that the bank only has 230 ATMs, a high monthly fee, and a low APY, make this a less ideal option.
- Bonus: $200 or $300 Checking Account Bonus + $50 Savings Account Bonus
- APY: .02%-.05%
- Minimum deposit: $25
- Monthly fee: $20 or $0 (with $5,000 balance or $25,000 in combined deposit and investment balance)
- Eligibility: Open an account. Earn $300 when you set up $1,500 + direct deposit within 60 days or $200 when you set up $500-$1,400 direct deposit within 60 days. Earn an extra $50 when you open a Statement Savings Account with $1,000 of additional money within 60 days.
Chase College Checking Account Bonus – Up to $100 bonus -Best for College Students
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Chase College Checking is a solid choice for college students at the beginning of their financial journey. Even with a low APY, the no monthly fees, liability protection, 16,000 ATMs, 4,700 branches, Zelle® transfers, and Chase Overdraft AssistSM, can be particularly helpful for someone exploring their new financial independence.
- Bonus: $100
- APY: .01%
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $6 or $0 (for 5 years for college students or with a direct deposit from an employer or $5000 balance)
- Eligibility: Open a Chase College Checking account by 7/19/2023 and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days.
Chase Total Checking Checking Account Bonus – Up to $700 bonus
Overall Rating: 3/5
I love that Chase Bank has been around since the late 1700s, uses 128-bit encryption, is FDIC insured, and has 16,000 ATMs and 4,700 branches nationwide. The Refer a Friend Bonus is nice and the $200 bonus is very easy to earn if you have an eligible paycheck that you can direct deposit, but I don’t like their APY. Even with consistent referrals, the bonuses are unlikely to compete with the regular interest compound by an account with a high APY.
- Bonus: $200 + Refer a Friend Bonus up to $500
- APY: .01%
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $12 or $0 (with $500+ direct deposit or beginning of the day balance of $1500+)
- Eligibility: Open a Chase Total Checking Account by 7/19/2023. Set up direct deposits from a paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) within 90 days. Refer a Friend Bonus: Refer friends who are new customers and get $50 per friend, up to $500/ year when they perform qualifying activities.
BMO Harris PremierTM Checking Account Bank Bonus – Up to $500 bonus
Overall Rating: 3/5
I like that BMO Bank offers benefits such as $25 non-BMO ATM transaction rebates per month, Mastercard ID Theft Protection™, fee-free transactions at over 40,000 Allpoint® ATMs nationwide, Zelle® transfers, and FDIC insurance.
The $500 bonus is also nice, but the $10,000 requirement to get the bonus makes it harder for most to obtain that. I also don’t like the low interest rate for this account.
- Bonus: $500
- APY: .01%
- Minimum deposit: $25
- Monthly fee: $25 or $0 (with $10,000 balance or maintain a combined monthly balance of $25,000)
- Eligibility: Open an account. Set up $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days.
BMO Harris Smart AdvantageTM & Smart MoneyTM Account Bank Bonus – Up to $300 bonus
Overall Rating: 3/5
BMO Bank has a lot of handy features and benefits including ATM rebates, ID Theft Protection™, 40,000+ fee-free ATMs, and Zelle® transfers. While the interest rates remain low for this offer, I do like the simple bonus requirements.
- Bonus: $300
- APY: .01%
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $0 (If Paperless for the Smart Advantage Account or Under 25 for the Smart Money Account)
- Eligibility: Open an account and set up $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days.
M&T Checking Bonus – Up to $200 bonus
Overall Rating: 3/5
I love that M&T Bank offers a considerable bonus that is more attainable than some of the other bank deals. Their $0 monthly fee, low minimum balance requirement, unlimited check writing, 700 branches, and 1,800 M&T Bank ATMs across the country is also attractive, but the APY is very low.
- Bonus: $200
- APY: .01%
- Minimum deposit: $25
- Monthly fee: $0
- Eligibility: Open an M&T EZChoice Checking, MyChoice Plus Checking or MyChoice Premium Checking account online or local bank by 7/31/2023. Set up $500+ of qualifying direct deposits within 90 days.
Citizen’s Bank Checking Account Bonus – Up to $400 bonus
Overall Rating: 3/5
I like that Citizen’s Bank offers an attainable, large sign-up bonus, but, though substantial, 3100 fee-free ATMs across 11 states is less than some of the other banks we’ve seen. I also didn’t like that they didn’t offer ATM rebates, have a low APY, and have large monthly fees for accounts with less than $5k.
- Bonus: $300 Checking Account Bonus + $100 New Debit Card Bonus
- APY: .05%
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Monthly fee: $10/$25 (depending on the account) or $0 (with $5,000 in total deposit or $25,000 in monthly combined deposits and investments with Citizen Quest Checking Account)
- Eligibility: New Customers Only: Open a personal checking account by 8/31/2023. Set up direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days. Earn $2 (up to $100) for every debit card purchase that posts and clears within the next 60 days. Must maintain a $1+ account balance during the eligibility period.
Associated Bank Checking Account Bonus – Up to $400 bonus
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
I like that Associated Bank has no minimum required balance, no maintenance fees, 30,000 + surcharge-free ATMs across the U.S., online payments, transfers, check deposits, and overdraft protection.
Most people don’t need face-to-face help with the bank on a day-to-day basis, but occasionally will prefer an in-person visit. For that reason, I gave them a lower rating, as they are only in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. That, plus the low APY, makes this a less attractive option, despite the large bonus.
- Bonus: $200, $300, or $400
- APY: .1%-.15%
- Minimum deposit: $25 for Associated Balanced Checking or $100 for Choice Checking
- Monthly fee: $0
- Eligibility: Open a new personal Associated Bank Checking account by July 31 and use promo code 1350. Set up $500 + recurring direct deposits totaling within 90 days.
- Maintain an average daily balance of $1,000 – $4,999.99 to earn $200.
- Maintain an average daily balance of $5,000 – $9,999.99 to earn $300.
- Maintain an average daily balance of $10,000+ to earn $400.
Bonuses are GREAT, and definitely worth considering, but long term, the bonus rarely out-shines an account with a solid APY. If you want to learn more, check out this article listing the best banks offering high APY this year.
Final Word:
When reviewing the current bank promotions, I am happy that there are so many. However, when I look past the flashy bonus, the best checking account offers have much more to offer than just a sign-on bonus.
Choosing the best account really depends on your goals and needs, but for me, PNC Bank really jumps out as one of the best bank offers for Sep 2023.
FAQs:
What is the best bank offers running right now?
The best bank offer running right now depends on your needs, but PNC’s $200 bonus stands out above the crowd. PNC Bank offers a high APY, minimal bonus requirements, and robust features.
What should a person look for when choosing a bank deal?
When choosing a bank deal, a person should look for the eligibility requirements, the bank’s APYs, and bank fees.
What current bank promotions are running?
There are many current bank promotions to choose from, including a $200 bonus with PNC Bank, a $525 bonus with Wells Fargo Bank, $250 Bonus with SoFi Bank, and many others.
What are good bank offers?
A good bank offer will be attainable to get, include no monthly fees, and will have a high APY.
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