Direct deposit: $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits
Deposit window: 90 days
Eligibility
Availability: Nationwide
Lifetime limit: one bonus per customer
ChexSystems sensitivity: Low
Credit pull: soft pull only
Fees
Monthly fee: $0
No early-closure rule listed
Payout & closure
Bonus posts: ~84 days
Valid through July 30, 2026
Bank bonuses are taxable interest — expect a 1099-INT. See our bank bonus tax guide.
What Counts as Direct Deposit
Based on community data points and bank terms. Employer payroll is always the safest method. "Mixed" means some users report success but it is not guaranteed.
YES
Employer payroll or government benefit deposit
The only near-universal trigger — real payroll or SSA/pension/tax-refund, PPD-coded. 11 member reports of it working, 4 of it failing, last confirmed Apr 2026. Members report it posting as "Online Transfer / Payment: Credit".
YES
Relay ACH push
11 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026.
MAYBE
Chase Business (payroll ACH)
General note: Payroll-coded ACH run from Chase Business checking — a sole prop does this legitimately as a Gusto owner's draw (never a fake W-2). 16 member reports of it working, 6 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026. payroll 10W/2F thru 2026-07-02 (see termsVsPractice).
MAYBE
Fidelity Cash Management ACH push
The #1 workaround pusher; codes payroll-like at most banks. 36 member reports of it working, 26 of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026. CMA 5W/2F (lastW 7/11, lastF 6/05); current terms exclude non-employer ACH.
YES
Kraken ACH push
9 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026.
YES
Discover ACH push
General note: Discover Savings ACH; inconsistent, recent failures trending up. 7 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026. Members report it posting as "Online Transfer / Payment: Credit.".
MAYBE
Charles Schwab ACH push
General note: Historically strong; deteriorating at Chase/Huntington in early 2026. 14 member reports of it working, 11 of it failing, last confirmed May 2026. Members report it posting as "Customer Incentive Payment".
MAYBE
Wise ACH push
General note: Mixed; stopped counting at SoFi ~03/2026. 15 member reports of it working, 7 of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026. Members report it posting as "Customer Incentive Payment".
YES
316 Financial ACH push
2 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026.
YES
Bcu ACH push
2 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026.
MAYBE
Robinhood ACH push
General note: Mixed/declining; works at Citi & Capital One. 3 member reports of it working, 2 of it failing, last confirmed Sep 2023.
YES
SoFi ACH push
Good as a sender, but STRICT as a receiver in 2026. 2 member reports of it working, 1 of it failing, last confirmed May 2026.
YES
Tax refund (IRS ACH)
IRS tax refunds sent via ACH count as qualifying direct deposits per Amex's terms.
NO
P2P (PayPal, Venmo, Zelle)
Explicitly excluded in Amex terms.
NO
Checking-to-checking transfer
Explicitly excluded — 'demand deposit account to demand deposit account transfers' do not qualify.
Source: our guide to what counts as direct deposit, verified per-bank against official terms and community data points (originally compiled with help from Doctor of Credit). Data points may change — always verify with the bank.
Overview
American Express's $300 checking offer is no longer available. This page preserves the final tracked requirements, source, and offer history so you can compare it with currently active bonuses.
Pros
+$300 cash bonus
+No monthly maintenance fee
+No documented hard credit pull
+Available nationwide, subject to the bank's eligibility rules
+90-day qualification window
Cons
-Lifetime or one-bonus-per-customer language applies
Notes
Receive $7,500+ in direct deposits within 90 days. Allow approximately 84 days for the bonus to post after qualification.
How This Compares to Other Bonuses
American Express's $300 offer is closest in headline value to PSECU's $300 checking bonus. Compare the direct-deposit requirement, geographic eligibility, fees, approval sensitivity, and payout timing, not only the advertised amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current American Express checking bonus?
The final offer we tracked paid $300; it is now marked expired.
Does the American Express bonus require direct deposit?
Yes. The catalog currently records $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days. Confirm the bank's exact definition before applying.
When should the American Express bonus post?
The tracked estimate is about 84 days after you satisfy the requirements.
Must be an existing American Express card member, Additional Card Member, or existing Amex HYSA/CD holder. Qualifying direct deposits must be ACH payroll, pension, government benefits, or tax refunds. P2P transfers, inter-account transfers, and check deposits do not qualify.
Fees
Monthly Fee$0
ChexSystems & Credit Pull
Chex SensitivityLow
Hard PullNo
Soft PullYes
Soft pull only per DoC reports; no ChexSystems pull reported.
Eligibility
AvailabilityNationwide
Lifetime LimitYes
One bonus per customer. Must be an existing Amex card member or Amex HYSA/CD holder (5+ days tenure). Cannot have an existing Amex Rewards Checking account. Account must remain open and in good standing until bonus posts. Bonus reported as taxable income on Form 1099.
Sources (2)
We last checked this against the bank's page on September 1, 2026.
Fat Stacks Academy may earn a commission when you open an account through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Commissions do not influence our reviews — we verify offer terms directly with each bank before publishing and do not accept paid placement in our rankings. Bonus offers, requirements, and fees are determined by each financial institution and may change at any time. Always verify the current terms directly with the bank before applying. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
