Bank bonuses are taxable interest — expect a 1099-INT. See our bank bonus tax guide.
What Counts as Direct Deposit
141 reports across 2 sources. Last report Sep 14, 2026. members 1, Doctor of Credit comments 140.
Employer payroll is always the safest method. "Maybe" means some people report it working and it is not guaranteed. Open a row to see the individual reports.
YESEmployer payroll or government benefit deposit15 reports · 11 worked · 4 failed · last report Apr 25, 2026How it posts: "Payroll"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".
YESPayPal ACH push5 reports · 4 worked · 1 failed · last report May 10, 2026General note: P2P at most banks; works at Citi & Capital One (standard ACH, not instant). 4 member reports of it working, 1 of it failing, last confirmed May 2026.
YESTax refund (IRS ACH)From the bank published terms and our own checksIRS tax refunds sent via ACH count as qualifying direct deposits per Amex's terms.
MAYBECharles Schwab ACH push26 reports · 15 worked · 11 failed · last report Jul 2, 2026How it posts: "Customer Incentive Payment"General note: Historically strong; deteriorating at Chase/Huntington in early 2026. 15 member reports of it working, 11 of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026. Members report it posting as "Customer Incentive Payment".
MAYBEChase Business (payroll ACH)25 reports · 17 worked · 8 failed · last report Sep 14, 2026General 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). 17 member reports of it working, 8 of it failing, last confirmed Sep 2026. payroll 10W/2F thru 2026-07-02 (see termsVsPractice).
MAYBEWise ACH push22 reports · 15 worked · 7 failed · last report Jul 1, 2026How it posts: "Customer Incentive Payment"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".
MAYBEDiscover ACH push9 reports · 7 worked · 2 failed · last report Jul 18, 2026General note: Discover Savings ACH; inconsistent, recent failures trending up. 7 member reports of it working, 2 of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026. Members report it posting as "Online Transfer / Payment: Credit.".
MAYBERobinhood ACH push8 reports · 5 worked · 3 failed · last report Sep 14, 2026General note: Mixed/declining; works at Citi & Capital One. 5 member reports of it working, 3 of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026.
MAYBEWealthfront ACH push5 reports · 3 worked · 2 failed · last report Jul 8, 2026General note: Thin data; mixed at BofA. 3 member reports of it working, 2 of it failing, last confirmed May 2026.
MAYBEAlly ACH pushFrom the bank published terms and our own checksNo confirmed data points. Amex terms restrict to employer/government ACH. Results may vary — report your experience on DoC.
MAYBEFidelity ACH pushFrom the bank published terms and our own checksNo confirmed data points yet. Amex explicitly requires deposits from 'an employer or the government' — broker-coded ACH may not qualify. Payroll is safer.
MAYBESoFi ACH pushFrom the bank published terms and our own checksNo confirmed data points. Amex terms restrict to employer/government ACH. Results may vary — report your experience on DoC.
NOChecking-to-checking transferFrom the bank published terms and our own checksExplicitly excluded — 'demand deposit account to demand deposit account transfers' do not qualify.
YES316 Financial ACH push2 reports · 2 worked · last report Jun 6, 20262 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026.
YESVanguard ACH push2 reports · 2 worked · last report Sep 11, 2026General note: Sparse data; works at Capital One, fails at BofA. 2 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Sep 2026.
Qualifying direct deposits must be ACH payroll, pension, government benefits, or tax refunds. Source
The reports come from Doctor of Credit comment threads, public Reddit posts, and members who told us what happened to their own deposit. Each one is dated where the person gave a date. Read how we check offers.
Reports are attached to the offer, never to your name. Members can log one from their account instead.
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 change, so always verify with the bank.
Overview
American Express is currently offering a $300 checking bonus. The core requirement is $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days. The eligible account has no monthly maintenance fee documented in the catalog.
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?
American Express currently advertises $300. The principal requirement is $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days.
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.
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.
