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At a Glance
Requirements
Direct deposit: $10,000 in qualifying direct deposits
Deposit window: 90 days
Bonus tiers
$100 with $2,000 in direct deposits
$300 with $5,000 in direct deposits
$500 with $10,000 in direct deposits
Eligibility
Availability: Nationwide
No stated lifetime limit
ChexSystems sensitivity: Low
Credit pull: soft pull only
Fees
Monthly fee: $12/mo — This $12/mo is Advantage Plus, the account the direct-deposit tiers require. Advantage Relationship also qualifies and is $25/mo. Both fees are waivable, for example with a qualifying daily balance, a qualifying direct deposit each statement cycle, or Preferred Rewards. The cheaper $4.95 SafeBalance account does not earn these tiers; its own $100 offer is a debit and Zelle transaction offer, not a direct-deposit one.
Bank bonuses are taxable interest — expect a 1099-INT. See our bank bonus tax guide.
What Counts as Direct Deposit
281 reports across 2 sources. Last report Jul 3, 2026. Doctor of Credit comments 271, Reddit 10.
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.
YESCharles Schwab ACH push24 reports · 22 worked · 2 failed · last report Jun 25, 2026General note: Historically strong; deteriorating at Chase/Huntington in early 2026. 22 member reports of it working, 2 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026. Members report it posting as "SCHWAB BANK DES:P2P". 18/18 checking + 6/6 brokerage, lastW 2026-07-10 (thread harvest).
YESEmployer payroll or government benefit deposit6 reports · 6 worked · last report Apr 10, 2026The only near-universal trigger — real payroll or SSA/pension/tax-refund, PPD-coded. 6 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Apr 2026.
YESMarcus (Goldman Sachs)3 reports · 3 worked · last report Jul 1, 2026Savings source only; no DD bonus of its own. 3 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026.
YESAmEx (HYSA/Business) ACH pushFrom the bank published terms and our own checksDozens of data points each; Schwab 18/18 fresh through 7/10/26.
MAYBEFidelity Cash Management ACH push69 reports · 52 worked · 17 failed · last report Jun 30, 2026How it posts: "PAYROLL"The #1 workaround pusher; codes payroll-like at most banks. 52 member reports of it working, 17 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026. Members report it posting as "PAYROLL".
MAYBESoFi ACH push47 reports · 34 worked · 13 failed · last report Jun 26, 2026Good as a sender, but STRICT as a receiver in 2026. 34 member reports of it working, 13 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026.
MAYBEChase (personal) ACH push42 reports · 34 worked · 8 failed · last report Jun 9, 2026Personal-checking ACH pushes only. 34 member reports of it working, 8 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026.
MAYBEAlly ACH push40 reports · 28 worked · 12 failed · last report Jun 17, 2026General note: Good but softening; fails at Chase. 28 member reports of it working, 12 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026.
MAYBECapital One 360 ACH push24 reports · 17 worked · 7 failed · last report May 5, 2026General note: Good; fails at Chase. 17 member reports of it working, 7 of it failing, last confirmed May 2026.
MAYBEChase Business (payroll ACH)9 reports · 7 worked · 2 failed · last report May 15, 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). 7 member reports of it working, 2 of it failing, last confirmed May 2026.
MAYBEGeneric external bank ACH transferFrom the bank published terms and our own checksBoA's written terms exclude transfers from another bank/brokerage/Merrill, yet many ACH pushes code through as DD in practice (DoC generic ACH 2/0 for BoA). Source matters: established payroll-coded pushers (Ally, Chase, Capital One) are dependable; teller/wire/ATM/debit-card/Online & Mobile Banking transfers are named exclusions and do NOT count.
NOP2P: PayPal / Venmo / Zelle / Cash AppFrom the bank published terms and our own checksDo not count. BoA's terms exclude Online and Mobile Banking transfers, and these P2P services route as non-DD credits. Avoid for meeting the requirement.
How we know
Open a Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking or Advantage Relationship Banking account through the offer page by September 30, 2026, then set up and receive qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of opening. 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
Bank of America is currently offering a tiered checking bonus paying up to $500. Each rung has its own requirement: $100 with $2,000 in direct deposits; $300 with $5,000 in direct deposits; $500 with $10,000 in direct deposits. The account has a $12 monthly fee; review the waiver terms before applying.
Pros
+$500 cash bonus
+Available nationwide, subject to the bank's eligibility rules
+90-day qualification window
Cons
-$12 monthly fee unless waived
Notes
Receive $10,000+ in direct deposits within 90 days. The amount you are paid depends on which rung you complete: $100 with $2,000 in direct deposits; $300 with $5,000 in direct deposits; $500 with $10,000 in direct deposits. Allow approximately 90 days for the bonus to post after qualification.
How This Compares to Other Bonuses
Bank of America's $500 offer is closest in headline value to Wells Fargo's $500 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 Bank of America checking bonus?
Bank of America currently advertises up to $500, across 3 rungs that each ask for something different: $100 with $2,000 in direct deposits; $300 with $5,000 in direct deposits; $500 with $10,000 in direct deposits.
Does the Bank of America bonus require direct deposit?
Yes. The catalog currently records $10,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days. Confirm the bank's exact definition before applying.
When should the Bank of America bonus post?
The tracked estimate is about 90 days after you satisfy the requirements.
Open a Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking or Advantage Relationship Banking account through the offer page by September 30, 2026, then set up and receive qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of opening. What you get scales with the total: $100 at $2,000, $300 at $5,000, and $500 at $10,000 or more. PICK THE RIGHT ACCOUNT. SafeBalance Banking is not eligible for these direct-deposit tiers at all; it has its own separate $100 offer that instead asks for 20 qualifying debit card or Zelle transactions within 60 days. The bonus is paid within 60 days of the deposit period ending and the account must be open and in good standing when it lands.
Fees
Monthly Fee$12/mo
This $12/mo is Advantage Plus, the account the direct-deposit tiers require. Advantage Relationship also qualifies and is $25/mo. Both fees are waivable, for example with a qualifying daily balance, a qualifying direct deposit each statement cycle, or Preferred Rewards. The cheaper $4.95 SafeBalance account does not earn these tiers; its own $100 offer is a debit and Zelle transaction offer, not a direct-deposit one.
ChexSystems & Credit Pull
Chex SensitivityLow
Soft PullYes
Soft pull reported when overdraft protection is declined; Chex pull reports are mixed.
Eligibility
AvailabilityNationwide
Lifetime LimitNo
Must not have had a BofA personal checking account in the past 12 months; one bonus per customer every 12 months.
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.
