Bank bonuses are taxable interest — expect a 1099-INT. See our bank bonus tax guide.
What Counts as Direct Deposit
66 reports across 3 sources. Last report Jul 11, 2026. Doctor of Credit comments 61, Reddit 3, other public posts 2.
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.
YESFidelity Cash Management ACH push16 reports · 15 worked · 1 failed · last report Jul 9, 2026The #1 workaround pusher; codes payroll-like at most banks. 15 member reports of it working, 1 of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026. CMA 11W/0F, lastW 2026-07-09.
YESAlly ACH push8 reports · 7 worked · 1 failed · last report Jun 13, 2026General note: Good but softening; fails at Chase. 7 member reports of it working, 1 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026.
YESEmployer payroll or government benefit deposit5 reports · 5 worked · last report Jul 8, 2026The only near-universal trigger — real payroll or SSA/pension/tax-refund, PPD-coded. 5 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026.
YESCapital One 360 ACH push4 reports · 4 worked · last report Jul 3, 2026General note: Good; fails at Chase. 4 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026.
YESChase Business (payroll ACH)4 reports · 3 worked · 1 failed · last report Jun 10, 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). 3 member reports of it working, 1 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026.
MAYBEChase (personal) ACH push17 reports · 15 worked · 2 failed · last report Jul 4, 2026Personal-checking ACH pushes only. 15 member reports of it working, 2 of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026. 13W/2F in 2026, lastW 2026-07-04 — our 'no' contradicted; 2 fresh fails keep it from yes.
NOVenmo ACHFrom the bank published terms and our own checks
NOZelleFrom the bank published terms and our own checks
YESDiscover ACH push2 reports · 2 worked · last report Apr 4, 2026General note: Discover Savings ACH; inconsistent, recent failures trending up. 2 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Apr 2026.
YESPayPal ACH push2 reports · 2 worked · last report Mar 10, 2026General note: P2P at most banks; works at Citi & Capital One (standard ACH, not instant). 2 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Mar 2026. 16 DPs — unusual.
YESSoFi ACH push2 reports · 2 worked · last report May 23, 2026Good as a sender, but STRICT as a receiver in 2026. 2 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed May 2026.
Open a new Fifth Third Momentum Checking or Preferred Checking account with the offer code (online, or bring the code to a branch) by September 30, 2026, and receive qualifying direct deposits totaling $500 or more 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
Fifth Third Bank is currently offering a $300 checking bonus. The core requirement is $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
+90-day qualification window
Cons
-Geographic restrictions apply
Notes
Receive $500+ in direct deposits within 90 days. Allow approximately 10 days for the bonus to post after qualification.
How This Compares to Other Bonuses
Fifth Third Bank's $300 offer is closest in headline value to American Express'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 Fifth Third Bank checking bonus?
Fifth Third Bank currently advertises $300. The principal requirement is $500 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days.
Does the Fifth Third Bank bonus require direct deposit?
Yes. The catalog currently records $500 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days. Confirm the bank's exact definition before applying.
When should the Fifth Third Bank bonus post?
The tracked estimate is about 10 days after you satisfy the requirements.
Open a new Fifth Third Momentum Checking or Preferred Checking account with the offer code (online, or bring the code to a branch) by September 30, 2026, and receive qualifying direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days of opening. Payroll, Social Security, pension and government benefits qualify; transfers from other accounts and mobile deposits do not. The $300 posts within 10 business days of the qualifying deposits.
Fees
Monthly Fee$0
No monthly fee on Essential Checking.
ChexSystems & Credit Pull
Chex SensitivityMedium
Hard PullNo
Soft PullYes
ChexSystems inquiry. Soft pull reported.
Eligibility
Availability12 states: AL, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NC, OH, TN, WV, SC
Lifetime LimitNo
Must not have had Fifth Third checking in past 13 months. May require proximity to branch.
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.