Bank bonuses are taxable interest — expect a 1099-INT. See our bank bonus tax guide.
What Counts as Direct Deposit
252 reports across 2 sources. Last report Jul 16, 2026. Doctor of Credit comments 245, Reddit 7.
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 deposit74 reports · 61 worked · 13 failed · last report Jun 20, 2026How it posts: "payroll"The only near-universal trigger — real payroll or SSA/pension/tax-refund, PPD-coded. 61 member reports of it working, 13 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026. Members report it posting as "payroll".
MAYBEChase Business (payroll ACH)50 reports · 41 worked · 9 failed · last report Jun 17, 2026How it posts: "Direct Deposit"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). 41 member reports of it working, 9 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026. Members report it posting as "Direct Deposit". payroll 21W/1F lastW 2026-05 — the reliable route.
MAYBECurrent ACH push40 reports · 31 worked · 9 failed · last report Jul 8, 2026How it posts: "Payroll"31 member reports of it working, 9 of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026. Members report it posting as "Payroll". 14-15/15 DPs, freshest ~10 days old (2026-07).
MAYBEKraken ACH push34 reports · 29 worked · 5 failed · last report Jun 25, 202629 member reports of it working, 5 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026.
MAYBEWealthfront ACH push14 reports · 12 worked · 2 failed · last report Mar 31, 2026General note: Thin data; mixed at BofA. 12 member reports of it working, 2 of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2024.
MAYBECapital One Business (payroll ACH)3 reports · 2 worked · 1 failed · last report Jun 1, 2026Business-account ACH, tracker-labeled separately from 360 pushes. 2 member reports of it working, 1 of it failing, last confirmed May 2026.
MAYBEAstra transferFrom the bank published terms and our own checksOlder Doctor of Credit reports had it working. No 2026 data point in our tracker either way, so treat it as unproven rather than dead.
MAYBEPayPal ACH (standard transfer)From the bank published terms and our own checksSoFi terms exclude P2P transfers; some report success with standard transfers but it's unreliable.
NOFidelity Cash Management ACH push18 reports · 5 worked · 13 failed · last report Jun 1, 2026The #1 workaround pusher; codes payroll-like at most banks. 5 member reports of it working, 13 of it failing, last confirmed May 2026. CMA 0/5 all failed ~2026-06.
NOAlliant ACH pushFrom the bank published terms and our own checksReported not working at SoFi.
NOTax refund (IRS)From the bank published terms and our own checksExcluded under SoFi's current terms. A qualifying deposit must be recurring income; one-time IRS refunds don't count.
NOVenmo ACHFrom the bank published terms and our own checksExplicitly excluded in SoFi terms.
NOZelleFrom the bank published terms and our own checks
YESAligned Incentive ACH push2 reports · 2 worked · last report May 13, 20262 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed May 2026.
First qualifying direct deposit must post by 2026-12-31. 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
SoFi is currently offering a tiered checking bonus paying up to $400. Each rung has its own requirement: $50 with $1,000 in direct deposits; $400 with $5,000 in direct deposits. The eligible account has no monthly maintenance fee documented in the catalog.
Pros
+$400 cash bonus
+No monthly maintenance fee
+No documented hard credit pull
+Available nationwide, subject to the bank's eligibility rules
Cons
-Lifetime or one-bonus-per-customer language applies
Notes
Receive $5,000+ in direct deposits within 25 days. The amount you are paid depends on which rung you complete: $50 with $1,000 in direct deposits; $400 with $5,000 in direct deposits. Allow approximately 7 days for the bonus to post after qualification.
How This Compares to Other Bonuses
SoFi's $400 offer is closest in headline value to PNC Bank's $400 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 SoFi checking bonus?
SoFi currently advertises up to $400, across 2 rungs that each ask for something different: $50 with $1,000 in direct deposits; $400 with $5,000 in direct deposits.
Does the SoFi bonus require direct deposit?
Yes. The catalog currently records $5,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 25 days. Confirm the bank's exact definition before applying.
When should the SoFi bonus post?
The tracked estimate is about 7 days after you satisfy the requirements.
First qualifying direct deposit must post by 2026-12-31. Tiered bonus: $50 for $1,000-$4,999 total DD, $400 for $5,000+ total DD within the 25-day evaluation window.
Fees
Monthly Fee$0
No monthly fee.
ChexSystems & Credit Pull
Chex SensitivityLow
Hard PullNo
Soft PullYes
Soft pull only; no ChexSystems inquiry reported.
Eligibility
AvailabilityNationwide
Lifetime LimitYes
One direct-deposit bonus per SSN lifetime; new SoFi Checking & Savings users (and some existing users without prior DD setup) may qualify.
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.
