Bank bonuses are taxable interest — expect a 1099-INT. See our bank bonus tax guide.
What Counts as Direct Deposit
128 reports across 2 sources. Last report Jul 16, 2026. Doctor of Credit comments 126, Reddit 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.
YESCurrent ACH push17 reports · 15 worked · 2 failed · last report Jun 15, 2026How it posts: "payroll"15 member reports of it working, 2 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026. Members report it posting as "payroll".
YESEmployer payroll or government benefit deposit16 reports · 12 worked · 4 failed · last report Jun 9, 2026How it posts: "PAYROLL"The only near-universal trigger — real payroll or SSA/pension/tax-refund, PPD-coded. 12 member reports of it working, 4 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026. Members report it posting as "PAYROLL".
YESWise ACH push10 reports · 9 worked · 1 failed · last report Jul 16, 2026General note: Mixed; stopped counting at SoFi ~03/2026. 9 member reports of it working, 1 of it failing, last confirmed Jul 2026. 8W/0F, ALL 2026, lastW 2026-07-07.
YESAlly ACH pushFrom the bank published terms and our own checksAlly sends properly coded ACH that works at most lenient banks.
YESFidelity ACH pushFrom the bank published terms and our own checksVaro is a fintech neobank and generally lenient. Fidelity sends DD-coded ACH that works at most banks.
MAYBEDiscover ACH push20 reports · 13 worked · 7 failed · last report Jun 15, 2026General note: Discover Savings ACH; inconsistent, recent failures trending up. 13 member reports of it working, 7 of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026. Members report it posting as "DISCOVER BANK, PREARRANGE/Compensation income.".
MAYBEChase Business (payroll ACH)14 reports · 11 worked · 3 failed · last report Apr 30, 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). 11 member reports of it working, 3 of it failing, last confirmed Apr 2026. 7W/1F thru 6/07 (see termsVsPractice).
MAYBECharles Schwab ACH push12 reports · 3 worked · 9 failed · last report Jun 5, 2026General note: Historically strong; deteriorating at Chase/Huntington in early 2026. 3 member reports of it working, 9 of it failing, last confirmed Apr 2026.
MAYBEAlliant Credit Union ACH push10 reports · 6 worked · 4 failed · last report May 30, 2026How it posts: "Compensation Income"General note: Strong at PNC/US Bank; fails at Chase. 6 member reports of it working, 4 of it failing, last confirmed May 2020. Members report it posting as "Compensation Income".
MAYBEChime ACH pushFrom the bank published terms and our own checksFintech-to-fintech transfers have mixed results.
MAYBEPayPal ACHFrom the bank published terms and our own checksAs a fintech, Varo may accept PayPal ACH but data is limited.
MAYBEVenmo ACHFrom the bank published terms and our own checksSome fintechs accept Venmo ACH. Limited Varo-specific data.
NOZelleFrom the bank published terms and our own checks
YESCapital One Business (payroll ACH)2 reports · 2 worked · last report Jun 24, 2026Business-account ACH, tracker-labeled separately from 360 pushes. 2 member reports of it working, none of it failing, last confirmed Jun 2026.
Open a new Varo account through a referral link, then make the qualifying direct deposit YOUR offer asks for (Varo sets it per person, between $500 and $1,000) within 45 days. The bonus is deposited within about 30 business days of the qualifying direct deposit. 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
Varo Bank is currently offering a $150 checking bonus. The core requirement is a qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more within 45 days. The eligible account has no monthly maintenance fee documented in the catalog.
Pros
+$150 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
-No published end date; terms can change without notice
Notes
Make a single direct deposit of $500 or more within 45 days. Allow approximately 30 days for the bonus to post after qualification.
How This Compares to Other Bonuses
Varo Bank's $150 offer is closest in headline value to Canyon View Credit Union's $150 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 Varo Bank checking bonus?
Varo Bank currently advertises $150. The principal requirement is a qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more within 45 days.
Does the Varo Bank bonus require direct deposit?
Yes. The catalog currently records a qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more within 45 days. Confirm the bank's exact definition before applying.
When should the Varo Bank bonus post?
The tracked estimate is about 30 days after you satisfy the requirements.
YOUR NUMBERS ARE NOT OURS TO GUESS: Varo sets both the reward and the deposit you have to make per person, and only shows them to you. Varo's own referral terms say to "Check your email or in the Varo App to determine the amount you are eligible to earn", and put the qualifying deposit at "between $500-$1,000, check your email/app for the amount applicable to your offer". So open through a referral link, there is no public sign-up path for this bonus, then look up YOUR two figures before you send anything: if your offer asks for $1,000 and you deposit $500, you get nothing. Typically the offer is $150 for a $500 deposit and some people are shown $100, but treat that as the common case rather than your case. Whatever your figure, the deposit has to land within 45 days of opening and the account has to stay in good standing until the bonus posts.
Fees
Monthly Fee$0
No monthly fee.
ChexSystems & Credit Pull
Chex SensitivityLow
Hard PullNo
Soft PullYes
No known Chex pull; soft pull only.
Eligibility
AvailabilityNationwide
Lifetime LimitYes
Must never have been a Varo customer, including legacy Varo Money, Inc.
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.
