Have you ever gone to apply for a new bank account to get a bonus offer only to find out that the only way to get the bonus was through direct deposit? This can be frustrating if you’re someone who doesn’t get a direct deposit–maybe you’re self-employed or work as a freelancer–or you don’t particularly want to change where your direct deposit is going.

If you’re looking for a bank promotion without direct deposit requirements, here are our top [#] picks for checking and savings accounts that pay you to become a new customer. Get these bonuses through qualifying activities such as making transactions, depositing money yourself, or meeting balance requirements.

CitiBank – $200 – $2,000

This is far and away the best checking offer available right now and there is still plenty of time to get it. Read to find out if you’re eligible.

While this bonus doesn’t require you to set up direct deposit, it does require a high minimum opening deposit of at least $10,000 to qualify for the lowest bonus. The amount you deposit determines which bonus you qualify for. See the table below:

Here are the steps to qualify:

1. Use this link when signing up for an account online in order to access the offer. 
2. Deposit new money (can’t be moved from another Citi checking or savings account) into your account within 20 days of opening. The balance of your account on its 20th day is used to determine your bonus eligibility.
3. Maintain this balance for 60 more days.

If you meet these requirements, your bonus will be deposited automatically into your account within 90 calendar days. 

Only new customers over the age of 18 are eligible. Existing customers do not qualify. If you have owned a Citibank account in the last 180 days, even if you’ve closed it, you are not eligible for a bonus.

This offer is valid through January 9th, 2024. If you’re really set on one of these accounts, this gives you a few months to save up the money you need to be eligible for a bonus. As long as you open your new account before the deadline, you can still get the bonus.

The four checking accounts that qualify for this offer are: 

• Basic Banking Checking account – no minimum opening deposit requirement, $12 monthly maintenance fee that is waived when you maintain an average balance of at least $1,500
• Citibank Checking account – no minimum opening deposit requirement, $25 monthly maintenance fee that is waived when you maintain an average balance of at least $10,000
• Citi Priority Checking account – no minimum opening deposit requirement, $30 monthly maintenance fee that is waived when you maintain an average balance of at least $50,000
• Citigold Checking account – no minimum opening deposit, no monthly maintenance fee (but you must maintain a collective balance of at least $200,000 in order to stay eligible for Citigold membership and keep your account)

Although Citi’s checking accounts and sign-up bonuses don’t have deposit requirements, they do have pretty high monthly fees that are tough to waive unless you keep a high balance.

Huntington Bank – $400 or $600

Now through October 7, 2023, Huntington Bank is offering either $400 or $600 to new checking account customers who meet deposit requirements and reside in a qualifying state. No direct deposit transactions are required to qualify, you can deposit new money however you choose.

There are two different checking accounts that are eligible for the bonus, and the qualifying deposit is different for each:

• Perks Checking account – must make a qualifying direct deposit of at least $1,000 within 90 days of opening the account to earn a $400 cash bonus.
• Platinum Perks Checking account – must deposit at least $25,000 within 90 days of opening the account to earn a $600 cash bonus.

After meeting these requirements, your bonus of $400 or $600 will be deposited into your account automatically within 14 days. 

Use this link when signing up for your new account to unlock the bonus offer. You just have to open, not fund, the account by October 7, 2023.

It’s important to note that this offer is only available in select states whether you apply online or in person at a Huntington branch. These are Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Both the Perks and Platinum Perks checking accounts are interest-bearing and come with credit score monitoring. The Platinum Perks account also comes with identity theft monitoring and unlimited non-Huntington Bank ATM withdrawals. With the Perks checking, only 5 non-Huntington Bank ATM withdrawals are permitted per statement cycle.

Customers who already have a checking account with Huntington, including those who have closed an account in the past six months, do not qualify.

Chase Business Complete Banking Checking Account- $300 (Business)

Looking to open a new business checking account? New Chase customers can earn a bonus of $300 when they open a Business Complete Banking account and meet activity requirements. This is the Chase Business Complete Banking checking account.

To qualify, the first thing you need to do is deposit at least $2,000 in new-to-Chase money into your account. You must do this within 30 days of coupon enrollment or signing up for your account through this offer to qualify. You also need to maintain a balance of $2,000 in this account for a total of 60 days after opening.

Next, you need to make at least 5 qualifying transactions within 90 days of opening your account. A qualifying transaction can be a debit card purchase, ACH credit, Chase QuickDeposit, Chase QuickAccept deposit, or Chase Online Bill Pay transaction. You can begin making these transactions as soon as your account is open.

There is a $15 monthly maintenance fee for this account that can be waived in one of five ways:

• Maintaining an average monthly balance of $2,000 in this account
• Making at least $2,000 total in transactions using a linked Chase Ink Business credit card
• Receiving $2,000 total in QuickAccept transactions or other merchant services solutions each statement period
• Providing valid ID to prove that you are a U.S. military member, active-duty or retired
• Linking this account with a Chase Private Client Checking account (to qualify, you need either a combined balance of $150,000 or more across all of your Chase deposit and investing accounts or a Chase Platinum Business Checking account)

Chase Secure Banking Checking Account – $100

It’s not $300, but Chase is also offering a $100 bonus to new personal checking account customers. The only account that qualifies for this offer is the Chase Secure Banking checking account.

To get the bonus, you need to open a new account using this link and complete 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days. These can be purchases made with your debit card, online bill payment, QuickDeposits, ACH credits, or Zelle transfers. There are no other deposit or balance requirements you need to meet. Overall, this is probably one of the easiest offers to qualify for even if it’s not the best bonus.

After meeting the requirement for the bonus, you will have $100 deposited into your account automatically within 15 days of qualifying.

There is no minimum opening deposit required when opening this account. The monthly maintenance fee of $4.95 for this account cannot be waived regardless of your balance or activity.

This is a pretty basic checking account that is mostly free to use. There are no fees for money orders or checks, for using Chase Online Bill Pay, for making ATM withdrawals or deposits at in-network ATMs, or for sending money through Zelle. It does not earn interest.

You can’t qualify for this bonus if you already have a Chase checking account, have closed a checking account in the past 90 days, or have closed a checking account that had a negative balance in the past three years. Also, if you do qualify for and get the bonus offer but then you close your account in less than six months after opening it, Chase will deduct the bonus amount at the time of closure.

This offer will expire on October 18th, 2023, so make sure to open your account by then if it feels like a good fit.

Chase College Checking Account – $100

Yet another bonus offer from Chase but for college students this time, new customers qualify to earn $100 when opening a Chase Collecting Checking account.  

This promotion is really similar to the above offer for business checking customers. All you have to do is use this link to apply for an account and make 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of opening your new account. These can be debit card purchases made with your debit card, online bill payment, QuickDeposits, ACH credits, or transfers through Zelle. 

After meeting this requirement, the $100 bonus will be deposited into your account automatically within 15 days of qualifying. You do not need to maintain a minimum balance to qualify. 

There is a $6 monthly service fee that is automatically waived for college students between the ages of 17 and 24 (up to five years) when you provide proof of your enrollment at a college or university and give your expected graduation date.

This offer is valid through October 18, 2023.

Huntington Bank Business Checking – $100, $400 or $1,000

Huntington Bank is offering a generous cash bonus to new customers who open any one of their 3 business checking accounts. The bonus is dependent on making certain minimum deposits to the account. See below for details.

1. Business Checking 100 – Earn a $100 bonus when you deposit $2,000 or more.
2. Unlimited Business Checking – Earn a $400 bonus when you deposit $5,000 or more.
3. Unlimited Plus Business Checking – Earn a $1,000 bonus when you deposit $20,000 or more.

Use this link to enroll in either offer and open your new account. You can apply online or at a Huntington branch. If you have a business or personal checking account with Huntington already or have closed an account with the bank in the past six months, you will not be eligible. 

This offer expires on September 7th, 2023. Open your account by this deadline to qualify.

Unlimited Business Checking Account – $400

To qualify for the Unlimited Business Checking account bonus, you need to deposit at least $5,000 into your account within 60 days of opening and maintain this balance for a total of 90 calendar days. After meeting this requirement, your bonus of $400 will be deposited into your account automatically within 14 days of qualifying.

There is a $20 monthly maintenance fee for this account that is waived when you maintain a minimum balance of at least $10,000 across your relationship accounts. This account allows you to make up to $10,000 in cash or check deposits per month at no added cost ($0.30 for every $100 after that) and includes one Bonus Service of your choosing. 

Available Bonus Services include:

• Fraud Tool for early detection of fraudulent activity
• Huntington Deposit Scan – for up to 50 free mobile deposits per month
• Payroll – for up to 10% off payroll services by Paychex
• Wires – up to two free incoming domestic wire transfers per month
• Returned Deposited Items – up to 25 free per month

Unlimited Plus Business Checking – $1,000

To qualify for the Unlimited Plus Business Checking account bonus, you need to deposit at least $20,000 into your account within 60 days of opening and maintain this balance for a total of 90 calendar days. After meeting this requirement, your bonus of $750 will be deposited into your account automatically within 14 days of qualifying.

There is a $40 monthly maintenance fee for this account that is waived when you maintain a minimum balance of at least $50,000 across your relationship accounts. This account allows you to make up to $25,000 in cash or check deposits per month at no added cost and includes your choice of two Bonus Services.

PNC Bank Business Checking Account – $200 or $500

Open a new PNC Bank business checking account by September 30, 2023 to qualify for either $200 or $500.

To qualify for $200, you need to open a new Business Checking or Business Checking Plus account by the deadline and maintain an average minimum balance of at least $5,000 for the first three months. Also within the first three months of opening, you need to make at least 20 qualifying transactions with your PNC Bank Visa Debit Card. You will get the bonus automatically within 90 days of qualifying. The fees are:

• $10 monthly maintenance fee for the Business Checking account that is waived when you maintain an average collected balance of $500
• $20 monthly maintenance fee for the Business Checking Plus account that is waived when you maintain an average collected balance of $5,000

To qualify for $500, you need to open a new Treasury Enterprise Plan or Analysis Business Checking account and maintain an average ledger balance of at least $30,000 for the first three months. There are no transaction requirements. You will get the bonus automatically within 90 days of qualifying. The fees are:

• $50 monthly maintenance fee for the Treasury Enterprise Plan that is waived when you maintain an average collected balance of $30,000
• $25 monthly maintenance fee for the Analysis Business Checking account

Use this link when applying to enroll in the coupon and be eligible for the bonus.

Alliant Credit Union Savings Account – $100

Not really looking for a new checking account? Open a savings account online with Alliant Credit Union Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account.

This bonus takes commitment to unlock and, unfortunately, isn’t as simple as making a deposit or transactions. To qualify, you need to use this link to open a new account. Then, deposit at least $100 into the account each month for 12 months in a row. If you have done this, you’ll get the $100 bonus automatically after the 12 months are up. It doesn’t matter what your balance is as long as you’ve made $100 deposits.

You need to maintain a minimum balance of at least $5 to keep your account open and a balance of $100 to continue earning interest.

Right now, the interest rate for this account is 2.50%. Considering the national average APY for a savings account sits at 0.24%, that’s definitely not bad. And actually, this account has had one of the best rates available across the board compared to other banks and credit unions for quite a while.

To open this account, you need to become an Alliant member. Anyone who lives in the U.S. can become a member even if they don’t live or work in a qualifying community by joining the Foster Care to Success organization. Alliant will pay the $5 membership fee on your behalf when you sign up.

There is no expiration date for this ongoing offer.

Discover Online Savings Account – $150 or $200

If you’re thinking about opening a new savings account with Discover Bank, now’s a good time to do it. Now through September 14th, 2023, new customers who open an Online Savings account and meet deposit requirements can qualify for a bonus of $150 or $200. 

Whether you earn $150 or $200 depends on how much you deposit. To get $150, you need to deposit at least $15,000 into your account within the first 30 days of opening. To get $200, you need to deposit at least $25,000 within 30 days of opening. Your bonus will be deposited into your account automatically within 30 days of qualifying. Use this link to open your new account.

The Discover Online Savings account is variable and currently yields an above-average APY (annual percentage yield) of 4.30%. There is no monthly maintenance fee, low balance fee, or minimum opening deposit for this account.

You can’t qualify for the bonus if you currently or have had a Discover online savings account in the past.

Final Thoughts

Many great bank account bonus offers make you link your direct deposit in order to qualify, but you’re not out of luck if you don’t want to go this route. Use this article to find the right new personal or business checking or even savings account for you and qualify for a bonus by making deposits, transactions, and other activities.

You’ll notice that a lot of these offers have pretty high deposit or balance requirements to qualify. If you do decide to open one of these accounts as a new customer, make sure you grab the correct link when opening so that you can unlock the bonus you’re going for and it won’t be a waste.