Bank of America $100, $300 or $500 checking bonus requirements
Bank of America's public personal checking offer, read on 6 October 2026, pays $100, $300 or $500 when a new checking customer opens an eligible Advantage account through the offer page by January 31, 2027 and receives Qualifying Direct Deposits totaling $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000 or more within 90 days of opening. The bank attempts payout within 60 days after that window if the account stays open. A fee waiver is not this cash bonus.
| Bonus | $100 / $300 / $500 by Qualifying Direct Deposit total |
|---|---|
| Open by | January 31, 2027 on the offer page we read |
| Account | Advantage SafeBalance, Advantage Plus or Advantage Relationship Banking, new checking customer, subject to approval |
| Deposit test | Qualifying Direct Deposits totaling $2,000+ ($100), $5,000+ ($300) or $10,000+ ($500) |
| Window | 90 days from account opening (Deposit Period) |
| Counts | Regular monthly income such as salary, pension or Social Security, sent with the account and routing numbers you provide |
| Does not count | Teller deposits, wire transfers, debit card transfers, ATM transfers or deposits, Online and Mobile Banking transfers or deposits, and transfers from a bank, brokerage or Merrill investment account |
| Excluded | Owned or co-owned a personal checking account in the last 12 months; SafeBalance for Family Banking; fiduciary/trust; business; one bonus per account and per customer |
| Payout | Attempted within 60 days after the Deposit Period; account must stay open and in good standing |
| Monthly fee | Plus $12, SafeBalance $4.95, Relationship $25, or $0 with a waiver on the personal schedule of fees |
| Tax | May be taxable; bank may issue Form 1099 |
In this article
Open on Bank of America's official offer page, the page the bank requires for this cash bonus. How this offer compares: bank bonus statistics. Copy the chart and the exclusion lines before you route a paycheck. The public fee schedule still lists monthly maintenance fees and waivers. A fee you avoid is not cash the bank pays you.
Who the offer is for
The offer is for new checking customers opening Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking, Advantage Plus Banking or Advantage Relationship Banking through the offer page by January 31, 2027. 1 It is limited to people who have not owned or co-owned a Bank of America personal checking account within the last twelve months. 1 Fiduciary accounts such as trusts, Advantage SafeBalance Banking for Family Banking accounts, and business accounts are not eligible. 1 The offer cannot be combined with any other checking bonus offer and is limited to one bonus per account and per customer. 1 Bank of America may change or end the offer before January 31, 2027. 1 What "new customer" means is the longer version of the look-back line across banks.
What you must deposit, and by when
Open an eligible personal checking account through the offer page by January 31, 2027. 1 Then receive Qualifying Direct Deposits into that account within ninety days of account opening (the Deposit Period). 1 At the end of the Deposit Period, Qualifying Direct Deposits are totaled for the bonus amount: 1
- Less than $2,000: $0. 1
- $2,000 to $4,999: $100. 1
- $5,000 to $9,999: $300. 1
- $10,000 or more: $500. 1
A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a direct deposit of regular monthly income, such as your salary, pension or Social Security benefits, made by your employer or other payer using the account and routing numbers you provide. 1 Examples of deposits that do not qualify include teller deposits, wire transfers, debit card transfers, ATM transfers or deposits, Online and Mobile Banking transfers or deposits, and transfers from a bank, brokerage or Merrill investment account. 1 What counts as a direct deposit compares how banks word this line.
When Bank of America pays
After the Deposit Period ends and the requirements are met, the bank attempts to deposit the earned bonus into the new eligible personal checking account within sixty days. 1 The account must be open and in good standing up to and including the payout date. 1 The bank says the value of the bonus may be taxable income and that it may issue an IRS Form 1099. 1 That is what the offer page states, and this page is not tax advice. Why the bonus has not posted covers common delays after the window closes.
The monthly fee is still a fee
Advantage Plus still shows a $12 monthly maintenance fee, Advantage SafeBalance $4.95, and Advantage Relationship $25, each with waiver paths on the personal schedule of fees. 2 A qualifying direct deposit of $250 or more is one Advantage Plus waiver path for a statement cycle. 2 That waiver test is not the cash-bonus chart. If you open the account and never meet a waiver, subtract the fee months from any bonus before you call it a win. Is a bank bonus worth it and the ROI calculator run that subtraction.
Related offers on CardLab
Nearby checking bonus checklists: Bask Bank, Navy Federal, BMO, Chase Total Checking and Wells Fargo.
Common questions
Does Bank of America have a checking bonus right now?
Yes, on the public offer page we read on 6 October 2026. It pays $100, $300 or $500 for Qualifying Direct Deposits of $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000 or more within 90 days, if you open an eligible Advantage checking account through that page by January 31, 2027.
Is the $250 direct deposit for the monthly fee the same as the bonus?
No. On the personal schedule of fees, a qualifying direct deposit of $250 or more is one way to avoid the Advantage Plus $12 monthly maintenance fee for a statement cycle. The cash bonus uses much higher Qualifying Direct Deposit totals on the offer page.
Who cannot get the Bank of America checking bonus?
People who owned or co-owned a Bank of America personal checking account in the last 12 months, SafeBalance for Family Banking accounts, fiduciary accounts such as trusts, and business accounts. The offer is limited to one bonus per account and per customer.
When does the Bank of America bonus post?
After the 90-day Deposit Period ends and the requirements are met, the bank attempts to deposit the bonus within 60 days. The new checking account must be open and in good standing through the payout date.
What if I only got a Bank of America mailer?
Read that mailer. Banks send targeted offers that can differ from the public page. Save the mailer with its date, and use only the dollar figures printed on the piece you were sent.
Sources
CardLab tracks the cards you hold and the bonuses you are chasing, with every rate read from the issuer's own page.