topic Checking account SUB recommendations in Personal Finance

Checking account SUB recommendations

Snook_on_the_Line — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:26:07 GMT

I've been on a little checking sub app-o-rama lately

filling the time between CC SUBs with free cash from bank account SUBs is curing my itchy app finger

problem is I'm running out of banks

Since the first of the year ive opened checking accounts at:

Chase for $300

BofA for $500

Fifth/third $400

Truist for. $400

Seacoast. $400

Regions. $300

TD Bank. $300

MidFlorida $400

community1st $200

chime. $350

Citizens bank. $400

Grow FCU. $300

Flagstar Bank $500

Half of these have already paid out.
the other half I've already met the requirements and am just waiting for a payout (except MidFlorida CU,still working on that one)

I've got Busey bank for $500 and WF for $400 coming up next month and then Citi for another $325 in may & US bank I have to wait till Jan '27.

I can't think of any other banks that I can hit up for some free cash in Florida

any suggestions?

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

CaneVariant — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:25:27 GMT

Looks like you got most of the good ones except BMO. Maybe time to switch to business checking accounts.

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

ptatohed — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:22:29 GMT

You didn't say if you are ok with Direct Deposit (DD) requirements or not. And you should maybe tell us the maximum amount of $ you are willing to tie up for 60 - 90 days.

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

Snook_on_the_Line — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:47:18 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
You didn't say if you are ok with Direct Deposit (DD) requirements or not. And you should maybe tell us the maximum amount of $ you are willing to tie up for 60 - 90 days.

I get a little over 5k /mo in real DDs and am able to switch them up on my HR app myself

as far as tying up a bunch of cash, not really into that, so I don't do the savings bonuses.

Just the checking ones with either real employer DDs or ACH pushes from a fidelity CMA account

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

Snook_on_the_Line — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:55:33 GMT

@CaneVariant wrote:
Looks like you got most of the good ones except BMO. Maybe time to switch to business checking accounts.

Thanks I'll check out the BMO one on DofC again

There must have been a reason I skipped that one

But ya, it might be time to switch to business account subs as a sole prop for myself or start an llc for my girlfriends art projects she sells on the side 🤷‍♂️

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

Realist — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:50:04 GMT

Nice job. Been there, done that. If one isn't doing it, I highly recommend to take advantage of the opportunities. We paid for multiple upgrades around the home from the accumulation of these freebies.

As you mention, the best bang for the buck is going to be the checking account. But, there are only so many you can participate with before you have to garden for at least one to two years. The savings accounts aren't often going to be worth it, because the deposit amount requested, will usually earn you more in a short term CD. The only exception to this is the Chase $900 offer, in which you can acquire in 4 months, with a $15k depo, and a minimal DD. It's the best bang for the buck out of all offers. I'm guessing that's on a two year cool down, but that active offer has been running for years. It's a learned, and then earned opportunity.

Running out of banks and products are the problem. You can move to credit card welcome offers. Again, you run out of attractive products eventually, but not before securing some hefty rewards. I have a few months of free hotel stays myself. Different set of rules, credit score, credit rules, but still generous welcome bonuses.

Stay updated with the doctor of credit website. Use a local website search for your state. You may find a few in between the cracks that offer a SUB. I found myself exactly where you are, so where to go from there. I elevated the game to a new level of rewards. Since my schtick is hotel rewards, I made sure my investment provides free vacations. At the end of that play, a few years in the making, it will result in free airline travel as well. Sorry, have to keep those secrets held close to the chest. One doesn't just jump straight into that kind of opportunity.

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

AndrewF — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:59:57 GMT

Chase has had a good one recently.

$400 on a Total Checking with one direct deposit over $1,000 or $900 if you do that and a Savings account with a $20,000 deposit that stays there for at least 60 days.

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

Snook_on_the_Line — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:24:09 GMT

@AndrewF wrote:
Chase has had a good one recently.

$400 on a Total Checking with one direct deposit over $1,000 or $900 if you do that and a Savings account with a $20,000 deposit that stays there for at least 60 days.

Did Chase already for 300 in January

I've started an llc and am on to business checking accounts now just opened Wells Fargo for $400

next week is BofA for $500

and Truist for $400

after that I think cap1 will be next

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

ptatohed — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:27:18 GMT

Now that my 12 yo is 13, I am taking him to Chase for the teem $125 tomorrow!

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

DONZI — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:39:38 GMT

Is there no downside to the game player?

..via chexsystems,etc?

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

Varsity_Lu — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:01:23 GMT

@Snook_on_the_Line

Holy 1099s, Batman! You still gotta' pay taxes on this income. But, it's a net gain nonetheless. That's what's nice about credit card SUBs. Free and clear of the gubment.

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

Snook_on_the_Line — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:49:30 GMT

@Varsity_Lu wrote:
@Snook_on_the_Line

Holy 1099s, Batman! You still gotta' pay taxes on this income. But, it's a net gain nonetheless. That's what's nice about credit card SUBs. Free and clear of the gubment.

Ya I have extra withheld from my paychecks to offset the tax liability of all those 1099s

I get a tiny lil refund, but I've got an extra xtra $500 plus rolling in every month

took the plunge and turned my side jobs into a legit llc and have started doing business bonuses

once they all pay out I'll have made $7350

after taxes and a few checking account monthly fees call it $4500 net

not bad for a hobby

and that's not including personal and business cc subs

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

Snook_on_the_Line — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:50:52 GMT

And it's only April

my goal is $12k before the end of the year

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

AndrewF — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:18:47 GMT

Found one for $250 for a California Credit Union (member NCUA)

"1 Restrictions apply. $250 offer applies to NEW eChecking accounts for NEW members only. Minimum $25 required to open account. Requires enrollment in Digital Banking within 120 days of account opening. Must establish a recurring Direct Deposit with a minimum of $400 per month. Recurring Direct Deposit must be a Direct Deposit or Payroll Deposit. Direct Deposit must be established within 120 days of membership opening to qualify for bonus. Three (3) months of recurring Direct Deposits must be credited to the account before qualifying for the bonus. Requires enrollment in eStatements within 120 days of account opening. Account will default to Personal Checking without notice if eStatement enrollment is not completed. The bonus will be added to the checking account the first week of the following month from the qualifying date and will be reported as income. Qualifying date includes the date you enrolled in Digital Banking, the date Direct Deposit was established to the account and received (3) months of recurring direct deposits and date you enrolled in eStatements. The bonus will be forfeited by the member if the account does not remain open for a minimum of 6 months. Limit one (1) bonus per member. The eChecking account does not accrue dividends. Account and membership are subject to approval. Programs and offers (including but not limited to fees, rates, and features) are subject to change without notice. Standard data & message rates may apply."

----

So basically open account, sign up for ebanking and estatements right away, then get your first direct deposit in there within the 120 day window, then two more (which have to be consecutive, but not within the 120 day window., then keep the account open for at least 6 months to avoid a clawback.

No fees or minimums with estatements according to the offer page.

Very easy to get in. If you don't otherwise qualify, you can get a complimentary membership to an American Consumer Council, which qualifies you.

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

AndrewF — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 22:12:30 GMT

https://www.53.com/content/fifth-third/en/mkg/acq/new-checking-offer.html

Fifth-Third Bank has a $350 opening bonus with one direct deposit of $500 or more in the first 90 days. They also say they pay it fast. 10 days after the qualifying direct deposit.

No Monthly Service Fees.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Edit: Decided to do this one. It scanned my driver's license and then said I have to go into a branch. Luckily there's one nearby I can go to on Monday.

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

AndrewF — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:07:30 GMT

I found another one from Chime. I know they're a fintech and not a bank so I doubt I'd risk too much money being there. Same problem as PayPal.

Theirs goes "Get up to $350 with qualifying activities."

The first $50 can be had by making one direct deposit over $500 in the first 34 days.

The next "up to $300" can be had by activating the debit card, which will earn 10% back up to $100 a month for the first 90 days.

This would require most people to transfer significant money immediately on account opening, spend $1,000 a month for 90 days, which includes the time the debit card is in the mail and you can't even use it, and forego using their credit card much, or at all.

But for the first 90 days it's basically 10% back on the debit card up to $100 in cashback each month, which does beat the rate on credit card rewards and does justify switching spend to the debit card for three months.

What makes this attractive is that I've been told they do not check or report to chexsystems or EWS, meaning that you can fly under the radar if you're trying to space out your bank bonuses because you don't want other banks to see you as churning.

"They see me churnin' They hatin'!" (Sorry, I had to.)

Link to offer.

Another thing that makes this attractive compared to big banks is that there's relatively few gotchas on the account itself, like most online banking options there's no junk fees. No minimums, no monthly fee you have to figure out how to avoid.

The only brick and mortars that I know of with no junk fees every month are 5/3 which has the $350 bonus in certain states, and Huntington Bank, which only has it on Asterisk Free Checking (no bonus).

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

AndrewF — Sat, 02 May 2026 00:28:22 GMT

Capital One paid out on that debit250. Took 85 days total from the account opening to get the $250.

We opened another account with the coupon code for my spouse and we're doing it again from his side with transactions just over $10.

One of the things I did several times was let our laundry back up until it was enough for the $10 machine at the laundromat, and then took advantage of the free dry cycles with the laundry app.

Splitting up bills like the electric into $10.01 today, $10.02 tomorrow, $10.03 the next day, or paying for Walmart self-check transactions ~$10 at a time also was counted.

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

ptatohed — Sat, 02 May 2026 05:37:54 GMT

If you are ok with a business account (just apply as a sole propritorship like I did for the USB business checking), Chase has a good one right now.

$500 for only $2000 tie up.

Choose the right offer for your business

Earn^$1,500

with a minimum deposit of $100,000 in new money

Earn^$750

with a minimum deposit of $20,000 in new money

Earn^$500

with a minimum deposit of $2,000 in new money

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

AndrewF — Sat, 02 May 2026 19:09:01 GMT

How do you go about avoiding fees on the Chase Business Checking other than leaving two thousand dollars there?

Is there a specific amount of time you have to leave it there before going in and closing the account to make sure they don't claw it back?

Re: Checking account SUB recommendations

Snook_on_the_Line — Sat, 02 May 2026 23:08:38 GMT

@AndrewF

@AndrewF wrote:
https://www.53.com/content/fifth-third/en/mkg/acq/new-checking-offer.html

Fifth-Third Bank has a $350 opening bonus with one direct deposit of $500 or more in the first 90 days. They also say they pay it fast. 10 days after the qualifying direct deposit.

No Monthly Service Fees.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Edit: Decided to do this one. It scanned my driver's license and then said I have to go into a branch. Luckily there's one nearby I can go to on Monday.

did this one

it was easy and paid out pretty quick iirc

no fees either

👍🏼 good choice