Which Bank Sign-Up Bonus Should You Actually Claim in 2025?

Bank bonuses have become increasingly competitive, and savvy customers are taking advantage by opening multiple accounts to stack hundreds of dollars in free cash. The key is understanding what each institution actually offers beyond the headline number—because deposit requirements, timeframes, and fees vary dramatically.

The Highest Payouts: Citi and Wells Fargo Lead at $325

If maximum dollars are your goal, Citi Checking and Wells Fargo Checking both hit the $325 mark, though their paths differ significantly.

Citi’s approach requires Enhanced Direct Deposits totaling at least $3,000 within 90 days. That means ACH transfers, Zelle payments, or PayPal/Venmo ACH deposits all count. The $15 monthly fee gets waived if you maintain $250+ in monthly direct deposits—making this essentially free for employed customers. Offer valid through October 6, 2025.

Wells Fargo’s requirements are similarly straightforward: $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits during the first 90 days. Their $10 monthly service fee disappears with a $500 minimum daily balance, or jumps to $1,500 starting October 25, 2025 for certain fee periods. The catch? You need that $25 opening deposit upfront. This promotion ends October 15, 2025.

The Quick-Hit Option: Chase Total Checking at $300

Chase Total Checking stands out for accessibility—no minimum opening deposit required. You just need to deposit $500+ through qualifying direct deposits within 90 days. The $12 monthly maintenance fee (rising to $15 in August 2025) vanishes with either $500+ in electronic deposits or a $1,500 daily balance. Chase’s bonus expires October 15, 2025, making it a tight timeline for new applicants.

The Hybrid Play: SoFi’s Tiered Structure

SoFi Checking and Savings offers flexibility by combining two accounts into one product. The bonus structure is tiered: earn $50 if you deposit $1,000-$4,999.99, or grab the full $300 with $5,000+. You’ll need at least one direct deposit of any amount before January 31, 2026.

What makes SoFi compelling is the lack of maintenance fees and built-in savings features. Members with direct deposits earn up to 4.50% APY on savings (including the temporary 0.70% boost if you enroll in SoFi Plus by September 3), plus 0.50% on checking. There’s no overdraft fee on debit card purchases up to $50 if you maintain $1,000+ in monthly deposits.

The Strategy: Stack Multiple Accounts

Opening accounts at Wells Fargo ($325), Chase ($300), Citi ($325), and SoFi ($50-$300) could net you $1,000+ in total bonuses. The bottleneck isn’t application—it’s meeting the direct deposit requirement across multiple institutions simultaneously.

For employed individuals receiving regular paychecks, this is feasible by routing deposits strategically. For others, legitimate ACH transfers through bill pay, Zelle, or PayPal qualify at several banks, creating more flexibility than traditional direct deposit alone.

The real winner depends on your situation: maximum bonus-seekers choose Citi or Wells Fargo, low-friction shoppers pick Chase, and savers valuing ongoing yield prefer SoFi’s combination account structure with competitive APY rates.