Banks want your business.
But you need to choose carefully. Selecting the right bank can mean walking away with an extra $200 or $300 (or more!)
The only problem is, sorting through all the offers out there can be tricky and time-consuming.
Before you jump at a checking, savings, or business account with an attractive signup bonus, familiarize yourself with the bank's fees and monthly service charges.
Most importantly, figure out how you can avoid such fees!
To make it easier for you to choose the right savings, checking, or business account, we've put together this list of the best bank account promotions and signup offers.
Remember, the bank should be rewarding you for entrusting it with your hard-earned money, not the other way around.
Choose the offer that best suits your financial situation and get paid for opening a new bank account.
Best Savings Account Bonuses
The best savings accounts let you earn interest and pay you a signup bonus
A savings account is not for daily use, but rather for storing your money over time (and hopefully earning some interest on it).
Generally, savings accounts earn you interest at a higher rate than checking accounts.
If you have a large sum of money (for example, an emergency fund) you should park it in a savings account instead of a checking account.
Get a $150–$200 cash bonus for opening a Discover Online Savings account
An online savings account is a great option, especially if you prefer to manage your accounts via your computer or an app rather than through a brick-and-mortar bank.
The Discover Online Savings Account (brought to you by the same company offering the Discover Card) is a fantastic pick for both the signup bonus and interest earned.
Big minimum deposits earn big bonuses. When you open a new Discover Online Savings Account and deposit $15,000 within two weeks, a $150 bonus will be deposited into your account.
If you deposit $25,000, you'll receive a $200 bonus.
The promotion is a moving target. This offer is part of an ongoing promotion with different promotional codes offering different deadlines for opening an account and getting the bonus.
Google "Discover Online Savings Account Promo Code" and you'll find various sites offering different codes with different account-opening and deposit deadlines.
Just pick a promo code with a deadline that suits your plans and enter it into your online application to qualify you for this signup bonus.
For example, in June 2018 you could enter the promo code SAVE518E1 to qualify for the bonus.
With that particular promotional code, you were required to open your account by June 29 and deposit the qualifying amounts by July 13 to receive the bonus by July 30.
High-yield interest rate. The Annual Percentage Yield (APY, otherwise known as the rate at which your money earns interest) for the Discover Online Savings Account is 1.65%.
Considering the average APY earned by a US savings account is just 0.06%, the Discover Online Savings Account is very lucrative for earning interest compared to the average bank.
No fees with no minimum monthly balance. Many of the accounts we will be looking at here need you to maintain a minimum balance before the monthly fees are waived.
With the Discover Online Savings account, there is never a monthly fee charged even if you have a $0 balance in your account.
Get a $400–$600 bonus for opening a Citi Account Package
The Citi Account package lets you set up linked savings and checking accounts, and you can combine the two balances to qualify for the signup bonus.
$15,000 in deposits earns you $400. To earn a $400 signup bonus, first, open a new Citibank Account Package checking and savings account and deposit $15,000 in new funds within 30 days.
Then, maintain an average balance of $15,000 for the next 60 days, and you'll see $400 deposited into your account.
$50K gets you $600. For those with a little more money to put away, the bonus is even bigger, but you have to sign up for the Citi Priority Account Package.
The Citi Priority Account Package offers everything the Citibank Account Package has, with additional financial guidance services, preferred pricing, and travel benefits.
Deposit $50,000 into your linked Citi Priority accounts within 30 days of opening the package, maintain a balance of $50,000 for 60 days, and you'll get a $600 bonus.
Fees are waived if you maintain the $50,000 balance. The Citi Priority Account Package also waives its $30 monthly fee if you keep an average of $50,000 across your bank accounts and other linked investments (such as higher-interest CD savings accounts) and retirement accounts.
Capital One is offering a $100–$500 signup bonus for new 360 Money Market accounts
Capital One has limited-time offers where you can earn up to $500 for opening a 360 Money Market account.
The 360 Money Market account is a type of online savings account with a higher rate of APY interest earned.
For balances of $10,000 and up, accounts earn 1.60% APY, which is a very competitive rate for earning interest on your savings.
Bonus tiers from $100 to $500. When you deposit $20,000 to $39,999 within 10 days of opening a new 360 Money Market account, you get a $100 bonus.
Deposits between $40,000 and $59,999 earn a bonus of $200, and $60,000–$79,000 earns a $300 bonus.
If you deposit between $80,000 and $99,999 within 10 days you get a $400 bonus, and those depositing $100,000 and up receive a huge $500 bonus.
A potential first-year payout of over $2,000. If you combined the interest you would earn on a $100,000 balance at 1.6% APY with the $500 signup bonus, your payout at the end of year one is $2,100.
With no monthly fees for a 360 Money Market account, you keep the 100% of the interest and bonuses you earn.
Opening a Chase Savings Account can earn you $300
Chase Bank has a new savings account promotional offer you can redeem two ways.
A promo coupon code will be applied automatically if you apply for a Chase Savings Account online through the Chase website.
If you'd rather apply in person, you can go to the Chase website and request a coupon be sent to your email address, then print it off and bring it along.
Deposit $25,000 and get a $300 bonus. After you've opened your account, you need to deposit $25,000 or more within 20 business days and maintain a $25,000 balance for 90 days.
You'll get a $300 bonus deposited directly into your account within 10 business days.
Four options for no monthly fees. This account comes with a $5 Monthly Service Fee but there are four different ways to get around it.
If the account owner is under the age of 18, no monthly fee is charged.
Keep a beginning balance each day of $300 and you won't get dinged for the $5 fee that month.
Set up two monthly automatic transfers of $25 or more through online banking and the monthly fee will not be charged.
Finally, if you have a linked Chase Premier Plus Checking, Chase Premier Platinum Checking, or Chase Private Client Checking account, the $5 monthly fee is waived.
You won't earn much interest with the pitiful APY. Chase pays a measly 0.01% APY on all Savings Account balances.
For a balance of $25,000, the 0.01% annual interest would earn you just under $2.50—barely enough to buy a hotdog, in a year.
Citizens Bank will give you a $1,000 bonus toward your child's education with a CollegeSaver Account
If the reason you're looking to set up a savings account is to put money away for your children's college fund, consider going with Citizens Bank.
Unfortunately, Citizens Bank accounts are only available to residents of 11 states (RI, MA, CT, NH, NY, MI, VT, NJ, DE, OH, and PA).
If you're a resident of one of those states and you're opening a college savings account, consider yourself lucky.
Score a huge $1,000 bonus by opening a CollegeSaver account. It takes foresight and planning to save enough to put your kids through college, and it also takes foresight, planning, and patience to redeem this unique bonus.
If you're prepared to wait years to earn and redeem your signup bonus, here's how it works:
Open an account for your kid. First, you open a CollegeSaver account before your child turns 12.
If your child is under 6 when you open the account, you need to deposit a minimum opening balance of $25.
If your child is over 6 and under 12 when you open the account, the minimum opening deposit needs to be $50.
Save monthly for their college. To qualify for the $1,000 bonus, you need to put away at least $25 per month (if the child was under 6 when you opened the account) or $50 (if they were over 6).
Collect $1,000 (plus interest!) for their 18th birthday. When your child turns 18, Citizens Bank will deposit another $1,000 into the account.
The bank will also calculate the interest the $1,000 would have made over the life of the account and that will be added too.
You actually get a $1,000 bonus for signing up—receiving it is just delayed for 6 to 18 years until you reach your savings goal.
Best Checking Account Bonuses
These checking accounts combine usefulness with a big signup bonus
The main difference between checking and savings bank accounts is that checking accounts are used for everyday tasks like paying bills, debit purchases, and writing checks.
Checking accounts let you earn even less interest on your balances than savings accounts, so the idea is to keep most of your money in a savings account.
You then move whatever money you need for your everyday expenses over to checking as required.
Although checking accounts are not known for lucrative APYs, the ones on our list still pay out with big-time signup bonuses.
SunTrust personal checking accounts can earn up to a $750 bonus
If you live in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, or the District of Columbia, you can open a SunTrust Personal Checking account.
SunTrust regularly has bonus offers for new customers.
Check here to see the latest promotion.
The bank has two different checking accounts, Advantage and Essential. Sign up bonuses are not always available for both.
An advantage account offers perks not available with Essential, like the ability to earn interest on your checking account balance.
Here's how to avoid the fees.
For the Advantage Account, to avoid the $20 monthy fee you need to do at least one of the following: deposit more than $3,000 each month, have combined relationship balances totaling over $10,000, or Link to a SunTrust Loan, Mortgage, or Credit Card; link to a small business checking account.
If you can make 10 or more client-initiated transactions per statement, deposit over $500 each cycle, maintain a $500 minimum daily balance or are a student, you can waive the $7 fee on the Standard Account.
HSBC is giving new checking account owners up to $750
When you open an HSBC checking account you can qualify for a bonus as high as $750 depending on the account you choose and how much money you deposit into it.
Different accounts, different requirements, and different bonuses. HSBC has three different checking accounts, and they all have their own signup bonuses and requirements.
As you move up the various checking account tiers, you get more personal support, more access to services like ATM fee rebates, and increased access to premium credit cards.
With HSBC Choice Checking when you deposit an initial balance of $1,500 and maintain it for 90 days, you get a $200 signup bonus.
For new HSBC Advance Checking accounts your opening balance needs to be at least $10,000, and the bonus you'll receive if you maintain it for 90 days is $350.
The HSBC Premier Checking account rewards people who establish a six-figure opening balance (and maintain it for 90 days) with a $750 signup bonus.
Putting money in the bank is one thing, keeping it there is another. For all three of these accounts, you need to maintain the qualifying minimum balance to avoid paying fees.
If you go below the $1,500 balance with the Choice Checking Account, you'll be a charged a $15 monthly maintenance fee.
When your HSBC Advanced Checking Account balance falls below $10,000, your monthly maintenance fee will be $25.
For the Premier Checking account, letting your balance dip below $100,000 puts you on the hook for a $50 monthly maintenance fee.
KeyBank offers a $100 bonus for a Hassle-Free account and a $200 bonus for other checking accounts
KeyBank has discovered that some people love the functionality of a checking account but don't actually use checks.
Its Hassle-Free account is an account that acts a lot like an online checking account, except it is checkless (customers can make most transactions through mobile banking)
It comes with a KeyBank Debit Mastercard for ATMs and debit machines, and there are no monthly fees, minimum transactions, or minimum balances to maintain.
Enter the promo code and get $100. When you're signing up for a new Hassle-Free account from KeyBank, provide the offer code MASH0618 and make a single deposit of $500 within 60 days.
Your account will receive a $100 welcome bonus from KeyBank for signing up.
KeyBank has four more checking accounts, each with a $200 signup bonus. KeyBank has four tiers of checking accounts, each with their own monthly fees (and rules for waiving them), ATM fee discounts, and rewards points membership fees.
It doesn't matter if you're applying for the Key Express Checking, the Key Advantage Checking, the Key Privilege Checking, or the Key Privilege Select Checking account.
All of them can earn you a $200 signup bonus as long as you apply online and enter the promo code ONAS0618, then make a $500 deposit in the first 60 days.
Sound good? Hopefully, you live in one of these places. The only catch is you have to live in either Alaska, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton or Toledo, Ohio; Idaho, Central or Northern Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Utah, Vermont, or Portland, Oregon to get this offer.
Choose a TD checking account with either a $150 or $300 signup bonus
New checking account customers with TD Bank have the chance to earn up to $300 just for opening their account.
TD Convenience accounts have low balance requirements, which help waive those pesky maintenance fees. Remember, getting a signup bonus is a bit of an empty achievement if the money has to go to monthly maintenance fees.
With the TD Convenience checking account you only need to maintain a balance of $100 to waive the $15 monthly maintenance fee.
When you open a new TD Convenience account from the TD website and deposit $500 or more within 60 days, you get a $150 online signup bonus.
TD Premier checking accounts reimburse all ATM fees when you maintain a minimum balance. When you maintain a minimum balance of $2,500 with a TD Premier checking account, all ATM fees (TD and non-TD) are reimbursed.
$2,500 is also the balance you need to maintain to waive the account's monthly $25 maintenance fee.
$2,500 is the magic number. It's probably not a coincidence, then, that you need to deposit $2,500 into a new TD Premier account within 60 days to get a $300 bonus (for online applications only).
Citizens Bank has a $200 bonus just for making a $500 deposit in a new checking account
Citizens Bank (the company with the previous $1,000 bonus offer for opening a college savings account) also has a bonus for opening a personal checking account.
Remember, the only catch with Citizens Bank is you can only get an account if you reside in one of the following 11 states:
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Rhode Island
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Massachusetts
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Connecticut
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New Hampshire
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New York
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Michigan
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Vermont
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New Jersey
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Delaware
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Ohio
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Pennsylvania
Bonus for applying online. When you apply for a Citizens Bank One Deposit Checking account through the bank's website and deposit $500 within 60 days of opening your account, you'll get $200.
The $500 minimum deposit is super-low compared to most other cards we're looking at here, especially considering you're getting $200 back.
The One Deposit Checking account is also affordable in other ways. There's no minimum balance to maintain and there's no monthly maintenance fee as long as you make any deposit of any amount during the billing month.
Choose between two CIBC checking accounts to earn a $200 bonus
CIBC currently doesn't advertise a signup bonus for its personal checking accounts on its website.
But when you go in person to a CIBC branch they are more than happy to tell you all about the bank's $200 bonus offer for a personal checking account throughout 2018.
Choose between two personal checking options. The $200 signup bonus offer is available for both the interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing CIBC checking accounts.
iCan checking is the non-interest-bearing option and includes free online and mobile banking, and myChoice Checking is CIBC's interest-bearing personal checking account.
It's incredibly easy. Deposit $50 when you open the account and set up one automatic payment or make one debit transfer and you get your $200 bonus.
The only other requirement (besides the need to go into the bank in person to qualify) is you need to sign up for electronic account statements to qualify for the $200 bonus.
Best Business Bank Account Bonuses
Banks want your business' business
Banks want you to entrust them with your business accounts even more than your personal checking and savings accounts.
Business bank accounts typically have high volumes, higher balances, and require standalone credit.
Which means a bank can help your business make money while making money itself on fees, interest, and reinvesting the money you entrust it with.
It's no wonder, then, that many banks are offering outstanding signup bonuses to entice you to choose them over the competition for your business banking.
KeyBank is offering $5,000 for bringing it your business accounts
If you live in the right state, you can be rewarded handsomely for choosing a KeyBank Business account.
Business owners in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, and Washington are eligible for this promotion.
Unlike some of the online-only deals we looked at with personal checking and savings accounts, you need to sign up in person at a branch to qualify for this offer.
Five steps to $5,000. KeyBank will deposit $5,000 into your business account when you meet its requirements (there's a lot you need to do, but hey, it's $5,000!).
First, you need to open a primary operating account for your business (either a Key Business Rewards Checking Account or a Commercial Transaction Account).
Next, you need to open and link a Key Business Gold Money Market Savings or Key Business Silver Money Market Savings Account (so you can earn interest on balances).
Third, you need to sign your business up for a business card program such as a Key2Business, Key2Purchase, Key Business Rewards, or Key Business Credit Card.
Now you need to open a Key Merchant Services account (for payment services and other front-line operations support).
Finally, process $50,000 or more through your primary operating account in the first three months after opening it, and KeyBank will deposit $5,000 into it.
Huntington Accelerated Business Checking is offering a $750 bonus
This is another great offer that's restricted to people who are fortunate enough to live in a state where the bank does business.
If you reside or own a business in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, or Wisconsin, you can get a coupon code from the Huntingdon Bank website and take it to your nearest branch.
Qualifying isn't difficult. To qualify for the $750 signup bonus, you first need to open a new Huntington Accelerated Business Checking account for your company.
Within 60 days after opening the account, you need to make deposits of $25,000 and make at least 30 transactions (including checks, debit purchases, and bill payments).
That's it—$750 will be deposited into your Accelerated Business Checking account within 14 days of meeting all the requirements.
It's a solid business account. You'll also have chosen a really good business bank account, with a $30 monthly fee waived if you maintain a monthly average balance of $25,000.
You can also avoid the fee by linking your Accelerated Business checking account to a Huntington Money Market Account or Savings Account.
There are no fees for up to 600 transactions per month (and a $0.20 fee per transaction after 600).
You can earn $400 for opening a Huntingdon Fast Track Business Account
If your business is still small but growing, you can choose a Huntington Fast Track Business account.
Rather than needing to deposit $25,000 to qualify, you only need to deposit and maintain a balance of $5,000 for 60 days to get a $400 bonus.
You get 300 free monthly transactions instead of 600, and after 300 you get charged $0.50 per transaction.
A Community Business Account from Huntington can earn you $200
The third tier of business accounts offered by Huntington is called the Community Business Checking Account.
For small-scale enterprises. If your business has less than 150 monthly transactions, this could be the account for you.
When you open a Community Business Checking Account and make $2,000 in deposits and 10 transactions within 60 days of the account opening, you get $200.
Other great reasons for smaller businesses to choose a Community Business Checking Account are the lack of monthly or annual fees, and no minimum balances on accounts.
Earn up to a $500 bonus by opening more than one business account with Bank of America
Bank of America is a popular personal banking resource but it also offers two levels of bonuses for businesses opening new accounts.
Start by earning $300. To qualify for the first level—an initial $300 bonus—you need to open one of Bank America's business checking accounts.
Bank of America offers the Business Fundamentals Checking for smaller businesses, and the Business Advantage Checking account for larger companies.
Sign up for either one and make a deposit of $5,000 within 60 days, and you've completed the first steps to getting the initial $300 bonus.
Now you have to sign up for a second Business Advantage account, and there are a couple of options.
The first option is to open a business credit card and make $500 in purchases within 60 days.
Or you can set up a Bank of America Merchant Services account (for processing payments) and settle at least $1,000 in payments over the first 60 days.
Earn another $200 by going all-in. By signing up for the first two accounts you earned the initial $300, and by signing up for all three accounts and meeting the qualifications you'll get another $200.
Fees can be waived with minimum activity. The monthly fee for the Business Fundamentals Checking account is $18, but it can be avoided by spending $250 on your debit or credit card or maintaining a balance over $5,000.
Business Advantage Checking comes with a $29.95 monthly fee, which is waived when your company spends $2,500 or carries a balance greater than $15,000.
Chase Total Business Checking will give you $200 for depositing just $1,000
Chase Bank offers clients a business banking account known as Chase Total Business Checking.
Although the $200 bonus isn't as big as other ones we've looked at here, if you don't do tens of thousands of dollars of business per month this could be a good fit.
Easy deposit and transaction requirements. Rather than needing to deposit $50,000 or $25,000 to qualify for this bonus, you only need to deposit $1,000 into your new Total Business Checking account within 10 business days.
Over the next 60 days you need to maintain a $1,000 minimum balance.
You also need to do five transactions through the account within 60 days (which can include debit card transactions, deposits, credits, and money wires).
Within 10 business days of completing these requirements $200 will show up in your Chase Total Business Checking account.
Coupon codes available via the Chase website. Like a lot of the offers we've looked at here, you need to go to the Chase website and get yourself an offer code to enter when you're applying for a new account.
Get an additional $150 Visa Gift Card on top of a $300 bonus for opening a First Tennessee business and savings account
First Tennessee Bank operates 180 branches in and around the state of Tennessee.
To redeem this offer, you need to print off certificates you access on the First Tennessee Bank's website and bring them into a branch.
$5K minimum opening balance required. You need to open a BizEssentials Checking Account and deposit an opening balance of $5,000 to qualify.
You also need to conduct five transactions through the account within 30 days of opening it.
Within six weeks, your BizEssentials account will receive a $300 bonus.
Adding another $150 sweetens the deal. First Tennessee Bank has also added an incentive for businesses to open and link a BizEssentials Savings Account to their checking account.
When you deposit at least $2,500 into the account as its opening balance, you'll receive a prepaid Visa gift card with a value of $150.
Receiving a total of $450 for opening linked business checking and savings accounts is an enticing offer (as long as you live near a First Tennessee branch).
No fees for keeping a five-figure balance. If you maintain a $10,000 balance you won't pay any service fees with your BizEssentials Checking account.
Get up to $550 for opening a new small business account and credit card with MB
MB is offering another two-part bonus involving a combination of two business accounts.
Sign up for checking and get $350. First, you need to sign your business up for an MB Financial Bank small business checking account and maintain a $5,000 minimum balance for 90 days.
You'll also have to either complete 15 electronic transactions or open an MB money market or savings account and keep a $25,000 balance, in the first 90 days.
Your account will receive a $350 statement credit within 60 days of the 90-day account opening period.
Add a credit card and get another $200 in cash back. Your business will also be needing a credit card, and MB will reward you for choosing its MB Platinum Mastercard Business card.
When your business is approved for the card, you will get 2,500 bonus cash back points for making any purchase in the first 60 days.
Make a total of $1,500 or more in purchases on the card within the first 90 days, and you get another 17,500 cash back points.
You can redeem the 20,000 bonus points you earn for $200 cash back or stretch their value even further by redeeming them for travel or gift cards.
Small businesses in California can earn up to $600 for opening an account with OneWest Bank
It seems a lot of the time the best banks and bonus offers are only available to people in a specific geographic area.
OneWest Bank serves communities in Southern California, with 70 branches from San Diego to Ventura County.
MONEY Magazine named it "Best Bank, California" for the past two years running.
Financial services OneWest offers for California small businesses include Business Checking, Business Saving, and Merchant Services accounts.
$200 times three business accounts. OneWest is offering tiered bonuses for signing up with one, two, or three of these accounts.
Open a OneWest OneBusiness Interest Checking account and maintain a $1,500 balance for 90 days and you'll receive a $200 bonus.
When you open a OneWest OneBusiness Money Market Savings account and maintain a $10,000 balance for 90 days, you'll get another $200.
New OneWest Merchant Service accounts with a minimum of $100,000 in annual payment card processing qualifies for another $200.
Take all or just one. You can add the three bonuses together for $600, just choose two for $400, or choose any of the three on their own for $200.
Regions Bank offers $150 for setting up a new business account in one of the states it serves
For people owning a business in AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, SC, TN, or TX, Regions Bank has an offer to earn a $150 Visa Reward card.
Referral is necessary. Regions Bank isn't offering this bonus to just anyone.
You need to get a referral code to qualify, which can be obtained by either following Regions Bank on social media or by emailing referbankbonus@gmail.com.
When you send the email, put "Regions Bank Referral Bonus" in the subject line, then provide your full name and indicate you want to open a business checking account.
You'll get an email back with a link to the online application (if you're applying through social media, the link will be included in the post along with the referral code).
A few hoops to jump through to get your $150. Sign up for a Regions Bank Business Checking account within 90 days of getting the link, then make an opening deposit of $500.
Now you'll need to make at least one purchase with the Visa Business CheckCard linked to the account and sign up for online banking and to receive online statements.
Soon you'll receive a Visa Rewards Card in the mail with an available balance of $150.
It is a bank's privilege to have you as an account holder, so make them pay for it!
You shouldn't be paying to have a bank account.
In fact, it's the other way around—you should be paid for choosing a bank to entrust your money with.
When you choose the right bank account for your needs, you'll usually get the monthly fees waived by meeting the basic requirements.
More importantly, choosing the right bank can mean earning hundreds of dollars in bonuses just for signing up and fulfilling the qualifications.
There are a lot of choices listed here, with some offers only available in some states, and other offers only available when applying online or in person.
Some business bank account choices are for big businesses while others are for businesses that are just starting.
Some personal accounts are better for high-net-worth individuals, while others are designed to help you save for your kids' college education.
Whatever the reason for getting a bank account, you should be able to find an option that both meets your needs and pays you a reward for choosing it.
Have you ever received a bonus when you signed up for a bank account?
How was the experience like?
Any great tips to share on finding the most rewarding banks to open accounts with?
Let us know in the comments below!
