Here you can find out how to meet the Direct Deposit Requirements to earn bonuses and promotions from new bank accounts.
While there are banks promotions that do not require direct deposit, larger bonuses often require direct deposit.
Banks and Credit Unions use cash bonuses to lure in customers in hopes of keeping them long term. By requiring a direct deposit, which is defined as an “electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government“, they hope to keep you locked in.
While it is very simple to meet this requirement by switching an existing direct deposit to the new account, some people do not have the luxury of receiving direct deposit or government benefits.
Thus we compiled a list of alternatives to meet Direct Deposit Requirements.
When you are able to meet the Direct Deposit Requirements, you are on your way to earn bonuses, waive monthly service fees, and earn higher rates.
What Trigger A Direct Deposit For Bank Bonuses
*It is important to know that your experience may end up entirely differently than someone else. In fact, one singular method is NOT guaranteed to work for everyone. Thus we ask that you leave a comment below letting us know about your experience.
- ACH Transfers: Most if not all bank accounts have Automated Clearing House (ACH) Transfers which is a free way to transfer money between financial institutions. You’ll find this method to be the most popular, usually within 2 business days, to do an ACH transfers to meet direct deposit requirement.
- Capital One 360 Online Checking: This Online Checking account allows you to make ACH Transfers and Person2Person payments (a way to send money to anyone using your email – much like Chase Quickpay). This is also a very popular alternative because you are able to manage your money from anywhere and you avoid traditional hassles such as monthly service fees. Furthermore, you can earn up to $1,000 a year referring new members.
- Paypal: You will find limited success with this method but you simply link your new bank account to your Paypal and transfer the balance requirement from Paypal to the account. Sign up here for a $10 bonus with Paypal.
Tips Before You Get Started:
- Because there is no guarantee that no single method will work for you, we recommend trying a combination of the options above.
- If you plan on applying for several promotions, it is best to have all the options set up first.
- There are is no risk for additional fees because you are transferring your own money across multiple banks.
Based on the reported experiences of the many consumers online from sites such as FicoForums, Slickdeals, CreditBoards, Flyertalk, etc, we’ll put together the most extensive list of Banks (alphabetically) on alternative method of direct deposit to trigger a bank bonus.
*However, this information is constantly changing, and there is no guarantee these other methods to meet Direct Deposit Requirements will work.
What Banks Count As Direct Deposits
Disclaimer: We make no promise the information below is 100% correct since banks can change what count as direct deposit often.
If a bank/financial institution’s name is listed, that means using ACH through them was reported as successful.
You should always do a push transfer and not a pull transfer in order to qualify bank bonuses.
| Bank | Reportedly Triggers Direct Deposit via ACH |
|---|---|
| 1st Source Bank | Charles Schwab, Chase |
| 3Rivers Federal Credit Union | Keybank |
| Adventure Credit Union | Capital One 360 |
| Amalgamated Bank | BMO Harris |
| American Express Bluebird | Amazon Payment |
| American Express Serve | Ally, Paypal, CapitalOne 360, Santander ACH push |
| Ameris Bank | Chase |
| Anchor Bank | Discover ACH |
| Andigo Credit Union | Amex Bluebird, Charles Schwab brokerage, Fidelity |
| Aspiration | Amex Serve |
| Associated Bank | Ally, PNC |
| Avidia Bank | Capital One 360 ACH |
| Axos Bank | Brex payroll, Capital One, Charles Schwab, SoFi, USAA, T-Mobile |
| Bank & Trust | Alliant, Ally, American Express Serve, Capital One, Charles Schwab Checking, Chase |
| Bank of America | Amex Serve, Baxter Credit Union, Connexus, Emigrant, E*Trade, PurePoint Financial, Robinhood, Sofi |
| Bank of New York | HSBC |
| Bank of the West | BMO Harris, Capital One 360, Discover, Emigrant, Paypal, Schwab, USAA, Venmo |
| BankWell | Charles Schwab |
| BB&T | Ally, Charles Schwab Brokeage |
| Blue Federal Credit Union | BMO Harris |
| Blue Hills Bank | Discover Checking |
| BMI Federal Credit Union | Amex Bluebird |
| BMO Harris Bank | Alliant, Ally, Robinhood, Schwab, UFCU |
| BOK Financial | Capital One 360, Chase, Charles Schwab |
| Bridgeview Bank Group | Ally, Gusto |
| Camden National Bank | Capital One |
| Capital Bank | Alliant, Ally, Capital One, Charles Schwab, Chase, Discover, Fidelity, Paypal |
| Capital One | Capital One 360 |
| Capital One 360 | Ally, Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, Chase, Clearview, Discover Savings, E*Trade, Fidelity, Fifth Third, First Tennessee, Goldman Sachs, PenFed, Robinhood, TD Ameritrade, U.S. Bank, Vanguard |
| Charles Schwab | Wells Fargo Business |
| Charter One | Capital One 360 |
| Chase Bank *Any transfer that codes as P2P will no longer work for Chase. *If your transfer has the description “PPD ID/ACH Transfer”, most likely that means it’s a valid transfer that will trigger the bonus. | Ameritrade, CBC Federal Credit Union, Circle Pay, CIT Bank, Connexus Federal Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, DoorDash, Elements Financial, First Technology Credit Union, Firstrade, Freshbooks WePay, Goldman Sachs, Google Adsense, Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union, Gusto, Keesler Federal, M1 Finance, MarketForce Payroll, Mercari, M&T Bank, Northern Bank, Orion Federal Credit Union, PenFed, Provident Credit Union, Santander Bank, SoFi Invest, SoFi Money, Stanford Federal Credit Union, TD Ameritrade, T-Mobile Money, Wise, Uber, Uber Eats, University Federal Credit Union, Wealthfront, Wisebanyan |
| Chime | Ally, American Express Serve, Apply Pay, American Express Bluebird, Cash app, Charles Schwab, Chase, Circle Pay, Coinbase, Discover, Hancock Whitney, Huntington, Northwest FCU, PNC, TD Bank, Wells Fargo, USAA, U.S. Bank |
| CIBC US | Venmo |
| Citi | Amazon Payment, Chase, Discover, Emigrant Direct, Fidelity, INGdirect, Paypal |
| Citizens Bank | ACH, Alliant, Ally Bank, Capital One 360, Charles Schwab, Chase Bank, Fidelity Investments, Santander Bank, Vanguard, Venmo transfers |
| Clearview Federal Credit Union | Discover Trial Deposits |
| Columbia Bank (NJ) | Capital One 360, Chase, Citizens Bank, Discover, Fidelity, Robinhood, TD Bank, Vanguard, & Venmo |
| Columbia Bank (WA, OR, ID) | Chase |
| Commerce Bank (MA) | Paypal, ING |
| Connexus Credit Union | Ally, BMO Harris |
| Consumers Credit Union | BMO Harris, Chase, NFCU |
| Credit Union One | Chase, Discover, PayPal |
| Current Bank | Alliant Credit Union, Brex, Charles Schwab, Discover, Elements Financial, Northwest FCU |
| Discover Bank | Amazon Seller Disbursements, American Express Serve, Bank of America Business ACH, Capital One 360, Fidelity, Paypal, TD Ameritrade |
| Dollar Bank | Wells Fargo |
| Elements Financial | Alliant, Ally, American Express Serve, Capital One 360, Discover, Goldman Sachs savings, Incredible Bank, Vanguard, Wealthfront, Wells Fargo |
| E*Trade | Capital One 360 |
| Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union | Alliant, Initial CC Funding, Chase, Wells Fargo |
| Fifth Third Bank | Ally, Alliant, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Charles Schwab, Chase, Citizens, Discover, E*Trade, Huntington, USAA, Capital One 360, Liberty Financial, Paypal, PNC, Serve, Wise, Wells Fargo |
| First American Bank | MyPay |
| FirstBank | American Express Serve, First Tech Federal Credit Union, TD Ameritrade |
| Firstmark Credit Union | ACH, Alliant, Ally |
| First Merchants Bank | Ally, Amex Bluebird, Goldman Sachs |
| First National Bank | Chase |
| First National Bank (NE) | Charles Schwab Trial Deposits |
| First Niagara Bank | Alliant, Ally, AmEx Savings, Bank of America, Capital One, Capital One, Charlese Schwab, 360, Chase, Discover, HSBC, Paypal, State Farm |
| First Tennessee Bank | ACH, Alliant, Capital One, Capital One 360, Capital One Savings, Charles Schwab, Discover, First Citizens Bank, Paypal, Santander, Schwab Brokerage, USAA, Wells Fargo, Venmo |
| First Trade Union Bank | Capital One 360 |
| First United Bank | KickFurther |
| Five Star Bank | Wells Fargo |
| Florence Bank | Wells Fargo |
| Flushing Bank | Amex Serve, Charles Schwab |
| Fulton Bank | Capital One 360, Citi, Discover, Huntington, Wells Fargo |
| GoBank | Alliant, BMO Harris, Chase |
| Great Lakes Credit Union | ACH, Chase |
| Hancock Whitney | Chase |
| HomeStreet Bank | Citibank, Paypal, Provident Credit Union |
| Horizon Bank | Chase |
| HSBC Bank | Ally, American Express Bluebird, Chase, Discover, PNC Checking, Robinhood, Santander, SoFi Money, Wells Fargo |
| Huntington Bank | ACH Transfers, Alliant, Ally, Amazon Payment, Amex BlueBird, Capital One, Chase, PNC |
| IC Federal Credit Union | Santander |
| Incredible Bank | Charles Schwab, Chase, Wells Fargo |
| Investor Bank | Charles Schwab, Fidelity |
| JSC Federal Credit Union | Fidelity |
| Juno | American Express Business checking, Wise (enter “Payroll” in the payment reference field) |
| Key Bank | American Express Serve, Capital One 360, Chase, Discover Checking, E*Trade, Huntington, Navy Federal Credit Union, Paypal, Stripe Transfer, TD Ameritrade, Wise, USAA, Wells Fargo, Venmo |
| Lake Michigan Credit Union | ACH |
| LegacyTexas | Capital One 360 |
| Liberty Bank (CT, MA, RI) | Chase |
| Mango | Alliant, Amazon Payments, Bluebird, Capital One 360, Fidelity, PayPal |
| M&T Bank | ACH trial deposits, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Discover, HSBC, Paypal, Paypal, PNC |
| MB Financial Bank | Capital One, Fidelity |
| Memory Bank | Discover |
| MidFirst Bank | Ally |
| My Banking Direct | Capital One 360, Schwab Brokerage |
| Nationwide Bank | American Express Serve, Capital One 360, Fidelity, Paypal |
| NorthWest Savings Bank | ACH, Ally, Capital One, Discover, Paypal, PNC, Schwab, USAA |
| NuVision Federal Credit Union | Amazon Payments, Ameritrade, Schwab Brokerage |
| NYCB Family Of Banks | BMO Harris |
| Old Missouri Bank | BMO Harris |
| Old National Bank | Initial credit card funding, Fidelity, PNC, Wells Fargo |
| Old Second Bank | Capital One, Venmo |
| OneWest Bank | Chase |
| PeoplesBank (MD & PA) | Alliant, Ally, Charles Schwab, PNC, Wells Fargo |
| People’s United Bank | Alliant, American Express Bluebird |
| Pinnacle Titans Bank | Discover, PayPal |
| PNC Bank | Alliant, Ally, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One 360, Chase, Fidelity, PayPal, PenFed Wise, Venmo transfers, Wells Fargo |
| Popular Community Bank | Capital One 360, Chase, Citibank, Discover, Wells Fargo |
| Presidential Bank | ACH |
| Principal Bank | Capital One 360, HSBC |
| Regions Bank | Alliant, Ally, American Express Serve, Bank of America, Capital One 360, Charles Schwab, Chase, First Tennessee, PenFed |
| Salem Bank | E*Trade |
| Salem Five | Alliant, Capital One |
| Santander Bank | Alliant, American Express, BMO Harris, Chase, Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Wells Fargo, Venmo transfers |
| Sandy Spring Bank | American Express Serve |
| SchoolsFirst FCU | Capital One 360 |
| Seacoast Bank | American Express Serve, Discover |
| Security Service Federal Credit Union | Paypal |
| SoFi | Ally, Altra, Astra, Brex, eBay (managed payments), PNC, Revolut, Treasury Direct, Wise |
| Stoneham Bank | Capital One 360, Wells Fargo |
| Synovus Bank | Capital One, Chase |
| Talmer Bank & Trust | Capital One, Chase, Venmo |
| TCF Bank | Alliant, Ally, Capital One 360, Chase, First Tech, Discover Savings, Fidelity |
| TD Bank | Ally, Alliant, American Express Savings, Bank of America, Barclays Savings, Capital One 360, Charles Schwab, E*Trade, Fidelity, Marcus, PNC, Truist, USAA, Vanguard, Wells Fargo |
| Technology Credit Union | Ally, Capital One 360, Charles Schwab, Chase, Citi, Discover, PNC, Schwab, Synchrony |
| Thrivent Federal Credit Union | American Express Bluebird, Discover |
| TIAA Direct | Capital One, Capital One 360, Chase, Chase business, Discover, Fidelity, Fidelity CMA |
| Town Bank | Capital One |
| TruMark Financial | PayPal |
| Truist Bank | Ally, Alliant, Adventure Credit, Capital One 360, Charles Schwab, Chase, Discover, Fidelity, Goldman Sachs, Navy Federal Credit Union, Vanguard, Wells Fargo |
| TruStone Financial | American Express Serve |
| TruWest Credit Union | Vanguard |
| Unify Financial Credit Union | Alliant, Capital One, Charles Schwab, Chase, Discover checking, Fidelity, Ticketmaster |
| Union Bank & Trust | Alliant, Ally, American Express Business Plus, Capital One 360, Charles Schwab, Chase, Discover, Merrill Edge |
| USAA | Capital One 360, Navy Federal ACH |
| US Bank | All America Bank, Alliant, Ally Bank, American Express Serve, Apple Cash, Capital One 360, Cash App, Charles Schwab, Chase, Discover, DCFU, Fidelity, Goldman Sachs, Marcus, PayPal, PNC, School’s First Credit Union, Simple, SoFi Checking, Tech Credit Union, Unify FCU, USAA, Wealthfront, Wells Fargo, Western Vista Federal Credit Union |
| Valley National Bank | Capital One, Chase, NFCU |
| VantageWest | PayPal, Wells Fargo |
| Varo Money | Alliant, Ally, Bank of America, Capital One, Charles Schwab, Chase, Discover, Santander, Square cash, USAA |
| Vista Bank | Charles Schwab |
| Wells Fargo | Bank of America, E*Trade, Fidelity, HSBC, KeyBank, PayPal, PNC Bank, Robinhood, Santander Bank, SoFi Checking, USAA, Venmo transfers |
| Wesbanco | Keybank |
I just opened a Wells Fargo checking account with a code that is currently offering a $325 sign up bonus.
(Receive $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits into the account within 90 days)
Does anyone know if an IRS tax refund deposited to the account will count as qualifying deposit to get the bonus?
I used Venmo to “DD” for the Santander bonus. It coded as “Cashout”. Can anyone who successfully used Venmo tell me how it coded?
Thanks!
from my experience draft kings and other gambling sites, as well as investment apps/websites such as Robinhood and crypto.com meet the requirements as direct deposits for all banks. just deposit ur money and transfer it to the new bank card
btw, I saw Great Lakes CU on the list above. Had a horrifying/drawn out experience with them from just opening and promotional CD and closing it…Took year and a half to fix a credit report issue. (ya credit report from a CD, crzy)…
Transferred Schwab bank to BMO Harris Bank. Not sure if it counts as DD. Kind of worry that it won’t because the transaction is showing “Web Schwab Bank P2P.” Usually p2p means money transfer between peers or friends. Will post more update or do share if you know something. Thanks!
ya I would try another jic. Ally?
Just tried an ACH push transfer from Chase to Citizens Bank. It said RTP Credit. I didn’t realize there were two options. (Standard and Real Time Payment). I’m guessing the code RTP Credit does not count as Direct Deposit. I’ll try the standard transfer later. Any help?
Did the RTP work? Or did you have to ACH push for the bonus?
Would PayPal, Venmo, Charles Schwabb count for a direct deposit to the Atlantic Union Bank?
US Bank did not accept my DDs from Chase as counting towards the SUB.
FYI- For the First Horizon $400 bank bonus- ACH transfers from Capital One 360 qualified as direct deposits.
Neither PayPal, nor Venmo coded as direct deposit at PNC for me today. Pls update grid for the sake of others. Tku for making this info available, Anthony.