Here’s a guide on how to meet the Direct Deposit requirements for opening bank accounts, for the purpose of earning bank bonuses and promotions.
While there are a few bank bonus offers that don’t require Direct Deposit, most of the higher value promotions do.
The terms and conditions of most bonuses state that a Direct Deposit must be an “electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government“.
If you have no trouble sticking with those guidelines, then it’s smooth sailing to receive your bonus money. However, there are many people who don’t have the option of getting their paycheck directly deposited by their employer, and many more who don’t qualify for governments benefits.
So, what then are your options? I’ll go over some below.
*Another reason to learn about Direct Deposit alternatives is because many of today’s Checking accounts require Direct Deposit in order to avoid some monthly fees.
Best Alternatives To Trigger A Direct Deposit For Bank Accounts:
**IMPORTANT** One of the things I can’t stress enough is that one singular method is not GUARANTEED to work for everyone. All of the alternatives below are Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV).
First, The Options:
*Amazon Payments is no longer an option, so I’ve removed it from the list here.
• ACH Transfers. Automated Clearing House (ACH) Transfers/Push are available through all banks, because it’s a free way to transfer money between financial institutions. It’s also quick, taking typically 2 business days for transfers. This is the most popular alternative to meet Direct Deposit requirements. People often try to do an ACH transfer from a different bank account they own into the new one.
• Capital One 360 Online Checking. This is an online checking product that allows for ACH transfers and Person2Person payments (a way to send money to anyone using their email – similar to Chase Quickpay). It’s a popular option to fulfill Direct Deposit requirements because you control everything online and it avoids all the monthly fees that traditional banks require. Another plus is you can earn up to $1,000 in bonus money with referrals. Read about the Capital One 360 Bonus here.
• Paypal. You’ll find limited success using this currently. Basically, you simply add your new bank account to your PayPal profile and then withdraw the balance from your PayPal account into your bank account.
**MUST READ TIPS**
- Because none of the above alternatives will work with ALL bank bonuses for sure, I recommend using a combination of the above options.
- The good thing is, you’re basically just shifting your own money with really no risk of additional fees.
- If you’re planning on signing up for a good number of new bank promotions, prepare by setting up those above options first.
Meeting Direct Deposit Requirements For Specific Banks
Based on personal reports from popular finance forums, I’ve compiled a list of banks that often offer bonuses and which Direct Deposit alternatives have(or haven’t) worked. Please comment below with any personal experiences you might have.
Disclaimer: *This information is forever changing, so there is no guarantee these other methods of meeting Direct Deposit requirements for bonuses will always work.
*YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)
If a bank/financial institution’s name is listed, that means using ACH through them was reported as successful.
DD = Direct Deposit
Bank | Reportedly Triggers DD | Doesn’t Trigger DD | Promo |
American Express Bluebird |
Amazon payments | ||
American Express Serve |
Ally, Paypal, CapitalOne360, Santander ACH push | ||
Anchor Bank |
Discover ACH | ||
Associated Bank |
Ally, NFCU ACH | Promo | |
Avidia Bank |
Capital One 360 ACH | ||
BancorpSouth |
Unknown | Unknown | Promo |
Bank of America |
Emigrant, E*Trade, Fidelity Money Line, HSBC, Capital One 360 | ACH Transfer, Ally ACH, Paypal, BofA user to user transfers | Promo |
Bank of New York |
HSBC, ACH | ||
Bank Of The West |
Emigrant, Capital One 360, Paypal, Schwab ACH | Promo | |
BBVA Bank |
Capital One 360 | Promo | |
BMO |
Alliant ACH, Discover ACH, Schwab Transfer | Capital One 360, Paypal | Promo |
Capital One |
Capital One 360 | Promo | |
Capital One 360 |
Alliant, ACH, Discover, Capital One 360 | Promo | |
Charter One |
Capital One 360, ACH | Paypal | |
Chase |
E*Trade ACH, Amex Serve, Amex Bluebird, Citibank | Paypal, Capital One 360, KeyBank ACH, Bank of America ACH (*previously acceptable) | Promo |
Chime |
Amex Serve | ||
Citibank |
ACH, Amazon payments, Emigrant direct, Fidelity ACH, Capital One 360 | Paypal, Schwab Brokerage money link transfers | Promo |
Citizens Bank |
ACH, Capital One 360 | Promo | |
Columbia Bank |
Paypal | ||
Commerce Bank |
Paypal, Capital One 360 | ||
Community West Credit Union |
ACH | ||
Discover |
Ally, Amazon Payments, Bank of America Business ACH, Capital One 360, Fidelity, Paypal, Serve, TD Ameritrade | Promo | |
E*Trade |
Capital One 360, ACH | Promo | |
Fifth Third Bank |
Capital One, Discover ACH, Huntington, USAA ACH, Capital One 360, Paypal, Amex Serve, Tax Refund | Promo | |
First Mark Credit Union |
ACH, Alliant ACH, Ally ACH | ||
First Niagara Bank |
Alliant ACH, Ally ACH, Amex FSB ACH, Bank of America ACH, Capital One ACH, Capital One 360 ACH, Chase ACH, Discover, HSBC ACH, Paypal, State Farm ACH | Promo | |
First Tennessee Bank |
ACH, Alliant, Ally, Capital One, Capital One 360, Capital One Savings, Charles Schwab, Chase, Discover, Paypal, Santander, Schwab Brokerage, USAA, Venmo | Promo | |
First Trade Union Bank (FTUB) |
Capital One 360 | Ally Bank ACH, Chase ACH | |
Great Lakes Credit Union |
ACH, Chase | ||
HomeStreet Bank |
Citibank, Paypal, Provident Credit Union | Promo | |
HSBC |
Capital One 360, Paypal, ACH | Promo | |
Huntington Bank |
Amazon Payments, ACH Transfers, Bluebird, Capital One, Paypal | Promo | |
KeyBank |
Paypal, ACH, Discover, Schwab Brokerage | Promo | |
Lake Michigan Credit Union |
ACH | ||
LaSalle |
ACH | ||
M&T Bank |
ACH, Ally, Ameritrade, Barclays Savings, Capital One ACH trial deposits, Capital One 360, Chase trial deposits, Chase ACH, Citi ACH trial deposits, Discover, HSBC, Paypal, Paypal trial deposits, PNC test deposits, Schwab, USAA, Venmo | Promo | |
Mango |
Alliant, Amazon Payments, Bluebird, Fidelity, Capital One 360, Paypal | ||
Meadows Credit Union |
ACH | ||
Nationwide Bank |
Amex Serve, Capital One 360 ACH, Fidelity, Paypal | Ally ACH, Random ACH | Promo |
Northshore Bank |
ACH | ||
NorthWest Savings Bank |
ACH, Schwab One | ||
NuVision Federal |
Amazon Payments, Ameritrade, Schwab Brokerage | ||
Old National Bank |
PNC ACH | Promo | |
Orange County CU |
Unknown | Promo | |
PeoplesBank |
PNC ACH | ||
Pinnacle Titans Bank |
Paypal, Discover | ||
PNC |
ACH, Alliant, Amex Serve, Amex Redbird, Capital One 360, Discover ACH, Fidelity, Paypal, Fidelity | Ally ACH, E*Trade | Promo |
Popular Bank |
Capital One 360, Chase ACH | Promo | |
Principal Bank |
Capital On 360, HSBC | ||
Regions Bank |
ACH, Capital On 360 | Promo | |
Salem Bank |
E*Trade, ACH | Paypal | |
Santander Bank |
ACH | ACH coded as P2P such as Ally, Citi, Nationwide, PNC, US Bank will not work | Promo |
SchoolsFirstCU |
Capital One 360 | ||
Security Service FCU |
Paypal | ||
SunTrust |
Ally ACH, ACH, Discover, Paypal, ING, TCF, Capital One 360 | Promo | |
TD Bank |
ACH | Promo | |
Tech CU |
Ally, Capital One 360, Charles Schwab, Citi, Discover, PNC, Schwab, Synchrony | ||
TruMark Financial |
Paypal | ||
UFBDirect |
ACH | Promo | |
US Bank |
ACH, Alliant, Paypal | Promo | |
USAA |
Capital One 360 | ACH, Paypal | Promo |
Valley Bank |
Capital One 360 | ||
Wells Fargo |
Capital One 360(maybe), Ally, Charles Schwab Money Link | Mixed reports (YMMV) | Promo |
Helpful pages for Bank Promotions:
- Bank Promotions List
- Best Chase Bank Promotions
- Soft Vs. Hard Pull When Opening Bank Accounts
- Banks That Allow Credit Card Funding The Opening Deposit
- Banks With Lowest Foreign ATM Fees
READ MORE: SEE THE BEST BANK BONUSES HERE AND THE BEST INVESTING BONUSES HERE.
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Hey,
New to here and I’m wondering what exactly does Wells Fargo ACH mean? If it’s “transfer money using routing number” I’ve already done that to chase, and iPhone notification did pop out to be direct deposit but 12 days have passed the bonus not in my account yet
Thanks
Hi Tony,
I just opened a Cap One 360 checking account with the promo EXP400 promo. I have had a 360 savings account since 2015. After opening the account the statement shown at the top of the welcome aboard page stated “Be sure to receive your 2 qualifying direct deposits of $250 or more within 60 days to get your bonus”.
Here are my questions… I processed the required steps on the SSA site to change my monthly direct deposits to go to the new 360 checking account however the soonest I could request the change become effective is for my April 2017 payment which I believe will be in March. This will not allow me to get the 2 required DD’s (from the SSA) in to the 360 account within the next 60 days. I did see your mention above of alternate methods some banks will accept a DD and it suggests that Cap One will accept an ACH. Does this hint that if I make an ACH from another bank account to my 360 account as well as have my SSA DD in March it should satisfy the promo requirement of 2 DD within 60 days?
If I make an ACH deposit of $250 from another bank account to the 360 account and have my DD from SSA process into the 360 account around 3/3/17 would this trigger the 2 DD’s required to get the promo bonus inside of my 60 day window?
Thanks!
I presume you changed your direct deposit online? If you call SSA, they can change it to your new bank with about 3 weeks notice. I found out when I tried to change mine online last month. I just could not believe it would take that long so I called to see if that was correct and why. The rep told me they have that LONG delay online to be certain no fraud was involved. I changed it with her and it was effective for my next check – which was about 2.5 weeks later.
I read somehwre that Discover ACH triggers DD at Wells Fargo. Is it true?
Thanks!
To meet the requirement, does a direct deposit have to be ONE deposit meeting the minimum amount, or can it be multiple direct deposits throughout the promotion period that sums up to the minimum required amount? Specifically interested in Santander. Thanks.
Will,
Each bank bonus is different and the terms will state whether it’s cumulative or per direct deposit. In the case of the Santander $150 Checking bonus, it’s cumulative DDs of at least $500 in 90 days. Cheers!
what’s DD mean?
I think it means “Direct Deposit” because the author capitalized those words just before the table. I had to look too (was stuck on Due Diligence for a while 🙂
TD Bank’s disclosures specifically state that ACH transfers do NOT meet the direct deposit requirements.
“…bank transfers between your TD Bank accounts or accounts you have at other financial institutions or brokerages do not qualify.”
True I did a P2P ACH into TD bank & it didn’t trigger the DDEP requirement.
ANY ADVICE ON WHAT ELSE MIGHT DO SO TO EARN THEIR $300 BONUS REQUIREMENT…SUCH AS paypal or CAP 360?
Thanks APPREciate ANY help as I only have 20 days left to meet it!
Akash, from which institution did you do the ACH from?
Ally, Alliant, Capital One, Charles Schwab, Chase, Discover Savings, E*trade, Wells Fargo have worked for others.
Tony, when was last time you can confirm an ACH transaction worked to meet the DD requirements for the BOA checking bonus? I have Ally, Chase, ETrade, and a few others to use, but I am not sure it will work.
Does anyone know if Capital one 360 push to BAC will trigger bonus still?
Bank of America ACH does not Trigger Chase DD. I tried multiple times and none of them worked. Spoke with other friends and they also verified.
I keep hearing the same as well; I’ll make the update. Thanks!
For chase checking bonus instead of direct deposit Bank of America ACH transfer will work??
BOA doesn’t count HSBC transfer. My P2P transfer doesn’t trigger Direct deposition.
Mr. Phan.
Thanks for all your help and the blog members feedback. I have a request for you. Can you or someone on this blog can make a list of all the banks that offers free ACH or Trigger Bonuses with the bank link ?
I have a little hard time trying to find the correct banks to open ACH account with them since Bank names are not complete. I am looking forward to have ACH accounts in all banks that ACH works as a DD. Thank you!
Hi Every One. I just opened an account at B of A. In order for me to trigger the $300 bonus I need to make $4000 direct deposit before 90 days. What bank ACH triggers the direct deposit for Bank of America??? Can the ACH be sent from my friends account????? 08/08/2016
NFCU ach push to Associated Bank triggered DD bonus 5/2016
Thanks for the heads up Eric!
very seasonal, but tax refund worked for Fifth Third.
ACH transfer from KeyBank did not work for Chase
Thanks Steve!
ACH credit from Paypal will work for chase?? What will work for chase checking bonus instead of Direct deposit from employer?
I’m trying a FSA account I signed up for with my employer, my employer’s payroll company now makes a weekly direct deposit into my new checking account with the direct deposit bonus offer, I will know soon if it worked. The amount direct deposited is a tax free reimbursement for weekly dependent care. What’s nice is I can sign into my FSA account and change the bank direct deposit account at any time, so if the bonus works I can easy add a new bank account with a direct deposit bonus, close the old bank account and start all over again.