Key Points
- Earn a $400 Cash Bonus* with BMO Smart Advantage Checking account
- Must open an account online by January 28, 2026 and complete qualified activities
- BMO Smart Advantage Checking is a great basic checking account
BMO is offering a cash bonus for new customers who open a new BMO Smart Advantage Checking account and meet qualifying activity requirements.
This bonus offer is available until January 28, 2026, and is open to new BMO customers. To qualify, you need to open an account and have at least $4,000 in direct deposits within 90 days of opening.
Beyond the bonus offer, BMO offers one of the best checking accounts with $0 monthly maintenance fee, unlimited transactions at 40,000 fee-free ATMs, and solid digital banking options*!
About BMO
BMO is a full-service bank offering checking, savings, money market accounts (MMAs), certificates of deposit (CDs), mortgages, credit cards, wealth management, IRAs, branches, and more. BMO has over 12 million customers and is the 8th largest bank in North America by assets.
BMO has over 900 physical branches in 22 states if using a real branch is important to you. However, you can manage your funds, do online banking, setup BillPay, and more through their online and mobile apps!
Of course, deposits are FDIC-insured, meaning your money is safe.
BMO Smart Advantage Checking Features
BMO Smart Advantage Checking is a great basic checking account with $0 monthly maintenance fee. This account also gives you access to 40,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide! And, if you enroll in paperless statements, the $3 monthly fee for check images are waived.
BMO Digital Banking* also allows you to easily view your account balances, transfer money, setup Bill Pay, and more.
Promotional Offer
Right now, through January 28, 2026, you can earn up to a $400 cash bonus* when you open a new BMO Smart Advantage Checking account and complete qualifying activities.
To qualify, you need to open an account and make the minimum opening deposit of $25, plus had direct deposits totaling at least $4,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.
Your $400 cash bonus will be deposited into your account within 90 days of meeting requirements.
Student Loan Borrowers Will Not Be Harmed
BMO Smart Advantage Checking is one of our favorite free checking account options available, and this promotional offer makes it even more compelling.
If you’ve been looking for a new checking account a solid bank, that has great digital banking¹ along with physical branches, BMO is the right place for you.
Open a BMO Smart Advantage Checking account here >>
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*Conditions apply. Accounts are subject to approval and provided in the U.S. by BMO Bank N.A. Member FDIC
¹Certain conditions and limitations apply. The Digital Banking Guarantee and Bill Pay Service Guarantee apply to personal accounts only. Please see the BMO Digital Banking Agreement found at bmo.com/us/legal for details.
Editor: Colin Graves
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.