Best Bank Account Bonuses For September 9, 2026: Up To $400

Two of today's five offers come off the board within the next five weeks, and the one with the lowest bar to clear is the one expiring soonest. If you've been sitting on a switch, the math favors moving now. Here's where the best bank account bonus offers stand today.

💰 Today's Best Bank Bonus Offers At a Glance

Here are the best bank and credit union savings accounts rates today:

1. Huntington Perks Checking — $400

The best return on effort on the board. Huntington pays $400 for qualifying direct deposits totaling just $500 within 90 days of opening — an 80% return on a single modest paycheck. The account has to stay open 90 days, and the bonus lands within 14 days of meeting the requirement. Applications close September 30, 2026, and the offer is limited to new personal checking customers in eligible states. Payroll, Social Security, and ACH deposits count; PayPal, Zelle, and Venmo transfers do not. If you're weighing this against parking cash instead, compare it to the best high-yield savings accounts before you decide.

Higher balance? Huntington's Platinum Perks Checking pays $600 for $25,000 in new money within 90 days, on the same September 30 deadline.

2. Chase Total Checking — $400

Chase matches Huntington's dollar amount but asks for twice the deposits: $1,000 or more in direct deposits within 90 days of offer enrollment. The bonus posts within 15 days after that. The offer runs through October 14, 2026. Two eligibility catches worth reading before you apply — it's closed to existing Chase checking customers, and you can only collect one new checking bonus every two years. Our Chase Bank review covers what the account looks like once the bonus is paid.

3. SoFi Checking and Savings — Up To $400

SoFi's is the most tiered offer here, and the gap between tiers is steep: $1,000 to $4,999.99 in eligible direct deposits gets you $50, while $5,000 or more gets you the full $400. The window is tight — 25 days from your first deposit — but you have until December 31, 2026 to set up that first eligible direct deposit, making this the least urgent offer on the list. Payment is within seven business days. Check deposits, wires, P2P transfers, and tax refunds don't qualify. See our SoFi Money review for how the account holds up long term.

4. Wells Fargo Everyday Checking — $325

Same $1,000 direct deposit requirement as Chase for $75 less, with a deadline one day earlier: October 13, 2026. Deposits have to arrive within the first 90 days of offer enrollment, and the bonus is paid within 30 days after you qualify. It's the weaker of the two big-bank offers on identical effort, so if you're eligible for both, take Chase. Either way, a brick-and-mortar account is worth pairing with something from our best online banks list.

5. Capital One 360 Checking — $250

The smallest bonus, but the only one here without a published end date, which makes it the fallback if the others don't fit your timing. You'll need promo code CHECKING250 and at least two qualifying direct deposits of $500 or more each within 75 days of opening. Be patient on payment — Capital One allows up to 135 days from account opening for the bonus to post. Our Capital One 360 review has the full account details.

What To Watch

Huntington's September 30 cutoff is the one to act on. Chase and Wells Fargo both roll off in mid-October, which usually means refreshed offers rather than nothing — but there's no guarantee the replacement matches $400. Bonuses are taxable and typically reported on a 1099-INT or 1099-MISC, so budget accordingly. For everything else moving in banking right now, our banking hub tracks rates and offers daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are bank account bonuses taxable?

Yes. Banks treat sign-up bonuses as taxable income and report them once you cross $600, though many issue a form at any amount. The form varies by institution — SoFi's terms say the bonus may be reported on a 1099-MISC, while most banks use a 1099-INT and treat it like interest. Either way it's ordinary income taxed at your marginal rate, so a $400 bonus is closer to $300 after federal tax for most earners. That's still a better return than a year of interest on a small balance in one of the best high-yield savings accounts.

What counts as a qualifying direct deposit?

An electronic deposit of a paycheck, pension, or government benefit sent through ACH from an employer, payroll provider, or government agency. What doesn't count is consistent across nearly every offer on this list: Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal transfers, wire transfers, mobile check deposits, tax refunds, and transfers you push from your own account at another bank. Huntington and SoFi both spell out those exclusions in their terms. If your income doesn't arrive as a true ACH payroll deposit, read the fine print before you apply — this is the single most common reason people miss a bonus. Our banking hub covers how to check what your employer actually sends.

How long does it take to get the bonus?

Faster than most people expect once you qualify, but the clock starts only after you meet the requirement. SoFi pays within seven business days, Huntington within 14 days, Chase within 15 days, and Wells Fargo within 30 days. Capital One is the outlier, allowing up to 135 days from account opening. Budget for the full window before counting on the money, and don't close the account waiting — see our Capital One 360 review for what that timeline looks like in practice.

Can you get the same bank bonus more than once?

Rarely, and the waiting periods are getting longer. Chase limits you to one new checking bonus every two years and excludes existing checking customers outright. Most other banks apply a 12- to 24-month lookback on closed accounts. The workable approach is rotating between institutions rather than returning to one, which is why keeping a running list of the best bank account bonus offers matters more than chasing any single deal.

Does opening a checking account hurt your credit score?

Usually not. Most banks screen checking applicants through ChexSystems, a banking history database, rather than running a hard credit inquiry — so your score generally isn't affected. Policies vary by bank and by product, though, and applying for an overdraft line or a bundled credit card can trigger a hard pull. If you're worried about the difference between account types, our online banking explainer walks through what banks check and why.

Can you close the account after the bonus posts?

You can, but not immediately, and not for free at most banks. Huntington requires the account to stay open at least 90 days just to earn the bonus. Beyond that, many banks charge an early closure fee if you close within 90 to 180 days of opening, and some reserve the right to claw back the bonus entirely. Check the closure terms alongside the bonus terms before you apply, then decide whether the account is worth keeping — our best online banks list covers which ones are worth staying at once the bonus is paid.