[AZ, CA, FL, IN, MI, NJ, NY, OH, WI] Flagstar Bank $300-$500 Checking Bonus

extended to September 30, 2025

Extended until 8/31/2025

Extended until 7/31/2025

Extended to 6/30/2025

Extended to 5/31/2025

Extended to 3/31/2025

Update 1/4/25: Bonus has now been increased to $300/$500 from $250/$350.

Update 1/2/25: Extended to February 28, 2025

Extended to Dec 31, 2024

Update 9/30/24: Extended to November 30, 2024.

Update 7/29/24: Extended to 9/30/2024

Update 7/2/24: Extended until July 31, 2024

Update 6/16/24: Deal is back and valid until June 30, 2024.

Update 5/14/24: Extended until May 31, 2024.

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $350
  • Availability: Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+
  • Additional requirements: $500 average balance
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
  • ChexSystems: Yes
  • Credit card funding: None
  • Monthly fees: $0-$15
  • Early account termination fee: 180 days, bonus forfeit
  • Household limit: One
  • Expiration date: April 30, 2024

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Flagstar Bank is offering a checking bonus of up to $350.
    • $300 when you open a Flagstar Ready Checking and complete the following requirements:
      • Maintain an average daily balance of $500+
      • Have one or more direct deposits totaling $500 or more
    • $500 when you open a Flagstar Elite Checking and complete the following requirements:
      • Maintain an average daily balance of $500+
      • Have one or more direct deposits totaling $500 or more

The Fine Print

  • You must be a new personal checking customer of Flagstar Bank.
  • You must open a Flagstar Ready Checking or Flagstar Elite Checking account.
  • Minimum $50 deposit to open checking account.
  • You will receive a $250 credit for Flagstar Ready Checking or a $350 credit for Flagstar Elite Checking into this account as a bonus 91-104 days after an initial deposit is made to the new account (account funding) opened, subject to the following conditions:
  • Within the first 90 days of the account funding (bonus period) you must maintain an average daily Balance of $500 or more and have one or more direct deposits (ACH credits) totaling $500 or more.
  • Additionally, (i) this offer is limited to one checking bonus per household, (ii)Flagstar Ready Checking account must be funded within 90 days of the account opening date, Flagstar Elite Checking account must be funded within 60 days of the account opening date, (iii) early account closure fee and reclamation of bonus may be imposed for accounts closed within 180 days, and (iv) Flagstar Bank employees are not eligible for the offer.
  • If you have been paid a checking cash bonus previously, you are ineligible to receive this offer.
  • For tax purposes, you will receive an IRS form from Flagstar Bank.
  • Offer subject to change or cancellation at any time without notice. Receiving this offer does not guarantee your eligibility. A
  • ll account applications are subject to our normal approval process. Area restrictions may apply.
  • Offer expires April 30, 2024.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

  • Flagstar ready checking account has no monthly fee when you opt into eStatements
  • Flagstar Elite Checking has a $15 monthly service charge, waived when you maintain a $25,000 combined monthly average balance in your Flagstar personal deposit accounts

Early Account Termination Fee

Bonus is forfeit if account is closed within 180 days

Our Verdict

Previously there was a $250 bonus that didn’t require a direct deposit. Seems to be available in more states now due to the NYCB merger. The $350 checking bonus isn’t worth considering due to the $25,000 deposit requirement to keep the account fee free (remember account needs to be kept open for 180 days to avoid the closure fee). If you put those funds into a high yield account earning 5% you’d earn $625. We will add this bonus to our best bank account bonuses.

Hat tip to reader Jason S

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

View Comments (904)

  • P2's application went to review yesterday and received an email that can't be opened due to Chex. Before Flagstar's Chex status...

    1/1, 1/3, 1/6, 5/12

  • P2 opened 5/19/25 Elite checking.ate the $15 fee for Jul
    $500 bonus posted 8/27/25. Plan to downgrade.

  • Applied 8/26 and got the following rejection email:

    Thank you for submitting a new account application with Flagstar Bank, N.A. We reviewed your application and unfortunately, we regret to inform you that we cannot open your account due to the information received from ChexSystems, Inc., a customer reporting agency. ChexSystems did not make the decision to deny your account application and is unable to provide you with specific reasons why the decision was made.

    • Are you near a branch? If so, I'd recommend trying again there as Flagstar is much less Chex-sensitive in-branch than they are online.

  • 5/13 account opened in branch with $500 cash
    5/20 +$500 Fidelity CMA
    5/29 +$500 Fidelity CMA
    - Random uses of debit card -
    8/1 -$15 monthly fee
    8/8 +$15 monthly fee waived by calling
    8/20 * Bonus payment * $500

  • The minimum balance required to avoid the monthly fee is 25K. Are there any exceptions or workarounds for this requirement? Also, is there a grace period before the fee is applied?

  • When I asked referlive about the gift card -

    I do see a completed registration in our system for the Refer-A-Friend program. However, Flagstar Bank has reported to us that you have accepted a different incentive at the time of your account opening. This offer cannot be combined with other offers.

    • Did you apply online or in branch? 300 or 500?

      This is the first bank I've heard of that actively reports to ReferLive in this manner. Oh well, the stack was never guaranteed.

      • I applied in branch for $500

        I kind of think that stacking $200 referral is too good to be true (usually stackable like M&T would be $50)

  • Applied with Chex Frozen. Denied, asking to unfreeze.

    Applied again with thawed Chex and was rejected for Chex. I'm LOL (50-70/12) Chex.

    I'm OOS. Nothing on that in the rejection email