Update 9/10/25: Reader Harrison Logan points out that there is a $1,000 bonus, seems like the only difference is the savings account requires $10,000 instead of $5,000.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $600
- Availability: LA, MS, FL, AL, TX
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $300+
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: No
- Credit card funding: None
- Monthly fees: $12, avoidable
- Early account termination fee: $20, 180 days (bonus forfeit)
- Household limit: Limit of one consumer checking-related bonus per household every 2 calendar years. (this is enforced),
- Expiration date: 10/31/2025
Contents
The Offer
- Hancock Whitney Bank is offering a bonus of up to $600. Bonus is broken down as follows:
- $300 cash bonus when you open a Freestyle Checking account and set up $500 or more in monthly direct deposits
- $100 cash bonus when you open a Freestyle Savings account and deposit $5,000 or more by 11/30/25 and maintain until 2/28/26
- $200 extra cash bonus when you open both and meet all requirements
The Fine Print
- Use the promo code referenced above when opening your new checking account with money not currently on deposit at Hancock Whitney Bank by the offer expiration date of 10/31/2025. Set up and receive qualifying direct deposits totaling at least $500 each month by 12/31/2025. Your account and direct deposits must remain open and active during the entire promotional period which includes up to when the bonus is paid by 2/28/2026. If you meet all requirements, we will deposit the earned bonus into your new personal checking account by 2/28/2026.
- Offer available to new Hancock Whitney checking clients 18 years of age or older. This includes new to bank clients and existing Hancock Whitney clients who currently do not have a checking account, or have not recently closed a checking account in the past 90 days, or did not have a checking account closed with a negative balance in the past 3 years.
- A qualifying direct deposit is a recurring electronic deposit, including a salary, pension, Social Security, other government benefit or other recurring, monthly income amount, made by your employer or outside agency. Account transfers, mobile deposits, payments from Zelle, PayPal, Cash App or other similar providers, tax refunds or deposit made at a branch or ATM are not qualifying direct deposits.
- Important details and required qualifying activities for the $100 Freestyle Savings Offer: Use the promo code referenced above when opening your new Freestyle Savings account by the offer expiration date of 10/31/2025. You must deposit $5,000 or more into your Freestyle Savings account by 11/30/2025. Your account must remain open and active and you must maintain a minimum daily balance of $5,000 or more during the entire promotional period which includes up to when the bonus is paid by 2/28/2026. If requirements are met, we will deposit the earned bonus into your new Freestyle Savings account by 2/28/2026.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
This account has a $12 monthly fee. This is waived if you do any of the following:
- primary account holder under 18 or age 64 and over or
- make one or more client-initiated debit or credit transactions per statement cycle to waive the service charge.
Early Account Termination Fee
$20 fee is charged for each account if the account is closed within 180 days. Looks like you might also forfeit the bonus.
Our Verdict
Previously this was only $200 for the checking bonus or a $500 bonus that was more difficult to keep fee free. I think this $300 + $100 + $200 bonus is all worth doing. The hold period for the savings bonus is 90 days and works out to be 8% APY. We will add this to our best bank bonus page.
Hat tip to reader Scooter
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To ChexSystems
- Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
- What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
- How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
- Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
- How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
- Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
- Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
- Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
- Bank Bonus Posting Times
