Published on August 17th, 2019 | by William Charles

U.S. Bank $300 Online Checking Bonus

Update 8/17/19: Deal is working again properly this time, try incognito mode if you’re having troubles.

Update 8/16/19: Deal is available again, but the code isn’t being accepted

Offer at a glance

Maximum bonus amount: $300
Availability: Must live in U.S. Bank’s footprint
Direct deposit required: Yes, two deposits totaling $2,000 or more
Additional requirements: Use promo code and online/mobile banking
Hard/soft pull: Soft
ChexSystems: Mixed data points
Credit card funding: Can fund up to $50 with a credit card
Monthly fees: $6.95 avoidable
Early account termination fee: None
Household limit: One
Expiration date: September 4th/September 18th 2019

Contents

1 The Offer
2 The Fine Print
3 Avoiding Fees
4 Our Verdict

The Offer

Direct link to offer

U.S. Bank is offering a bonus of $300 when you open a new Checking Package by September 18th (fine print says September 4th) and complete the following requirements:
- Use promo code WEBSUMR
- Receive recurring direct deposits of two or more that total $2,000 or more within 60 days of account opening
- Be enrolled in either U.S. Bank online banking or U.S. bank mobile app by September 18th

The Fine Print

You must use the promotion code listed on this offer when you apply.
A minimum deposit of $25 is required to open a U.S. Bank consumer checking account.
To earn the $300 bonus offer, you must open a new U.S. Bank consumer checking account (excluding Student Checking and Safe Debit Account) by September 4, 2019.
Additionally, you must complete recurring direct deposits of two or more that total $2,000 or more within 60 days of account opening, and be enrolled in either U.S. Bank online banking or the U.S. Bank Mobile App by September 18, 2019. F
or assistance in enrolling in U.S. Bank online banking or the U.S. Bank Mobile App, contact customer service or your local branch.
The checking account bonus will be deposited into your new checking account within 60 days of direct deposit verification, and verification of enrollment in either U.S. Bank online banking or the U.S. Bank Mobile App.
The account must be open and have a positive balance.
Bonus will be reported as interest earned on IRS form 1099-INT and recipient is responsible for any applicable taxes.
Offer may not be combined with any other checking account bonus offers.
Offer is not valid if you or any signer on the account has an existing U.S. Bank consumer checking account, had a U.S. Bank consumer checking account in the last six months, or received other U.S. Bank bonus offers within the past 12 months.
Current U.S. Bank employees are not eligible.
Other restrictions may apply.
All regular account-opening procedures apply.
Limit of one bonus per household.
For a comprehensive list of account pricing, terms and policies, see the Your Deposit Account Agreement and the Consumer Pricing Information brochures. These documents can be obtained by contacting a U.S. Bank branch or calling 800-872-2657.
All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

Easy Checking

This account has a $6.95 monthly fee and is waived if you meet any of the following requiremnets:

Combined monthly direct deposits totaling $1000+ – or –
Average account balance of $1,500.- or –
Account holder(s) age 65 or greater.

Gold Checking

This account has a $14.95 monthly fee but is waived if you have a U.S. Bank credit card. Many of us have a U.S. Bank personal credit card like Altitude, Flexperks, or Cash+ which would work to keep the account fee-free. Another option is to get the Gold account and get the fee waived if you have a good credit score and join the Because You’ve Earned It program.

Early Account Termination Fee

There is no early account termination fee to worry about

Our Verdict

Earlier this year we’ve seen a $300 bonus, but that required a Platinum account. We saw another $300 bonus that could be done with gold/easy checking but that required it being opened in branch. This new bonus is the best of both worlds as you can open it online and the easier accounts to keep free fee qualify. Because of that this will definitely be added to our list of the best bank account bonuses. U.S. Bank also has a $400 business checking bonus, but that requires in branch opening. Fingers crossed we see an online version of that soon.

Hat tip to readers Candice E & Cavlin M

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

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Leave a Reply

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The link to offer doesn’t seem to work for me. Please check.

William Charles

Try again

Yup, working now. Thanks!

Stan

I live in NC and I know that US Bank is opening branches here within a few months. Gonna roll the dice and see if I’m already considered in their footprint.

Nate

also in nc and was wondering this, please update if successful

Jay

I live in NC and was approved. Have a cash+ card

Justin

I was denied in Raleigh/Durham with no existing US Bank relationship

arch

Opened 2 days ago in NC, unaware they are opening branches

Justin

where in NC?

Ian

I don’t see anything about the $300 when I click the link? Am I missing it?

William Charles

Try again

are they strict with the household limit?

William Charles

AFAIK yes

John

If I did the $300 “branch only” offer last month (that expired around Jul 24??), can spouse on same household do this online offer?

Master 4

John, I have the same question. The previous promotion did not say household limit, but this one does. We need a lawyer to define these terms.

Johnny

same question 🙂

SamL

Could someone parse this for me: “Availability: Nationwide. If you don’t live in U.S. Bank’s footprint then you will be denied.”

I’m in New Jersey and I was denied “Unfortunately, your application was not approved”

SamL

But do you know why? It may not be related to location.

Jags

I am in New Jersey and was approved. I have a FlexPerks AMEX and an Altitude Reserve with US Bank.

K-Man

I am in NYC… Should I even bother? Anyone else from NYC got approved?

missjenniferd1🦉 🦁

yep https://www.doctorofcredit.com/u-s-bank-300-online-checking-bonus-2/#comment-799957

EweJay

+1.
NJ resident, hold two CCs for a few years, auto-approval of checking. Haven’t applied to many accounts in last six months so thought this was worth a chance.

William Charles

You need to live in an area with a U.S. Bank branch otherwise you will be denied

SamL

That makes sense for the second part, but the “Nationwide” thing confused me.

William Charles

I’ll just change it to must be within the U.S. Bank footprint to make it clearer

SamL

DP: approved out of footprint. I had a USB CC.

diggs

I missed the detail on here about having to be in US Bank’s footprint. After my application was denied (likely due to not residing in US Bank’s footprint, although my ChexSystems report is frozen too) I called up customer service thereafter. They advised that checking accounts are not available to those outside their footprint UNLESS:

1) The new customer is in in the military, or

2) It’s an existing US Bank customer w/ an established US Bank relationship (such as holding a CC) “for a period of time” (was unable to get a concrete answer on the “period of time”).

I used the “Because You’ve Earned It” [BYEI] link to (try to) sign-up for a free Gold Checking account. Before the BYEI link allows you to sign-up for an account, it checks your credit score. You have to supply your name, address, dob and ssn. That is more than enough info for US Bank to know if you’re in their footprint and should also be enough info for them to determine if you have an existing relationship with them!

Instead, after qualifying the credit score as acceptable, it offered the sign up option for the Gold Checking account (including entering a Promo Code). Only after completing that application process (which entailed providing even more sensitive info) was the application denied.

If I was ineligible due to footprint reasons, the BYEI page should have prevented me from applying for a checking account, at least not w/o attesting that I’m either in the military or have an established US Bank relationship! /rant

Gadget 🕵️

Or, hold one of their other products, such as a CC. That worked Feb/Mar 2019 anyway.

mark

I got the 200 bonus from US bank one year ago. This time my application was denied.

arch

I opened in NC with no branches reported on their site. I have 2 cc’s which may have helped.

William Charles

Thanks

Denied for Easy Checking with no reason given Credit Score ~700-720. I recently (<1.5month) opened a two accounts, and only have a possible total of 3 accounts (3months/9months/15months ish) in the previous 3 years. NYS. Would this be chex? EDIT: I looked at US Bank's footprint and I'm a few hundred miles from it

Brandon

I’m wondering how close “footprint” is considered

CGID

Hi Brandon. Here is the language that came up when I used the “location search” engine after I put in my zip code:

“We couldn’t find any U.S. Bank branches within 50 miles of the area you searched.”

So I am guessing footprint is defined as within 50 miles.

DebiTnm

What counts as a direct deposit? If I transfer money from another personal checking account at another bank? I realize that paychecks, retirement checks etc are direct deposit, but I am looking for what else counts. Venmo? Paypal?
IF I join online, and use Amex to fund $50, how do I make sure I don’t get cash advance fee charged? I had that happen once before with BoTW and Chase Visa card.

Millennial Outrage

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/knowledge-base/list-methods-banks-count-direct-deposits/#US_Bank

Millennial Outrage

I’m not eligible for another bonus until 9/6, so hoping they update the terms to 9/18 to match the landing page 🤞

Justin

Just signed up! Easy money since I have a Cash + card. Thanks!

Gerry

Got denied. HI resident, no US bank in hawaii unfortunately but tried anyway.

Aaron

Do you currently have or have had any USB product?

Gerry

No I don’t have any. Perhaps I should apply for a CC. Are you a HI resident with a US bank CC? Did you apply and got approved for the bank account?

Aaron

Yes. I have a biz cc, but that hasn’t seemed to be a successful workaround. Not gonna apply just yet.

Jay

Approved from NC.

Because you have earned it program works like a charm. Enrollment is online only after the account is open and also enrolled in online banking. You are shown a confirmation of program acceptance live.

TravelingTricks.com

Did that include a hard pull tho to see your credit score? Or did you already have a relationsihp with them?

Abe

Fred

In the past people could get approved for a deposit account if they had a cc, couldn’t they? Or am I think of 5/3? I opened an account in 2017, and now I see there are no branches (but I suppose they could have had branches in the past that have now closed).

Gadget 🕵️

Yes. SO and I did Feb promo, online… no branches in VA, but we both hold/held CC’s from USB. If you have a US Bank login, you should be good to go.

Gadget 🕵️

Having an old login doesn’t work (no open products) per Yet Another Redditor . I stand corrected.

peter

live in vermont, far from the footprint of us bank offices, but have been a long time cardholder with 3 cards and approved. so worth a shot maybe if you have a relationship.

newbie

did u apply online or by phone? I applied last year, twice, both time i was rejected instantly even though I have US bank credit card for last 10 years

peter

online. I hate talking to actual people 🙂

Just what I was looking for. I have 2 cards with them and have done checking bonus once in past, in 2017, so will try applying in a few days.

nnonno

Got $300 bonus but withhold $72 fed tax

Gadget 🕵️

That is not normal. When you filled out the application, you likely selected you are “subject to backup withholding”. You just need to claim on your 1040 taxes that $72 amount was prepaid.

Tyler L

True,. And, The amount they withhold has nothing to do with the amount you owe.

You will still owe a little more if you earn a high-income* or you will get some of it back if you earn a low income.

* Of course you still won’t end up owing if you had enough withheld from your regular paychecks. They will offset it.

Gadget 🕵️

Brain melting… yes, what you end up with at tax time depends on the individual’s tax situation. Regardless, it’s not normal for the bank to withhold taxes from a bonus, but if you check-mark/bubble/radio button the wrong block, they are required to do so.

U.S. Bank $300 Online Checking Bonus

The Offer

The Fine Print