[Expired] American Express $250 Checking Bonus

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $250
  • Availability: Nationwide, business checking customers not eligible
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+
  • Additional requirements: None
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
  • ChexSystems: Unknown
  • Credit card funding: None
  • Monthly fees: None
  • Early account termination fee: Unknow
  • Household limit: None
  • Expiration date: October 31, 2023

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • American Express is offering a $250 bonus when you open a new personal checking account and complete the following requirements:
    • Receive a qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more by December 10

The Fine Print

  • Earn a Welcome Bonus of $250 deposited into a new American Express Rewards Checking account after you do each of the following:
    • Open an American Express Rewards Checking Account in your name by October 31, 2023.
    • Have a Qualifying Direct Deposit posted to your American Express Rewards Checking Account by December 10, 2023.
  • Applying for an American Express Rewards Checking account can be completed in minutes. We are currently accepting applications from Card Members with a U.S. Basic Consumer Card issued by American Express National Bank with 3+ months tenure. Current and prior American Express Business Checking customers are not eligible to apply at this time.
  • After you have completed the above, American Express will deposit your Welcome Bonus into your Rewards Check Account within 8-12 weeks.
  • A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a single ACH transfer of $500 or more from an employer or the government for a paycheck, pension, government benefit (such as Social Security), or tax refund. The following are not Qualifying Direct Deposits: person to person transfers (P2P), demand deposit account to demand deposit account transfers (for example, from a checking account to another checking account), and deposits or ACH transfers not from an employer or the government (for example, online transfers or bank transfers).
  • You are not eligible for the Welcome Bonus if you have an existing Rewards Checking Account. Each individual customer may only have one Rewards Checking Account. You must keep your account open and in good standing until we award you your welcome Bonus. If your account is closed for any reason prior to such time, including being closed by us, you will not be eligible for the Welcome Bonus. If we determine, in our sole discretion, that you have violated the Rewards Checking Account Terms or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your account, we may determine that you are not eligible for the Welcome Bonus. In such circumstance, we may rescind or decline to award you the Welcome Bonus.
  • Your Welcome Bonus may be taxable income to you and may be reported on IRS Form 1099. You are responsible for any federal or state taxes resulting from the Welcome Bonus. Please consult your tax advisor if you have questions about the tax treatment of the Welcome Bonus. Your Welcome Bonus may not be transferred, sold, traded, or combined with other Welcome Bonuses. You are only eligible for one Welcome Bonus. Limit one Welcome Bonus per American Express Rewards Checking Account. American Express reserves the right to modify or revoke this Welcome Bonus offer at any time without notice.
  • 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 no monthly fees

Early Account Termination Fee

Unsure if there is any EATF

Our Verdict

We have never seen a public sign up bonus on this account (there has been many bonuses on the business checking bonuses before) but there was a targeted offer for $200. Some people might prefer to wait for a bigger bonus as we did see them increase with business checking. This deal itself is great though and we will add it to our best bank bonus page. Keep in mind you can’t do this if you’ve done a business checking bonus before.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On September 13, 2023, 09:00
Tags: direct deposit requirednationwide bank bonusessoft pull

View Comments (1166)

  • Successful DP:

    11/27/24 - Opened account, funded with $25
    12/06/24 - $1,050 real employer DD (withdrawn same day)
    12/20/24 - $1,050 real employer DD (withdrawn same day)
    1/09/25 - $250 bonus posted

  • 12/12/24 Open
    12/18/24 $1001 from Wise (Payroll Memo)
    12/18/24 $1002 from Wise (Payroll Memo)
    12/30/24 Email "Bonus is on its way"
    01/09/25 $250 Incentive Payment posted

  • 08/06/24 I received targeted email to open amex checking account with $300 bonus.
    08/06/24 Account opened
    08/12/24 I tried transferring $1069 from my fidelity CMA, but it registered as, "Online Transfer / Payment: Credit" I am not sure how to get the ACH to work with Fidelity, but I did try.
    10/18/24 Real DD of $1187.09
    11/01/24 Real DD of $1208.80
    11/06/24 Received Email confirming I reached the bonus amount.
    11/19/24 Received $300 sign up bonus

  • 09/19/2024 - P2 Opened Account after getting targeted email (offer was public as well I believe)
    11/5/24 - Transfer from US Bank Business - $1001
    11/7/24 - Transfer from Axos Checking - $1000
    11/12/24 - Transfer from US Bank Business - $1001
    11/13/24 - Transfer from Axos Checking - $1000
    11/19/24 - $300 Customer Incentive Payment

    We were about to try a Robinhood push but logged in to see the bonus was already there. Unsure whether Axos or US Bank triggered it. No emails received about the "direct deposits."

    • Does look like this offer was the targeted email offer for $300 bonus after 2 direct deposits of $1k within 90 days. Different than the public one.

  • I see some members having success doing an ACH from Chase BIZ that triggered DD. How about a CHASE ACH from personal Checking? I just got the $250 offer yesterday and there doesn't seem to be too many ways to trigger the DD for AMEX...

  • oct 1 and oct 2 chase biz ach payment $1001
    oct 17 receive email ‘Congratulations! You've completed the requirements to receive your American Express®Rewards Checking account bonus.’

  • Amex® Rewards Checking via targeted emailed $300 bonus after 2 direct deposits 1k at least within 90days open:
    -Aug 28, 2024: open, Fidelity CMA push 1001 showed: Online Transfer/ Payment: Credit, Transfer Details: From Account FID BKG SVC LLC.
    -Aug 29, 2024: Fidelity CMA push 1001 showed: Online Transfer/ Payment: Credit, Transfer Details: From Account FID BKG SVC LLC.
    ///Sep 27, 2024: 60 days left, no email, no nothing.
    -Oct 03, 2024: Wise personal Push 1001, "Payroll' in memo, showed Online Transfer / Payment: Credit Wise US INC
    -Oct 07, 2024: Wise personal Push 1001, "Payroll' in memo, showed Online Transfer / Payment: Credit Wise US INC
    ///Oct 11, 2024: Still nothing.

    • Oct 17, 2024: Received email: Congratulations! You've completed the requirements to receive your American Express® Rewards Checking account bonus. We'll deposit the bonus into your Rewards Checking account within 8-12 weeks.

      • Oct 22, 2024: Received $300 bonus, will keep account open for 6 months then close to see if I could churn it after 12,24 month?

      • Never received that email, but I did multiple real DDs in August, and still have not received the bonus. Amex Chat support said to wait the 8-12 weeks

  • Received the email that the bonus is on the way on 10/8

    9/27 Chase Business $1002
    9/25 Chase Business $1001
    8/27 Fidelity Brokerage $1005
    8/19 Fidelity Brokerage $1005

    Not sure Fidelity worked so sent it over from Chase Business to make sure.

  • DP:

    9/17 - Opened
    9/18 - RH Push $1170
    9/20 - RH Push $1240

    Both coded as Online Transfer / Payment: Credit.

    10/8 - Received email “Your Rewards Checking account bonus is on its way”

Leave a Comment