Update 1/10/25: Swagbucks is back for $80 at this link. Total is $450 + $80 = $530.
Update 1/7/25: Offer is back through 4/17/25 at this new link. You can also get $25-$30 back from Swabbucks/MyPoints, if targeted.
Note: You can also get another $25+ via portal. Portals don’t always show this amount so if not a big offer I’d recommend waiting.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $450 + $100
- Availability: Nationwide (excludes NY & FL and any other state without a branch unless you have an existing relationship)
- Direct deposit required: Yes
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: Mixed data points
- Credit card funding: Can fund up to $250 with a credit card
- Monthly fees: $6.95, avoidable
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit: None
- Expiration date:
September 26, 2024December 30, 2024April 17, 2025
Contents
The Offer
- U.S. Bank is offering a $450 bonus when you open a new Smartly checking account. Requirements are as follows:
- Checking bonus:
- Earn $250 when the combined total of your direct deposits is between $2,000 and $4,999.99
- Earn $350 when the combined total of your direct deposits is between $5,000 and $7,999.99.
- Earn $450 when the combined total of your direct deposits is $8,000 or more.
- Checking bonus:
The Fine Print
- U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking bonus: To be eligible, you or any owner(s) on your new Bank Smartly Checking account cannot have an existing U.S. Bank consumer checking account, had a U.S. Bank consumer checking account in the last 12 months or received other U.S. Bank consumer checking bonus offers within the past 12 months.
- You must also use the promo code 2024JUL at account opening. To receive the bonus, you must open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account with a minimum deposit of $25 either online, in a branch or over the phone from July 9, 2024 through and including September 26, 2024.
- Additionally, you must enroll in the U.S. Bank Mobile App or online banking within 90 days of opening your account.
- You must also complete two or more direct deposits within 90 days of opening your account that total: $2,000 to $4,999.99 to earn the $250 bonus, $5,000 to $7,999.99 to earn the $350 bonus, or $8,000 or more to earn the $450 bonus.
- A direct deposit is an electronic deposit of your paycheck made through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network or an electronic deposit of your government benefits, such as Social Security, from your employer or the government.
- Other electronic deposits or person-to-person payments are not considered a direct deposit. Your checking bonus (“adjusted interest”) will be credited to your new checking account within 60 days following the end of the calendar month during which you completed all the offer requirements.
- Account must be open and have a positive balance to receive the bonus. 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.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
U.S. Bank Smartly has a $6.95 monthly fee, this is waived if you do any of the following:
- Have combined monthly direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more
- Keep a minimum average account balance of $1,500 or more
- Hold an eligible U.S. Bank credit card
- Qualify for one of the four Smart Rewards™ tiers (Primary, Plus, Premium or Pinnacle)
- Be a military member (requires self disclosure)
- Be under the age of 24 or over the age of 65
Early Account Termination Fee
There is no early account termination fee to worry about
Our Verdict
Not as good as the recent $500 bonus unfortunately. That being said this bonus is churnable (can’t have had an account within the past 12 months) meaning it’s probably worth resetting that clock as soon as possible rather than waiting for a marginally bigger bonus to potentially return. Because of that we will add this to our list of the best bank account bonuses.
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
Offer History:
- Update 11/5/24: Extended to 12/30
- Update 10/13/24: Stacking with a portal is more difficult now, can try to follow these directions. (see also this comment)
- Update 9/23/24: Extended to 10/31
- Update 9/1/24: Back to $101 on MyPoints.
- Update 7/17/24: Anti churning language is now 12 months instead of 24. Hopefully this is a permanent change going forward.
I just pushed like $5k from Fidelity Bloom and it cleared at USBank but under “track your rewards progress” it is a blank page 🙁
does it have to be a wire transfer to count as a push? The only option was that annoying FinCity linked account push which I used… Help.
Never use a wire to simulate a direct deposit. You did it right. Just need to wait. Sad Dayz In USA
mypoints and SB were not working for me (redirect issue) so used Inboxdollars. For P2 I may use Upromise although Upromise gives me trouble in tracking most of the time.
So this would exclude NJ (which I don’t think has a branch), correct?
If you do the savings account too you can double dip on the CC funding – although my second charge got flagged as fraud (2*250 in the same second so I don’t blame them) – if you try to to double up on the 250, maybe do 250 and 249.
Has anyone had trouble with BillPay and this account?
I set up 2 bill payments that went out electronically. A few days later I tried paying one of them (amex) and it says it’s being sent by check and I must pick a far out pay date. Now any payment I set up is like that, no matter the payee. Called US Bank and there’s no problem on their end. It’s the billpay company’s problem, Fiserv. I was told to call them and can’t get to a human. Hoping it resolves itself once that first check payment is cashed.
So I just got approved a few days ago for this account, and I am currently waiting on my debt card in the mail, but does anyone know how i find my account number? Usually banks send it along with the deposit and overdraft agreements through email, but i cant find it. Im trying to get my online banking setup, so I can send this 8 K. Thanks
10/8 – Opened Account (code: 2024JUL)
10/8-1/6 – real DD (total of $9000+)
1/19 still no bonus
I have called them, and they confirmed that the code (2024JUL) is attached to my account. Is anyone in the same situation?
The terms say “You must also complete two or more direct deposits within 90 days of opening your account that total”. So maybe try doing one more DD.
Sorry for the confusion; I did multiple DDs of a total of $9000+
There should be a link that says “Track your rewards progress” on top of your checking/savings page. I am assuming that is referring to signup rewards? Does yours show anything because I just did one push that cleared but the page is blank…
Now I see why I never got into churning.
They still technically have until around 2/8/25 to pay out based on your account open date, so I wouldn’t worry too much until that date comes around.
Swagbucks Question: I remember seeing this Smartly account on my Swagbucks last year and as I was not eligible for the offer (under 12 months) I ignored. Now since the offer has been extended by US Bank I am eligible again but the offer in my Swagbucks seems to have disappeared. If I logout of Swagbucks I can see the offer. The link on this page takes me to a broken page (error: ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS). Any idea if the Swagbucks offer would show up again? Or any way I can get this offer on Swagbucks?
Gadget 🕵️♂️ Bank Bonus Geek 🔗 Since you replied to another Swagbucks question below. Try to see if you would know this? TIA
Other than trying on a different browser, not really. Desiboy
Probably just need to use a different portal other than SB. $95 via MyPoints looks good.
https://www.cashbackmonitor.com/cashback-store/u.s.-bank-smartly%E2%84%A2-checking/
Hi all, I have a question regarding the additional bonus of “$80 Swagbucks.” It is predicated on that I successfully open the U.S BANK checking accout online, correct? If I go to a branch to open the acct, I cannot do the Swagbucks.
Correct. Over the phone applications and in-branch are not going to get the Swagbucks offer. Geogeo
01/10 – Opened Account from Swagbucks link. $80 Swagbucks (Pending Immediately)
01/13 – ACH Deposit from Axos Bank ($5001)
01/14 – ACH Deposit from Axos Bank ($5001)
01/18 – $450 Bonus Deposited
How is this even possible?!!?!? Never seen anything work that fast