Chase just more than doubled the ceiling on its checking bonus. A new Chase Total Checking account can now pay you up to $900, and unlike the last big Chase promotion, you don’t need to open a savings account to get there. The catch is the direct deposit math, and that’s where most people leave money on the table.
Offer details checked October 13, 2026. Bank promotions change often, so confirm the current terms on Chase’s offer page before you apply. See our Advertiser Disclosure for how we work with partners.
Chase Checking Bonus at a Glance
| Detail | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Maximum bonus | $900 |
| Account | Chase Total Checking® |
| Requirement | Direct deposits within 90 days of account opening |
| Savings account needed | No |
| Payout timing | About 15 days after you meet the requirement |
| Monthly fee | $15, waivable |
| Offer ends | January 27, 2027 |
| Who qualifies | New Chase checking customers only |
The Three Chase Bonus Tiers Compared
This is a tiered offer. Your bonus depends on the combined total of your direct deposits in the first 90 days. Here’s how each tier stacks up, along with the $400 offer Chase ran until October 14, 2026.
| Offer | Direct deposits needed | Bonus | Return on deposits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $2,500 | $425 | 17% |
| Tier 2 | $5,000 | $600 | 12% |
| Tier 3 | $10,000 | $900 | 9% |
| Previous Chase offer | $1,000 | $400 | 40% |
The “return” column isn’t interest, since you keep your deposits. It simply shows how hard Chase is making you work for each dollar. The lowest tier is the most efficient, but the top tier pays the most in absolute terms.
Look at the step-ups too. Going from $2,500 to $5,000 earns you an extra $175. Going from $5,000 to $10,000 earns an extra $300. If your paycheck can comfortably reach the next tier, it’s always worth stretching for it.
[Image suggestion: A simple bar graphic or calculator on a desk next to a paycheck stub. Alt text: “Chase checking bonus tiers $425, $600 and $900”]
How to Earn the Chase $900 Checking Bonus
- Get your offer code. Open the account online through the Chase offer page, or enter your email there to receive a coupon code you can bring into a branch.
- Open a new Chase Total Checking account before January 27, 2027.
- Set up direct deposit from your employer, pension, or government benefits to the new account.
- Hit your target within 90 days: $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000 in combined direct deposits.
- Keep the account open and in good standing. Chase says the account must not be closed or restricted when the bonus pays out, roughly 15 days after you qualify.
Forgot to use your code when you opened the account? Chase says you can bring the offer code into a branch within 21 days of opening and still get the bonus, as long as you meet the other eligibility rules.
What Counts as Direct Deposit for Chase (and What Doesn’t)
[Image suggestion: Close-up of a payroll direct deposit form or a phone banking app screen. Alt text: “What counts as direct deposit for the Chase checking bonus”]
This is the rule that trips people up. Chase defines direct deposit as an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension, or government benefits such as Social Security, sent from your employer or the government.
According to Chase, these do not count:
- Checks deposited in a branch or through the Chase Mobile app
- Zelle and other person-to-person payments
- Micro-deposits used to verify the account
- Transfers from another bank, brokerage, or investment account
- Tax refunds, dividends, and retirement distributions
- Wire transfers and debit card transactions
In plain terms: moving money over from your savings at another bank won’t get you there. You need real payroll or benefits deposits.
Who Is Eligible for the Chase Total Checking Bonus
You can’t earn this bonus if you:
- Already own or co-own a Chase checking account
- Closed a Chase account within the last 90 days
- Closed a Chase account with a negative balance within the last 3 years
- Earned a Chase checking bonus within the last two years, counted from your last coupon enrollment date
The application is generally reported as a soft pull, so it shouldn’t affect your credit score.
One point where reports disagree: some coverage lists this offer as nationwide, while others suggest you may need a Chase branch in your state, even when applying online. If you live somewhere without Chase branches, check the branch locator before you invest time in the application.
It’s also worth knowing that Chase’s offer page metadata still describes an earlier version that required both checking and savings. Current reporting says savings is no longer required. Read the terms shown when you enter the offer, because those are what bind you.
How to Avoid the $15 Monthly Fee
Chase Total Checking charges $15 a month, but new accounts skip the fee for at least the first two statement periods. After that, you avoid it each statement period by meeting one of these:
- $500 or more in qualifying electronic deposits
- A $1,500 balance at the beginning of each day
- A $5,000 average beginning-day balance across this account and linked qualifying Chase deposits or investments
- Linking a qualifying Chase checking account
If you’re chasing the top tier, the first option takes care of itself while your direct deposits are flowing.
Which Chase Bonus Tier Should You Aim For?
Work backward from your paycheck. Over 90 days, most people get paid about six times on a biweekly or twice-monthly schedule, or three times on a monthly schedule.
| Pay schedule | Per paycheck for $5,000 | Per paycheck for $10,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Biweekly or semi-monthly (6 paydays) | About $834 | About $1,667 |
| Monthly (3 paydays) | About $1,667 | About $3,334 |
If your take-home pay clears those numbers, you can route your whole paycheck (or a split portion) to Chase and land the $900 tier without changing anything else. Many payroll systems let you split direct deposit by dollar amount or percentage, so your bills elsewhere can keep getting paid.
If you’re a two-income household, remember that each of you can only use your own payroll. A joint account can still receive both paychecks, but each spouse opening their own account could mean two separate bonuses, provided you each meet the eligibility rules.
[Image suggestion: A couple reviewing finances at a kitchen table. Alt text: “Planning direct deposits for the Chase checking bonus”]
7 Tips to Make Sure Your Chase Bonus Posts
- Pick your tier before you open the account. Set up the payroll split on day one so you aren’t scrambling in month three.
- Count paydays, not calendar months. A late first deposit can cost you a whole paycheck inside the 90-day window.
- Set a reminder at day 60. That gives you time to fix a deposit that didn’t code correctly.
- Use real payroll. Bank-to-bank transfers don’t count, as Chase spells out in its terms.
- Screenshot your offer terms when you apply. If anything goes wrong, you’ll have proof of the deal you signed up for.
- Keep the account open well after payout. Chase requires the account to be open when the bonus pays, and closing it quickly is a good way to lose it. Many churners wait at least six months.
- Plan for taxes. Bank bonuses are reported as income, so a $900 bonus is taxable at your ordinary rate.
How This Compares to Other Bank Bonuses Right Now
At $900, this is the largest consumer checking bonus we’re tracking right now, but it also asks for the most in direct deposits. If you’re ineligible for Chase, or you just used up your two-year window on the Chase Total Checking $400 bonus, there are solid alternatives.
The BMO checking bonus of up to $600 and the U.S. Bank Smartly checking bonus of up to $450 are both worth a look, and the Citi checking bonus pays $325 with direct deposit if you open by October 26, 2026.
Bank bonuses also pair well with points strategy. Cash from a bonus like this can cover the taxes and fees on an award ticket, which are often the only real out-of-pocket cost of a trip booked with miles.
Takeaway
The new Chase checking bonus pays $425, $600, or $900 depending on how much direct deposit you route to a new Chase Total Checking account in 90 days, and you no longer need a savings account to qualify. Run the paycheck math, choose your tier before you apply, and open the account by January 27, 2027. If your take-home pay can reach $10,000 in three months, this is one of the easiest $900 paydays in banking right now.
