US Bank has another promotion for new Bank Smartly checking accounts that offers up to a $400 bonus with fairly simple requirements. This deal is available in states within US Bank’s footprint and requires signing up for online banking and making at least two direct deposits within the first 90 days. The total amount of the direct deposits will determine the bonus. In order to get the full $400, your direct deposits must total $5,000 or more.
US Bank runs these promos monthly-ish, and this is one of the weaker ones that they’ve put out over the last couple of years, as previous versions have tended to be 3-tiered and awarded between $450-$500 when meeting the terms of the higher tier. In addition, there is usually a US Bank offer through Swagbucks that adds an additional $50-100 if you click through and then open the account. That isn’t available right now, so if you’re interested in this, it might be worth waiting for a couple of weeks to see if the Swagbucks promo returns, or take your chances and see what comes around in August/September.
US Bank used to allow $3,000 of credit card funding on new personal checking accounts, but that’s been reduced to only $250 (still, use it if you got it). This does change periodically, so if someone does the deal and finds that they can deposit more, please let us know in the comments.
The Deal
- US Bank is offering a bonus of up to $400 when you open a new Bank Smartly checking account using the promotion link and complete the following requirements within 90 days:
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- Enroll in online banking or the U.S. Bank Mobile App.
- Complete two or more direct deposits within the first 90 days
- Your bonus is determined by the total amount of your direct deposits
- Earn $200 when your direct deposits total between $3,000 and $4,999.99.
- Earn $400 when your direct deposits total $5,000+.
- Expires 7/31/25
- $6.95 monthly fee (waived if you have a US Bank Credit Card or maintain a $1,500 monthly balance or have monthly direct deposits totaling $1000+)
- Check US Bank locations here
- See Doctor of Credit’s list of what counts as direct deposits with US Bank (it’s a lot)
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Terms and Conditions
- 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.
- 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 June 3, 2025 through and including July 31, 2025.
- 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: $3,000 to $4,999.99 to earn the $200 bonus, or $4,000 or more to earn the $400 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.
Quick Thoughts
This is a decent bank bonus opportunity that comes around regularly; we’ve covered versions between $400-$600 before.
The requirements are fairly simple: make at least two “direct deposits” within ninety days of account opening and sign up for mobile or online banking. US Bank is known as one of the easier banks in terms of what’s considered a direct deposit, and ACH transfers work from many common banks (you can see the full DOC list here). While the direct deposit totals are relatively high, there’s no requirement that the money stay in the account, so you should be able to transfer the money back out after it goes in.
If you don’t have a US Bank credit card, the Bank Smartly account is easy to keep free, requiring a $1500 monthly balance or monthly direct deposits totaling $1000+. If you have a personal US Bank credit card, the monthly fee is waived. Members of the US Military also get the fee waived.
The bonus is limited to those states that have a US Bank branch (which is a wide net…see locations here). That said, if you happen to live in one of the states that doesn’t have a branch, most folks are able to get around this requirement if they have or open a US Bank credit card as well.
US Bank is fairly strict on its churning rules, so I wouldn’t mess with it if you’ve had an account or received a US Bank bonus within the past twelve months. If you haven’t, this could be easy money.
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