Most years, I do pretty well with earning extra income from bank bonuses, but in 2024, life got in the way. As a result, I only completed a handful of bank account bonuses, earning just a few hundred dollars from them. It was my worst bank account performance in a decade. Knowing this, in 2025, I made it a goal of mine to get myself back on the bank account bonus train.<\/p>\n
2025 ended up working out pretty well for me. Between my wife and me, we were able to earn $7,850 in bank account bonuses, which I\u2019m pretty happy about. The nice thing is that since I had essentially taken a year off from opening new bank accounts, I was able to go back to all my trusty bank account bonuses that I typically get every year or two.<\/p>\n
In this post, I wanted to briefly recap my bank account bonus earnings and discuss the different banks I targeted, as well as how I generally earned these bonuses.<\/p>\n
2025 Bank Account Bonus Recap<\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s a breakdown of the different bank account bonuses I earned in 2025:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Bask Bank: $200<\/li>\n
- Maxx Checking: $300<\/li>\n
- Barclay\u2019s Savings: $300<\/li>\n
- Discover Savings: $200<\/li>\n
- American Express Rewards Checking: $250<\/li>\n
- US Bank Business Checking: $900<\/li>\n
- Live Oak Bank Personal Savings: $300<\/li>\n
- Bank of America Personal Checking: $300<\/li>\n
- US Bank Smartly Personal Checking: $450<\/li>\n
- Huntington Bank Personal Checking: $600<\/li>\n
- Chase Personal Checking: $700<\/li>\n
- Chase Personal Savings: $200<\/li>\n
- Wells Fargo Personal Checking: $400<\/li>\n
- CIT Bank Personal Savings: $300<\/li>\n
- Cit Bank Personal Checking: $100<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meanwhile, my wife earned the following bonuses:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Barclay\u2019s Savings: $200<\/li>\n
- US Bank Business Checking: $900<\/li>\n
- US Bank Smartly Personal Checking: $450<\/li>\n
- Chase Personal Checking: $700<\/li>\n
- Chase Personal Savings: $200<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
One thing you\u2019ll notice is that my wife earned significantly less from bank account bonuses compared to me. A lot of this is because I\u2019m the one who handles the bank account bonuses for both of us, so logistically, it\u2019s sometimes a pain for me to open new bank accounts for her. As a result, I\u2019ll sometimes skip opening new bank accounts for her.<\/p>\n
Why Did I Open These Bank Accounts?<\/h2>\n
Most bank accounts limit customers to one bank bonus for a set period of time \u2013 usually 12 to 24 months. Because it had been a while since I last earned these bonuses, I was able to go back to a lot of the bank bonuses I usually target.<\/p>\n
Savings accounts were some of the main bonuses I targeted in 2025. This is because I\u2019ve got a large pile of cash I\u2019m sitting on, so targeting bonuses from savings accounts is a nice way to maximize my return on that idle cash. The general requirements for most savings account bonuses are that you need to fund the account with a set amount and leave it there for X number of days (usually 30 to 90 days). This can work out to an excellent return because the bonus you get, combined with the interest rate these banks are already paying, can lead to a no-risk return of 8% or more. I also like that the savings account bonuses are very low risk and don\u2019t really require any brainpower on my part to manage. The downside is that you need to have a large amount of idle cash for most of these bonuses.<\/p>\n
After the savings accounts, I did a lot of my regular checking account bonuses. Most of them were from the major banks and required me to either do a direct deposit or a set number of transactions. These checking account bonuses typically don\u2019t require much work, but I\u2019m usually limited to doing them every 12-24 months. For example, Wells Fargo and US Bank both allow you to earn a new bonus every 12 months. Chase allows customers to earn a bonus on their accounts every 24 months.<\/p>\n
My Upcoming Bank Bonus Plans<\/h2>\n
One thing about bank account bonuses is that while they are \u201cfree\u201d money in a way, they do require your time, mental energy, and the ability to stay very organized. This does mean that while bank account bonuses are worth getting when you can, I tend to think of them as a type of side hustle. You won\u2019t necessarily have to spend hours working on them, but earning these bank bonuses will take some time.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, time is at a bit of a premium these days for me, so my days of really being able to optimize bank bonuses are long gone. Still, I\u2019m going to end up with some good numbers this year thanks to some really high-paying bonuses. At the time I\u2019m writing this in February 2026, I have over $5,000 in bank bonuses pending, most of them coming from a few savings accounts that I have a lot of money tied up in. This is a nice way to not only earn some extra income, but also get a good return on idle cash I have sitting around.<\/p>\n
Anyway, there\u2019s not a ton I wanted to talk about in this post other than to share a quick update on my bank account bonus earnings. If you have any questions about how bank account bonuses work, be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide to Bank Account Bonuses<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nThis post may contain affiliate links.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMore <\/span>Recommended Ebike\/Scooters<\/h2>\n
Check out these other ebikes and scooters I’ve reviewed:<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
- Urban Arrow Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I\u2019ve ever made \u2013 I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review<\/a>, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I\u2019ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you\u2019re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Hovsco HovBeta Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it\u2019s sold at a good price point. I\u2019ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Vanpowers Manidae Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I\u2019ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review \u2013 A Great Value Folding Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I\u2019ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- KBO Flip Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I\u2019ve had a great time riding it and think it\u2019s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It\u2019s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that\u2019s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won\u2019t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good \u2013 with how much range it offers, you\u2019ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Himiway Escape Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you\u2019re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it\u2019s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It\u2019s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you\u2019ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Espin Sport Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they\u2019re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you\u2019d feel like you\u2019re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Varla Eagle One Scooter<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you\u2019d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Varla Falcon Scooter<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It\u2019s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories \u2013 an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Hiboy S2 Scooter<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that’s perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Hiboy S2R Scooter<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I\u2019ve been able to test out. It\u2019s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it\u2019s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I\u2019ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Fucare H3 Scooter<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I\u2019ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I\u2019ll use. It\u2019s portable and easy to maneuver, so it\u2019s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\nMore <\/span>Recommended Investing App Bonuses<\/h2>\n
For additional <\/span>investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:<\/p>\n
-
<\/p>\n
- M1 Finance<\/a> ($75)<\/b> \u2013 This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $75 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus \u2013 Step-By-Step Guide<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- SoFi Invest<\/a> ($25)<\/b> \u2013 SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you\u2019ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Robinhood<\/a> (1 free stock)<\/b> \u2013 Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Public<\/a> (1 free stock)<\/b> – Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link<\/a>.<\/li>\n
\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\nMore <\/span>Recommended Bank Account Bonuses<\/h2>\n
If you\u2019re looking for more <\/span>easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
- Ally Bank<\/a> ($100)<\/b> \u2013 Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions<\/a> to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Chime<\/a> ($100)<\/b> – Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you\u2019ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus<\/a> that I recommend you check out.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- US Bank Business<\/a> ($400\/$1200)<\/b> \u2013 This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Current<\/a> ($50)<\/b> \u2013 Current is a free fintech bank that\u2019s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link. Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That\u2019s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Novo Bank<\/a> ($40)<\/b> – Novo bank is a free business checking account that\u2019s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it\u2019s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account<\/a>.<\/li>\n
<\/p>\n
- Varo<\/a> ($25)<\/b> \u2013 Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It\u2019s currently offering a $25 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus<\/a>.<\/li>\n
\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\n![\"financial](\"https:\/\/www.financialpanther.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/caricature1-1.png\"\/)
![\"financial](\"https:\/\/www.financialpanther.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/caricature1-1.png\")
<\/p>\nKevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years<\/a> by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.<\/p>\n
Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin’s favorite fintech apps include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- SoFi Money<\/a>. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You’ll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.<\/li>\n
- 5% Savings Accounts<\/a>. I’m currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin<\/a>. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it’s free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I’m now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- US Bank Business<\/a>. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $400\/$1200 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.<\/li>\n
- M1 Finance<\/a>. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $75 for opening an account.<\/li>\n
- Empower<\/a>. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- 5% Savings Accounts<\/a>. I’m currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin<\/a>. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it’s free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I’m now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Chime<\/a> ($100)<\/b> – Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you\u2019ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus<\/a> that I recommend you check out.<\/li>\n
- SoFi Invest<\/a> ($25)<\/b> \u2013 SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you\u2019ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I\u2019ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you\u2019re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Urban Arrow Ebike<\/a><\/b> \u2013 Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I\u2019ve ever made \u2013 I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review<\/a>, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.<\/li>\n