Chase is offering up to $900 for customers who open both a checking and savings account, the largest headline bonus in the fourth-quarter banking promo season.
The account carries a $12 monthly fee, waived with a $500 direct deposit. Chase, Capital One, Wells Fargo, and SoFi lead the Q4 2026 checking bonus market, with Capital One at $250 and Wells Fargo at $325.
SoFi's offer runs up to $400 for new accounts with direct deposit and no monthly fees. A separate October comparison puts SoFi's top offer at $450 and lists Chase's standalone Total Checking bonus at $400.
The qualifying bar is where offers get expensive
Chase's Total Checking bonus requires $1K in direct deposits within 90 days. SoFi's highest tier asks for $5K in 25 days.
Many of the biggest advertised numbers demand large direct deposits or parking new money for up to 90 days, according to a roundup of the biggest sign-up bonuses available in October 2026.
More attainable options include Key Select at $500, Huntington at $400, and Citi at $325. Raisin is running a savings bonus of up to $1K with no direct deposit requirement.
Fintechs are competing on stacking, not size
Neobanks are pitching smaller bonuses that can be combined. One strategy outlines stacking offers across SoFi, Chime, Current, Varo, and Upgrade to collect up to $900 in 35 days.
The tiers are modest individually. SoFi pays $100 for a $1K direct deposit and $300 for $5K within 25 days, while Upgrade tops out at $500.
Fintech accounts generally skip monthly fees and pay higher annual percentage yields than traditional banks, which is how they compete without matching Chase's headline number.
Bonuses count as taxable income, so the advertised figure isn't what lands in your pocket. Net value depends on fees, taxes, and how long your cash stays locked in to qualify.
You can earn multiple bonuses at the same time across different institutions, which is why the stacking approach has gained traction among deal hunters.
Direct deposit remains the common gate. Most of the richest offers require routing a paycheck, which limits how many a single earner can realistically chase in one quarter.
The promo cycle tends to reset with the calendar, and banks competing for deposits have kept payouts elevated through year-end.
