U.S. Bank Smartly Checking — U.S. Bank

High bonusCC funding acceptedDD methods confirmedRegional

$250/$350/$450

$250$250 after at least two qualifying direct deposits totaling $2,000 to $4,999.99.
$350$350 after at least two qualifying direct deposits totaling $5,000 to $7,999.99.
$450$450 after at least two qualifying direct deposits totaling $8,000 or more.

Apply at U.S. Bank

Our take

The $450 tier is worth pursuing if you can comfortably route $8,000 through two qualifying deposits within 90 days; the lower tiers are less compelling for nearly the same setup work.
Use standard ACH pushes from a confirmed source and avoid RTP or transfers pulled from U.S. Bank, since the transfer rail can determine whether the deposits count.
Give yourself extra buffer beyond the stated 12-month cooldown after closing a prior U.S. Bank checking account; applying on the exact anniversary can be too early if the closure took additional days to finalize.
Keep the account open with a positive balance until the bonus posts, and have a plan to waive the $12 monthly fee once the first two statement periods end.

Core details

Requirements

Fund the new account with at least $25 within 60 days so it remains open. Keep the account open with a positive balance through payout.

$250

Enroll in mobile or online banking and receive at least two qualifying direct deposits totaling $2,000 to $4,999.99 within 90 days of opening the account.

$350

Enroll in mobile or online banking and receive at least two qualifying direct deposits totaling $5,000 to $7,999.99 within 90 days of opening the account.

$450

Enroll in mobile or online banking and receive at least two qualifying direct deposits totaling $8,000 or more within 90 days of opening the account.

Direct deposit methods

Confirmed16

Ally Bank
Standard ACH pushes work and have triggered the bonus.
Capital One 360 Checking
Standard ACH pushes work, although isolated tracker delays or failures have occurred.
Capital One
Unspecified Capital One ACH pushes have triggered the bonus.
Chase Checking
Use the standard 1-2 business day ACH transfer option. RTP results are inconsistent, and transfers initiated as pulls from U.S. Bank may not qualify.
Chase Business Checking
ACH Payroll pushes have been recognized as qualifying direct deposits.
Charles Schwab Brokerage
Brokerage ACH pushes have triggered the bonus.
Discover Savings
Savings-account ACH pushes have triggered the bonus.
SoFi
Unspecified SoFi pushes have posted as electronic deposits and triggered the bonus.
SoFi Savings
Savings-account ACH pushes have triggered the bonus.
Fidelity
Unspecified Fidelity pushes have triggered the bonus.
Fidelity CMA
Cash Management Account pushes have triggered the bonus, even when the transaction initially appears as a transfer rather than income.
Fidelity Brokerage
Brokerage pushes have triggered the bonus and may appear with Fidelity brokerage-services memo text.
American Express High-Yield Savings
ACH pushes can qualify and may post as direct deposit or income, but the bonus tracker can update slowly.
E*TRADE
Brokerage ACH pushes have posted as direct deposit or income and triggered the bonus.
OKX
ACH transfers from OKX have triggered the bonus.
Wells Fargo Checking
Standard ACH pushes from a Wells Fargo checking account have triggered the bonus, including when the transfer memo shows as 'Electronic Deposit Wells Fargo Ifi.'

Possible1

Kraken
Likely to work through ordinary ACH, but direct confirmation for this offer is limited.

Does not work1

Vanguard Brokerage
A transfer posted as an investment transaction instead of a qualifying direct deposit.

Terms & reference

Terms & account details

Monthly fee$12

Credit pullSoft pull

Payout timing30 days after requirements met

Credit card fundingYes (varies by card)

Early termination fee$0

Pulls EWSYes

Accepts frozen ChexSystemsYes

Intro fee waiver

The monthly maintenance fee is waived for the first two statement periods from account opening.

Fee waiver — any one of:

Receive combined monthly direct deposits totaling at least $1,500.
Maintain a minimum average account balance of at least $1,500.
Be an owner of a U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card.
Be an owner of an eligible U.S. Bank small-business checking account.
Qualify for the Smart Rewards Gold, Platinum, or Platinum Plus tier.
Qualify through an eligible customer group, including ages 13-24, age 65 or older, military status, Workplace Financial Wellness, or Global Transition Solutions.
For State Farm Alliance customers, be an owner of an eligible personal State Farm credit card.