What makes this bank offer different
This is a bank-bonus fit for users who can satisfy a deposit rule quickly; the key comparison point is whether the required deposit type matches your normal cash flow.
Bank
American Express Rewards Checking Bonus — Up to $300
Sign up for American Express Rewards Checking Bonus and earn up to $300 in bonus rewards.
See all American Express offers →
Bonus Tiers
| Deposit | Bonus |
|---|---|
| $7,500 | $300 |
Qualifying Period
within 90 days of account opening
Payout
8-12 weeks after qualifying
Requirements
- ✓$7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within first 90 days
- ✓Qualifying direct deposits must be ACH transfers from employer or government (paycheck, pension, Social Security, tax refund)
- ✓Open an American Express Rewards Checking account by 07/30/2026
- ✓$7,500 or more in qualifying direct deposits within first 90 days
- ✓Qualifying direct deposits are ACH transfers from employer or government (paycheck, pension, benefits, tax refunds)
- ✓$7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening
- ✓Qualifying direct deposits are ACH transfers from employer or government for paycheck, pension, government benefit, or tax refund
- ✓Open American Express Rewards Checking account
- ✓Receive $7,500 or more in Qualifying Direct Deposits within 90 days of account opening
- ✓Qualifying Direct Deposits include paycheck, pension, government benefit (Social Security), or tax refund from employer or government
- ✓Open American Express Rewards Checking Account by 07/30/2026
- ✓Qualifying Direct Deposits must be ACH transfers from employer or government for paycheck, pension, government benefit, or tax refund
- ✓Open account by July 30, 2026
- ✓Open American Express Rewards Checking Account by July 30, 2026
- ✓Currently accepting applications from card members with a U.S. Basic Consumer Card issued by American Express National Bank with 3+ months tenure, and existing HYSA/CD customers
Restrictions
- ⚠New customers only
- ⚠No existing or prior Rewards Checking account holders
- ⚠One Welcome Bonus per customer
- ⚠Account must remain open and in good standing until bonus is awarded
- ⚠New customers only — no existing or previous Rewards Checking Account
- ⚠One bonus per person
- ⚠Must keep account open and in good standing until bonus is awarded
- ⚠New customers only — cannot have existing or previously held Rewards Checking Account
- ⚠Must be existing American Express cardholder
- ⚠One bonus per customer
- ⚠New customer only - no existing or prior Rewards Checking account
- ⚠Must be an existing American Express cardholder with at least 5 days tenure
- ⚠New customers only — no prior American Express Rewards Checking account
- ⚠Existing American Express cardholder (with Amex Basic Consumer Card or similar product)
- ⚠No existing or previously held Amex Rewards Checking Account
- ⚠Must keep account open and in good standing until bonus awarded
- ⚠Cannot have existing or previous Rewards Checking Account
- ⚠One Welcome Bonus per account
- Must be existing Amex cardholder with 3+ months tenure
Fees
- $0 monthly maintenance fee
- $0 minimum balance requirement
- No account opening fee
- No monthly fees
- No minimum balance requirement
- $0 account fee
- No minimum deposit required
- $0 account opening fee
- No fee to open
- Foreign currency conversion fee on non-USD transactions
- Outgoing wire transfer fees apply
- Third-party ATM fees may apply outside Allpoint/MoneyPass network
- $0 monthly fees
- $0 monthly account fee
- $0 to open account
- Internal transfers, P2P transfers, deposit account transfers, and check deposits do not qualify
- Account eligibility restricted to existing Amex cardholders (or those with Amex savings account/CD) with minimum tenure of 5 days
- Bonus is taxable income reported on IRS Form 1099
- Bonus cannot be transferred, sold, or traded
- Bonus deposited within 8-12 weeks of meeting requirements
- Currently accepting applications from Card Members with U.S. Basic Consumer Card with at least 5 days tenure
- Account may be closed by Amex without bonus if cardholder violates terms or engages in abuse/gaming
- Account must remain open and in good standing until bonus is awarded
- Bonus may not be transferred, sold, or combined with other bonuses
- Qualifying Direct Deposit is an ACH transfer from an employer or government for paycheck, pension, government benefit, or tax refund
- P2P transfers, account-to-account transfers, and internal Amex transfers do not qualify
- Welcome Bonus may be taxable income reported on IRS Form 1099
- Bonus may be taxable income reported on IRS Form 1099
- If account is closed before bonus posts, bonus eligibility may be forfeited
- Offer available by 07/30/2026 application deadline
- Person-to-person transfers, P2P apps, internal transfers, check deposits, and Membership Rewards redemptions do NOT qualify as Direct Deposits
- Account must remain open until bonus is awarded
- American Express reserves right to modify or revoke offer
- Offer available to existing Amex cardholders with 3+ months tenure
- Cannot combine with other Welcome Bonuses
- Not qualifying deposits: P2P transfers, bank-to-bank transfers, internal Amex transfers, check deposits, Membership Rewards point redemptions
- Qualifying Direct Deposit must be from employer or government (paycheck, pension, government benefit, tax refund)
- Person-to-person transfers, deposit account to deposit account transfers, checks, and Membership Rewards redemption do not qualify
- Account must remain open in good standing until bonus is awarded
- Welcome Bonus may be subject to IRS Form 1099 reporting
Offer expires January 31, 2027
Last updated September 15, 2026
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How to evaluate American Express Rewards Checking Bonus
Before opening this account, compare the bonus against direct deposit rules, monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, and any clawback period after payout.
Qualification checklist
Timing
- Qualifying period
- within 90 days of account opening
- Payout timeline
- 8-12 weeks after qualifying
How to qualify
- $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within first 90 days
- Qualifying direct deposits must be ACH transfers from employer or government (paycheck, pension, Social Security, tax refund)
- Open an American Express Rewards Checking account by 07/30/2026
- $7,500 or more in qualifying direct deposits within first 90 days
Common pitfalls
- New customers only
- No existing or prior Rewards Checking account holders
- One Welcome Bonus per customer
- Account must remain open and in good standing until bonus is awarded
What makes this offer different
Bonus value versus similar offers
The sign-up bonus is below the current nearby $1,750 median, so the requirements and any referral or portal stack matter more.
Requirement clarity
Credolix has extracted 4 requirements for this offer, so compare the bonus against the actual steps rather than the headline payout alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does American Express Rewards Checking Bonus expire?
American Express Rewards Checking Bonus expires on January 31, 2027.
How long do I have to qualify for American Express Rewards Checking Bonus?
The qualifying period listed for American Express Rewards Checking Bonus is within 90 days of account opening.
