Sign up for BMO Checking Bonus and earn up to $600 in bonus rewards.
Bonus Tiers
Deposit
Bonus
$1,000 per month in qualifying direct deposits
$100 per month for up to 6 months (up to $600)
Qualifying Period
Within 6 consecutive months of account opening
Payout
Approximately 10 days after the beginning of the next month following each qualifying month
Requirements
✓Open a new BMO Smart Advantage Checking, BMO Smart Money Checking, or BMO Relationship Checking account online, by phone, or at a branch
✓Make at least $1,000 in qualifying direct deposits each month for up to 6 consecutive months
✓Account must be open, in good standing, and have a balance greater than zero when bonus is paid
✓Qualifying direct deposits are regular income (salary, paycheck, pension, Social Security, government benefits) electronically deposited from employer or similar third party
✓$4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening
✓Open a new BMO Smart Money Checking, BMO Smart Advantage Checking, or BMO Relationship Checking account
✓Minimum opening deposit of $25
✓Cumulative total of $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening
✓Qualifying direct deposits are deposits of regular income from an employer or similar third party (salary, paycheck, pension, Social Security, government benefits)
✓Minimum $25 opening deposit
✓Cumulative $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening
✓Account must be open and in good standing with balance greater than zero on payout date
✓$4,000 in cumulative qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening
✓Primary applicant must reside in eligible state at time of application
Restrictions
⚠New customers only — not available to existing BMO personal checking customers
⚠Not available to those who closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months
⚠Limited to one bonus per client and account
⚠Only available to accounts where primary applicant resides in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wisconsin at time of application
⚠Offer limited to one per client across trustees, signers, and joint account owners
⚠New customers only
⚠Cannot be an existing BMO personal checking account customer
⚠Last BMO personal checking account must have been closed more than 12 months ago
⚠One per customer/product family
⚠New customers only — existing BMO personal checking customers and those who closed an account within the past 12 months are ineligible
⚠Offer can be changed or canceled without notice at any time
⚠Cannot be combined with other offers
⚠Account must remain open in good standing with balance greater than zero when bonus is paid
⚠Limited to residents of AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, IL, IN, MN, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WI
⚠Not available to existing BMO personal checking clients or those who closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months
⚠Must reside in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wisconsin
Fees
BMO Smart Advantage Checking: $0 with paperless statements
BMO Smart Money Checking: $5 monthly maintenance fee (or $0 if under age 25)
Qualifying direct deposits are regular income from an employer or similar third party (salary, paycheck, pension, Social Security, government benefits) deposited using account number and BMO routing number
Non-qualifying deposits include teller deposits, wire transfers, ATM transfers, BMO Digital Banking transfers, debit card credits, transfers from other banks/brokerages, and peer-to-peer transfers
Offer cannot be combined with any other offer
Cash bonus may be reported to IRS for tax purposes
Bonus is not part of opening deposit and will be reported to IRS for tax purposes
Cannot be combined with other offers
Day 1 starts on account opening date
Bonus cannot be combined with any other offer
Bonus may be reported to the IRS for tax purposes
Account type as of payout date determines bonus eligibility
Qualifying direct deposits only: salary, paycheck, pension, Social Security, or government benefits from employer/third party using account number and BMO routing number
Non-qualifying: teller deposits, wire transfers, ATM transfers, internal BMO transfers, Zelle/Venmo, transfers from other banks
Bonus may be reported to the IRS for tax purposes; customer responsible for applicable taxes
Before opening this account, compare the bonus against direct deposit rules, monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, and any clawback period after payout.
Approximately 10 days after the beginning of the next month following each qualifying month
How to qualify
Open a new BMO Smart Advantage Checking, BMO Smart Money Checking, or BMO Relationship Checking account online, by phone, or at a branch
Make at least $1,000 in qualifying direct deposits each month for up to 6 consecutive months
Account must be open, in good standing, and have a balance greater than zero when bonus is paid
Qualifying direct deposits are regular income (salary, paycheck, pension, Social Security, government benefits) electronically deposited from employer or similar third party
Common pitfalls
New customers only — not available to existing BMO personal checking customers
Not available to those who closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months
Limited to one bonus per client and account
Only available to accounts where primary applicant resides in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wisconsin at time of application
What makes this offer different
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.
Bonus value versus similar offers
The sign-up bonus is below the current nearby $2,250 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 BMO Checking Bonus expire?
BMO Checking Bonus expires on December 14, 2026.
How long do I have to qualify for BMO Checking Bonus?
The qualifying period listed for BMO Checking Bonus is Within 6 consecutive months of account opening.
When does BMO Checking Bonus pay out?
The payout timeline listed for BMO Checking Bonus is Approximately 10 days after the beginning of the next month following each qualifying month.
✓Account must be open, in good standing with positive balance when bonus is paid
✓Account must be open and in good standing with balance greater than zero when bonus is paid
✓Have a cumulative total of $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening
✓Cumulative total of $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days
✓Have cumulative total of $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits post to account within 90 days of account opening
✓Qualifying direct deposits are regular income from employer or similar third party (salary, paycheck, pension, Social Security, government benefits)
✓Account must be in good standing with balance greater than zero when bonus is paid
✓Have a cumulative total of $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits post to account within 90 days of account opening
✓Open a new eligible BMO checking account (Smart Money Checking, Smart Advantage Checking, or Relationship Checking)
✓Have cumulative total of $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening
✓Use promo code (automatically applied for online applications)
✓Use the promo code when opening account
⚠One bonus per person
⚠Promo code required
⚠Not available to existing BMO personal checking customers or those who closed a BMO checking account within the past 12 months
⚠One bonus per customer
⚠Available only in select states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wisconsin
⚠Residents of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wisconsin at time of application
⚠Not available to existing BMO personal checking customers or those who closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months
⚠One per customer/account
⚠New customers only — not available for existing BMO personal checking customers or those who closed an account within past 12 months
⚠One per customer — cannot open multiple accounts to receive multiple bonuses
⚠Primary applicant must reside in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wisconsin
⚠Account must be open, in good standing, with balance greater than zero when bonus is paid
⚠Must reside in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wisconsin at time of application
⚠New customers only — not available to existing BMO personal checking clients or those who closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months
⚠Limited to one per client and account
⚠Account must be open and in good standing with balance greater than zero at time of payout
⚠Offer applies only to new BMO Smart Money Checking, BMO Smart Advantage Checking, or BMO Relationship Checking accounts
⚠One per client and account
⚠Not available to existing BMO personal checking clients or those who have closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months
⚠Not available for existing BMO personal checking customers or those who closed a checking account within 12 months
⚠Not available to existing BMO personal checking customers
⚠One per client and account (including trustees and signers on joint accounts)
⚠Promo code must be used
⚠Account must be in good standing when bonus is paid
⚠New customers only — not available for existing BMO personal checking clients
⚠Not available for those who closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months
⚠One bonus per customer (cannot open multiple checking accounts to receive multiple bonuses)
⚠One per customer
⚠Cannot have held a BMO personal checking account in the past 12 months
⚠Not available for existing BMO personal checking clients or those who have closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months
⚠Not available for existing BMO personal checking clients or those who closed an account within the past 12 months
⚠Account must be open in good standing when bonus is paid
⚠New personal checking customers only
⚠Not available for existing BMO personal checking clients
⚠One bonus per client and account (including trustees and signers on joint accounts)
⚠Must use promo code
⚠One bonus per customer and account
⚠Limited to Smart Money Checking, Smart Advantage Checking, or Relationship Checking accounts
⚠One per customer and account (including trustees and signers on joint accounts)
⚠Not available for existing BMO personal checking customers (including trustees and signers on joint accounts)
$0 monthly maintenance fee for Smart Advantage and Smart Money (Smart Money has $5 fee waived for under age 25)
$25 monthly fee for Relationship Checking (may be waived with minimum balance requirements)
$0 account fee for Smart Advantage Checking
$5 monthly maintenance fee for Smart Money Checking (waived for those under 25)
Tiered fees for Relationship Checking
$0 monthly maintenance fee for Smart Advantage Checking
BMO Smart Money Checking: $5 monthly (waived for those under 25)
BMO Relationship Checking: $25 monthly (waivable with minimum balance)
Offer can be changed or canceled without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer
Qualifying direct deposits defined as regular income from employer or similar third party (salary, paycheck, pension, Social Security, government benefits) electronically deposited using account number and BMO routing number
Cash bonus reported to IRS for tax purposes; customer responsible for taxes
Offer can be changed or canceled without notice and cannot be combined with other offers
Account must remain open and in good standing until bonus is paid
Qualifying direct deposits are deposits of regular income from an employer or similar third party (salary, paycheck, pension, Social Security, government benefits) electronically deposited using your account number and BMO's routing number
Cash bonus may be reported to the IRS for tax purposes; applicant is responsible for applicable taxes
Offer can be changed or canceled without notice at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer
Account must be opened between May 5, 2026 and September 8, 2026
Account must be open, in good standing, and have a balance greater than zero when bonus is paid
Bonus will be reported to the IRS for tax purposes; customer is responsible for applicable taxes
If account is closed within 90 days, early account termination fee of $50 applies
Qualifying direct deposits are regular income from employer or third party such as salary, paycheck, pension, Social Security, or government benefits deposited using account number and BMO routing number
Must open account between May 5, 2026 and September 8, 2026
Promo code required when opening account
Day 1 is the day you open your account (or next Business Day if opened on non-Business Day)
If 90th calendar day falls on Saturday, Sunday or Bank holiday, qualifying deposits must post by the last Business Day preceding the 90th calendar day
Bonus not considered part of opening deposit and reported to IRS for tax purposes
Account must be open, in good standing, with balance greater than zero at payout
Qualifying deposits must be from employer or third-party source (not transfers, P2P, teller deposits)
Account must remain open and in the correct checking account type when bonus is paid
Qualifying direct deposits include paycheck, pension payment, Social Security payment, or government benefits payment electronically deposited from employer or outside agency
Early account termination within 90 days may result in $50 fee
Bonus amount reported to IRS for tax purposes
Account must remain open and in good standing at time of bonus payment
Promo code must be used at account opening (automatically applied online or sent via email for branch/phone opening)
Cash bonus is reported to IRS for tax purposes; customer is responsible for applicable taxes
Offer can be changed or canceled without notice
Cannot be combined with any other offer
Account must be open between May 5, 2026 and September 8, 2026
Cash bonus may be reported to the IRS for tax purposes
Offer can be changed or canceled without notice at any time
Qualifying direct deposits are deposits of regular income from an employer or similar third party such as salary, paycheck, pension payment, Social Security payment, or other government benefits payment
Qualifying direct deposits include paycheck, pension payment, Social Security payment, or other government benefits payment electronically deposited from employer or outside agency
Promo code must be used when opening account
Early account termination fee of $50 if account is closed within 90 days
Qualifying direct deposits include paycheck, pension payment, Social Security payment, or other government benefits payment electronically deposited from an employer or outside agency
If the 90th calendar day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Bank holiday, deposits must be received by the last Business Day preceding the 90th calendar day
Bonus is reported to the IRS for tax purposes; customer is responsible for any applicable taxes
Early account termination fee of $50 if closed within 90 days
Qualifying direct deposits include paycheck, pension payment, Social Security payment, or other government benefits electronically deposited from employer or outside agency
If the 90th calendar day falls on Saturday, Sunday, or bank holiday, deposits must be received by the last business day preceding the 90th calendar day
Account must remain as the specified checking type when bonus is paid
Early account closure within 90 days may incur fees
Qualifying direct deposits are regular income deposits from employer or similar third party (salary, paycheck, pension payment, Social Security payment, or other government benefits)
Non-qualifying deposits include teller deposits, wire transfers, ATM transfers, BMO Digital Banking transfers, P2P transfers, and transfers from other banks
Account must maintain the specified account type through bonus payout
Accounts with zero balance may be closed
Day 1 is the day you open your account and begins the tracking period. If you open on a non-Business Day, Day 1 is the next Business Day
Applications submitted online on May 4, 2026 must be approved prior to 9:00 p.m. CT
