(AL, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NC, OH, TN, WV, SC) Third Fifth Check Bonus $300

Update 4/5/26: Bonus now $350 and extends through June 30, 2026.

Update 1/5/26: Bonus was reduced to $300 but extended to 3/31/26.

Update 12/12/2025: Bonus increased to $400.

Offer at a glance

• Maximum bonus amount: 400 dollars
• Availability: Only in the following states: FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NC, OH, TN, WV, SC (may only be for those within a 50-mile radius of a branch). Most of the time you will have to go to the branch to complete the account opening.
• Direct deposit required: + 500 dollars
• Additional requirements: ANY
• Hard/soft pull: Soft
• ChexSystems: yes
• Credit card financing: ANY
• Monthly fees: ANY
• Early account closure fee: None listed
• Family boundary: ANY
• Expiration date: SSeptember 30, 2017 December 31, 2017. March 31, 2018 June 30, 2018 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2018 March 31, 2019 April 30, 2019 June 30, 2019 October 31, 2019. August 31, 2020. September 30, 2020 October 31, 2020 December 31, 2020 March 31, 2021 Note that these offers are known to expire earlier than the expiration date, so don’t leave it to the last minute.

Offers

Direct link to the offer

• Fifth Third offers a $400 bonus when you open a new Fifth Third Essential checking account when you meet the following requirements:
  • Make direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days of account opening

Fine Press

• Offer not available to existing checking or Express Banking customers or those with a fifth checking or Express Banking account that has been closed within the last 13 months.
• The Bank reserves the right to limit each customer to one new gift incentive in relation to the account for a calendar year.
• Basic Checking Account must be opened between 1/1/2021 and 3/31/2021.
• The bonus will be deposited into your new checking account within 10 working days of completing the requirements.
• Basic Checking, Express Banking and Business Checking accounts are excluded from this offer.
• The bonus may be taxed as interest income and reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.

Avoidance of fees

Some states are able to open the Free Overtime Checking Account (now called Momentum Checking), this is the best option if available. Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan all have the free option. Other states have another free screening offer.

Early account termination fee

This account does not have an early termination fee

Our verdict

The fifth third is used to offer a $300 no deposit bonus or a $500 bonus with a direct deposit, but none of those offers have been seen since 2019. The standard bonus has been $300, so this is an increased offer of $100. We will add this to ours best bank bonus site.

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