[AL, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NC, OH, TN, WV, SC] Fifth Third $300 Checking Bonus

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

Update 1/5/26: Bonus 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
• Availability: Only in the following states: FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NC, OH, TN, WV, SC (may be only for those within a 50-mile radius of a branch). A lot of the time you’ll need to go in branch to complete the account opening.
• Direct deposit required: $500+
• Additional requirements: None
• Hard/soft pull: Soft
• ChexSystems: Yes
• Credit card funding: None
• Monthly fees: None
• Early account termination fee: None listed
• Household limit: None
• Expiration date: September 30th, 2017 December 31st, 2017. March 31st, 2018 June 30th, 2018 September 30th, 2018 December 31st, 2018 March 31st, 2019 April 30th, 2019 June 30th, 2019 October 31st, 2019. August 31, 2020. September 30th, 2020 October 31, 2020 December 31, 2020 March 31, 2021 Note these offers are known to expire earlier than the expiration date so do not leave it to the last minute.

The Offer

Direct link to offer

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

The Fine Print

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

Avoiding Fees

Some states are able to open the Free Checking Account with Extra time (now called Momentum checking), that’s the best option if available. Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan all have the free option. Other states have another free checking offer.

Early Account Termination Fee

This account does not have an early account termination fee

Our Verdict

Fifth Third used to to offer a $300 bonus with no direct deposit or a $500 bonus with a direct deposit but neither of those offers have been seen since 2019. The standard bonus has been $300, so this is an increased offer by $100. We will be adding this to our best bank bonus page.

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