What counts as a direct deposit
The single biggest reason a bank bonus fails to pay. Banks decide by how a deposit is coded, not where it came from, and each bank is different. Below is each bank's own definition, quoted from its page with the date we last checked it. The safe move is almost always a real payroll or government deposit, not a transfer from another bank.
ally
The bank's own definition: An electronic deposit into your Ally account, such as a paycheck, pension, or government benefit.
- Employer payroll
- Pension and government benefits
- Most external ACH transfers, in practice
- Mobile check deposits
- ATM and wire deposits
Ally is one of the most lenient banks: members widely report that a plain ACH push from another bank counts as a direct deposit.
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
Bank of America
The bank's own definition: An electronic direct deposit of regular monthly income, such as salary, pension, or Social Security, from your employer or an outside agency.
- Salary or payroll
- Pension payments
- Social Security and other regular monthly income
- Transfers between your own accounts
- Person-to-person payments
- Mobile check deposits
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
BMO
The bank's own definition: A direct deposit of your paycheck, pension, or government benefits, deposited electronically by your employer or a government agency into the checking account.
- Employer payroll
- Pension payments
- Government benefits like Social Security
- Transfers from another account
- Person-to-person payments
- Mobile or ATM check deposits
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
Capital One
The bank's own definition: An electronic deposit of a paycheck, pension, or government benefit from your employer or a government agency into your 360 account.
- Employer payroll
- Pension payments
- Government benefits like Social Security
- A one-time or non-recurring transfer
- Person-to-person payments
Capital One is generally lenient in practice: many members report external ACH pushes coding as a direct deposit, though the terms describe payroll and government deposits.
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
Chase
The bank's own definition: An electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension, or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government, using your Chase account and routing numbers.
- Payroll from an employer
- Pension payments
- Government benefits like Social Security
- ACH transfers from another bank, brokerage, or investment account
- Zelle and other person-to-person payments
- Tax refunds, dividends, and retirement distributions
- Wire transfers, debit-card loads, and micro-deposits
Chase enforces this strictly. A credit coded PPD from a payroll or benefits provider usually triggers it; a plain bank-to-bank push usually does not.
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
Huntington
The bank's own definition: A qualifying direct deposit of payroll, pension, Social Security, or other government benefits, made electronically by ACH.
- Employer payroll
- Pension payments
- Social Security and government benefits
- Transfers between your own accounts
- Person-to-person payments
- Mobile or ATM check deposits
The Platinum Perks tier takes a large deposit instead of a direct deposit; the standard Perks tier needs the qualifying direct deposit.
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
KeyBank
The bank's own definition: Eligible direct deposits are electronic ACH deposits such as payroll, Social Security, pension, or government benefits.
- Employer payroll over ACH
- Social Security
- Pension and government benefits
- Deposits made at a teller
- ATM deposits
- Deposits through the mobile app
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
PNC
The bank's own definition: A recurring direct deposit of a paycheck, pension, Social Security, or other regular monthly income, electronically deposited by an employer or outside agency into the Spend account.
- Employer payroll
- Pension payments
- Social Security and other regular monthly income
- Teller and ATM deposits
- Transfers from another account
- Person-to-person payments
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
SoFi
The bank's own definition: A recurring deposit of regular income (payroll, pension, or government benefits) from your employer, payroll or benefits provider, or a government agency, sent over the ACH network at least every 31 days.
- Employer payroll
- Pension payments
- Government benefits like Social Security
- Bank ACH transfers from an external account
- Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, and Wise transfers
- Check deposits and wire transfers
- IRS tax refunds and merchant payouts (Stripe, Square)
There is no minimum amount, but the deposit must recur at least every 31 days and be coded as payroll or benefits, not a plain transfer.
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
TD Bank
The bank's own definition: An electronic direct deposit of your payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (such as Social Security) of at least $250 each.
- Employer payroll of $250 or more
- Pension payments
- Government benefits like Social Security
- Person-to-person payments
- Transfers between your own accounts at TD or elsewhere
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
truist
The bank's own definition: An electronic direct deposit of your payroll, pension, Social Security, or other government benefits into the new checking account.
- Employer payroll
- Pension payments
- Social Security and government benefits
- Transfers between your own accounts
- Person-to-person payments
- Mobile or ATM deposits
Personal checking bonuses usually want two qualifying direct deposits, not just one.
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
U.S. Bank
The bank's own definition: A recurring direct deposit of your paycheck, pension, Social Security, or other regular income, made electronically by ACH from your employer or a government agency.
- Employer payroll
- Pension payments
- Social Security and other regular income
- Transfers from another bank
- Person-to-person payments
- Teller, ATM, or mobile deposits
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
Wells Fargo
The bank's own definition: A qualifying electronic direct deposit of your salary, pension, Social Security, or other regular monthly income into the new checking account.
- Employer payroll
- Pension payments
- Social Security and other regular monthly income
- Transfers between your own accounts
- Person-to-person payments
- Mobile check deposits
Quoted from the bank's page and checked Jul 17, 2026.
More banks are added as we verify each one against its own terms. See all institutions.