[YMMV, CT, DE, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, VA, D.C., MD, FL] Citizens Bank $1,500 Business Checking Bonus

Extended until 11/30 8/31. 

Update 4/27/26: Back until 5/31/2026, has the targeted language again. It is being advertised in branch without the online link though, so you should be able to apply in branch for the offer and be eligible.

Update 5/25/25: Deal is back until 8/31/25. Hat tip to reader Tikky

Note: The terms state “Eligibility: This offer is non-transferable and is only available for those that received the offer at the address stated on the mailer.” so is most likely targeted online. It is being advertised in branch without the online link though, so you should be able to apply in branch for the offer and be eligible.

Offer at a glance

• Maximum bonus amount: Up to $1,500
• Availability: CT, DE, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, VA, D.C., MD, FL
• Direct deposit required: None
• Additional requirements: See below
• Direct deposit required: No
• Additional requirements: See below
• Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
• ChexSystems:Mixed data points
• Credit card funding: None
• Monthly fees: $0 – $25
• Early account termination fee: None
• Expiration date: 5/16/2025

The Offer

Direct link to offer (doesn’t show for everybody)

• Citizens Bank is offering a business checking bonus of up to $1,500
  • Open a first new Business Advisor Checking® or Clearly Better Business Checking® account
  • Deposit and maintain funds until August 31, 2025:
    • Deposit $5,000 and earn $300
    • Deposit $15,000 and earn $500
    • Deposit $30,000 and earn $750
    • Deposit $100,000 and earn $1,500
  • Make five qualifying transactions within two months

The Fine Print

• All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

• Clearly Better Business Checking has no monthly fees to worry about.
• Business Advisor Checking has a $25 monthly fee. This is waived with either of the following:
  • $10,000 average daily balance -OR-
  • $35,000 monthly combined balance.

Early Account Termination Fee

As far as we know there is no early account termination fee.

Our Verdict

Update: Funds don’t need to be deposited until June 30, so the returns are more like:

• $300, 30%
• $500, 16.7%
• $750, 12.5%
• $1500, 7.5%

Hat tip to reader JD

Have to tie up funds for three and a half months, more likely to be closer to four months once everything is finished. Return gets worse the larger bonus you go after. For example the annualized returns are roughly as follows:

• $300, 24% APY
• $500, 13.3% APY
• $750, 10% APY
• $1,500, 6% APY

Bonus is worth doing but isn’t available for long. Added to best business checking bonuses.

Hat tip to NGB

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

• A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
• Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
• PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
• Introduction To ChexSystems
• Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
• What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
• How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
• Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
• How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
• Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
• Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
• Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
• Bank Bonus Posting Times