Update 7/12/26: Deal is back until 12/31/26. Still has targeted language but is for $400 this time (previously it was $300). Also only requires a simply checking account this time.
Update 10/3/24: Extended until 12/31/24.
Update 7/6/24: Bonus has been increased to $300 again. Still has targeted language but shows in google search result.
Update 6/23/24: Bonus is back, $250 again. Still has targeted language but shows in google search result. Hat tip to kas141
Update 4/8/23: Bonus now up to $300
Update 2/19/22: Available again.
Update 9/24/21: Available again, still has targeted language. Should show up if you do the following search ‘https://www.google.com/search?q=fulton+%24200‘. Hat tip to reader Gadget
Update 7/15/21: New link now available. Does have targeted language ‘To be eligible for this offer, you must have accessed this page via a direct communication (email or digital ad) from Fulton Bank.’
Update 2/1/21: Deal is back for 2021. Hat tip to kas141
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $250
- Availability: DE, MD, NJ, PA, DC & VA only. May need to live in one of the counties
- Direct deposit required: Optional
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Soft. Make sure to opt out of overdraft protection
- ChexSystems: Yes.
- Credit card funding: Up to
$500$50 - Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit:
One (is enforced/isn’t enforced (2))None - Expiration date:
None ListedDecember 31, 2021December 31, 2022
The Offer
- Fulton Bank is offering a bonus of up to $400:
- Earn $400 when you open a Simply Checking account online and within 60 days of account opening:
- Receive at least 2 qualifying direct deposits each totaling $500 or more within 90 days of account opening
- Enroll in eStatements
Earn $200 when you open a Simply Checking account online and within 60 days of account opening do one of the following:Set up a recurring direct deposit totaling at least $500. ORUse your contactless debit card to make a purchase at least 15 times, spending $300 or more in total purchases. This includes in-store and online purchases.Earn an extra $50 when you open a Simply Checking account and when you also open a Statement Savings5 account online and deposit at least $1,000 in new money within 60 days. Just select Statement Savings within the “Your Offers” page during the online account opening process.
- Earn $400 when you open a Simply Checking account online and within 60 days of account opening:
The Fine Print
- This offer is valid for new consumer checking account customers only that have not had a checking account with any affiliate of Fulton Financial Corporation within the last 24 months.
- Promotion is limited to one cash bonus per person.
- If multiple accounts are opened for the same owner, only the first account will be eligible for the bonus.
- Fulton Financial Corporation employees and immediate family members sharing a household are not eligible.
- May not be combined with any other offer.
- Offer may be withdrawn without notice.
- Customers are responsible for possible tax implications.
- 25 minimum deposit to open a checking account online.
- This offer is valid when you open a new Simply Checking account and complete a minimum of 15 debit card purchases within 60 days after account opening (transactions must be posted to the account within the 60 day timeframe); or, set up recurring direct deposit in the cumulative amount of $250 or more within 60 days after account opening.
- The direct deposit must post to your account within this timeframe and is limited to Social Security, pension, payroll, or unemployment. $200 cash bonus will be credited to your checking account four to six weeks after the conditions above have been met.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
- Simply checking has no monthly fees to worry about
Relationship Banking has a $20 monthly fee$5,000 minimum daily balance and one customer-initiated transaction posted each statement cycle OR$25,000 combined deposit and investment balance for the primary or secondary account owner on the last day of the statement cycle and one customer-initiated transaction6 posted each statement cycle
Early Account Termination Fee
I can find no references to an early account termination fee on their website.
Our Verdict
Previous best bonus was $150. This is an extra $50 for the same requirements. Definitely think this is worth doing if you live in a targeted area, I’ll be adding this to our list of the best checking account bonuses.
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
Open 9/8 in branch Real DD 9/15 Real DD 9/18 As of now 9/29 still no bonus Seem like someone get it real fast and someone wait for almost a month. I will wait until 10/12 if it still no bonus will try to reach them Will update
When did you open the account?
RegulatorJoe Aa Either of you mind sharing the phone number from the denial message?
I applied online not targeted through the link got denied message. I called the phone# from denied message asked how can i get targeted? She said she can send a targeted offer to my local branch and applied at branch asked which branch I will go. I picked a branch and she sent promo offer to branch and opened account. The banker told me this is targeted offer for me. but t he Chex was pulled twice for the online application and branch. $400 for two Chex.
This is the one time you do not want a clean link
I don’t think that will work as per many other data points.
Google to see if an ad comes up. If it does, apply thru the google link.
Soooo…how do i get targeted? Open a business account first in branch? That’s what I plan to do with email coupon. Anyone else successful with Fulton in person for this or another ‘targeted’ campaign?
I sent an inquiry message via the contact us messaging form form in their website asking about the eligibiity for SUB and specifically about the “direct communication” language. Within one hour, I received a phone call and was told as long as applying from the link https://www.fultonbank.com/Offers/simply-checking?utm_campaign=2025-Checking , you would be eligible for the promo bonus. But this information is contradictory to some recent DPs denied the bonus without being targeted. I am not sure if the pohne agent told me a wrong information or they started a new promo that doesn’t require the direct mailer communication for the bonus. Wondering if I should apply or not.
Bank bonuses are a big part of the website. If you don’t like them why not just use tags to find content that does interest you? https://www.doctorofcredit.com/using-multiple-tags-to-find-content-that-interests-you/ E.g: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/introducing-doctor-of-credit-big-deals-news/
Thanks, this is valuable DP. Save me lots of time!
Bank bonuses are taxed exactly as much as the rest of your earned income (unless you cross the threshold of a new tax bracket). Is having a job “worth it”?
I do both. 10k in bank bonuses in a year is definitely worth it to me. I actually started bank bonuses to offset some of my credit card AF’s.
thanks.
i am able to dump most of my income into retirement accounts, keeping me a solid 12% tax rate. I’ll give up $1200 on $10k in bank bonuses.
Bank bonuses are taxed to the point they aren’t really worth it. Credit card promos is where it’s at for me.
Weird take. The bank bonuses are the main reason I’m here.
Gosh, I really like this website but I really think these bank bonus deals should not be listed on the main page. I frequent this page less and less because most of these deals are bank bonus deals which are not relevant likely to so many of us, frankly.
Thanks for all the comments. Is there a truly public offer (even if lower than $400) that we can comfortably use?
Opened account for the first time in January with the link from this site. Did the qualifying DD. After 2 months followed up and was told to wait another 4-6 weeks for the Bonus to post. Now, 6 months later and after another 2 months of back and forth I was told that all of their bonuses are targeted and I have to show a direct mailer in order to receive the bonus for a personal checking account. Waste of my DD.
It is enforced, I just learned the hard way
Thanks much for the dp.
Yes, but whether it is enforced is the question. I don’t believe it is, but you have to decide for yourself if it’s worth trying. My thoughts were on this comment: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/de-dc-md-nj-pa-va-only-fulton-bank-200-checking-bonus-direct-deposit-not-required/#comment-1901679
Many thanks. This languages may suggest targeted nature of the offer? I mmight be wrong.
Fine print “ 1 In addition to the other eligibility criteria set forth below, this promotion is only available to individuals that: (1) accessed the landing page via a direct communication (digital advertisement) from Fulton Bank and (2) applied utilizing that link. Individuals who obtained or accessed the landing page by any means other than those described above will not be eligible for the promotion.”
Thanks for the link, is this public offer or targeted one? Thanks.
Simplified link https://www.fultonbank.com/Offers/simply-checking?utm_campaign=2025-Checking
wondering if this targeted or not?
Looks like they started a $400 offer from 7/1/26-12/31/26 https://www.fultonbank.com/Offers/simply-checking?utm_campaign=2025-Checking&utm_medium=google&utm_source=fulton&utm_content=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=2022-Checking&adgroupid=153621843304&utm_term=fulton%20bank%20checking%20account&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4-y8BhC3ARIsAHmjC_EVi0WWdcJBHw3uI-GUJzXLbOMUFB-uX4o7QiSnewecoL93-Gd3JVUaAr9zEALw_wcB
It’s been 2 years since I got the bonus and closed my account last time. I was thinking to churn, but reading some recent DPs, it looks they are enforcing the targeted language strictly (unlike before) and now requires a direct mailer or email to be eligible for the bonus? Does any one have recent DPs of getting the bonus without being directly targeted? I can also go to a branch easily, if needed. (I did business checking bonus a year ago so I cannot churn that yet.)