Here at BankCheckingSavings, we try to find the best bank deals for our readers. It’s important to learn what methods Banks count as direct deposit so you guys can max out on Checking and Savings bonuses.

If you’re familiar with these offers, you will know that they often come with some kind of Direct Deposit requirement. While there are a few banks that don’t require Direct Deposit, most of the higher value bonuses do.

In addition, many Checking accounts require Direct Deposit in order to avoid some monthly fees.

The terms and conditions usually define Direct Deposit as an “electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government.”

If you don’t have any problem adhering to those guidelines, then you’ll receive your bonus without any problems. However, there are many who can’t get their paycheck directly deposited by their employer and many who don’t qualify for government benefits.

To help save you time and energy, here’s a list of several banks that accept alternative Direct Deposit options.

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Table of Contents

1 Best Alternatives To Trigger Direct Deposit For Bank Accounts
2 Meeting Direct Deposit Requirements For Specific Banks

Best Alternatives To Trigger Direct Deposit For Bank Accounts

All of these methods are YMMV, meaning Your Mileage May Vary. One method isn’t guaranteed to work for everyone, so keep in mind that you may have to use a combination of these options.

ACH Transfers. All banks have Automated Clearing House (ACH) Transfers. It’s a free way to transfer money between financial institutions. This popular alternative method is fast, taking typically 2 business days for transfers. People often try to do an ACH transfer from a different bank account they own into the new one.
Capital One 360 Online Checking. This online checking product allows for ACH transfers and Person2Person payments (a way to send money to anyone using their email, similar to Chase Quickpay). It’s a popular option to fulfill Direct Deposit requirements because you control everything online. Plus, there are no monthly fees, unlike the ones traditional banks require. You can also earn up to $1,000 in bonus money with referrals.
PayPal. This is an iffy option and may not work. Essentially, you just add your new bank account to your PayPal profile. Then, withdraw the balance from your PayPal account into your bank account.

The good thing about these methods is that you’re just shifting your own money with no risk of additional fees. If you plan on signing up for many bank bonuses, you should prepare by setting up these options first.

Meeting Direct Deposit Requirements For Specific Banks

Here’s a list I’ve compiled of Direct Deposit alternatives that have or haven’t worked for banks often offering bonuses. This is based on user reports from many popular finance blogs and forums. If you have any personal experience with a bank, please comment below to let us know.

Take note that this information is always changing. So, I can’t guarantee that these other Direct Deposit methods will always work.