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Plain-English explainers covering everything you should understand before chasing a US sign-up bonus. Start with the 101, then pick your path.

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Bonuses 101: Where to start

Quick orientation that covers what a sign-up bonus is, the difference between credit card and bank account bonuses, and how to figure out which path fits you. After this, you'll know exactly where to go next.

Start the 101 →
Path A

Credit card sign-up bonus

How welcome offers work, who gets approved, and how to avoid clawback.

Suggested reading order ↓

  1. What is a credit card sign-up bonus? Start
  2. Minimum spending requirement
  3. The 5/24 rule
  4. Soft pull vs hard pull
  5. Cancelling after the bonus
  6. Are credit card bonuses taxable?
Path B

Bank account sign-up bonus

What a bank bonus actually is, how direct deposits work, who gets approved (ChexSystems), and how the IRS treats the cash.

Suggested reading order ↓

  1. What is a bank account sign-up bonus? Start
  2. How direct deposits work
  3. What is ChexSystems?
  4. Are bank bonuses taxable?
Path C

Building credit first

If you have no credit history yet, start here before either bonus path.

  1. Bonus with no credit history Start
  2. Then graduate to Path A or B →

Or browse by topic

If you already know what you're looking for, jump directly to a guide.

Basics

3 guides
Do you need to fly for miles? ·What is a credit card sign-up bonus? ·Bonuses 101: Where to start

Credit cards

4 guides
Bonus with no credit history ·Cancelling after the bonus ·Minimum spending requirement ·The 5/24 rule

Bank bonuses

3 guides
How direct deposits work ·What is a bank account sign-up bonus? ·What is ChexSystems?

Taxes

2 guides
Are bank bonuses taxable? ·Are credit card bonuses taxable?

Credit score

1 guide
Soft pull vs hard pull