BMO
BMO Smart Advantage Checking $600 Bonus
BMO pays up to $600 for opening a Smart Advantage Checking account: $100 for every month you receive $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposits, for up to 6 months. No monthly fee with paperless statements. Soft credit pull. Available in 14 states, including California, Florida, Illinois, and Arizona.
- Bonus amount
- $600
- Expires
- Dec 15, 2026
- Time to complete
- ~210 days
- Bonus deposited in
- ~220 days
- Difficulty
- Medium
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Requirements
Last verified: Oct 7, 2026
Open an account
Open a new BMO Smart Advantage Checking, Smart Money Checking, or Relationship Checking account between September 9, 2026 and December 15, 2026, using the offer link so the promo code applies automatically.
Set up recurring direct deposit
Beginning the calendar month after account opening, receive $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits in a calendar month to earn that month's $100 bonus. Up to 6 monthly bonuses ($600 total) are available; skipping a month does not disqualify later months.
Each qualifying month earns a $100 cash bonus, paid about 10 business days after the start of the next month. Up to 6 monthly bonuses ($600 total) are available over roughly 7 months; missing a month's requirement does not disqualify later months.
Account Details
- Paperless statements enabled
Must remain open for at least 90 days.
Eligibility
Cannot have an existing BMO checking account.
- Must reside in AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, IL, IN, MN, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, or WI at the time of application. Proof of address may be required.
Tips & Gotchas
- →This is a MONTHLY recurring bonus, not a one-time payout: $100 per qualifying month, up to 6 months ($600 max). You don't need all 6 months to get paid -- missing a month just skips that month's $100.
- →Tracking starts the calendar month AFTER you open the account, not the opening month itself.
- →Only the first Smart Money, Smart Advantage, or Relationship Checking account you open between 9/9/26 and 12/15/26 is eligible.
- →A separate BMO Savings Builder account can earn up to $60 more ($5/month for growing your balance $200+), tracked as a different bonus from this checking offer.
Direct Deposit Data Points 170
170 community reports across 19 transfer sources, showing what triggers a qualifying direct deposit at BMO.
How long until the bonus posts? The most recent community reports average about 87 days. See 132 reports on BMO Checking payout timelines →
Can You Earn This Bonus Again?
Fine Print
Offer limited to one per client/account (including trustees, signers, joint owners); not available to existing BMO personal checking clients or anyone who closed a BMO personal checking account within the past 12 months. Primary applicant must reside in AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, IL, IN, MN, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, or WI at application. Cash bonuses may be reported to the IRS.
Taxable income · Reported on 1099-INT
Related Articles
What Counts as a Direct Deposit for BMO Bonuses?
On paper, BMO counts only paychecks, pension payments, and government benefits as qualifying direct deposits. Based on 302 community data points with only one conclusive failure (a Robinhood brokerage push), BMO is one of the most flexible banks in our dataset in practice. Employer payroll, Chase Business payroll, Fidelity "someone else" EFTs, TreasuryDirect, and Relay pushes all have clean track records.
What is a direct deposit?
An electronic payment sent directly into your bank account, usually from an employer or government.
Does Zelle Count as Direct Deposit for Bank Bonuses?
Usually no. At most banks a Zelle payment arrives coded as peer-to-peer and will not trigger the bonus. Citi is the clear exception. Its Enhanced Direct Deposit terms name Zelle as a qualifying deposit, and every Zelle report we have from Citi got paid.
Also see: this month's best bank bonuses and community DD data points.
We may earn a commission if you open an account through the link above. This doesn't affect our recommendations. See how we make money