Is the Northwest Bank Student Checking bonus available nationwide?

No. This offer is limited to residents of select states: NY, OH, IN, PA.

Is the Northwest Bank Student Checking bonus taxable?

Yes. Bank account bonuses are considered taxable income by the IRS. Northwest Bank will send a 1099-INT form if your bonus is $10 or more.

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Northwest Bank

Northwest Bank Student Checking $150 Bonus

Northwest Bank pays $150 when you open a new Student Checking account (ages 16 to 24) and make 7 or more debit card purchases in a single statement cycle within the first 3 cycles. No monthly service charge, no minimum balance, no direct deposit required. $25 to open. Available in New York, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania.

Bonus amount: $150
Expires: Dec 31, 2026
Time to complete: ~90 days
Bonus deposited in: ~120 days
Difficulty: Easy

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Requirements

Last verified: Oct 1, 2026

Open Student Checking
Open a new Northwest Student Checking account between September 28 and December 31, 2026. You must be 16 to 24 years old, and applicants under 18 need a joint owner who is at least 18. $25 minimum opening deposit.
7 debit card purchases in one statement cycle
Make 7 or more qualifying debit card purchases in a single statement cycle within the first 3 statement cycles. Tap-to-pay and Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay purchases count. Money transfers and other non-purchase transactions do not.

Northwest deposits the $150 into your new account, typically within 30 days after the statement cycle in which you complete the 7 qualifying transactions. The account must be open when it pays.

Account Details

Monthly feeNo monthly fee

Fee waiver

Student Checking has no monthly service charge and no minimum balance requirement.

Opening deposit$25

Min. hold periodNo minimum

Credit inquiryThe bank does not publish this. Ask before you apply.

ChexSystemsThe bank does not publish whether it screens banking history. Ask before you apply.

AvailabilitySelect states (NY, OH, IN, PA)

Eligibility

Minimum age16+

Existing customersNot eligible

Open a new Student Checking account. Northwest may limit customers to one new account-related bonus per calendar year.

Other restrictions

You must be 16 to 24 years old. Applicants under 18 need a joint owner who is at least 18.
Northwest may limit customers to one new account-related bonus per calendar year.

Tips & Gotchas

→Seven debit card purchases in one statement cycle is the whole task. No direct deposit is needed.
→Wallet taps (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) count as card purchases.
→You must be 16 to 24. Under 18 needs an adult joint owner.
→Northwest may limit you to one new account-related bonus per calendar year, so do not stack it with the $400 Affinity Checking offer in the same year.
→The account must still be open when the bonus is paid.

Direct Deposit Data Points 21

21 community reports across 11 transfer sources, showing what triggers a qualifying direct deposit at Northwest Bank.

View all Northwest Bank direct deposit data points →

How long until the bonus posts? The most recent community reports average about 28 days. See 14 reports on Northwest Bank Checking payout timelines →

Can You Earn This Bonus Again?

Can rechurnNo

Fine Print

Open a new Northwest Student Checking account between September 28 and December 31, 2026 and complete 7 or more qualifying debit card purchases within a single statement cycle during the first three statement cycles. Bonus typically deposited within 30 days after that statement cycle. Account must be open at payment. Northwest may limit customers to one new account-related bonus per calendar year. May be reported on Form 1099-INT. Verified on northwest.bank 2026-10-01.

Taxable income · Reported on 1099-INT

Do Bank Bonuses Show Up on a 1099-INT?

Yes. Bank bonuses are taxable income. Once you earn $10 or more from a single bank in a calendar year, the bank sends a 1099-INT and you report it as ordinary income on your tax return.

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Also see: this month's best bank bonuses and community DD data points.

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