What is a direct deposit?

Direct deposit is how most bank bonuses get triggered. The bank wants to see real money flowing into the account from an outside source (a paycheck, a government benefit, a pension) rather than you just shuffling your own cash between accounts.

Here's the thing though: banks don't actually verify where the money came from. They look at how the transfer is coded in the banking system. A payroll provider sends ACH transfers with a specific transaction code that signals this is a direct deposit. When you manually push money from one bank to another, it uses a different code.

This means certain fintech apps like PayPal, Venmo, and Revolut sometimes code their transfers in a way that counts as a direct deposit at certain banks, even if it's not a paycheck. Whether that works depends entirely on the specific bank.

The safest move is to check the bank's terms before you open the account. Some are strict about payroll only. Others will accept almost any ACH. The Chase Total Checking bonus, for example, requires a qualifying direct deposit of $1,000 or more within 90 days of opening. We have a full breakdown of what counts as a direct deposit at Chase with community-verified data points. When the terms are vague, communities like r/churning maintain lists of what has actually worked for people. Every bonus on our bonuses page lists the specific deposit requirements so you know what counts before you apply.