Dozens of banks and credit unions lure new business with account-opening promotions.Some reward first-time customers with bonuses worth hundreds of dollars just for opening an account and making qualifying deposits.The best land on our regularly updated roundup of the top new bank account promotions .
You’ve probably seen credit card issuers get in on the action too.Many of the best cash-back credit cards and travel rewards credit cards come with irresistible welcome offers, the best of which rival the most generous new bank account promotions.
America’s top self-directed and managed investment platforms also offer impressive new-account bonuses.
Top-tier new brokerage account promotions dwarf the leading bank and credit card promotions — promising thousands to new customers bringing substantial assets to the table.
Best New Brokerage Account Promotions (December 2021)
These are the best brokerage account promotions from North America’s top online stock brokers for this month.All are subject to change, so check back often for updates.
Whichever you choose, pair your new brokerage account with a subscription to Trade Ideas , the most powerful paper trading and market research subscription around.
1.Robinhood — Up to $175 (Or More) in Free Stock
Open a new Robinhood account with commission-free trading capabilities and get up to $175 (or more) in free stock.
Here’s how it works:
– Apply for a new Robinhood brokerage account and get approved.
– Robinhood adds one free share of stock worth between $2.50 and $175 (or more) per share, chosen randomly from its inventory of settled shares.
– You can hold the share indefinitely or sell it after two trading days.
Bear in mind that you may not receive the same stock as other applicants and your share’s value may fluctuate with market movements.Once open, use your account to trade stocks, ETFs , and other market-traded instruments.
2.SoFi Invest — Win Up to $1,000 in Free Stock When You Play “The Claw” Game
For a limited time, download the SoFi Invest app and open a new SoFi Active Invest account for the chance to play “The Claw” game and win up to $1,000 in free stock.Just direct “The Claw” toward the gift of your choice, drop it, and win a random dollar amount of stock — anywhere from $5 to $1,000.
Moving forward, enjoy commission-free stock trades and access to fractional shares in select securities with no account minimums.Terms and conditions apply.See offer for details.
See our SoFi review for more information.
3.Acorns — $10 Bonus
Open a new Acorns account using the link below to earn a $10 credit.
It’s that simple — no minimum deposit or balance required.You’ll receive the sign-up bonus credit after completing your account registration.
Moving forward, Acorns offers two attractively priced plans that support everyday money management, longer-term saving, and market investing:
– Personal.
For just $3 per month, Acorns offers a tax-advantaged retirement account that updates regularly to match your goals and a [checking account] with 55,000+ fee-free ATMs worldwide and up to 10% bonus investments.
– Family.For just $5 per month, you’ll get everything included in the lower-priced plans, plus Early, a kid-friendly investment account featuring automatic recurring investments, exclusive bonus investments, family-centered financial advice, and potential tax savings.
See our Acorns review for more information.
4.Mainvest — $20 in User Credit for Opening an Account
Sign up and open an account with Mainvest to get $20 in user credit.That’s it — no other hoops to jump through.
Moving forward, use your Mainvest user credit to invest in small businesses across America.It’s a win-win: You can take advantage of opportunities to earn 10% to 25% returns on your money while helping the next generation of entrepreneurs take root.
5.
TradeStation — Up to $5,000 Cash
TradeStation , a discount online brokerage popular with serious traders, has one of the most generous brokerage promotions on the market for new and existing account holders.It’s worth up to $5,000 cash when you make a qualifying transfer into your TradeStation account.
To qualify for bonus cash, existing account holders just need to complete the form on this page .New account holders must create a new TradeStation account using the promo code “CASHAFRV”.
In either case, TradeStation adds up all qualifying deposits made during the 45-day offer period to calculate the bonus threshold, then confirms that you’ve held them over the full course of the 270-day holding period that follows.
The bonus thresholds are:
– $50 Bonus: Deposit at least $5,000 in new money to the account.
– $200 Bonus: Deposit at least $25,000 in new money.
– $300 Bonus: Deposit at least $100,000 in new money.
– $600 Bonus: Deposit at least $200,000 in new money.
– $1,200 Bonus: Deposit at least $500,000 in new money.
– $2,500 Bonus: Deposit at least $1,000,000 in new money.
– $3,500 Bonus: Deposit at least $2,000,000 in new money.
– $5,000 Bonus: Deposit at least $5,000,000 in new money.
6.
M1 Invest — Deposit $1,000, Get $30
First-time M1 Invest clients can take advantage of an easy $30 bonus offer.
Here’s how it works:
– Open a new M1 Invest account (must be a first-time customer) by Dec.31, 2021.
– Deposit at least $1,000 into your new account within 14 days of opening.
That’s it.You should receive your $30 bonus in the account within seven to 14 days of completing your qualifying deposit.
To avoid forfeiting the bonus, you must keep the qualifying deposit or equivalent value in your account for at least 60 days from the date you receive your cash reward.
7.Webull — Free Stocks Up to $2,300 Total Value
Open and fund a new Webull account with at least $5 to get up to two free stocks worth up to $2,300 in total.Participating stocks include Google, Facebook, Procter & Gamble, Starbucks, Kraft Heinz, and Snap.
Here’s how this promotion works:
Account Opening Bonus (1 Free Stock)
Simply sign up and open a qualifying Webull account to receive a free stock valued between $3 and $300.
You must complete the account opening process by the stated offer end date at the time you apply.
This date is subject to change at Webull’s discretion.
Deposit Bonus (1 Free Stock)
Make an initial deposit of $5 or more to your new account by the end of the offer period to claim a free stock valued between $8 and $2,000 per share.
This offer applies only to Webull cash and margin accounts.
8.EarlyBird — Get $10 Just for Opening an Account
Earn an easy $10 when you download the EarlyBird custodial investment app and complete your account.
Just use your smartphone camera or scanning software to scan the QR code, or tap “Invest $10” on the linked page to download the app and begin the account creation process.To claim your bonus, install the app and complete your account.You should see the bonus as soon as you’re done.
Once the $10 credit appears in your account, use it to invest on behalf of a child of your own or gift it to a family member you’d like to support.
9.BlockFi — Up to $250 BTC Bonus
Open and fund a BlockFi Interest Account (BIA) for the first time and make qualifying deposits within the first 30 days of opening.In return, you could earn a special one-time bonus worth up to $250 bitcoin (BTC).
The payout tiers work as follows:
– $15 BTC: Deposit $25 to $1,499.
– $20 BTC: Deposit $1,500 to $19,999.
– $40 BTC: Deposit $20,000 to $39,999.
– $75 BTC: Deposit $40,000 to $79,999.
– $150 BTC: Deposit $75,000 to $99,999.
– $250 BTC: Deposit $100,000 or more.
To ensure you receive the bonus, you must maintain a crypto balance of $25 or greater through the 14th of the month two and a half months from your eligibility month (account opening month).
Eligible payouts occur on a rolling basis on or about the 15th of every month.
10.Axos Invest — $150 Bonus With a New Self-Directed Trading Account
For a limited time, you can earn a $150 bonus when you open a new Self-Directed Trading account with Axos Invest .All you have to do is bring at least $2,500 in new money to the table and meet other qualifications (terms apply).
Moving forward, enjoy commission-free trading of U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs and access more than 10,000 mutual funds.And if you’re looking for an edge over other traders, consider upgrading to Axos Elite, a paid service with benefits like:
– Fully Paid Lending, a P2P securities lending service that may help you earn extra income on the assets in your portfolio if your account balance is greater than $25,000
– Extended hours trading (7pm ET on trading days)
– TipRanks™ market research, which delivers data and insights from thousands of market analysts
– Instant funds transfers from your Axos Bank account
– Margin trading privileges when you meet minimum balance requirements
11.
Ally Invest — Up to $3,000 Cash Bonus
Open a new self-directed account with Ally Invest by Dec.31, 2021, and make a qualifying deposit of new money or assets to earn up to $3,000 bonus cash.
The bonus thresholds are:
– $100: Deposit $10,000 to $24,999 in new funds or assets.
– $250: Deposit $25,000 to $99,999 in new funds or assets.
– $300: Deposit $100,000 to $249,999 in new funds or assets.
– $600: Deposit $250,000 to $499,999 in new funds or assets.
– $1,200: Deposit $500,000 to $999,999 in new funds or assets.
– $2,000: Deposit $1,000,000 to $1,999,999 in new funds or assets.
– $3,000: Deposit $2,000,000 or more in new funds or assets.
To qualify for the bonus, you must fund the account within 60 days of opening.Once Ally Invest credits the bonus to the account, the combined bonus and qualifying deposit (less any trading losses) must remain in the account for 300 days.Otherwise, Ally Invest reserves the right to revoke the bonus.
Deposited funds must come from accounts that aren’t Ally or Ally subsidiary accounts.You must fund the new account with a minimum qualifying deposit of $10,000 or more to qualify for the minimum cash bonus.
The bonus is available to U.S.
residents, excluding current Ally Invest account holders, and Ally Invest account holders who closed their accounts within 90 days of applying.
Account Transfer Fee Credit
Separately, Ally Invest credits up to $150 in transfer fees charged by other brokerages when you complete a first-time account transfer totaling $2,500 or more.That credit hits your account within 30 days of the transfer.
For more information about Ally Invest’s taxable brokerage accounts and IRAs with commission-free trades, read our Ally Invest review .
To learn more about Ally Bank, Ally Invest’s parent institution, check out our Ally Bank review .
12.Citi Wealth Management — Up to $3,500 Cash Bonus
Open a new eligible Citi Personal Wealth Management account by Dec.31, 2021, and make a qualifying deposit of new money or assets to earn a cash bonus of up to $3,500.
The bonus thresholds are as follows:
– $500: Deposit $50,000 to $199,999 in new funds or securities.
– $1,000: Deposit $200,000 to $499,999 in new funds or securities.
– $1,500: Deposit $500,000 to $999,999 in new funds or securities.
– $2,500: Deposit $1,000,000 to $1,999,999 in new funds or securities.
– $3,500: Deposit $2,000,000 or more in new funds or securities.
To earn this bonus, you must do the following:
– Open and enroll your new Citi Private Wealth Management account.
– Make the qualifying new money deposit within two months of account opening.
– Enroll the account into e-delivery of statements within two months of account opening.
– Maintain the new funding at least through the end of the third month (statement cycle) after account opening.
Eligible funds must be new to Citibank and can’t come from or be combined with funds from any other Citi accounts.This offer is available to new Citi Private Wealth Management clients only.
13.M1 Finance — Up to $2,500 Transfer Bonus
M1 Finance, a top Robinhood alternative , has a great account opening promotion for new clients who can bring significant assets from another brokerage.Here’s how it works.
Open a new M1 Finance account and initiate an account transfer within 60 days of sign-up to earn a transfer bonus of up to $2,500.
The bonus thresholds for the cash bonus are:
– $250 Bonus: Transfer an account worth $100,000 to $249,999.99.
– $500 Bonus: Transfer an account worth $250,000 to $499,999.99.
– $1,000 Bonus: Transfer an account worth $500,000 to $999,999.99.
– $2,500 Bonus: Transfer an account worth $1,000,000 or more.
Your new M1 Finance account type must match your old account type.The offer isn’t valid on ACH deposits, wire transfers, or direct 401(k) rollovers.Once the transfer is received, you’ll receive payment within 90 days.
See our M1 Finance review for more information.
14.Betterment — Up to 1 Year Managed Free
Get up to one year managed free when you open a Betterment robo-advisor account and make a qualifying deposit within 45 days.
Bonus thresholds are:
– 1 Month Free: Fund your account with $15,000 to $99,999 within the qualification period.
– 6 Months Free: Fund your account with $100,000 to $249,999 within the qualification period.
– 12 Months Free: Fund your account with $250,000 or more within the qualification period.
You can’t combine this offer with any other promotions, and it’s available to U.S.residents only.
For more about Betterment’s benefits, check out our lists of the best high-yield savings accounts and cash management accounts on the market today.
See our Betterment review for more information.
15.Unifimoney — Up to $1,000 BTC Reward Plus Up to $1,000 BTC for Referrals
Open an account with Unifimoney and make a qualifying new money deposit to earn an account opening reward worth up to $100 BTC.
Deposit a minimum of $1,000 in new money to earn a $25 BTC reward.Or up your commitment with a minimum deposit of $100,000 in new money to earn a $1,000 BTC reward.
Either way, here’s what you have to do to earn the bonus:
– Deposit the required minimum balance in your new Unifimoney account within 14 days of opening.
– Hold the same minimum balance in combined deposits or assets for at least 30 days.
– Within 14 business days, you’ll receive your Bitcoin reward in your Unifimoney Crypto account, inclusive of transaction fees and calculated at the prevailing Bitcoin rate at the time of purchase.
Once your account is open, refer new account holders to Unifimoney to earn even more.
Each qualifying referral earns a fresh $25 BTC reward, up to $1,000 BTC in total potential referral rewards.
16.SoFi Invest — $10 Bitcoin Bonus
SoFi Invest has another great bonus opportunity for new account holders looking for crypto exposure.Here’s how it works:
– Open a new SoFi Invest account by Dec.31, 2021.
– Buy at least $10 worth of any cryptocurrency within 7 days of account opening.
After completing your qualifying trade, you should receive $10 in Bitcoin ($10 BTC) in your account within seven days.
17.Tornado — Up to $1,000 Cash
Open a new Tornado account using this link to earn up to $1,000 in cash.
There’s no minimum funding threshold or other hoops to jump through — just open your account and Tornado rewards you with $10 to $1,000 cash.
There is one catch: Tornado chooses your reward amount at random, and it’s impossible to predict how much you stand to receive.Once the bonus is in your account, you must make at least one trade within three months and keep the bonus funds on deposit for a full year.
The cash offer is available to new Tornado users on live trading accounts only.Simulated trading accounts aren’t eligible.
18.
Charles Schwab — Up to $500 Cash Referral Bonus
Open a new qualifying Charles Schwab account with a qualifying referral from an existing Schwab client to earn a cash bonus of up to $500.
To qualify, ask a friend or family member with a Schwab account to send you their unique referral code.Then use the code to open a new Schwab account with an initial deposit or deposits totaling at least $25,000.
Make one or more qualifying deposits within 45 days of your account opening date, and you’ll receive your cash bonus about a week later.
Your bonus amount depends on how much you deposit during the 45-day qualifying period:
– $100: Deposit $25,000 to $49,999 in new money or assets.
– $300: Deposit $50,000 to $99,999 in new money or assets.
– $500: Deposit $100,000 and above in new money or assets.
Once your account is open, monthly fees may apply.Multiple members of the same household may qualify for bonuses individually, as long as they open separate Schwab accounts.
Final Word
If you’re a satisfied investor, you’d be forgiven for feeling no urgency to switch brokerages.Why fix something that’s not broken?
But the prospect of earning hundreds or thousands of dollars in brokerage bonuses is often reason enough.
Most of these brokerages take pains to ensure their new-account bonuses qualify as easy money.
In many cases, moving assets to a newly opened account requires little more than completing an account application and authorizing an electronic funds transfer or asset rollover, a process that’s quick and painless enough to complete in a spare 15 minutes.
Even if you’re not ready to take advantage of these brokerage account bonuses, it still pays to add a review of the top brokerage promotions to your due-diligence to-do list for whenever you’re ready to start investing on a new trading platform..
