Truist Checking has increased the new account bonus, and the requirements are not too complicated. The core is to receive a total of $2,000 in direct deposit and complete 20 debit card purchases. You need to finish this within 120 days of opening the account. If you already have direct deposit or can manage a fake direct deposit, don’t miss this free $500 bonus. The offer ends on February 2, 2027.

Here is a summary of some common questions and tips people have had recently

  • Account opening and identity: There are already multiple successful DPs for choosing PRA on the RA online application; choosing NRA may affect bonus eligibility. Common online application IT issues include Code 130 and Zip Code problems. If needed, you can switch networks, devices, or go to a branch directly. There are also in-branch success DPs for ITIN + F1.
  • Direct Deposit: Recent DPs show that Chase Push ACH, Current, and Moomoo can count as DD, while recent DPs show Fidelity no longer counts.
  • 20 debit card purchases: Current successful methods include Cash App, Apple Cash, Venmo, PayPal top-ups, and Walmart split payment, but Truist’s risk controls are not especially lenient, and repeated small transactions can sometimes be blocked.
  • Bonus Tracker: You can check the Tracker in the app (More → Rewards & Deals → View Rewards → Explore Accounts with Rewards → My Truist Offers) or on the web Offers page. However, it usually does not appear right after opening the account, and some people never see the Tracker but still receive the Bonus in the end.
  • Bonus posting: Multiple DPs show that after meeting the requirements, the bonus posts quickly, often the same day or the next day. Some people received the $500 just 9 days after opening the account.
  • CC Funding $250: Do not use a Chase credit card for account opening funding. There are DPs showing it was coded as a cash advance and charged fees and interest; the Capital One Venture X can fund successfully and count as a purchase.

This bonus still has some appeal, so I also added it to the rankings.

Below is a timeline for receiving the bonus and a method for doing the direct deposit. A Chase checking account can be used to complete a fake direct deposit, which is pretty good. Use your personal Chase account and initiate an ACH transfer from Chase (just don’t make it a real-time transfer). There are two requirements: one is $2,000 in direct deposit (two deposits are fine, as long as the total is $2,000), and the other is 20 debit card purchases. Details below:

  • January 20 - opened account, deposited $50
  • January 22 - Chase ACH transfer of $1,150
  • January 23 - Chase ACH transfer of $650
  • January 27-29 - 20 debit card purchases of $1.xx each
  • February 3 - another direct deposit of $267
  • February 5 - bonus pending
  • February 6 - $400 bonus posted~

Here is a summary of ways to complete a fake direct deposit. Note that these all need to be initiated from a bank or an investment platform: banks should use ACH transfers, and investment platforms should use withdrawals. Either way, it just needs to go to Truist.

  • Banks: Affinity, Ally, Axos, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Discover, Fulton, SoFi, Wells Fargo, Wise
  • Investment platforms: Charles Schwab, E*Trade, Fidelity
As for the 20 debit card purchases, you can refer to this article; it is easy to complete. And with 120 days, there is plenty of time.

About Truist Bank

Truist Financial Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the United States. The company was formed in December 2019 through the merger of BB&T (Branch Banking and Trust Company) and SunTrust Banks. Its bank operates 1,928 branches in 15 states and Washington, D.C., offering consumer banking, commercial banking, investment banking, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage loans, insurance, and other products and services. By assets, the company is among the largest banks in the United States. As of May 2025, it is the 10th-largest bank in the United States, with $523 billion in assets. Truist Bank is also a member of the FDIC, so you generally do not need to worry too much about deposit safety

Account Opening and Bonus

Opening Bonus

See the top of the article

Opening Requirements

The opening requirements are as follows

  • You can only open the account if your mailing address is in one of the following states: Alabama (AL), Arkansas (AR), Georgia (GA), Florida (FL), Indiana (IN), Kentucky (KY), Maryland (MD), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), New Jersey (NJ), Ohio (OH), Pennsylvania (PA), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Virginia (VA), West Virginia (WV), or Washington, D.C. (DC).
  • You can fund the account with a credit card, up to $250 (based on a fellow reader’s experience, this was very likely coded as a cash advance, and Citi charged a $12.50 fee)

Time to Receive the Bonus

Below is a user’s timeline for receiving the bonus. You can see that once the requirements were completed, the bonus arrived quickly, and there was no need to actually wait four weeks.

  • 5/30 - opened account in branch
  • 6/17 - $300 real DD
  • 6/26 - $710 push from Schwab Brokerage
  • 7/1 - reward pending
  • 7/3 - $400 Bonus posted

Direct Deposit

If you have payroll income and can switch it to this checking account, that is the safest way. Two deposits totaling $2,000 are still easy to complete. If you do not want to or cannot switch payroll, you can activate it using the transfer methods below. According to reader reports, ACH transfers from BofA, Capital One, Chase, and Discover can all work. Investment accounts like Wise, SoFi, and Schwab can also work, and it is still pretty easy.

Fees

Truist Bright Checking has a $12 monthly fee, which can be waived by:

  • Receiving more than $500 in direct deposit each month;
  • Maintaining a balance of $500

Early Account Termination Fee: This fee is not listed in the fee schedule.

Application Link