American Express Rewards Checking: Earn a $250 Bonus

American Express is offering a $250 cash bonus for opening a new Amex Rewards Checking account, and it’s one of the more attractive checking offers available right now—especially for existing Amex cardholders.

The Offer

You can earn $250 when you:

Open a new American Express® Rewards Checking account by January 31, 2026, and Receive $5,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening.

At the time of writing, I did not see an offer end date listed on the landing page.

Who’s Eligible?

To qualify for this offer, you must:

Have an existing American Express credit card that has been active for at least 5 days Be a new Amex Rewards Checking customer

Amex Rewards Checking Highlights

No fee to open

No monthly maintenance fees

No minimum balance requirement

Earns 1 Membership Rewards® point for every $2 spent on the debit card

That makes this one of the few checking accounts that actually earns flexible travel rewards on debit card purchases.

Key Details at a Glance

Bonus: $250 Direct deposit requirement: $5,000 total within 90 days

Availability: Nationwide Fees: None (no monthly fees, no early termination fees)

Eligibility: Requires an existing Amex credit card

Rewards perk: Some Amex transfer partners are available simply by holding this account—even if you don’t have a Membership Rewards-earning credit card

Why This Offer Is Interesting

If you already have an Amex card, this is an easy bonus to earn with no ongoing cost.

The lack of monthly fees and minimum balances makes it low-risk, and the ability to earn Membership Rewards points on debit card spending is a rare perk.

Bottom Line

The Amex Rewards Checking $250 bonus is a nice aoption for anyone who can meet the $5,000 direct deposit requirement within 90 days. With no fees, nationwide availability, and Membership Rewards earning potential, it’s worth a look—especially if you’re already in the Amex ecosystem.

Link to offer: Amex $250 Rewards Checking bonus