Smart Advantage Checking
- Bonus
- $600
- To qualify
- 6 direct deposits ($6,000 total) within 213 days
- What counts as a direct deposit
- Real payroll, pension or government benefit deposits. Transfers from your other bank accounts, Zelle and Venmo don't count. More
- Who can open it
- Residents of 14 states: AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, IL, IN, MN, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WI, online
- Monthly fee
- None
- When the bonus is paid
- 40 to 225 days after you open the account
- Keep it open
- At least until the bonus posts. BMO's offer doesn't list a penalty for closing early, but some banks take the bonus back within 6 months, so 6 months is the safe choice.
- Past customers
- Not eligible if you got a BMO checking bonus in the last 12 months
- Open by
- December 15, 2026
Good to know: Pays $100 a month for each of the first 6 full months with $1,000+ in direct deposits; tracking starts the 1st of the month after opening.
Checked against BMO's own terms on October 19, 2026.