Columbia Bank (NJ) bonus: $300

Advantage Plus Checking

Bonus

$300

To qualify

$2,000 in direct deposits within 60 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 New Jersey, online

Monthly fee

$10 a month, waived with more than $1,000 in direct deposits, or 3 online bill payments or outside ACH debits, a statement cycle

When the bonus is paid

Within about 120 days after you finish the requirements

Keep it open

Until the bonus posts. Columbia Bank (NJ)'s offer only requires the account to be open when the bonus pays. If there's no monthly fee, keeping it a few months is the safe choice.

Past customers

Columbia Bank (NJ)'s terms: "Customers who have previously received a new account opening bonus of any type from the Bank in connection with a checking or savings account are not eligible for this offer, even if a new Checking Account is opened."

Good to know: Columbia's Advantage Plus page says $500, but its checking overview still says $300, so we count $300. Once per customer, ever.

Columbia Bank's offer page lists no states. We show it in New Jersey, where all of its branches are. Confirm when you apply.