Is Empire State Bank in your plan? It depends on your state and paydays. Four questions, about a minute.
See if it's in my planFree Personal Checking
- Bonus
- $250
- To qualify
- $2,500 in direct deposits within 90 days + $25 to open
- 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 York, at a branch. Membership is limited to these counties: Richmond, Kings (NY)
- Monthly fee
- None
- When the bonus is paid
- Within about 90 days after you open the account
- Keep it open
- At least 183 days, or the bank charges a $10 early-closing fee
- Past customers
- Empire State Bank's terms: "Cash bonus is limited to one per person and subject to 1099 reporting."
Good to know: Open in person at a banking center with $25 or more. $2,500 in direct deposits within 90 days. No monthly fee. Closing within 6 months costs $10.
Opened at an Empire State Bank banking center. Its branches are in Staten Island and Brooklyn, so we show it when your ZIP code is in those boroughs.
Checked against Empire State Bank's own terms on October 26, 2026.