Ally Bank does not have a broad $300 new-customer bank-account bonus in September 2026. Its documented cash offer is instead a $100 referral Welcome Bonus for eligible new deposit customers, while a separate Select CD promotion offers a rate rather than cash. The change matters because a referral link and qualifying activity now drive the available cash bonus. Readers who were waiting for the former GET300 offer should not assume it is still open.
Table of Contents
- The former $300 offer is closed
- What the current $100 referral bonus requires
- Who is actually eligible?
- Limits that can change the value of the deal
- The Select CD is an alternative, not a signup bonus
The former $300 offer is closed
Ally's former $300 GET300 Spending Account signup offer is no longer a current option. Ally says enrollment had to occur by November 10, 2025, on its checking-bonus next-steps page.
That distinction is important for bonus hunters. A page, blog post, or search result mentioning $300 may describe an expired promotion rather than an offer a new applicant can claim today.
What the current $100 referral bonus requires
The active cash offer documented by Ally is a $100 Welcome Bonus for a referred "New Friend." The person must enroll through a referrer's personal link by December 31, 2026 and open an eligible savings or Spending account within 30 days, according to Ally's New Friend referral terms. The account type determines the qualifying path: For Savings, Ally says payment follows within 30 days after the third qualifying month. For Spending, payment follows within 30 days after the qualifying direct deposit, provided the account remains in good standing.
- Savings: Set up an Ally-initiated external recurring transfer or qualifying direct deposit, then complete it monthly for three consecutive months.
- Spending: Fund the account within 30 days and receive qualifying direct deposit within 60 days.
Who is actually eligible?
This offer is designed for genuinely new Ally Bank deposit customers. Ally excludes people who currently have, or have had since January 1, 2024, any Ally Bank deposit account, including through joint ownership, under its referral terms. Check your history before opening an account through a referral.
Previous Savings, Spending, or jointly owned deposit accounts may make you ineligible even if you are not the primary account holder. A household member's referral link does not remove that eligibility rule. The key question is whether you personally meet Ally's definition of a New Friend.
Limits that can change the value of the deal
The referral program allows only one Welcome Bonus per new customer. Ally also states that the program may end early or change without notice.
That means a reader should complete the enrollment and account-opening steps promptly rather than wait until late December. It also means you should not assume the referral can stack with another Ally account-opening incentive; Ally may determine a participant is ineligible for overlapping bonuses.
The Select CD is an alternative, not a signup bonus
Ally's other current deposit promotion is a 7-Month Select CD with a 3.50% APY as of September 11, 2026. It has no minimum balance and is available through March 23, 2027, but it is a rate offer rather than a cash bonus, according to Ally's 7-Month Select CD page. This can suit someone who values a defined CD term more than a $100 referral payment.
It does not replace the referral offer's eligibility rules or direct-deposit requirements. The APY may change before the promotional period ends, the CD automatically renews into a 6-Month High Yield CD, and early withdrawal penalties apply. Check the rate and renewal terms when funding the CD.
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