You met the conditions weeks ago and the money still is not there. That is usually normal — bonus payout timelines are longer and less predictable than the offers suggest.
The usual sequence
- Qualifying period. Typically 60 to 90 days from account opening to complete the deposit or activity requirement.
- Verification. The bank checks the conditions were met. This is not instant and is rarely described in the terms.
- Payout window. Commonly stated as within 30, 60 or 90 days after the qualifying period ends.
Added together, four to six months between opening the account and seeing the bonus is entirely ordinary. Offers that advertise a fast payout usually mean fast relative to that, not fast in absolute terms.
Where the clock starts is the detail that matters
Read whether the payout window runs from the date you met the requirement or from the end of the qualifying period. If it is the latter, completing your direct deposits in week two does not speed anything up — you still wait for the full 90 days to elapse before the payout clock even starts.
How the bonus arrives
Almost always as a deposit into the account itself, described with a promotional or bonus descriptor. It is credited as interest for tax purposes, which is why it appears on Form 1099-INT. It is rarely a separate payment or a statement credit.
When to actually chase it
Wait until the stated payout window has fully elapsed, then contact the bank with:
- The account opening date.
- The offer terms as published, ideally saved when you applied.
- Dates and amounts of the qualifying deposits or transactions.
Most disputes come down to whether a deposit was coded as a qualifying direct deposit. Having the statement lines ready makes that a short conversation.
Save the terms at the time you apply
This is the single most useful habit. Promotional pages are taken down or edited once an offer ends, and the version you agreed to is the one that governs. A saved copy — a PDF or a screenshot showing the date — settles almost every argument.
Do not close the account while waiting
Closing before the bonus posts forfeits it, and closing shortly after posting can trigger the clawback. Keep the account open until the later of the payout and the clawback window, then decide.
The FAQ covers the questions that come up most, and the roundup lists each offer’s stated timeline.