SoFi Checking & Savings: How to Earn up to $475 in Cash Bonuses
SoFi is an online bank that pairs a single Checking & Savings account with a stack of stackable cash bonuses. Sign up through a referral link and you can earn up to $475: a $50 referral bonus for opening and funding your account, a $25 bonus for enrolling in SoFi Plus, and a $400 bonus when you set up qualifying direct deposits of $5,000 or more. This guide walks through every tier and the exact steps to make sure the bonuses post.
What SoFi offers
SoFi Checking & Savings is a single account that combines a no-fee checking account with a high-yield savings component. There are no account fees, no minimum balance requirements, and deposits are FDIC insured up to applicable limits through SoFi Bank, N.A. and its network of program banks.
The account earns a competitive APY on savings and Vaults when you either receive qualifying direct deposits or maintain qualifying deposits. Cash back on the SoFi debit card is available on select merchants, and paychecks can arrive up to two days early with direct deposit.
How the referral stacks up to $475
Tier 1 — $50 referral bonus: open SoFi Checking & Savings as your first SoFi account through the referral link and deposit at least $50 within 21 days of account opening.
Tier 2 — $25 SoFi Plus bonus: within that same 21-day window, open and fund the account and enroll in SoFi Plus. Enrollment is available inside the SoFi app once your account is active.
Tier 3 — $400 direct deposit bonus: set up eligible direct deposits totaling at least $5,000. Direct deposits must come from an employer or benefits provider (ACH payroll or government benefit). Peer-to-peer transfers, mobile check deposits, and internal transfers do not count.
The three tiers are stackable, so completing all of them delivers the full $475 in cash bonuses.
Step-by-step: how to claim every dollar
Click the referral link and start your application. Using the link is what tags your account for the $50 referral tier — you cannot add a referral after signing up.
Finish the application and open SoFi Checking & Savings as your first SoFi product. Existing SoFi loan or invest customers can still open Checking & Savings, but Checking & Savings must be new to qualify.
Fund the account with at least $50 within 21 days. A one-time transfer from your existing bank works fine.
Enroll in SoFi Plus inside the app to unlock the extra $25.
Set up direct deposit with your employer using the SoFi routing and account numbers. Once eligible direct deposits reach $5,000, the $400 bonus is scheduled to post.
What counts as an eligible direct deposit
Eligible direct deposits are electronic deposits of regular income — payroll, pension, or government benefit payments — from an employer or benefits provider via ACH.
Deposits that do not count: check deposits, one-time wire transfers, external bank transfers you push yourself, and person-to-person payments (Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, Cash App).
You can reach the $5,000 threshold across multiple deposits — it does not need to be a single paycheck. As long as the qualifying deposits post within the promotional window, the bonus tier unlocks.
Why SoFi is worth it beyond the bonus
The account has no monthly fee, no overdraft fee, and no minimum balance requirement, which is unusual for an account that also pays a competitive APY.
Direct deposits arrive up to two days early, which is a real quality-of-life improvement for anyone living paycheck to paycheck.
Everything — Checking, Savings, Vaults, debit card controls — lives inside one clean mobile app. Vaults let you carve savings into named buckets (emergency fund, vacation, taxes) without opening extra accounts.
SoFi ATM access is free through the Allpoint network (55,000+ ATMs).
Common questions
Do I need great credit? No. Checking & Savings is a deposit account, not a credit product. Approval uses standard identity verification, not a hard credit pull.
How long until bonuses post? The $50 and $25 tiers typically post within 14 days of meeting the requirement. The $400 direct deposit tier posts after the qualifying $5,000 threshold is confirmed.
Can I close the account after the bonus? Bonuses are yours once posted, but SoFi may reverse them if the account is closed shortly after funding. Keep the account open at least a few months after the last bonus posts.
Is my money safe? Yes. SoFi Bank, N.A. is a member FDIC. Additional coverage is available through participating program banks in the SoFi Insured Deposit Program.
Ready to earn up to $475?
Open SoFi Checking & Savings through the referral link, deposit $50, enroll in SoFi Plus, and set up direct deposit of at least $5,000 to stack the full $475 in cash bonuses.
Open SoFi and earn up to $475Frequently asked questions
- What is the SoFi referral code?
- The current SoFi referral code is 68a35a87-d426-4c78-b3da-7ccb26a1df64. Enter it when you sign up (or use the referral link on this page, which applies it automatically) to unlock Up to $475 in cash bonuses.
- What do I get with the SoFi offer?
- New SoFi members get Up to $475 in cash bonuses. Rewards are paid by SoFi once you complete the qualifying steps.
- How do I use the SoFi referral code?
- Copy the code 68a35a87-d426-4c78-b3da-7ccb26a1df64, open SoFi through the button on this page, create your account, and paste the code in the referral or promo field before you finish signing up. If the link already carries the referral, the field may be pre-filled — just confirm it is there before submitting.
- Does the SoFi referral code expire?
- This SoFi code has no published end date. Referral programs can change without notice, so we re-check the offer regularly and update this page whenever the reward or terms change.
- Is the SoFi referral code free to use?
- Yes. Using the code costs nothing extra and never raises your price with SoFi. We may earn a commission when you sign up through our link, which is how this site stays free.
- What are the terms of the SoFi offer?
- Bonuses require using this referral link and completing each tier within the specified windows. Eligible direct deposits must come from an employer or benefits provider via ACH. Full terms available at sofi.com.