I’m not usually one to fall for those flashy, too-good-to-be-true money hacks.
But when someone tells me they’re making $200 an hour in their underwear just opening bank accounts? You bet I’m curious.
That someone is Dylan Sexton from dylansbonuses.com, and he’s been pulling in consistent weekly income by playing the bank bonus game.
No shady stuff. No switching your entire financial life around. Just a super smart (and surprisingly low-effort) system that banks actually want you to take advantage of.
Tune in to Episode 663 of the Side Hustle Show to learn:
- how Dylan makes $200 an hour opening bank accounts
- where to find the best bonus deals right now
- the simple system he uses to track and scale it
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Why Banks Pay You to Open Accounts
Banks are hungry for new customers.
They’ll actually pay you to join and set up an account, sometimes hundreds of dollars, because they know it’s kind of a pain… or at least perceived to be kind of a pain to switch banks.
But Dylan’s been cashing in on these offers every week for the last 3 years — on the side of his full-time job.
This might be the first time we’ve covered it on the Side Hustle Show, but it’s far from a fringe tactic.
There’s a whole bonus-hunting community out there, and this is one of the most straightforward side hustles I’ve come across.
Dylan’s First Bank Bonus
Dylan’s first bonus came from Citizens Bank after he moved to Connecticut. They sent him a flyer:
- $300 for a new checking account
- $300 for a new savings account
At first, he thought it was junk mail. But when he flipped it over and read the fine print, it wasn’t a scam — it was real money.
All he had to do was open an account, set up a direct deposit ($500), keep the account open, and wait 3 to 6 months until the bonus hit his account.
Business Bank Accounts vs Personal
Most of these offers are for personal accounts, but business bank bonuses are a whole other category you can tap into.
Sometimes they require you to go into a branch, but they’re often bigger and less competitive.
You’ll usually need an EIN (like a business tax ID), but in some cases, just your Social Security number is enough.
And here’s a nice tip from Dylan: having a business account gives you flexibility.
You can “pay yourself” from your business to meet those direct deposit requirements. No need to keep bugging your HR department.
Where to Find the Best Bank Bonus Deals
Dylan’s go-to resources are:
- Doctor of Credit: updated constantly and lists around hundreds of active bonuses at any given time.
- BankBonus102 on Facebook: people post tips, warnings (like which banks are slow to pay), and share which bonuses are working right now.
What Makes a Good Bank Bonus Worth Chasing?
Not all bonuses are created equal. Like sure, the higher the bonus, the better, but check the fine print.
A $900 bonus sounds awesome, but if it requires a $15,000 deposit, that might not be worth it for you.
Look for low direct deposit requirements. If you can move $500 from your business account or paycheck, that’s great.
Avoid maintenance fees if you can. Some banks sneak in $5–$25 fees if you don’t meet certain criteria, like minimum balance or debit card activity. (But Dylan’s got tricks for all of that—like sending a dollar back and forth between accounts or doing tiny Amazon reloads.)
Common Restrictions and How to Avoid Red Tape
Before you get excited and start opening five accounts today, hold up. There are a few things to watch out for:
1. You can’t keep hitting the same bank over and over: Most banks have a rule like “you’re not eligible if you’ve gotten a bonus in the last 6–24 months.” That’s fine—there are more than enough others to rotate through.
2. Public records mismatch = rejection: If your ID doesn’t match your current address or you have an old phone number floating around, the system might auto-decline you. Dylan says keeping your DMV and records up-to-date is important.
3. CheckSystems and EWS: These systems track how many new accounts are being opened in your name. Open too many, too fast, and it might look like identity theft.
Dylan keeps it to one a week — that seems to fly under the radar just fine.
Do I Have to Switch Banks, Close Accounts, or Worry About My Credit?
No, you don’t have to switch banks. You can keep your current account (and all your bill pay and autopay stuff) right where it is.
These bonus accounts are just temporary pit stops.
Dylan leaves them open for a few months after the bonus hits, sometimes tosses in a small debit card purchase to keep them active, then closes them down later.
No, you won’t run out of banks. There are dozens of banks out there offering new bonuses every month.
And many of them will let you come back after 12–24 months and grab another bonus. Dylan’s been at this for years and still hasn’t run out of fresh offers.
And nope, this won’t tank your credit. Most bank accounts only require a soft credit pull — no impact on your score.
A few do hard pulls, but Doctor of Credit will tell you which ones. You can just skip those if you want to play it extra safe.
Keep Track or Get Lost: The Spreadsheet You Need
Dylan has 20 accounts currently, and he just uses a simple spreadsheet that tracks everything at a glance. Here’s what he includes:
- Bank name (Chase, Citizens, etc.)
- Account type (checking, savings, business)
- Reward amount ($300, $900, etc.)
- Open date (so you know when your clock starts)
- Close date (important for future eligibility)
- Fees (and how to avoid them; like a monthly deposit or a few debit card swipes)
- Paid by date (so you know when the bonus should hit)
- Notes (anything weird or worth remembering)
Mistakes or Surprises
Dylan’s biggest regret is not starting sooner.
But he’s made a couple of other mistakes too, like the time his ID still showed his old address and was flagged with “failure to identify” message when applying.
That’s the bank’s system saying something’s not matching up. Fix your DMV records and make sure your info’s consistent across the board.
Real Risks: What Could Actually Go Wrong?
Fraud alerts can freeze your money.
It’s rare, but if a bank thinks something sketchy is going on — like a big transfer from a new account — they might lock it up temporarily.
Dylan had this happen once when Fidelity held $5K for 25 days. Not ideal, but he got it back.
You’re also dealing with real money. That means if you move your paycheck or savings to a new bonus account, make sure it’s not money you need right now.
Most banks are totally fine, but delays can happen.
What’s Next?
Bank bonuses are just the beginning for Dylan. He’s still cranking out one a week, like clockwork, but he’s also branching into other money-making moves.
You can follow everything he’s doing over at dylansbonuses.com where he breaks it down step-by-step so you can get started.
Is it Going to Replace Your Day Job?
No… in fact you’re gonna need that direct deposit. It’s a simple, low risk, no specialized skills required type of side hustle.
Use the extra funds to pay down debt, invest, or as seed money for a new business.
Dylan’s #1 Tip for Side Hustle Nation
“Get started and don’t give up.”
“Be nice to the bank; don’t make a scene.”
Episode Link:
- dylansbonuses.com
- Citizens Bank
- Register Your Business? 10 Ways to Make Your Side Hustle Feel More Official
- Doctor of Credit
- BankBonus102 on Facebook
- Capital One Credit Cards
- Fidelity
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