What Is a Bank Sign-Up Bonus? A bank sign-up bonus is a lump sum of cash you receive when signing up for a new bank account and fulfilling various requirements. Banks and credit unions offer bank sign-up bonuses to entice new customers into joining or signing up for accounts. A bank sign-up bonus may be offered for consumer or business accounts. Bonuses can range from $100 to $3,000, according to Investopedia research. Banks and...