Ally Bank $100 Referral Bonus for New Savings Account – No Direct Deposit Needed

The Ally Bank $100 Savings Account referral bonus has returned for a limited time. Ally remains one of the most user-friendly and reliable online banks, known for its clean interface, solid customer service, and smooth money management tools. While its savings APY currently trails the market leaders by roughly 1%, it’s still a great option for organizing your finances. Many customers, myself included, use Ally as a central hub—linking multiple external bank accounts, scheduling transfers, and tracking deposits with ease. Best of all, this bonus doesn’t require a direct deposit, making it simple to qualify.

Ally is running a $100 new account bonus by referral only (that’s mine, thanks if you use it). You must first enroll with your name and address by 12/31/25, and then using the same e-mail address open one of two possible account types (Ally Spending, Ally Savings) within 30 days of enrollment and make qualifying transfers to get the $100 bonus. You are not eligible if you are a current customer (with any Ally product), or has had any Ally account open since January 1, 2024.

Thus, my recommendation is to first open a Savings account with this offer (which works for both Savings and Checking but only works if you have no Ally accounts at all), satisfy all the requirements, and then after do this different bonus on your first Checking (allows you to have other Ally accounts).

Here are the details for the Savings Account. Taken from full terms and conditions [pdf].

Ally Bank Savings Account

1. Once your Savings Account is open, setup (within your new account) a monthly automated recurring transfer of any amount and have it start within 30 days of account opening.
2. Complete an automated recurring transfer at least once a month for at least three months in a row.
3. Your $100 Welcome Bonus will be deposited within 30 days of receiving your third consecutive monthly recurring transfer. To be paid, make sure you keep your Savings Account open and in Good Standing through the Payout Date.

What do they mean by “automated recurring transfer”? I tried it out in my Ally account it just means setting up as little as a $1 transfer every month into your savings account. You can connect an external bank account to fund the transfer.

Overall, the requirements are pretty easy for a $100 bonus and it has useful characteristics noted above. I personally use this account nearly every week to manage my interbank transfers. I even hit their maximum limit of 20 linked external accounts.