There are banks willing to hand out free money to new customers, which could be a plus after an expensive holiday season. Banks use sign-up bonuses to distinguish themselves from others in the industry. Cash bonuses also help financial institutions bring in new customers and new deposits. While they could pay account holders a higher yield, for some banks, offering a bonus is preferable. Some banks, like TD Bankoffer more than one sign-up bonus. Bank account bonuses are typically available only to new checking or savings account holders. Before you sign up, read the fine print. Watch out for sky-high minimum balance requirements and monthly fees that could eat into your earnings. If earning a bonus seems to require too much effort, you might want to look for another one. For example, if you need them, double-check that there are plenty of branches and ATMs in your area. So you just want to weigh those options.