Always Do This 1 Thing Before Opening a New Bank Account

As any credit card aficionado can tell you, a big part of finding a new credit card is waiting for the right sign-up bonus. Your favorite bank may also be willing to reward you for opening a new checking or savings account -- and no, we're not talking toasters. While standard operating procedure used to involve small appliances (I still have that Geroge Foreman grill from my first checking account), modern bank bonuses are of the cold hard cash persuasion.