What are some examples of specials offered by banks when opening new accounts?

Banks often offer a variety of bonuses for opening new accounts, including cash rebates, prepaid debit cards and rewards points, according to CNBC. Banks frequently deliver the bonuses in increments as customers meet certain requirements, such as a minimum number of online bill payments or registration for direct deposit.

Customers must carefully meet each requirement to receive their bonuses. Some banks require accounts to have a minimum daily balance for several months before delivering a bonus, so it's easy for customers to miss out when their balance drops for a couple of days, warns Bankrate. Cash rebates and some gift cards count as taxable interest, which can trigger an income tax bill.