The math. The policy. In plain English.
Effective APY, always
For any offer that requires holding a balance, we annualize the return on that capital. The formula:
APY = ( bonus ÷ required_balance ) × ( 365 ÷ hold_days ) × 100
A $200 bonus that requires $30,000 held for 120 days is 2.03% APY. That same $200 bonus with a $3,000 requirement and 60-day hold is 40.6% APY. Advertised dollars don't tell you which is better; the math does.
Direct deposit is king
Offers that only need a rerouted paycheck lock no capital. Their real efficiency is effectively unlimited, which is why we float them near the top of the ranking. If two direct-deposit offers pay the same, the one with the lower DD threshold wins.
Bonus and match offers
Some bonuses pay a flat kicker on signup or a percentage on transfer. There's no balance lock, so we can't compute a fair APY - we score these on ease and headline value. They're clearly tagged on the card and detail views.
Affiliate disclosure
Some links on Churnables are personal bonus or affiliate links. When you sign up through one, the referrer may receive a bonus at no additional cost to you. The ranking is not for sale. If two banks pay us the same, the one with better math wins. If one pays us more, they still don't move up.
Every card visibly tags whether the link is a personal bonus link or a public promo. If a bank pays a bonus we can pass along, we'll tell you.
Dated, every row
Offers expire and terms move. Every entry shows when we last checked it. Always confirm the figure on the provider's page before you open the account.
What this is not
This is information, not financial advice. Bonus terms, amounts, and eligibility are set by each institution and can change at any time. Points and miles are valued at conservative cash-equivalent rates that may not match the value you extract. Crypto and brokerage promotions carry real risk of loss. Read the terms.