How to get a SoFi referral code and cash bonus in 2026
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Tweed's author receives a referral bonus from SoFi when you open a SoFi Invest account or SoFi Checking and Savings through a link on this page and make the qualifying deposit.
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Key takeaways
- SoFi's referral program pays the referrer $75 or $100 per friend who opens Checking and Savings and deposits $50 within 25 days, and caps every member at $10,000 in referral and welcome bonuses per calendar year.1
- SoFi's referral code is a personal link rather than a typed code, and the referred friend receives $25 in cash for Checking and Savings, separate from the $50 or $400 direct deposit bonus.
- SoFi's referral code is best for a friend who was going to move a paycheck anyway, while the Robinhood referral is better for someone who only wants a brokerage account and has no direct deposit to offer.
In this article
- What is a SoFi referral code?
- What do you get with a SoFi referral code?
- What does the referrer get for a SoFi referral?
- How to find and share your SoFi referral link in 3 steps
- How do you get the $400 bonus from SoFi?
- What is the SoFi bonus worth?
- When is the SoFi referral bonus paid?
- Is the SoFi referral bonus taxable?
- Is the SoFi referral code worth it?
- Decide whether the account is worth it first
- Frequently asked questions about the SoFi referral code
Key takeaways
- SoFi's referral program pays the referrer $75 or $100 per friend who opens Checking and Savings and deposits $50 within 25 days, and caps every member at $10,000 in referral and welcome bonuses per calendar year.1
- SoFi's referral code is a personal link rather than a typed code, and the referred friend receives $25 in cash for Checking and Savings, separate from the $50 or $400 direct deposit bonus.
- SoFi's referral code is best for a friend who was going to move a paycheck anyway, while the Robinhood referral is better for someone who only wants a brokerage account and has no direct deposit to offer.
A SoFi referral code is the personal invitation link every SoFi member can generate for Checking and Savings, Invest, loans, and other products, and in the current promotion window it pays the friend $25 in cash and the referrer $75 or $100 once the friend deposits $50. This guide covers what each side earns per product, how the separate $50 or $400 direct deposit bonus works alongside it, and the deposit, timing and tax rules attached to every payment. You'll also learn why the "$300 bonus" figure still circulating no longer matches SoFi's own terms.
What is a SoFi referral code?
A SoFi referral code is a unique link generated from a member's account on the SoFi Referral Program page, not a string you type at checkout. Each product has its own link, and each link carries its own terms.The one on this page is an Invest link: open a self-directed account through this SoFi Invest referral link and deposit $25 or more, and SoFi credits $25 in stock.The Invest referral promotion on this page ended on October 7, 2026, and SoFi had not published a new one when Tweed last checked.
Referral link vs promo code vs bonus code
SoFi's own offer pages describe "unique referral links" and never a code field, and the direct deposit bonus applies automatically to anyone who meets the deposit tiers with no promo code required. The coupon aggregators listing "15% off" SoFi codes are describing nothing. All three phrases people search for land on the same two mechanics: a personal link, and an automatic direct deposit bonus.
Which SoFi products pay a referral bonus?
| Product | Referrer gets | Friend gets | Friend must |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checking and Savings | $75 or $100 cash, plus $25 if the friend joins SoFi Plus | $25 cash, plus $25 for joining SoFi Plus | Deposit $50 within 25 days |
| Invest (self-directed) | A referral bonus; SoFi has not published the amount since October 7, 2026 | $25 in stock | Deposit $25 or more |
| Credit score monitoring | 1,500 rewards points ($15) | 1,000 rewards points | Register for monitoring |
| Crypto | $25 cash | $25 cash | Open and fund a crypto account |
| Loans | Campaign-specific; the medical and dental refinance campaign pays $1,000 to each party | Campaign-specific | Complete the loan within 120 days of receiving the link |
SoFi's Terms of Use list Loan, Invest, Bank, Credit Score Monitoring, and Crypto referral programs; there is no credit card referral program in those terms.
What do you get with a SoFi referral code?
What you get with a SoFi referral code depends on the product the link was generated for: cash for a bank account, stock for a brokerage account. The link on this page is an Invest link, so it pays stock.
Checking and Savings: cash for a $50 deposit
SoFi's bank-referral offer page states the friend receives "$25 into their SoFi Checking account for opening a SoFi Checking and Savings account and making deposits totaling $50 or more," started within 25 calendar days of registering, plus a further $25 for subscribing to SoFi Plus inside the same window. Qualifying deposits include ACH transfers, wires, peer-to-peer transfers, checks, and cash. The friend has to be opening Checking and Savings as their first SoFi product, with no combining the "$20 Open Offer," and the promotion runs from October 1 through October 21, 2026.1The link has to be a Banking one, because an Invest link does not pay this bonus.To get it, open Checking and Savings through this SoFi Checking and Savings referral link.
Invest: $25 in stock for a $25 deposit
SoFi's Invest referral page states the friend receives a "$25 stock bonus" for opening a new SoFi Invest self-directed account through the link and depositing at least $25 within 90 days, under a promotion that ran from July 14 through October 7, 2026.2As of October 12, 2026, SoFi's Invest invite page offers the same $25 in stock for a $25 deposit, with no end date or new terms published, so check the invite page before you count on it. The friend cannot have held a SoFi Invest account before.That is the offer attached to the SoFi Invest referral link on this page.The promotion has ended, so a new Invest account opened now earns no referral stock, and SoFi had not published a replacement when Tweed last checked.
Open an account
The link on this page pays in stock, not cash
It is an Invest link, so a new self-directed account funded with $25 or more credits $25 in stock. The $25 cash goes with the Checking and Savings link instead.
What does the referrer get for a SoFi referral?
The referrer gets a cash bonus that depends on the product and on their own standing with SoFi. Each product's promotion runs for a set window, so the amounts below hold only inside it.
The referrer bonus tiers
| Referral type | Referrer bonus | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Checking and Savings, standard | $75 | Referrer is not a SoFi Plus member and has no Eligible Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits |
| Checking and Savings, boosted | $100 | Referrer is a SoFi Plus member, has an Eligible Direct Deposit, or has $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits |
| Checking and Savings, SoFi Plus add-on | $25 | The friend subscribes to SoFi Plus within 25 days |
| Invest, standard (through October 7, 2026) | $50 | Referrer holds under $100 across Invest accounts and has no Eligible Direct Deposit |
| Invest, higher tier (through October 7, 2026) | $75 | Referrer holds $100 or more across Invest accounts or has an Eligible Direct Deposit |
The bank promotion runs from October 1 through October 21, 2026, after an earlier window from August 5 through September 30, and the Invest promotion ran from July 14 through October 7, 2026; SoFi's Invest invite page offered $25 in stock again on October 12, 2026 without published referrer amounts. SoFi sets these windows in weeks, not months, so check the offer page before you count on an amount.
What counts as a successful referral
A successful SoFi referral needs the referrer to hold an existing Checking and Savings account in good standing when the bonus is paid, and the friend to open through the link during the promotion period as their first SoFi product, then deposit $50 within 25 days, once only. SoFi's Terms of Use add the program-wide rules: no mass email, no purchased search terms, no spam or content implying SoFi's endorsement, and a disclosure of the referrer's material connection and compensation, which is why the block at the top of this page names a dollar amount.3Break them and SoFi claws the bonus back, even into a negative balance.
How to find and share your SoFi referral link in 3 steps
Finding your SoFi referral link starts on the Referral Program page, which generates a separate link for every product from your logged-in account.4Pick the product first.
Step 1: Open the referral program page or the Rewards tab
Log in at sofi.com/referral-program, or open Rewards in the app, and choose "Select a product to get started."
Step 2: Pick the product and copy the link
Each product generates its own link with its own terms. A Banking link does not pay an Invest bonus, so send the link for the account your friend is opening.
Step 3: Track the referral and the 25-day deposit window
Your friend's $50 in deposits has to start within 25 calendar days of registering through the bank link, so tell them the deadline when you send it. Bank bonuses post within 7 business days of qualifying and no later than 74 days after.
How do you get the $400 bonus from SoFi?
You get the $400 bonus from SoFi by receiving $5,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within 25 calendar days of the first one, with no promo code and no referral link involved.5This is the offer most "SoFi promo code" and "SoFi bonus code" searches are after. No code exists.
The direct deposit bonus tiers
| Eligible Direct Deposits in the first 25 days | Bonus |
|---|---|
| $1,000 to $4,999.99 | $50 |
| $5,000 or more | $400 |
SoFi adds up every Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of the first one; an Eligible Direct Deposit is a recurring ACH deposit of regular income such as payroll, pension or government benefits. New and existing members who have never set up direct deposit with SoFi qualify, the bonus posts within 7 business days, and the offer runs through December 31, 2026.
Can you stack the referral bonus and the direct deposit bonus?
SoFi's pages read as stackable, but SoFi has not published a sentence saying so. The bank-referral terms exclude only the "$20 Open Offer" and are silent on the direct deposit bonus, the direct deposit terms do not mention referrals, and the $10,000 annual cap in the Terms of Use covers "cumulative referrals or welcome bonuses," which implies one person can earn both. Do not plan on $450 until SoFi confirms it.
What is the SoFi bonus worth?
The SoFi bonus is worth an 8% one-time return on a $5,000 direct deposit at the $400 tier, which no CD matches in a year, but it requires moving a paycheck. After the bonus, the money earns SoFi's 3.30% savings APY with direct deposit, or up to 4.20% with the 0.90% boost for new customers running September 3 through December 31, 2026, for up to six months.
Enter the same $5,000 and a 12-month term in the Tweed CD calculator to see what a CD pays on that money with no strings, then add the bonus to SoFi's side of the comparison.
See what a CD pays on the same money
When is the SoFi referral bonus paid?
The SoFi referral bonus is paid within 7 business days once the qualifying activity is complete, and never later than 74 days after it, for Checking and Savings referrals. Direct deposit bonuses post within 7 business days of the 25-day evaluation window closing.
| Payment | Trigger | Paid within |
|---|---|---|
| Referrer bonus, Checking and Savings | Friend deposits $50 within 25 days | 7 business days, at most 74 days |
| Friend's referral bonus | Same | 7 business days |
| Direct deposit bonus | Deposits totaled after the 25-day window | 7 business days |
| Invest referral bonus | Friend deposits $25 within 90 days | Per the Invest offer page at payout |
The Reddit threads asking whether the SoFi referral bonus is instant exist because members expect the payout on deposit day. Plan for the 74-day outer limit.
The Invest row is the one with a 90-day clock
That bonus pays once a new account opened through the link takes a $25 deposit. SoFi cannot attach a link afterward, so the link goes first.
Is the SoFi referral bonus taxable?
The SoFi referral bonus may be taxable: SoFi's bank-referral terms state that "bonuses are considered miscellaneous income and may be reportable to the IRS on Form 1099-MISC (or Form 1042-S, if applicable)" and that recipients are responsible for federal, state and local taxes. Ask a tax professional how a bank bonus fits your return rather than assuming it is a gift. Rewards points from the credit score referral are a separate question that SoFi's support center answers.
Is the SoFi referral code worth it?
The SoFi referral code is worth using if you are an existing member with a friend who was going to open a checking account anyway; $75 to $100 per referral is among the higher bank referral payouts on the market, and the friend's $25 for a $50 deposit is easy to earn. For the friend, the referral is small money next to the $400 direct deposit bonus, which is the real prize and takes a $5,000 paycheck to move, so a referral link should never be the reason to switch banks. The catches are the 25-day deposit window, promotion windows that last weeks rather than months, and the 74-day outer limit on payment.
If what you want is a brokerage bonus rather than a bank bonus, the Robinhood review covers the closest alternative, and if you want a cash account plus a free planning dashboard, the Empower review covers that one. If the Invest link tempts you into a retirement account, the account choice matters more than $25 in stock: start with what a Roth IRA is and the best Roth IRA accounts shortlist.
Decide whether the account is worth it first
If you've decided a SoFi Invest account is right for you, open it through the referral link above by October 7, 2026 so the $25 in stock is credited; SoFi cannot attach a link afterward.If you've decided a SoFi Invest account is right for you, there is no Invest referral bonus to wait for now that the promotion has ended.For the bank account, read the SoFi bank review (coming soon on Tweed) for the APY conditions, the SoFi Plus subscription math and the direct deposit requirement before you move a paycheck, and use the Tweed CD calculator to see what the same deposit earns in a CD with no strings attached. To compare stock bonuses at other apps, see the best apps for free stocks.
Ready to decide
SoFi Invest pays $25 in stock through this link
A first SoFi Invest account opened by October 7, 2026 and funded with $25 within 90 days earns it. The $400 direct deposit bonus is a separate bank offer that needs no link at all.
Other free stock bonuses
Tweed is paid when you open an account through these links. Terms are each company's own, checked on the date shown.
Robinhood
The easiest to get, with no deposit, though most people get $5
- Bonus
- $5 to $200 in a stock you pick; about 99% get $5
- Minimum deposit
- None; link a bank or debit card
- Ends
- Ongoing; terms checked October 6, 2026
App Store 4.3 out of 5 from 4.9M ratings, read October 6, 2026. Full terms
Get the Robinhood bonusPublic
The largest fixed bonus if you'd deposit $1,000 anyway
- Bonus
- $100 in a stock or ETF you pick
- Minimum deposit
- $1,000 in one first deposit
- Ends
- Ongoing; terms checked October 6, 2026
App Store 4.7 out of 5 from 85K ratings, read October 6, 2026. Full terms
Get the Public bonus
Frequently asked questions about the SoFi referral code
How do I get my $300 bonus from SoFi?
The $300 bonus was an earlier top tier of SoFi's direct deposit offer and is no longer current. SoFi's banking page now pays $50 for $1,000 to $4,999.99 in Eligible Direct Deposits within 25 days of the first one, and $400 for $5,000 or more, through December 31, 2026.
What is the SoFi referral bonus of $25?
The $25 figure appears in three places on SoFi's site: the cash a friend gets for opening Checking and Savings through a referral link and depositing $50 within 25 days, the extra cash both sides earn when the friend subscribes to SoFi Plus within 25 days, and the stock bonus SoFi's Invest referral promotion paid a friend for a $25 deposit from July 14 through October 7, 2026.
How do you get $75 from SoFi?
Two separate $75 payments carry that name, and both go to the referrer rather than the friend. A Checking and Savings referral pays $75 as standard, rising to $100 for members with direct deposit, $5,000 in qualifying deposits or SoFi Plus. SoFi's Invest referral promotion, which ran from July 14 through October 7, 2026, paid $75 to referrers with $100 or more in Invest accounts or an Eligible Direct Deposit, and $50 to everyone else.
Does SoFi have a welcome bonus for existing members?
Yes, SoFi's direct deposit bonus is open to existing members who have never set up direct deposit with SoFi, paying $50 or $400 depending on the deposits received in the first 25 days. Existing members cannot earn the referral bonus as a friend, since that requires opening Checking and Savings as a first SoFi product.
Can you add a SoFi referral code after opening an account?
No, a SoFi referral link only counts when the friend opens the account through it, and the friend must be opening Checking and Savings as their first SoFi product. There is no code field to fill in later. Someone who already holds any SoFi account can still earn the direct deposit bonus on their own.
Is there a SoFi referral code with no deposit required?
No, every SoFi referral bonus Tweed has read requires a deposit: $50 within 25 days for Checking and Savings, and $25 within 90 days in the Invest promotion that ran through October 7, 2026. The Reddit posts describing a no-deposit $25 bonus refer to an earlier promotion; SoFi's live offer pages state the deposit minimums in their terms.
How much can you earn from SoFi referrals in a year?
SoFi's Terms of Use cap every person at $10,000 in cumulative referral and welcome bonuses per calendar year across all of its referral programs. At $75 to $100 per Checking and Savings referral, that ceiling takes roughly 100 successful referrals to reach, so it only matters for members who share links at scale.
Sources
- https://www.sofi.com/offers/bank-referral/
- https://www.sofi.com/offers/invest-referral/
- https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/
- https://www.sofi.com/referral-program/
- https://www.sofi.com/banking/
Personal finance writer, former Forbes contributor and This Week in Fintech writer. He isn't a financial advisor or a CPA.
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