When was the last time you were in a bank branch? For most of us, the answer is not for a while. This is one of the primary reasons why online checking accounts are popping up and becoming a popular choice. Since companies offering online checking accounts sometimes have less overhead, they can offer more perks to customers. Some banks even offer incentives such as huge cash bonuses just for opening a new online account. It is common to be offered $100, $200 and even over $400 for new account sign-ups.