From what I have researched , opening a checking account is usually a soft pull on your credit report or they use the chex system which does not affect your credit score at all.
However every time you open a credit card you will have a hard pull on your credit score and it stays for two years. It is tempting to get 100 dollars to open an account or a credit card, and I have done it for that amount. I do feel however I can get more out of opening a credit card for the bonus awards from the credit card companies themselves. For example if I open a BOA credit card for a MSC I get 100 dollars and have to do a report. However I opened a AMEX card 2 months ago, and after 1000 spending on it ( I had 3 months to make the bonus) I received 2-3 nights free at a Hilton hotel and the cheaper ones are 150 per night so =300-450 tax free. That is why I feel it is more lucrative to open checking and credit cards for the Bonus versus opening them for shops. Another example is Citizens bank is offering 150 dollar bonus to open a checking account at my local grocery store. I was like "what the heck why not?" No report and 150 cash ( I have to wait 3 months and keep account open for six months).
And just a FYI google doctor of credit he has a web site about all these bonus accounts.
I have been opening and closing accounts for over a year and my credit is 800. i open about 6-8 credit cards a year and curently I have 5 checking accounts open. Does tie up a little money as well on the down side.