1st United Credit Union $200 Checking Bonus [Select CA areas only]

Update 3/24/24: Deal is back. Hat tip to ShawntheShawn

Update 3/4/23: Deal is back and valid until March 31, 2023. Requires direct deposit now.

Update 1/4/22: Deal is back and valid until 3/31/2023. Hat tip to RobertL

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $200
  • Availability: Must Work in / resident of Alameda, Contra Costa, Kings, San Joaquin, Solano or Stanislaus Counties CA, or have family member with account there
  • Direct deposit required: No
  • Additional requirements: Use promo code and complete debit card transaction
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft
  • ChexSystems: Unknown
  • Credit card funding: $2,000
  • Monthly fees: None
  • Early account termination fee: $25, 6 months
  • Expiration date: Valid until December 31st, 2017 December 31st, 2018 December 31st, 2019 March 31st, 2020 September 30th, 2020
  • Household limit: None mentioned

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • 1st United Credit Union are offering a bonus of $200 when you open a new checking account with them when you complete the following requirements:
    • Use promo code SANLEANDRO
    • establish a qualifying monthly direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening;
    • make five (5) signature or PIN purchases of at least $10 each with debit card within 60 days of account opening.

 

The Fine Print

  • Offer not available to existing 1st United checking accounts.
  • Checking account and debit card establishment are subject to credit approval.
  • Members age 12-15 require an adult joint owner.
  • To receive $100 incentive: 1) open new checking account using promotional code CKG2019; 2) establish a qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening; 3) activate and make a signature or PIN purchase with debit card within 60 days of account opening.
  • A qualifying direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.
  • Offer expires December 31, 2017 and is subject to change or withdrawal at any time.
  • Incentive will be credited after all requirements are fulfilled, beginning April 10, 2017.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

There is an early account termination fee of $25 if closed within 6 months of account opening. This account does not have any monthly fees

Our Verdict

Soft pull and a nice amount of credit card funding makes this a good deal. I’d like to see another report of it being a soft pull before adding it to our best checking & savings bonuses list.

Big thanks to reader, Curmudgeon who let us know. Please consider sharing bank bonuses with this site so we can make it even better.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

Post history:

  • Update 10/25/21: Deal is back with promo code Frosting.
  • Update 7/14/20: There is now a bonus for $200 with the same requirements as before. It looks like this bonus won’t stack with the referral bonus. Hat tip to reader Jim
  • Update 6/30/20: Deal is back and valid until September 30th, 2020. Direct deposit not required
  • Update 4/14/20: Deal has been extended until June 30th, 2020. Hat tip to reader EW
  • Update 1/5/2020: Deal has been extended until March 31st, 2020.
  • Update 11/16/19: Deal is abck and valid until December 31st, 2019. Hat tip to reader Adam
  • Update 8/10/19: Deal is back and valid until September 30th, 2019.
  • Update 01/27/18: Deal is back for 2018. Thanks to reader eric for sending this through.
    William Charles
  • On March 24, 2024, 11:30
Tags: ca bank bonusescredit card fundingdirect deposit not requiredsoft pull

View Comments (674)

  • @2 @6 Updated offer from 1st United CU:

    1. Use promo code LOCAL10
    2. Use your debit card to make at least ten (10) signature or PIN purchases of $10 or more
    3. Offer expires December 31, 2024

    I have just messaged them to verify if this offer is available to existing members who have NOT opened a checking account before. Will update when they answer.

    Fine print:

    *Offer not available to existing members or additional 1st United checking accounts. We reserve the right to retain incentive if checking account is closed within six months. Checking account and debit card establishment are subject to approval using a third-party consumer reporting agency. Members age 17 and under require an adult joint owner. Rewards Checking Account: Only available for members 18 and older. Dividends are paid monthly based on average daily balance, and will only be paid if the combined total of debit and credit card purchase transactions reaches 15 or more within the month. All qualifying transactions must post to the account and the funds must be available to fund the transaction by the last business day of each month. Click here for current rates. No monthly fee, but other fees may reduce earnings. Rewards Bonus: 1st United Visa Rewards account holders will receive a 50% bonus (1.5 points per dollar spent) on their Rewards points earned within the month if they perform 15–29 combined debit and/or credit card purchase transactions or a 100% bonus (2 points per dollar spent) if they perform 30+ combined debit and/or credit card purchase transactions. Bonus will be credited in the subsequent Visa cycle.$200 incentive qualification: $200 Incentive: Earn $200 when you 1) open a new checking account using promotional code LOCAL10; 2) make ten (10) signature or PIN purchases of at least $10 each with debit card within 60 days of account opening. Offer expires December 31, 2024 and is subject to change or withdrawal at any time. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Incentive will be credited on the 10th of the following month after all requirements are fulfilled. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, and Kings Counties. Insured by NCUA. FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries.

  • Is it normal for the application to go under review?

    Your application has been referred to an eBranch Service Specialist who will review your application within one business day. If additional information is needed, we will reach out using the contact information provided in your membership application.

    I hope I get approved, I really need the 2k spend

    • It just got approved this morning!

      Currently showing up as a pending transaction with Chase Ink Preferred. Will confirm DP soon.

      • 1 charge for $5 for savings account, another for $1,995 for checking account. Coded as a "Type: sale"

    • I had to call in. CC transactions are still pending, was told on the phone no CC funding but they charged my chase sapphire preferred card for 2k x 2 for accounts opened online. Charges still pending and no funds in the account but was told they will go through after a couple days.

      Id advise calling in, as it seemed that's what got my app through.

      Note: I was told one code, either referral or promo, per account. I'm not sure if the customer service people actually know the rules for their CU. Will update later.

  • I joined and opened a certificate last month using a referral and received $50 on 7/9.

    I can refer you if you send an email to gademe[at]protonmail.com. I need your first and last name and the email you want to open an account with. If you reply this message with that info and tag me I can send it too. Thank you!

  • I made 10 payments for my phone bill as the debit card payments. It was coded as a bill payment and not purchase, and didn't qualify for the bonus.

  • Would like a referral if possible. I need name and account number. Please send to gademe[at]protonmail.com. Thank you!

  • For anybody still working on the SANLEANDRO version, it was TEN transactions, not Five like indicated above. Don't make the same mistake I did (and I even live in San Leandro).

  • How do you refer? @guest_1017041 because I cannot see any referral options after I login

  • I had to verify identity in branch. I asked if my $1999 credit card funding would still apply and they said yes. I looked online and they had 2 charges of $1999 for funding. Both posted, so I didn't complain.

  • 03/27: Opened savings and 6 month CD through referral with $2k credit card funding on Chase Freedom Unlimited ($250 in CD)
    04/09: $50 referral credit
    03/28: Opened checking account with $2k credit card funding on Chase Freedom Unlimited
    04/09-04/18: (10) $10 Hotels.com online gift cards
    05/10: $200 checking credit

    • what did online gift card purchase showed up as?

      I did legitimate purchases at grocery and gas stations and it showed up as “withdrawal POS” and CSR is not considering that as a debit purchase!

    • Can you give me a referral? I was given a referral here but it is incomplete because I don't know the account number. What you have to do is email me first with your account number and then do the official referral. Lakers112@gmail.com. thanks.

    • Is it really possible to go through application with referral but without account number?

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