This deal has expired, you can view more checking bonuses here.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $250
- Availability: Nationwide, but restricted eligibility
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+
- Additional requirements: Minimum opening deposit of $25
- Hard/soft pull: Hard
- ChexSystems: Yes, also inquiry sensitive
- Credit card funding: Yes, up to $1,000. Visa & Mastercard only.
- Monthly fees: $0 – $8, waiveable
- Early account termination fee: Unknown
- Expiration date: December 31, 2016
Contents
The Offer
- Open a Justice FCU checking account with direct deposit of $500 or more and receive a $250 cash bonus
Joining Justice FCU
- Employees, retirees, and family members of the entities listed at this link are eligible to join Justice Federal Credit Union (including the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and many other Justice-related entities)
- According to user Gadget, you can join the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) as an auxiliary member or student for $40 and parlay that membership into Justice FCU membership, making this offer open to anyone.
- To establish membership with Justice FCU, you must open a Share Savings Account with a minimum deposit of $5
The Fine Print
- Must open a new Justice Federal Freedom, Justice National, or Beyond the Badge (age 55+) checking account
- Must have a minimum opening deposit of $25
- Your account must be open and in good standing when the bonus is paid to your new checking account upon receipt of your direct deposit
- Cash bonus is not considered part of the opening deposit and will be reported to the IRS for tax purposes.
- Have at least one direct deposit of a paycheck, pension payment, Social Security payment, or other government benefits payment electronically deposited into your new checking account from an employer or outside agency within 90 days of opening the account
- Direct deposit must be from a new source that is not already being deposited into a Justice Federal Checking Account
- Offer Limited to one $250 Cash Bonus per Member
Avoiding Fees
Freedom Checking Account – No Monthly Fee
The Freedom Checking Account has no monthly fee.
Justice National Checking Account & Beyond the Badge Checking Account
eStatements
There is a $1.00 monthly fee for mailed statements, unless you opt-in to eStatements.
Early Account Termination Fee
There is no stated early account termination fee for checking accounts, but if you close the Share Savings Account within 12 months of opening, you will be charged $5.
Our Verdict
This is a mostly excellent bonus due to the high bonus total ($250), relatively moderate direct deposit requirement ($500), no minimum balance requirement to keep an account fee-free, high credit card funding limit ($1,000), and the fact that it is open to anyone (for $40). However, the cost of a hard pull is a real downside—for most people, trading in a hard pull for $210 (taxable, so really more like $157.50 at most) is probably not a great option (especially given the inquiry-sensitive nature of Justice FCU, making a decline a very real possibility).
If you have any experiences with this offer or any other of the checking promos we’ve posted recently, please contact us!
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To ChexSystems
- Banks & Credit Unions That Are ChexSystems Inquiry Sensitive
- What Banks & Credit Unions Do/Don’t Pull ChexSystems?
- How To Use Our Direct Deposit Page For Bank Bonuses Page
- Common Bank Bonus Misconceptions + Why You Should Give Them A Go
- How Many Bank Accounts Can I Safely Open Within A Year For Bank Bonus Purposes?
- Affiliate Links & Bank Bonuses – We Won’t Be Using Them
- Complete List Of Ways To Close Bank Accounts At Each Bank
I was quite disappointed and actually angry about how they handle applications. Upon applying, they immediately pull credit – which I realized would be done as it is fully disclosed. Banks typically pull credit for checking accounts to verify identity, NOT to credit qualify. Well, JFCU pulls credit to credit qualify new checking accounts, just like a credit card. BUT this info is not fully disclosed. People need to know if the CU will do a hard pull AND possibly deny the applicant for something as trivial as a checking account. They denied me due to credit. But, it gets worse. I applied and used a relative’s name as the referrer since she works for an agency affiliated with law enforcement. I received a phone call asking me to verify that my relative was an employee at the agency. I asked why they just can’t call her at work. They said they do not assist with any verifications. It was up to me to verify. AND, the only way I could do that was to provide a copy of my relative’s paycheck. SAY WHAT ???? I would never ask anyone for a copy of their paycheck so I could join a stupid CU – except for maybe my spouse or parents. When I said I was not willing to do that, she suggested I join one of the affiliated justice groups. So,I paid $25 to join one. Mind you, she already had my credit report because we discussed it.
Then, a week later, I received the denial letter due to credit. It is such poor customer service, poor business management, and selfishness to have a new member go through all their shenanigans when they were aware the person would not credit qualify. Since they already had my credit report, they should act on the credit piece FIRST. The application system should be able to do a credit qualification while we are logged in and applying – just like applying for a credit card online. Why have someone pay money to join a group they never would have joined otherwise. Some of the membership fees were substantial.
I kinda feel like I was scammed. I am also VERY concerned about whether they are being discriminatory in how they do credit qualifications. After all, they have my picture and everything else. Be cautious with this CU. First time in my 59 years I have been turned down for a silly checking account.
I was quite disappointed and actually angry about how they handle applications. Upon applying, they immediately pull credit – which I realized would be done as it is fully disclosed. Banks typically pull credit for checking accounts to verify identity, NOT to credit qualify. Well, JFCU pulls credit to credit qualify new checking accounts, just like a credit card. BUT this info is not fully disclosed. People need to know if the CU will do a hard pull AND possibly deny the applicant for something as trivial as a checking account. They denied me due to credit. But, it gets worse. I applied and used a relative’s name as the referrer since she works for an agency affiliated with law enforcement. I received a phone call asking me to verify that my relative was an employee at the agency. I asked why they just can’t call her at work. They said they do not assist with any verifications. It was up to me to verify. AND, the only way I could do that was to provide a copy of my relative’s paycheck. SAY WHAT ???? I would never ask anyone for a copy of their paycheck so I could join a stupid CU – except for maybe my spouse or parents. When I said I was not willing to do that, she suggested I join one of the affiliated justice groups. So,I paid $25 to join one. Mind you, she already had my credit report because we discussed it.
Then, a week later, I received the denial letter due to credit. It is such poor customer service, poor business management, and selfishness to have a new member go through all their shenanigans when they were aware the person would not credit qualify. Since they already had my credit report, they should act on the credit piece FIRST. The application system should be able to do a credit qualification while we are logged in and applying – just like applying for a credit card online. Why have someone pay money to join a group they never would have joined otherwise. Some of the membership fees were substantial.
I kinda feel like I was scammed. I am also VERY concerned about whether they are being discriminatory in how they do credit qualifications. After all, they have my picture and everything else. Be cautious with this CU. First time in my 59 years I have been turned down for a silly checking account.
Any idea what would count as direct deposit? I had part of my salary going there, but stopped it after account opening. I am going to try transfer from other banks and emerald card.
It was hard pull Equifax and is chex enquiry sensitive. Denied for me.
Per another website, membership can be nationwide to anyone. “One of the eligible associations for membership is the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA). It costs $40 to join the NSA as an auxiliary member or student. By joining the NSA first, anyone can then become a member of the Justice Federal Credit Union.”
But, seeing how this is so short notice, I wouldn’t bite without calling the CU first before spending $40 to join.
Is the American Express (Starwood Preferred Guest) credit card counted as purchase for deposit of $1,000?
They only allow MC or Visa.
Works for existing members, too. If you have one kind of account, just open the other. Used chase sapphire for deposit of $1000, went through as purchase. Son opened using chase freedom with same result.
Thanks, added DP
I had previously called them about something else, and they told me it was a hard inquiry to open an account. I never tried to actually open one, though, so that may or may not be true.
It is true. They do a hard pull AND something I have never heard of. They pull a report from LexisNexis called “Accurint” and are using it to deny people. The problem is, the FCRA does not allow businesses to use Accurint for credit or employment purposes because Accurint is NOT considered a consumer report. LexisNexis even acknowledges that the info in its reports has not been verified, AND LexisNexis tells you they will NOT change their info if you dispute it and prove it wrong. SAY WHAT?? As we speak, Cap One is involved in a class action suit over this very issue (i.e., using Accurint for credit purposes). Be wary of this credit union for ANY type of borrowing. This is total bull*** !!
Here’s what LexisNexis discloses in its info about Accurint:
“The Accurint services are not provided by “consumer reporting agencies,” as that term is defined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681, et seq.) (“FCRA”) and do not constitute “consumer reports,” as that term is defined in the FCRA. Accordingly, the Accurint service may not be used in whole or in part as a factor in determining eligibility for credit, insurance, employment or another purpose in connection with which a consumer report may be used under the FCRA. Due to the nature of the origin of public record information, the public records and commercially available data sources used in reports may contain errors. Source data is sometimes reported or entered inaccurately, processed poorly or incorrectly, and is generally not free from defect. This product or service aggregates and reports data, as provided by the public records and commercially available data sources, and is not the source of the data, nor is it a comprehensive compilation of the data. Before relying on any data, it should be independently verified.”
I meant you can fund the account with credit card up to $1000 max
No credit card funding.