[AZ only] Arizona Central Credit Union $500 Checking Bonus

Update 4/18/24: Bonus is now up to $500

  • $250 ONE-TIME bonus to new member with $500 minimum monthly direct deposit.
  • $500 ONE-TIME bonus to new member with $1,000 minimum monthly direct deposit.

Both bonuses require the following:

  • All requirements must be met within 60-days of account opening.
  • Monthly direct deposits for a minimum of $500
  • Signed up and currently enrolled in eStatements
  • 15 posted debit card transactions

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $200
  • Availability: AZ only
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, $250+ per month
  • Additional requirements: Enroll in eStatements and perform at least 10 check card transactions
  • Hard/soft pull: Hard pull (Equifax)
  • Credit card funding: Unsure
  • Monthly fees: $5-$15, waive able
  • Early account termination fee: Bonus clawed back if closed within six months
  • Expiration date: December 31st, 2014 December 31st, 2016 December 31st, 2018 December 31st, 2019

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Receive a $500 bonus from Arizona central credit union when you:
  • $250 ONE-TIME bonus to new member with $500 minimum monthly direct deposit.
  • $500 ONE-TIME bonus to new member with $1,000 minimum monthly direct deposit.

Both bonuses require the following:

  • All requirements must be met within 60-days of account opening.
  • Monthly direct deposits for a minimum of $500
  • Signed up and currently enrolled in eStatements
  • 15 posted debit card transactions

 

 

The Fine Print

  • $200 bonus will be deposited within ten days of completing the bonus requirements
  • Bonus requirements must be completed within 60 days of account opening
  • Only available to new members with no existing accounts at ACCU
  • Considered a new member as long as your account was cancelled twelve months prior to opening this new account
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

It’s necessary to maintain a balance of at least $25 at all times.

AzStyle Checking Account $5 Monthly

The $5 monthly fee is waived if you have 10 or more signature based transactions using your check card.

MyStyle Checking Account $10 Monthly

The monthly fee is waived if you are enrolled in eStatements and receive a direct deposit of $250 or more

There are also the HighStyle checking account that has a $15 monthly fee which is waived if you have a balance above $5,000 and teen checking or iStyle account for those between 13-23 which is free.

Early Account Closure Fee

If the account is closed within 6 months then you will forfeit the $200 bonus.

Our Verdict

Bonus is significantly better now that it’s for up to $500. There is a hard pull but these days this doesn’t matter as much. Definitely worth doing if you live in an eligible area and we will add this to our list of the best bank account bonuses.

Post history:

  • Update 12/2/23: Deal is back and valid until 12/31/2024. Hat tip to reader Monica

     

  • Update 1/5/22: Extended through 12/31/2022

     

  • Update 2/13/21: Deal is back and valid through December 31, 2021.
  • Update 1/18/2020: Deal is back and available through December 31st, 2020.
  • Update 01/17/18: Deal is back and available through December 31st, 2019. Still not worth doing due to the hard pull.
  • Update 01/17/18: Deal is back and available through December 31st, 2018. Still not worth doing due to the hard pull.
  • Update: Deal is back and now expires December 31st, 2016. Still not worth doing due to the hard pull.

View Comments (228)

  • P1 and P2 applied and got approved at the branch on the last day of the sign-up bonus deadline. I’m not sure when they’ll bring this promotion back, but I’m glad we both got approved on the spot that day. However, I was confused as to why Chex deducted 33 points from my inquiry when I only applied once, whereas P2 applied online twice and again in person but only lost 5 points.

    I assume this might be because I attempted to apply at another local bank two weeks ago. Although I didn’t follow through with opening an account since they wanted me to go in person and when I did, they mentioned a second Chex pull would be required so I walked away with ACCU sign up bonus in mind lol. I’m glad I didn’t proceed, as it could have affected my approval at ACCU.

    Things to Note:
    Based on information from CXS and the fine print, only the referrer will receive the $100 referral bonus, provided the referee meets all the requirements. Source: CXS and fine print:
    “Referring member will receive a $100 one-time referral bonus at the time of the new member’s first payment of their monetary bonus. The offer must be mentioned at the time of account opening to be eligible. Terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.” So I'm unsure as to why some people here are saying both parties get $100, which is totally not correct. Just wanted to clarify that to everyone unless the terms and conditions canged.

    To receive the remaining 50% of the payout, you must continue making $1,000 monthly direct deposits for the next 5 months &15 debit card transactions monthly.

    So basically, in order to earn the full $500 bonus, you’ll need to meet all requirements for seven months, which isn’t too bad. They made it sound like you have to meet it in only 60 days, unless you only want $250.

    The 15 debit card transactions may take some effort, but there are ways to simplify it methods which can be found on this website. For example, you could use Amazon gift card purchases, Cash App, snacks, utility bills, etc. It requires consistent tracking, but it’s definitely manageable. Unfortunately, today 12/31/24 is the last day to sign up.

  • Note the updated terms online now. Seems they have continued to change the stipulations to get the bonus. Anyone have a screenshot or backup from April? Here are the current ones:

    • All requirements must be met within 60-days of account opening.
    • Monthly direct deposits for a minimum of $500
    • Signed up and currently enrolled in eStatements
    • 15 posted debit card transactions (must meet a minimum of $100 total)
    • Must be an Arizona resident and provide proof
    • They denied my second half bonus. Claiming I didn't meet the requirements that were changed after I signed up in May. Weasles.

      • Fight them on it. They tried to deny me the whole thing ($100 referral and the full $500 bonus) because my referrer didn’t also give them my info (even though the terms just said the referred person needs to provide the referring person’s info at the time they open the account, without saying that the referring person needs to do anything at all) and because the month I opened, payroll had started but wasn’t a full $1k (even though the terms say you have 60 days to get it set up and I DID receive payroll totaling $1k/month before the 60-day deadline, which continued for another six months after that- basically penalizing me for getting payroll added sooner than their terms required, which isn’t even under my direct control). They repeatedly rejected my requests to honor the bonus even though I’d met all the terms in place at the time I opened. I had to file a complaint with Arizona’s DFI (the entity CFPB referred me to), but they paid out the referral bonus and the first half of the welcome bonus within days of receiving the DFI’s inquiry and the second half paid out as expected around the six-month mark after account opening.

          • https://difi.az.gov/ then go to Consumer Information > Consumer Complaints > File A Complaint Against a Financial Institution or Enterprise. Provide any documentation you have (like the promo terms at the time you applied, any written communications you've had with them since, dates you fulfilled each of the bonus terms, etc)

  • 05/23: Open Checking and Savings in branch
    Real $500 DD from employer every two weeks, 15+ debit transactions monthly
    07/05: Received $250
    11/20: Received $250

    I should have also had $100 for a referral bonus, unless the other person didn't complete their end.

    • I've been denied in-branch for Chex for 2 different FI. Let's just say that it's at least a tad embarrassing.

  • 2nd half of the $250 bonus posted yesterday, which was one day after finishing my debits for the month of October.

  • Did not get the chance to take advantage of this offer. Details below:

    2024-08-10: Applied online. Application was placed under review. Got “unsuccessful opening” email later that day.
    2024-08-12: Called the support number listed in the email; rep told me that my app was denied due to frozen Chex/Equifax (although neither of those were frozen at the time of application…). I unfroze my LexisNexis and submitted another application online which again went to review.
    2024-08-13: Another “unsuccessful opening” email. Rep told me that a Chex/QualiFile check failed.
    2024-08-14: Visited ACCU in-branch. Rep greeted me as soon as I walked in and I said I wanted to open a new checking account. She immediately asked if I had a DL with a current address, I confirmed yes. She then stated that they will pull my ChexSystems which will check to see if I have any delinquent accounts. I confirmed that was okay. Next, she said they will place a hard pull on my credit to check if I had any duplicate SSNs or related questionable identity things. I asked if there were any ways to avoid that such as opting out of overdraft protection. She said unfortunately they could not bypass that part. I thanked her, told her I wasn’t willing to have a hard pull on my credit at this time, and left.