[CA only] BluPeak (Formerly USE Credit Union) $600 Checking Bonus

Offer at a glance

• Maximum bonus amount: $600
• Availability: CA only. Everyone who lives, works, or worships in the California counties of Alameda, Sacramento, San Diego, Santa Clara, or Yolo.
• Direct deposit required: Yes
• Additional requirements: eStatements
• Hard/soft pull: Soft pull (report of hard pull). Might be soft pull in branch and hard online
• ChexSystems: Yes
• Credit card funding: None
• Monthly fees: None
• Early account termination fee: $15, 90 days
• Household limit: None listed
• Expiration date: None listed

The Offer

Direct link to offer

• BluPeak Credit Union is offering a $600 checking bonus when you meet the following requirements:
  • Use promo code SPLASH
  • Open A Checking Along With A Savings Or Loan
  • Set Up Qualifying Direct Deposits
  • Use Your Debit Card For Purchases
• Bonus schedule is a bit difficult to understand, see image below.

The Fine Print

• The Splash Promotion will begin on 7/8/24 at 9:00 AM PT for a limited time only and must be an active promotion at the time of account opening to participate.
• Must be 18 years of age or older at enrollment. Limit one promotion per member and per qualifying consumer checking account.
• Must NOT have held a BluPeak consumer checking account since July 8, 2023, must meet all membership and account criteria, and must OPEN a NEW consumer checking account using the promotion code “SPASH” at account opening.
• Enter the promotion code “SPLASH” in the online new account opening workflow or mention the promotion code “SPLASH” to the BluPeak new account representative during in person account opening to enroll in the promotion.
• Must maintain a balance of at least $.01 in the checking product at the time of each payout evaluation to qualify for each bonus.
• Must meet account opening criteria and OPEN a NEW savings product (savings, money market, certificate) or NEW loan product within the same membership as the checking account within 90 days after opening the checking account. Must maintain a balance of at least $.01 on the savings or loan product at the time of each payout evaluation to quality for each bonus.
• Must receive at least three (3) qualifying Direct Deposits (as defined below) totaling $3,000 or more in an accountholder’s name AND perform fifteen (15) Debit Card Purchases (as defined below) totaling $150 EVERY NINTY (90) DAYS after account opening to earn a bonus in each 90 day period. If there is a 90 day period where the criteria is not met, you will not be eligible for any additional bonuses. See the above payout table for details.
• A qualifying “Direct Deposit” means a recurring electronic deposit of income to an accountholder’s BluPeak Checking account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, benefits provider or government agency via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network that is new to BluPeak (meaning it is not redirected from an existing BluPeak account). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), investments and bank/credit union funds transfers, and wire transfers, as well as deposits that are non-recurring electronic deposits such as IRS tax refunds, do NOT constitute Direct Deposit activity and a BONUS WILL NOT BE PAID.
• “Debit Card Purchase” means a purchase made with your BluPeak debit card. Purchase refunds/reversals, ATM transactions, and bill payments do not qualify.
  BluPeak shall, in its sole discretion, assess each accountholder’s Direct Deposits and Debit Card Purchases to determine if they qualify and may require additional documentation to complete this verification.
• Bonus payouts will be credited to the checking account within 7 calendar days from the end of each 90 day period. Subject to tax.
  Participant and any related account(s) must be in good standing (not in default, closed, inactive, negative balance or otherwise not in good standing) from enrollment through to the payout date to qualify.
• BluPeak reserves the right to exclude any members from participating in the Splash Promotion for any reason, including if, in BluPeak’s sole discretion, suspected fraud, misuse, or if suspicious activities are observed. BluPeak also reserves the right to stop or change the Splash Promotion (the “SPLASH” promotion) at any time, including prior to new account opening. Terms and conditions subject to change without notice. Cannot be combined with other offers. BluPeak employees not eligible. Limited time offer. Bonus payments subject to tax.
• All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

This account has no monthly fees to worry about.

Early Account Termination Fee

$15 fee if closed within 90 days of account opening according to the fee schedule.

Our Verdict

Previous best bonus was $300. It takes awhile to get the full bonus, but the requirements aren’t that difficult basically just keeping the account open once you meet the direct deposit and debit card requirement. We will add this to our list of the best bank account bonuses.

Hat tip to Bockrr

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

• A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
• Bank Account Quick Reference Table (Spreadsheet) (very useful for sorting bonuses by different parameters)
• 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
• Banks That Allow/Don’t Allow Out Of State Checking Applications
• Bank Bonus Posting Times