[Expired][CA only] First Entertainment Credit Union $300 Bonus, No Direct Deposit Required

Deal has ended, view more bank account bonuses by clicking here.

Update: Comments say you might need to be member of local 695.

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $300
  • Availability:
    • You can apply for membership at First Entertainment Credit Union if you live in Los Angeles County, California.
    • If someone in your immediate family or household is eligible through one of the above options or is already a First Entertainment Credit Union member, you’re also eligible to join.
    • See the clients we serve for a comprehensive list of companies and entertainment industry organizations currently offering the benefits of First Entertainment members.
  • Direct deposit required: No
  • Additional requirements: See below
  • Direct deposit required: None
  • Additional requirements: None
  • Hard/soft pull: Unknown
  • ChexSystems: Unknown
  • Credit card funding: Up to $500
  • Monthly fees: None
  • Early account termination fee: None listed
  • Household limit: None
  • Expiration date: December 31, 2023

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • First Entertainment Credit Union is offering a $300 bonus when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
    • Use promo code NEWMEMBER2023
    • Make $1,000 in debit card purchases
    • Enroll in eStatements

The Fine Print

  • Eligibility requirements apply, and all must be met by the 90th day of account opening to qualify for up to $600 bonus.
  • Offer available to new members joining First Entertainment Credit Union between January 3, 2023 and December 31, 2023, using promo code NEWMEMBER. A new member is defined as having no previous relationship with First Entertainment Credit Union.
  • Limited to a maximum $600 total bonus per member.
  • Accounts must be open for at least 90 days, active, and in good standing to receive bonus payout(s) (not in default, closed, inactive, or otherwise “not in good standing”).
  • Bonus(es) will be distributed within 30 days following the program requirements and the 90 days qualification period.
  • Bonus(es) will be considered dividends and may be reported on IRS form 1099-INT.
  • First Entertainment Credit Union employees and business accounts are not eligible for this offer.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

First500 savings  & value checking account has no monthly fee to worry about

Early Account Termination Fee

I didn’t see any mention of an early account termination fee in the fee schedule.

Our Verdict

Previous best was $100. This is a much better deal and still no direct deposit required.

Hat tip to Looney Tunes

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On December 17, 2023, 10:00
Tags: ca bank bonusescredit card fundingdirect deposit not required

View Comments (24)

  • Anyone know if Instacart/other gig apps, would suffice as an eligible 'Los Angeles employment' option?
    For example, usually I'm work in San Diego. I am allowed to work in the LA market, and have a couple of times...

    • "Regularly work." I doubt they care, though the S.D. address could be a negative. Might be easier to say you worship in L.A. County - at the Celebrity Center on Franklin. They'll be terrified into approving you.

  • This bonus requires work. I am mortified. I am triggered. Work is what I'm trying to avoid. Just reading about the bonus requirements made me break out in hives. My therapist is out until January 20th. Will take the dogs on a long walk tomorrow and maybe do a BOA checking bonus, hope I can shake this off.

  • Credit unions are an amateur-hour PITA. Last time I tried a bonus deal (not with First Entertainment), it went to compliance and they wanted 2 years of tax returns. I infer from the banner for this particular outfit that the promo is aimed at a specific target, but it seems their crack legal team messed up on the fine print. Given the other membership hoops, I'd probably skip this.

  • Found out, after applying for this and the application going into review, that the promo bonus is only available for members of local 695 even though on the application it lists one of the qualifications is living in Los Angeles County (that would allow me to become a member of the credit union but not be eligible for the bonus).

    Wasted a chex pull.

    @2 might want to update the post

    • From who/how did you find out that it is only for local 695 members? (Considering it does not mention that in the terms)

      • After sending in my application and it going into review I called new accounts to inquire if the promo code was attached since there was no place to enter it during the application.

        At that time she said that the promo code is automatically attached if you are a member of local 695; otherwise, if you aren't a member, you can still apply but not be eligible for the bonus (it is exclusively for the members of the local). I had her cancel the application.

        • Thank you for your reply and for the information.

          I have attempted to apply with them via the online application a couple of times in the past when they were offering bonuses, each time getting denied due to Chex.

          In regards to the promotional code spot on the application, it does ask for one if you have it on the very last page of the application where it has you review everything you entered on previous pages. The box asks if you have a promotional code.

          That being said, I will most likely chat with them tomorrow morning such that I could have an answer in writing. If I have an answer in writing, (which I would screenshot), stating that I would be eligible despite not being a member of local 695, I will give it a try, but in branch this time around. I will also share here what I learn from them after chatting.

          • Chatting may work for you but they referred me to call new accounts when I first chatted with them to get some info about some of the terms (though didn't think to ask them about being a member of the local to get the bonus).

            This led to multiple calls to them but I could never get to the new accounts department until they finally called me after my application was submitted and gave me the news about having to be a member.

            Good luck

          • Thanks for reporting back, Dave. Looking forward to hearing your experience. I'm considering doing this but can't unfreeze my Chex for another few days due to another play.

          • Update - I chatted with a rep this morning, she reached out to the new accounts department to seek answers to my questions, and informed me that the offer is for local 695 only supposedly. I did mention that the terms do not make that clear, but as you can imagine, she did not have a response for that. That being said, I will be in the Burbank area on 12/26 and might try and apply in person anyway. My Chex is not recovering any time soon, so I might want to see what happens if I try to apply in person. The application does not ask anywhere whether you are a local 695 member or not - my guess is that only people who are members of local 695 are made aware of this offer at their worksite somehow, and the credit union is working under the assumption that those who know the promo code must be affiliated with local 695, (since the code is not made visible on the main website for the public to see - you have to do some digging in order to find it).

          • Good, if you find out differently I'll call back and have them pull up my application so I won't have wasted a chex pull.

          • So you applied this time and actually entered the promo code? Funny I didn't see it but guess the eye surgeries I've had recently failed me- LOL!

  • I will be calling/messaging in tomorrow to find out if you have to be a member of local 695 to be eligible for this offer - nothing clearly states that you have to be in the terms, but the "Welcome Local 695 Members" banner makes it worth finding out about.

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