Update 9/28/24: Now requires a Premier Plus smart spending checking account. This has no monthly fee. Hat tip to reader snailrock
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $100 for both parties
- Availability: Locations in California & Texas [Branch locator]. In branch only (maybe not)
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $250+
- Additional requirements: See below
- Hard/soft pull: Soft (make sure you opt out of overdraft protection)
- ChexSystems: Unknown, sensitive
- Credit card funding: Yes, varies by product (at least $500)
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit: None mentioned
- Expiration date: December 31, 2021
Contents
The Offer
- Premier America Credit Union is currently offering a $100 checking bonus when you open a new checking account and receive a direct deposit of $250 or more
The Fine Print
- $100 Head Start Savings Bonus is a promotional offer available 09/07/21 – 12/31/21.
- Monthly ACH Direct Deposit (minimum $200) must be added to account in first 45-days from account opening to qualify. Offer subject to change or end without notice.
- A deposit of $5 into a Smart Savings account is required to join Premier America Credit Union.
- For businesses, a deposit of $250 into a Business Savings account is required to join Premier America Credit Union. Federally Insured by NCUA.
- 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
I wasn’t able to find an early account termination fee in their fee schedule.
Our Verdict
Previously they offered a $100 referral bonus for both parties, but that didn’t require a direct deposit. That was a great offer, but hasn’t been back since 2018. Because of that I think if you’re interested in this offer I think it’s worth doing. We will add this to our list of the best bank account bonuses.
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
View Comments (78)
FYI - "Offer valid until December 31, 2024."
Denied for Chex. I am 1/1, 5/3, 10/6, 17/12, 32/24
Denied for Chex after uploading all the docs they requested. Pretty ridiculous process.
And since when is Premier America chex sensitive?
Went in branch in Houston. After wasting half an hour with some guy who was new he said they are denying due to many inquiries. If I knew they were chec sensitive I wouldn't have bothered for $100
As an update, my $200 DD hit the account on Wednesday and has already been withdrawn along with the initial deposit (account now has my standard $0.01 balance).
The DD posted as "Deposit [Employer Name] Payroll."
Out of abundance of caution, I will have one more DD in two weeks before discontinuing it.
Where can I find the member number? We need that to sign up for online access.
It appeared to me in the final message where the application was approved: "Your membership number is..."
How’d you guys get past the mobile verification? Still sending to my email with the wrong code
Never had this issue. You may want to contact their number and ask for assistance, hopefully this will resolve it.
Applied yesterday and got call today asked for further verification, need a copy of utility bill, ssn, driver lic. She said no credit card funding is accepted, only allow funding from bank acct. In that case, I don't plan to proceed.
Great news. the customer rep called and said she made a mistake. I can use credit card to make initial deposit with almost no limit.
DP: Smart Spending checking max inital funding allowed $999
What CC was this with?
Why can't I receive the verification code on my cell phone? Email verification code is received by email but it shows an error when filling in the code.
Same here
The Smart Spending checking promotion is a much better option (same $100 bonus amount and trivial requirements). As per our discussion in the 'Contact Us' section, I gave it a try OOS since there were no recent DPs, and my account was approved on Thursday.
The $75 bonus should post after 45 days, while the remaining $25 after you set up a $200 DD (by “monthly,” they mean they expect the DD to be recurring).
I applied with the three main credit reports frozen and they pulled my Chex report. My Chex stats were: 1/1; 1/2; 3/3; 5/6; 20/12; 35/24, as per my latest TU report.
Did you receive the bonus? I just wanted to know if they pay out to OOS account holders before trying to apply. Thanks
Yep, the $25 and $75 came in a few days apart, but I recently received both.
Great! Thank you!
Where do you see a $100 bonus for the Smart Spending? I only see a promotion for $25.
From their link, it's $75 + $25:
https://www.premieramerica.com/smartspending24
Here's the link for the Smart Spending checking promotion Jjohn8219 speaks of:
https://www.premieramerica.com/smartspending24
"$75 incentive available to individuals who open a first-time Smart Spending account. Account must remain in good standing for 45 days to qualify for incentive. Promo code SmartSpending24 must be used during account opening. Offer valid until December 31, 2024. $25 Head Start Savings BONUS is available when monthly direct deposit (minimum single deposit of $200) added within the first 45 days after account opening. Converted Smart Spending checking account not eligible for bonus. $75 and $25 bonuses will be paid out separately."
Based on the above, only one $200 direct deposit is required. The question is, what do they consider a direct deposit and what has counted from the past?
Credit goes to Snairock to be fair, as I discovered this bonus thanks to him/her (see the discussion in the 'Contact Us' section).
For the $25 part, note the term "monthly." Like I said, my understanding directly from the bank is that this is equivalent to "recurring." Hence I will make at least a couple of DDs, as always via my employer.
It's only $25, but they would have a hard time enforcing it unless they change the language, as it specifically says "(minimum single deposit of $200)"
The question is, what counts as a direct deposit?
Direct Deposit needs to be 250+
To qualify for the $100 New Premier Plus Checking Account Bonus, new account must have an ACH Direct Deposit (minimum single deposit of $250), be opted in to eStatements, and conduct 10 debit and/or credit card point of sale transactions within the first 60 days of account opening. Bonus is paid on day 61 if all qualifications are met and membership is in good standing. Members with open or converted checking account not eligible for account bonus. Bonus may be subject to IRS tax reporting. Member may receive a 1099 Form from Premier America. Offer subject to change or end without notice. Offer may be combined with other offers at the sole discretion of Premier America Credit Union.