Deal has ended, view more bank account bonuses by clicking here.
Update 6/16/24: Extended until June 30, 2024.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $250
- Availability:Â CA
- Direct deposit required:Â Yes, $1,000+
- Additional requirements:Â See below
- Hard/soft pull:Â Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding:Â Unknown
- Monthly fees:Â None
- Early account termination fee:Â Unknown
- Household limit:Â None listed
- Expiration date:Â June 4, 2024
Contents
The Offer
- USC Credit Union is offering a $250 bonus when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Use promo code SPRING24
- Set up direct deposit with a $1,000 minimum direct deposit every 30 days for the first 90 days of checking account opening
- Make a minimum of ten (10) debit transactions every 30 days for the first 90 days of checking account opening
The Fine Print
- Offer is available to members who have not owned a USC Credit Union personal checking account within the last twelve (12) months or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. You can receive only one new checking account opening-related bonus per account. To receive the checking bonus all requirements must be met:
- Open a new USC Credit Union personal checking account using promotional code: SPRING24 at account opening, which is subject to membership eligibility (membership fee may apply; please call 1-877-670-5860 or visit www.USCcreditunion.org to confirm eligibility). Business checking accounts are not eligible.
- Have qualifying direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more every 30 days for the first 90 days of checking account opening. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension, or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Person to Person payments (such as Zelle®, Bill Pay, Cash Apps, ACH transfers between external bank accounts, etc.) are not considered a direct deposit. Micro-deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit for the bonus. Micro-deposits are small deposits, typically less than $1, that are sent to your account to verify it is the correct account;
- Make a minimum of ten (10) debit card transactions or more every 30 days for the first 90 days of checking account opening.
- After you have completed all the above requirements, we’ll deposit the bonus in your new account within 15 days. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout. The bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable). Offer subject to change without notice. Offer valid for new checking accounts opened from 5/6/2024 to 6/4/2024 and cannot be combined with any other offers. All credit union programs, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
The cardinal checking account has no monthly fees to worry about.
Early Account Termination Fee
I wasn’t able to find the fee schedule so unsure if there is any EATF.
Our Verdict
Offer seems OK but we need more datapoints.
Hat tip to reader 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
There is $3 Service fee has been posting to my Cardinal Checking for last three months, but I’m just seeing this. Contacted CS, their reply
To avoid the $3 service charge on your regular prime share savings account, you must meet one of the following requirements:
· $100 combined average balance in all deposit accounts;
· have an outstanding USC Credit Union loan balance;
· deposit $25 or more during the month;
· or be under age 25
So I used Treasury Direct C of I, but my debit card was lost in the mail. I had to ask them to reissue it to me and have them extend my time to make the debit card transactions. Ended up needing them to manually review my account and apply the bonus, which they did earlier this week. So TD works. (:
Did CashApp uploads work for anyone? I did all the things, read DD for the required amount, and then 10 debit card transactions on CashApp. No bonus yet. I called, and now they are like ‘CashApp isn’t allowed’. I am asking them to show me where it says so in the T&C but wanted to see other people’s experience with this. Thanks!
My bonus should post today or tomorrow and I did Cash App for my 30 transactions and was wondering if it would count…really only my 2nd time doing cash app reloads for stuff and was nervous…..what was outcome of your interaction with them?
I did the 30 CashApp transactions. No bonus yet. What did you find out?
5/9/24 Applied with $100 deposit, approved on 5/13/24
6/11/24 Real DD $1K, 10 $1 amazon gc debit purchases earlier in the month
7/9/24 Real DD $1K, 10 random debit purchases less than $1 earlier in the month
7/23/24 Real DD $1600, 10 $1 apple account reloads earlier in the month
8/1/24 Bonus paid $250 to Prime share savings account
William Charles Chuck This has been extended and now expires June 30, 2024.
Applied on 5/28. They requested SS card. I sent it. Since then have sent several messages, made two calls, requested and was not provided a manager. So far it’s been fairly frustrating. It doesn’t seem like there’s been a ton of success for DoC readers based on the comments. Caveat emptor.
I called again and asked to speak to a manager. I was not able to reach a manager but the rep did finally get my info together and I later got an approval email.
Looking for help with eligibility, my long-lost family member… email me @ alexisakeyson @ gmail . com 🙂
How do you check application status?
https://join.usccreditunion.org/login/phone Use this link and enter your phone number.
Seems $9 non-refundable fee to join the CU
Approved! Live in Service Area and apparently not as chex sensitive as I am 14/12.
Credit card funding?
None. Only cash, check, or ach deposit