[Expired] Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU): $100 Referral Checking Bonus, Direct Deposit Not Required

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

Update 11/30/22: Available again for 2022. Hat tip to reader Olympia

Offer at a glance

The Offer

Direct link to offer (requires a referral. Do not share or find referrals in the comments, instead go to this linked page)

  • Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is offering a $100 referral bonus when the person signing up opens a new checking account ($50 bonus for the person referring). Need to complete one of the following:
    • Checking Account with recurring Direct Deposit of your payroll, retirement, Social Security, or other monthly recurring income of $500+ per month
    • Checking Account with at least five ; debit/credit card transactions, bill payments, balance transfers, or P2P transfers the same month.
    • A vehicle, RV, boat, or mobility loan (purchase or refinance).

The Fine Print

  • Code and offer expire after 90 days, new referred member has 90 days from receipt of invitation to join, redeem the referral code, open a membership and any one of the qualifying products listed above.
  • Referred member must be at least 18 years old. For membership eligibility, please visit: dcu.org
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

They offer a free checking account with no monthly fee

Early Account Termination Fee

I couldn’t find any EATF in the fee schedule.

Our Verdict

Do not share or find referrals in the comments, instead go to this linked page. DCU also offers a high yield savings account that offers 6.17% APY on balances up to $1,000. There was some confusion when we originally posted this deal as part of that thread, so we have created this dedicated post to make it clear you need to open a checking account. This $100 bonus is easy to meet the requirements for and we will be adding it to our list of the best checking bonuses.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On November 30, 2022, 10:00
Tags: credit card fundingdirect deposit not requirednationwide bank bonusessoft pull

View Comments (431)

  • Late info, but will report my data points:

    • Account opened Dec. 13, 2022
    • Made 5+ debit card purchases between Jan. 17 - 19, 2023
    • Bonus received Jan. 20, 2023 - very prompt!

    Note that the bonus went into the membership savings accnt even though the transactions were on the checking account.

  • Yes it’s now $20 for the new member and $10 for referring member. Could we get the post updated? Maybe could be added to the Best Bank Bonuses post too? I know it’s small, but with the 6% on $1,000 savings account it’s more worth doing, IMO.
    https://dcu.org/referral @will

  • Anyone else have any issues getting the bonus? Completed the 5 qualifying outbound ACHs from checking on 1/31. Support said to wait 30 days. Well now its been 30 days and I'm getting a run around. Multiple reps said "well you already got 3 $50 referral bonuses" but those were for other people using my link since it literally says on the transactions "thanks for referring a new member". Finally got one to check with a supervisor who said to wait 60 days even though terms say 30... anyone else having these kind of issues and any advice to resolve?

    • yes. They are telling me I need to wait 90 says from account opening. The page with the promo has updated and now is only for $10, the agent said the terms for my bonus at the time my account was opened was for a 90 day lock up, the 30 day lock up is just for the new $10 promotion. I definitely wrote down 30 days based on the promo at the time I opened my account, but I'll play their game..

  • 12/5 applied with referral link
    2/1 account opened
    2/14 $500 employer DD
    3/2 $100 bonus
    Will be keeping this account, thanks for pointing out 6.17% APY

  • I opened this account on Feb 8, funded it with $400 from Chase, then account was suspended on Feb 16. I think the account of the person who referred me was also suspended. Called today as I hadn't heard anything for a while - it's still in process and they won't tell me when it might be unfrozen.

    Not sure if anyone else is experiencing this, but commenting as an FYI.

    • Feb 8 - Account opened, funded with Chase
      Feb 16 - Account suspended
      Mar 9 - Account unsuspended (with notice saying "Your Chase account status has changed" - huh..?)
      3/15 - made final debit swipe
      3/17 - $100 bonus credited

      Honestly surprised it posted - I was expecting to have to fight with customer support for ages since they nerfed the offer right after I signed up, but got the right number very quickly!

    • Wow. That's ridiculous. But, it's typical DCU. Slow as heck. The only thing that keeps me w them is their yearly 0% APR BT offer w no BT fee.

      • Yeah I'm surprised I got the bonus as quickly as I did given the whole ordeal with the bogus account suspension! I'm going to keep the account for the great savings rate and potential for future bonus increases though

  • I only have a Savings account with DCU.. anyone know if it's possible to get this bonus by opening a checking for existing DCU Savings account holders? @guest_1501662

  • Ouch. Nerfed even further? Just checking my account and here's the new referral offer language I'm seeing - "You'll get $10. They'll get $20"

      • At one point it was $100 for the referrer and $100 for the person being referred. That was almost a year ago though, and the program was completely inactive for nearly a year.

  • It looks as if they have changed the bonus From $100 for the referer to $20 and $50 for the referee to $10
    @chucksithe

    • Son of a B!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Had almost signed up several times for this super easy bonus for P2. Waited a few weeks for new Ink card to arrive, was going to use towards that $250 CC funding. Tried today, and the $100 and $50 bonus is no more.

      Will hold out hoping for it to return.

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