Update 3/5/25: Terms now state ‘Offer is restricted to Colorado residents’
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $350
- Availability:Â CO
- Direct deposit required:Â Yes, $500+ per month for two months
- Additional requirements:Â See below
- Hard/soft pull:Â Soft
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding:Â Up to $2,500 (previously $10,000)
- Monthly fees:Â No
- Early account termination fee:Â 12 months, bonus forfeit
- Household limit:Â One
- Expiration date: May 31, 2025
Contents
The Offer
- Elevations Credit Union is offering a $350 bonus when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Use promo code ECU350
- Enroll in online banking.
- Set up direct deposit with at least $500 per month for two month
The Fine Print
- Checking cash bonus is not available to existing members, Elevations Credit Union employees, Elevations Board Members, or consumers who have been closed with a negative balance.
- Limit one offer per New Membership and checking account.
- Limit one bonus per household, per lifetime. To receive the cash bonus, open a new Elevations Free Checking, Buff One Checking or Dividend Checking account. Forever Buffs checking does not qualify for this offer. Member must have direct deposit(s) totaling $500 per month for two consecutive months following the open date of the account. Direct deposit must be new to Elevations Credit Union and must be payroll, pension, Social Security or other recurring government benefits. Member must log into online banking. All requirements must be met within 90 days of account opening. The cash bonus will be deposited into the new checking account within 30 days of the final qualifying requirement if the account opened is in good standing (i.e., is not overdrawn or at a zero balance). We reserve the right to substitute the bonus offered at any time with an item of similar value. Limited time bonus. The $350 cash bonus is considered interest and is subject to IRS and other tax reporting.
- The cash bonus can be revoked if the account is closed within twelve (12) months of opening date.
- Offer expires May 31, 2025.
- Qualifying direct deposits: Qualifying deposits are regular, periodic automated clearing house (ACH) credits, which may include payroll, salary, pension or government payments (such as Social Security).  Deposits that DO NOT QUALIFY are those through the Real-Time Payments (RTP) network, payments through peer-to-peer networks such as PayPal, Zelle, Venmo or others, transfers from another Elevations deposit account, voided transactions, dividends, loan funding, adjustments, and micro-deposits (deposits typically less than $1 sent to your account to verify it is the correct account).
- 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
Early Account Termination Fee
Bonus forfeit if closed within 12 months
Our Verdict
Previously there was a $100 bonus, but that was for University of Colorado students only. This is a much bigger bonus and open to more as well. Will add this to our list of the best bank account bonuses.
Hat tip to Lobster
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
Approved in CO. Credit card bank didn’t approve my CC funding request, save for the $5 for the saving accounts.
Wondering if anyone has had success triggering the direct deposit? I transferred $500 from Fidelity CMA and it’s unclear how it coded. All it says is: “FID BKG SVC LLC TYPE: MONEYLINE ID: (10-digit number redacted) CO: FID BKG SVC LLC.”
Think I may be the guinea pig here. I might give Chase biz checking ACH for $2.50 fee a try as well.
cap one venture posted as cash advance FYI
Sorry, there’s been a problem
We’re sorry for the inconvenience. We aren’t currently able to process your request digitally, but we’re eager to help!
Please contact us directly to start your application, or request to be contacted by filling out a quick form. Thank you for your interest in Elevations Credit Union!
Did you apply from OOS?
Looks like I was approved (in Colorado) but I just sent the signature documents back today. I don’t actually remember what card I used to fund (oops!) but I think I only did $25 just in case it was coded as cash advance. I may have used a debit card…guess at some point I will find out!
DataPoint…as of right now it appears they did NOT pull CHEX. I will update if an inquiry ends up on my report later.
Froze Chex and applied before the geo restriction term was added. OOF.
“We’re reviewing your application and will be in touch with you in 3-5 business days.”
Haven’t heard back yet but my $15.85 donation to the Local Change Foundation has been refunded.
It’s only been 4 biz days but I have a prediction…
I see mine refunded as well, I donated $15. I would say this means we are kicked to the curb like garbage. I have not tried calling yet.
In state. Navy FCU Flagship Rewards funding initially categorized as “cash advance”, but has since transitioned to “online services”. Only $5 charged, despite entering similar funding amounts in both checking and savings that cumulatively totaled $2500.
card funding coded as cash advance for cap one venture
OOS applicant here. No email so far but the donation I made to their charity was returned to my card.
Approved in state but was unable to fund with a credit card. I tried $2495 on Amex Biz Plat and it failed. With a rep on the phone, they tried a Barclay HA Biz card for the same amount and it failed. Then we tried a Citi Premier for the same amount and it failed. Citi Premier for $5 also failed. I ended up funding $5 with a debit card to finish opening up my account.
That’s incredible that they let you try with 4 different cards! Did you have a $0 cash limit on all of those cards? Were any of them fraud alerts?
No fraud alerts and I called Barclay about the HA Biz since it was a new card and they didn’t see any attempted charge. I’m guessing they all coded as cash advance and got declined. I have the cash advance limit set to $0 for my Citi card so that explains it failing even for $5. Not sure about my cash advance limit on the other 3 but I suspect it’s less than the $2495.
I got a referral code if anyone needs.
Can you share it?