Update 3/5/25: Terms now state ‘Offer is restricted to Colorado residents’
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $350
- Availability: CO
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+ per month for two months
- Additional requirements: See below
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Up to $2,500 (previously $10,000)
- Monthly fees: No
- Early account termination fee: 12 months, bonus forfeit
- Household limit: 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
3/4: Opened account as CO resident; $5 deposit to savings via Chase Freedom (coded as cash advance; larger deposit for checking account was declined via Chase
3/21: $500 deposit to Elevations checking from Fidelity CMA
4/1: Pushed back to Fidelity
4/16: $501 deposit to Elevations checking from Fidelity CMA
4/18: $350 bonus posted to savings
Thanks for the DP. Very useful.
Just tried to apply (my credit is frozen), and got an email saying I need to unfreeze my credit so they can check it, so looks like a hard pull
Not according to everyone else.
When applying for a new bank or credit union, often times they cannot soft pull your credit if it’s frozen, and they need it to verify your identity and screen you for additional products.
Shanegm
Why did you freeze your credit? To stop people from being able to open accounts? Well, it worked.
3/6/25 – Opened (Savings + Checking, $25 initial deposit in each)
3/14/25 – $510 real employer DD (withdrawn the following Monday)
3/28/25 – $510 real employer DD (withdrawn the following Monday)
4/12/25 – $350 bonus deposited to savings “PROMO ECU350 Checking Promo Bonus”
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.
My legit direct deposit says “(employer name) TYPE: DIRECT DEP ID: (10-digit number) CO: (employer name)”
Good to know. FWIW, I called in to play dumb a bit and they said Fidelity should quality. Just made second deposit so we’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks.
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