Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $100
- Availability: Nationwide
- Direct deposit required: No
- Additional requirements: 5 debit card transactions
- Hard/soft pull: Unknown
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Can fund up to $2,500 with a credit card
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit: None
- Expiration date: 2/28/25
Contents
The Offer
- Harvard Federal Credit Union is offering a $100 referral bonus when the new user opens a new checking account and completes the following requirements:
- New user makes five (5) transactions on their new Harvard FCU debit or credit card within the first 90 days of account opening
The Fine Print
- Referred person must be a NEW member with no existing accounts at Harvard FCU including joint relationships. Former members qualify as a new member provided all their previous accounts were closed at least twenty-four (24) months prior to the new open date. New Member Bonus and Member Referral Bonus will be paid when new member opens an account by February 28, 2025 and completes five transactions on their new Harvard FCU debit or credit card within 90 days of account opening. Harvard FCU reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. New Member Bonus ($100) and Member referral ($100) will be deposited to Harvard FCU Shared Savings account within 30 days of when the new member qualifications are met (completes five transactions on their new Harvard FCU debit or credit card within 90 days of account opening). Referring member needs to be in good standing to receive the $100 incentive. There is no limit to the number of referrals a member can make. The charitable donation of $5 per referral will be paid on behalf of each member referral (up to $50 per member) regardless of whether the referee opens an account at the Credit Union. An individual cannot be referred more than once, even if they open multiple memberships. Normal membership eligibility requirements apply. Terms & conditions subject to change without notice. Applies to online account opening only.
- 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 didn’t see any mention of an EATF in the fee schedule.
Our Verdict
Referral requires the new users e-mail, first name & last name. If you want to share your information you can share it in this linked post. Should be worth doing if it’s a soft pull and you can refer a few friends/family.
Hat tip to reader Roman M
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
3/17 – applied for Share Savings, no referral, entered CC funding details. Residence nowhere near the east coast.
3/25 – online chat asking about status of application, uploaded requested Utility bill for address verification (DL images and selfie submitted during initial application).
3/26 – application was approved, Credit card funding of $2500 on US Bank Triple Cash went through as purchase.
I applied with a referral long before the promotion ended, but they didn’t approve me until well after the promotion ended. I wonder If I’ll still get the bonus.
I’ve did 3 debit charges on Amazon over a week ago and I still haven’t seen it posted… :/
New Member Bonus and Member Referral Bonus will be paid when new member opens an account by February 28, 2025 and completes FIVE transactions on their new Harvard FCU debit or credit card within 90 days of account opening
I only tried 3 so far to make sure my charges will go through. But yeah, I might just go get some bananas at the local grocery store now since I’m not seeing any of the charges post yet
After card activation, my debit card transactions never go through.
I called Harvard FCU and told the issue, they fixed it within a few minutes.
Now my transactions go through without a problem.
I guess the same issue is happening to you and you need to call Harvard FCU.
I had to call as well, the card wasn’t linked to my account. They fixed it quickly.
Keith
I called this morning and they had to transfer me to membership services, which the phone said I was 7 in line. I pressed the button for call back and never got a call back. Now I’m on the online chat to get an answer. Not really the type of customer service and hold wait time I expect from a CU :/
Applied on 2/21 after receiving a referral email, and the application was pended.
Today on 3/5, received a email from Harvard FCU to request uploading some additional documents (DL, utility, SSN, selfie, etc) for verification.
The referral email contains sentence “As a welcome gift we’re offering $100 when you join in the month of February!”
If I applied in February and am approved in March, am I eligible for the $100 bonus?
Additionally, in my experience, this is a small CU and they generally treat members fairly. I’ve been a member for 20+ years, and the couple of times that I’ve had issues, I was able to talk to upper management and get things resolved in a way that I found satisfactory. In other words, if you don’t get the bonus automatically, I think you have a reasonable chance of having it applied manually by arguing that you did everything you could on time, and the rest was out of your control.
I uploaded additional documents and was approved.
I could confirm via secure message that I am eligible for the $100 bonus since I submitted my application in February.
Applied via referral on 2/24. Pending as of 3/5. Anyone got approved recently?
Did anyone else have the charge drop off their CC?
Is it possible they are trying to re-charge the funding as cash advance after it already went through as purchase (albeit pending, not confirmed).
Highly unlikely they would recharacterize the transaction.
TomsRiver
It’s not too uncommon for CC funding to drop off and then suddenly reappear when the bank finishes the application process.
I wonder what happens to those who have already received a referral email, but have not yet applied. I would think they would still be eligible for the bonus — but it may be prudent to call and ask first.
Is there an expiration date on the referral emails that went out? If so, those people are probably fine to apply.
I believe it says offer valid through 2/28. That’s why I am surprised they pulled it — the offer was only good through this Friday anyway.
Got referred on Feb. 21;
Applied on Feb. 26;
Application still pending on Mar. 2.
Update: Denied 3/18 due to chex.
“Due to unexpected demand, we are not accepting referrals at this time.“
just saw that… nooooooooooo 🙁 wish I had seen this sooner
It might be a blessing in disguise for you as you were likely going to be declined for Chex! I say that without knowing your Chex situation at all.
Does Harvard FCU only allow credit card funding upon the initial account opening? Is the the option for more credit card funding for CDs and other checking accounts available after you join?
I see nothing in the online portal where I can open accounts. There was something about investing but required a message or call. I guess you could try running through the app process again or ask them. I’d be afraid if you went through the regular app process they’d pull Chex again.