[IL or CA only] CEFCU $175/$225 Checking Bonus – Direct Deposit Not Required

Update 7/2/24: Extended until 12/31/24

Update 1/14/24: Extended until 6/30/24.

Update 7/4/23: Extended until  12/31/23.

Update 1/12/23: Extended until 6/30/23.

Update 1/4/23: There is a $225 version available in California only.

Update 7/4/22: Extended until Dec 31st

Update 1/5/22: Extended until 6/30/22.

Update 10/24/21: Extended until 12/31

Update 9/22/20: Bonus has increased from $125 to $175.

Offer at a glance

• Maximum bonus amount: $125
• Availability: Must live or work in:
  • Bond, Champaign, Christian, Clinton, DeWitt, Douglas, Ford, Fulton, Iroquois, Jersey, Knox, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marshall, Mason, McLean, Monroe, Montgomery, Peoria, Piatt, Putnam, Randolph, Saint Clair, Sangamon, Stark, Tazewell, Vermilion, Washington, or Woodford counties in Illinois
  • ive, work, or worship in Alameda, Contra Costa, or Santa Clara counties in California
• Direct deposit required:  No
• Additional requirements: See below
• Hard/soft pull: Hard pull
• ChexSystems: Yes
• Credit card funding: Up to $200
• Monthly fees: Fee free option available
• Early account termination fee: Unknown
• Household limit: None listed
• Expiration date: June 30th, 2019 December 31st, 2019 June 30th, 2020 December 31st, 2020 June 30, 2021

The Offer

Direct link to offer | Direct link to offer $175 bonus

• CEFCU is offering a bonus of $125 when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
  • $150 bonus when you meet one of the following requirements:
    • have a minimum individual balance of $5,000 or minimum household balance of $10,000
    • make 5 or more purchases of at least $15 with your CEFCU Debit Mastercard linked to this new Checking account
    • have direct deposits totaling $500 or more on this Checking account or associated Savings account
  • $25 bonus when you use your CEFCU debit mastercard for 5 or more purchases of at least $15 each month for the first three full calendar months following account opening

The Fine Print

• The bonuses are not available on transfers of existing CEFCU Checking accounts.
• All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

Their free checking account also has no monthly fees to worry about.

Early Account Termination Fee

I was unable to find a fee schedule so I’m unsure if there is any early account termination fee or not.

Our Verdict

Previous best bonus was $100. I do think this bonus is worth doing due to the fact there is no hard pull and no direct deposit. Because of that I will be adding this to our list of the best checking account bonuses.

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