Update 11/30/23: Offer is available online now.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $300
- Availability: TX
- Direct deposit required:Â Yes, multiple direct deposits required
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull:Â Hard pull
- Credit card funding:Â Up to $100
- Monthly fees:Â $0
- Early account termination fee:Â Six months, $10
- Household limit:Â None listed
- Expiration date:Â None
Contents
The Offer
- Firstmark Credit Union is offering a $300 checking bonus when you open a new checking account at their La Vernia. Broken down as follows:
- One direct deposit during first 30 days=Get $50
- Two direct deposits totaling $2,000 during days 31-90 = Get $250
The Fine Print
- All qualifying members must conduct the following transactions to receive up to $300.
- New member must make a direct deposit (or Automated Clearing House (ACH) of at least $10 into their new Free, Power of the Dollar or Power of the Dollar Plus checking account to qualify for a $50 payout. The initial ACH deposit must be completed within the first 30 days of account opening. An account may only qualify once for payout. Upon qualifying, the $50.00 bonus will be deposited by the end of day into the member’s new Free, Power of the Dollar or Power of the Dollar Plus checking account. Deposits under $10 are not eligible.
- New member must make two or more ACH deposits for a total of $2,000.00 to qualify for a $250 bonus. ACH deposits must be completed within day 31 to 90 of account opening to qualify. An account may only qualify once for payout. Upon qualifying, the $250.00 bonus will be deposited by the close of the 91st day, into the member’s Free, Power of the Dollar or Power of the Dollar Plus checking account.
- A qualifying direct deposit is an ACH (Automated Clearing House) automatic electronic deposit. This can include salary / payroll, pension, Social Security, person to person (P2P) payments, or other ACH electronic deposit into a Free, Power of the Dollar or Power of the Dollar Plus checking account.
- Mobile check deposits, or deposits made at a branch or ATM do not qualify as an ACH/direct deposit.
- Primary account owner must be age 18 to be eligible.
- Promotion is for a limited time only and may end at any time without notice.
Rates, fees, and terms applicable can be located on the Firstmark Credit Union Truth-in-Savings Disclosures. The Credit Union may offer other rates for these types of accounts in the future. - A new Free, Power of the Dollar or Power of the Dollar Plus checking account must remain open throughout the 90-day qualification period to receive up to $300 payout.
- $300* (For APY, Minimum Deposit requirements, and rates please see Firstmark’s Truth in Savings disclosures here Membership Guide)
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
You can view the full fee schedule from First Mark by clicking here.
Membership Fee $5
FirstMark is a credit union that requires to be a member before applying. You also need to fund a savings account with $5. You can become a member if you meet any of the following requirements:
- Live, work or attend school in any of the following locations: Bexar, Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Dimmit, Frio, Guadalupe, Kendall, La Salle, McMullen, Medina, Wilson, and Zavala.
- Relative is a member due to meeting the requirements above
Checking
Student checking has no monthly fee to worry about
Early Account Termination Fee $10
If you close your account within six months you’ll be charged a $10 closing fee.
Our Verdict
Shame about the hard pull, but if you live near the branch then this should be worth doing.
Hat tip to reader Bockrr
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
I took the hard pull because I am ready LOL/24 and was denied for too many inquiries. Yay.
I live in Texas but don’t live in the eligible counties.
Not sure if there is any other way if you are TX resident.
Having someone in one of those counties claim you as relative after they join? 🙂
they can hard pull deez nuts
What if I suck on them instead?
Does cost a hard pull from Equifax. As of 1 month ago when I signed up online.
Can also confirm that a Wise Biz account counts as DD.
Ouch. Hard pull are just too much.
William Charles This is not limited to that single branch any more. The offer shows if you go to https://www.firstmarkcu.org/checking/ and has options to open online. Also drove by a branch in north-central San Antonio that had a sign promoting the offer. It does appear membership eligibility is still limited to counties in the San Antonio metropolitan area or certain employment groups. Cannot confirm or deny hard pull.
is there a way I can become a member if I don’t live in TX?
Only other way for OOS is if you have a relative with the credit union or membership with certain groups (both are hard to qualify for most people and makes this deal not worth it with the hard pull as well). Those two groups are Catholic Life (purchase a life insurance plan with them) or Bexar County Medical Society (need to be a licensed physician)