[Exired] [MI Only] People Driven Credit Union $200 Checking Bonus

Bonus has now ended and people are having trouble getting paid out. More details here.

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $200
  • Availability: MI only
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, recurring. No minimum mentioned
  • Additional requirements: See below
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
  • ChexSystems: Unknown
  • Credit card funding: None
  • Monthly fees: None
  • Early account termination fee: Six months, bonus forfeit
  • Household limit: None
  • Expiration date: None listed

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • People Driven Credit Union is offering a $200 bonus when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
    • Set up a recurring direct deposit within 30 days of account opening

The Fine Print

  • *TO QUALIFY FOR THE $200 CASH BONUS, YOU MUST BE A MEMBER, OPEN A QUALIFYING CHECKING ACCOUNT WITH PEOPLE DRIVEN CREDIT UNION (“PDCU”), AND MEET THE DEPOSIT CONDITIONS OUTLINED BELOW.
  • YOU MUST ALSO SET UP A RECURRING DIRECT DEPOSIT INTO YOUR NEW PDCU CHECKING ACCOUNT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF ACCOUNT OPENING.
  • A QUALIFYING DIRECT DEPOSIT IS DEFINED AS A RECURRING ELECTRONIC DEPOSIT MADE BY AN EMPLOYER OR AN OUTSIDE AGENCY. TRANSFERS FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER OR DEPOSITS MADE AT A BRANCH OR ATM DO NOT QUALIFY.
  • THE $200 CASH BONUS WILL BE CREDITED TO YOUR PDCU CHECKING ACCOUNT WITHIN 120 DAYS OF MEETING THE DIRECT DEPOSIT REQUIREMENT.
  • IF YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT IS CLOSED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF OPENING, PDCU RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DEDUCT THE BONUS AMOUNT FROM THE ACCOUNT AT THE TIME OF CLOSING. BONUSES ARE CONSIDERED INTEREST AND WILL BE REPORTED ON IRS FORM 1099-INT (OR FORM 1042-S, IF APPLICABLE).
  • THIS PROMOTION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR TERMINATION AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.
  • PDCU MAY DISCONTINUE OR MODIFY THE OFFER IF ANY FACTOR INTERFERES WITH ITS PROPER CONDUCT. THIS OFFER CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER CHECKING ACCOUNT PROMOTION.
  • PDCU RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE THE ELIGIBILITY OF ANY ACCOUNT FOR THE BONUS. BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROMOTION, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. PLEASE CONTACT PDCU FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR CLARIFICATION.
  • 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

Bonus forfeit if account is closed within six months.

Our Verdict

Need to know if it’s a hard or soft pull. Seems like a relatively easy bonus.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:

View Comments (38)

  • I chatted with them and referenced the Internet Archive of the terms. They said 120d after first DD (7/30) for me. Didn't feel like trying to argue for quicker, I think the terms specify 120d after first DD, even if it's not typical for bonus timelines to be structured like that. I think I'll have a strong case if a CSR assured me the bonus would be deposited. Gonna keep a small real DD flowing just to keep them happy when I undoubtedly manually have to ask for the bonus come Nov 27 (120d from 7/30)

  • To anyone trying to get paid out... I had a chat with CS. Long story short, the CU was looking for the DDs to keep going for the full 120 days. However as you know the terms do not say this. CU was also looking for us to make mention of the promo offer on the application. Again, as you know there's no place to add a promo code, etc.

    After a while I was able to get a CS rep to work with their manager to post the bonus. Started via chat. Request a secure link to send a PDF copy of the terms. Then They called me to discuss. Overall my experience with them wasn't too bad. They're just not use to write these offers it seems.

  • I completed the requirements using real DD but have NOT been paid out. I contacted support and will see what they say. Will keep ya'll posted.

      • FINAL UPDATE: Threatening to sue them worked! Paid out my $200 bonus today. So that is the route everyone will have to take I guess. @2 @6 worth adding a note regarding this.

      • Got the following email:

        “ I am reaching out to you regarding your request for contact for information about the $200 cash bonus promotion we were offering. During the time your account was opened, the cash bonus promotion was only available to existing members who already had a savings account with us and opted to apply for a checking account. Part of the promotion was to have a qualifying direct deposit for three consecutive months, and I do see that you had a direct deposit, but it was only for two consecutive months. You did not qualify for this promotion.”

        What a load of bs. I’m going to threaten to sue them in small claims court and see if they pay out. This is ridiculous. @Will @chuck

  • I chatted with customer service online since I haven't seen the bonus post to my account and they indicated the promotion was only for customers who had an existing savings account and opened a new checking account. Did anyone happen to save the terms of the promotion as a PDF? The promotion was taken down from their website, so I'm unable to see if those terms were mentioned. Seems like a shady credit union...

  • It’s going to be clawing and scratching for this one. I completed the reqs( I kept recurring, REAL DDs the whole time) passed the 120 day mark on august 12, no bonus so sent a message in the app. “I will have my manager look into this matter for me”. Lol…. Crickets since then and it’s been a few days.

  • I realized that I sent my direct deposit into my savings share and not checking. The 30 days just passed, would this affect my bonus? I won’t be able to call them til Monday

    • I did this exact same thing. If you called, can you LMK what they said? I'll probably play dumb, don't think being proactive will help much here tbh.

      It doesn't help checking vs savings differ by 1 number near the start, so the last 10 digits or so look the same.

  • No IA. App Status directly after attempting sign up = Referred.
    Saving Acc reqd w/ $5 funding deposit, used Ally.

  • As a further DP, I called their number today and the CSR confirmed it is a hard pull to apply for membership. Assuming this is correct, it's a big No for me.
    Also, there is no minimum DD to qualify for the $200 bonus, provided it is "recurring."

    • Also did the same and CSR said hard pull. I previously applied and never heard back - CSR said it either "expired" (wtf?) and to reapply or it was declined (they didnt know) - never saw a HQ for this.