Update 11/13/21: This is now a referral bonus (person referring gets $300 and person being referred gets $300)
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $300
- Availability: Chester County, PA only [Branch locator]
- Direct deposit required:Â $200 or more per month
- Additional requirements:Â Online banking and eStatements, first 400 people only
- Hard/soft pull:Â Hard pull
- ChexSystems:Â UnknownÂ
- Credit card funding:Â UnknownÂ
- Monthly fees:Â None
- Early account termination fee:Â Unknown
- Expiration date:Â Â None listed
Contents
The Offer
- Benchmark Federal Credit Union is offering a bonus of $300 when you open an Ultimate checking account and complete the following requirements:
- $200 monthly recurring Direct Deposit must post to account within 60 days from opening the Ultimate Checking Account
The Fine Print
- Ultimate Checking $300 Cash Bonus Promotion is subject to be withdrawn at Credit Union’s discretion & without prior written notice.
- Only allowed one Ultimate Checking per member SSN. $200 monthly recurring Direct Deposit must post to account within 60 days from opening the Ultimate Checking Account & $300 cash bonus will be deposited to account within 30 days from 1st recurring Direct Deposit posting to account.
- Bonus may be reported on a 1099-INT.
- $300 Ultimate Checking Promotion valid for qualified new Checking members only.
- Member must not have closed a Benchmark Checking Account within the last 12 months.
- 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 wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so I’m not sure if there is any early account termination fee or not.
Our Verdict
Significantly better than the $100 previous bonus. Hard pulls don’t matter as much as they used to because of all the restrictions on getting credit cards. Probably worth doing for a lot of people, so we will add this to the best bank bonus page.
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
Doesn’t look like its a referral bonus anymore William Charles Chuck
https://www.benchmarkfcu.org/accounts/ultimate-checking-cash-bonus/ Updated link. William Charles
What are “all the new restrictions on getting credit cards” isn’t the big one just Chase 5/24 or have I been out of the game too long
Not necessarily all new, but amex one per lifetime and more
I see it has debit card with 2 percent cash back, which seems good. Anyone have more infor on it? Or can you please provide more info on it. On website it says signature based transactions not sure if that includes online.
Can only be opened if you live or work in 1 of 67 PA counties.
“Benchmark Federal Credit Union is community chartered, which allows us to offer the benefits of credit union membership to persons who live, work, worship, or attend school within Chester County, Pennsylvania. In addition, immediate* family members of existing Benchmark Members, whose accounts were opened prior to April 2015, are eligible for membership.”
How much do they check this? I’ve played gigs at Longwood before….hook up a haikuhikes AT g if ya please
I did this promo last time it was available. Eligible via school in the county and they did ask for proof along with DL. Sent school ID
Field of membership is Chester County only.
I guess I could move to Chester County for a month and get the bonus that way! Okay, maybe not such a good idea!