Update 12/12/24: Available again.
Update 11/3/24: Increased on Rakuten from $100 to $150 now (ht reader Hit). Update: Readers note that the fine print still shows the November 2nd expiration; presumably it just hasn’t yet been updated.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $150/15,000 points
- Availability: Nationwide
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $500 (Swagbucks $75 offer does not require direct deposit)
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: Yes, some reports of chexsystems sensitivity in the comments but lots approved as well
- Credit card funding: None
- Monthly fees: None with eStatements
- Early account termination fee: $10, 90 days
- Household limit: None
- Expiration date: November 2, 2024
Contents
The Offer
$100 $150 Rakuten offer | $75 Swagbucks offer
- Rakuten is offering a bonus of $100 (or 10,000 Rakuten points) when if you click through the Rakuten and open a new Alliant Credit Union Checking account. Must complete a Direct Deposit in the amount of $500+ into the new Alliant Checking account within 30 days of clicking the Rakuten link.
- Swagbucks has a similar offer of $75 with no direct deposit requirement and requirements other than completing the signup.
The Fine Print
- Cash Back provided by Rakuten, not Alliant Credit Union (“Alliant”).
- Cash Back is only available for new Alliant members (one Cash Back offer per account) who click through the Rakuten link and apply for, and open, one new Alliant Credit Union Checking account and complete a Direct Deposit in the amount of $500+ into the new Alliant Checking account within 30 days of clicking the Rakuten link.
- Existing Alliant Credit Union members, customers who are joint owners on an existing Alliant Credit Union account, and former Alliant Credit Union members or joint owners who closed an Alliant Credit Union membership within 180 days of establishing a new membership are not eligible. Only one $100 cash back offer per new Alliant member.
- Alliant Checking accounts will be reviewed on or around December 3, 2024 to determine eligibility. If requirements have been met, Cash Back will be automatically added to your Rakuten account within 45 days.
- Direct Deposits are defined as coming from an employer or government agency. The following do not constitute Direct Deposit activity: check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds).
- The Alliant Checking account is offered through Alliant Credit Union. All account applications are subject to approval by Alliant Credit Union. Alliant reserves the right to modify the terms of or suspend this promotion at any time and without prior notice.
- This promotion begins on October 26, 2024 and ends on November 2, 2024 (the “Promotion Period”). This promotional offer is not transferable. Must be at least 18 years of age at time of application and a legal U.S. Resident or U.S. Person (including a U.S. Resident Alien) to be eligible. This promotion is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations and governed by Illinois law. Insured by NCUA
- Cash Back will be automatically added to your Rakuten account within a few weeks.
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
This account has no monthly fees as long as you opt for eStatements.
Early Account Termination Fee
There is a $10 fee if closed within 90 days.
Our Verdict
We once saw $100 bonus for an Alliant checking account (and once a limited $200 offer), though bonuses are not common on the checking account. We’ve never seen a direct deposit requirement with Alliant before, and so we don’t yet know what will count as a direct deposit.
Most people probably won’t find it worthwhile to deal with a real direct deposit for $100, and so we might not add this one to our Best Bonus Bonus page. The Swagbucks offer is lower at $75, but easier without the direct deposit requirement.
Related, we’ve seen a (live) $100+ offer on Alliant savings account and a (now expired) $200 Alliant CD offer via Rakuten.
Hat tip to Worldly_Guest3198
View Comments (74)
You are not eligible for High-Rate Checking
Thank you for your interest, but we are unable to approve you for this product.
What the heck
I'm giving it a try even though I am an existing member with a CD. Was approved after lifting my Chex freeze, my Chex numbers prior to applying were: 0/1, 4/3, 7/6, 13/12 (inquiries/months).
How did you get your Chex numbers summarized like that? Did you manually do it from your Chex report?
I keep track of my Chex inquiries in a spreadsheet.
the tricky thing is you may not receive the cashback from Rakuten..
Yeah idk if this will work since I am an existing member. Which is why I said I'm giving it a try.
How does I set up a DD in 30 days? My Ss etc take at least 45-90 days.
Giving this a shot although I got screwed by alliant for wonky unclear terms before in the past. If I get screwed here I'll be done with alliant.
Screen shotted everything so hopefully there's no shenanigans if I get approved.
BEWARE - Multiple people didn't get paid for the OneCash promo even after contacting customer service. I see that after activating the offer you need to click on another link that takes you to a different page so Rakuten once again can claim that the offer didn't track and deny payment. I personally going to pass on any Rakuten offers for new bank accounts. It's too much hassle and they can always deny payment.
I had same issue with OneCash, they told me i had to make a purchase which was not on the requirements. However, eventually they manually credited me
I tried everything. provided screenshots. multiple emails and nothing.
Rakuten is a scam. They rarely pay what they promise. Even after you get rewards “confirmed” they just erase them for some made up reasons.
Fake news, I've had very few issues with them over the last many years, they don't erase cash from everyone.
Swagbucks, forget it.
Denied due to Chexsystems. lol/24
Years ago, they denied me from checking when I was already a savings customer.
Weird, all I had entered was my name, phone, and email, and as soon as I entered my SSN it said I'm not eligible for the account. I don't have any accounts with Alliant
I did this last time and it was an extra step to have to contact customer service to get it credited, it didn't automatically credit me. You just had to email them and send your account creation confirmation email, but it is an extra step.
On the application it says There was an error saving your application. If the problem continues, you can contact us at 800-328-1935.
Not sure how to get past that