[Targeted] First Tech Federal Credit Union Choice Rewards World Mastercard $400 Bonus

The Offer

Direct link to offer (must have received e-mail)

  • First Tech Federal Credit Union is offering 40,000 points (worth $400 in statement credit) when you spend $3,000 within the first 60 days. Must accept by July 19, 2024

Card Details

  • No annual fee
  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 2 points for every $1 you spend on everyday items like gas and groceries
    • 1 point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases

Our Verdict

A lot of readers have been targeted due to the previous checking bonuses that were offered. Good deal that is worth doing if you’re targeted.

Hat tip to Gadget – Bank Bonus Geek
    William Charles
  • On July 9, 2024, 11:00

View Comments (75)

  • Signed up successfully this week -- too hard to resist! My credit card #8 since I returned to the US in late August and #42 since I started "collecting" a few years back.

    Note 1: For those who received the $425 offer both via email and snail-mail, I did accept the latter. If you read carefully, the language for the $25 portion is slightly different, as the snail-mail version allows to be enrolled in automatic payments for the first three cycles without explicitly requiring a purchase.

    Note 2: My card has reported to the bureaus right away, even though I have to receive it in the mail and activate it (certainly not a first, but a fairly uncommon occurrence).

  • My P2 just got the targeted email. $425 offer now. @2

    LIMITED TIME OFFER

    Earn 40,000 bonus reward points when you spend just $3,000 within 60 days of opening your new card.

    Plus, earn an additional $25 statement credit when you make a purchase and enroll in automatic payments.

    Apply to accept your preapproval before November 25, 2024.

    • Any particular reason why you guys are all over it ?
      Isn't 3K spend a lot or does this card allow account funding easily?

      • Because it's hard to find +$250 SUB's that we can get approved for, and this one was offered up on a silver platter (pre-approval).

      • No specific reason besides the bonus itself (and the fact that I collect credit cards!). If you're going to spend $3k in 2 months anyway (for me that's just a fraction), this is a nice extra $400!

    • Same offer received here, yesterday via regular mail and today via email. (My checking account and membership were closed on August 8.)

    • @2,

      I hadn't opened the envelope until I saw this comment. My offer is also for 40K points plus $25 for enrolling in automatic payments. Therefore, it seems that I benefited once again for procrastinating. That is if I end up getting approved for the card.

      • I think you'll be approved. This "preapproved offer" bypasses the usual roadblock of too many open CCs and available credit over $100k-$200k (even though it's not an actual preapproval).

  • Got this on P1 after I closed my membership with First Tech. I wonder if I could apply for it still? The application process allows for you to apply without logging in. If I try to log in, it just gets error'd out. Have property tax to pay, would be easy to hit the spend.

    • Every credit union I have ever seen, you have to maintain the membership "share", usually $5 savings account to be a member to get any services, including CC's. That share represents your ownership in the credit union.

      They still may allow you to participate, but I would run your story by management, and they are almost certainly going to make you reopen your savings account. Hate to see you waste a hard pull and time/money doing the spending to end up having a headache later. @guest_1871697

      EDIT: Scrolling down now, it seems you knew the answer, based on experience. LoL

      • I called them, the rep I got was basically no help at all and just tried to get me to open a card over the phone, not even aware of $400 SUB offer. I decided to apply anyway since getting the card would basically be a $400 discount on my property taxes. Got approved subject to verification of income. Rep told me I wasn't allowed to use household income (spousal income) unless they were on the application. I thought it was Federal law you were permitted to use household income, which is why I included it. In any case, they just removed the spousal income from the application and revised the CL down and approved it. Looks like they my old login works for the CU now, with just the share account.

        • Seems like they automatically restored your share account then, or opened you a new one? Maybe it was never closed? Have you verified the account number to see if a new one was issued?

          Since it was a targeted offer, the offer "should" automatically track, but I think I would have applied online from the targeted link myself. Doing applications on the phone, reps usually read all the disclosures to you and wait for you to acknowledge before proceeding.

          Not sure on the rules about spousal income. I know I have heard from at least one person that you can fudge the numbers when CC applications ask for income... the bank doesn't know anyway... and, not very likely they would ask for verification (W-2, 1040, etc) unless you were really exaggerating. I keep my number in the reasonable range. But, as long as you have a $3K+ CL, shouldn't be an problem. However, on a SoFI loan application, I was asked to show proof, and they calculated to the nearest dollar based on what I provided. (I was not including spousal income)

          The card doesn't seem like a keeper and I am considering to closing mine already after 3 1/2 months. Usually I keep a card the full year, but this time I am not seeing the point. One less card to worry about, and not even a 99 cent small balance waiver on it. I don't think it would affect my bank bonus churning ability, and with them merging with DCU, I don't need them carrying anything over.

          • Looks like it was the same account. Oh, I applied from the link. The lady on the phone REALLY wanted to open up the card for me but there was no reason to risk the promo since she didn't even know what I was talking about, and I knew I could do it quicker myself.

      • I was targeted twice for the offer. The 1st time I had a Checking account and the 2nd time I did not.

        • I more meant that a lot of readers will have accounts with First Tech Fed due to that previous checking deal, rather than than specific deal causing them to be targeted.

  • I just checked my Informed Delivery and this 40K offer from FT is coming today. I received the same offer a few months ago like the rest of you did but I never pulled the trigger. Based on the success that many of you had, I may decide to apply this time.

  • You can't close out your savings / checking without closing your credit card as well, FYI to all. I suppose I should've known since this is a CU and these accounts usually represent your share in the CU.

    Hopefully in the future First Techs bank bonus offer will be like the previous one where you just need to be DD free for a certain period of time and not a new member.

  • My second 20k bonus points posted 9/30/24 (2 days before statement close).

    Check under "manage cards." Maybe they always post on the last day of the month.

    The first 20k bonus points had appeared on my 9/2/24 statement after completing the $3k spend in early August.

    A reminder to beware when cashing out:

    For account deposits, please allow 5-7 days.
    For statement credits, please allow two statement cycles.

  • Couple items of interest...

    The 20K bonus doesn't necessarily post at statement end as others said/implied. My statements are closing on the 2nd of the month. My 20K bonus posted this week. I'm cashing out to checking account. Status this evening says shipped with tomorrow's date, so I ASS-U-ME it will be in my checking tomorrow.

    They still owe me the other half of the bonus, as others have stated, so not too worried there.

    My day 60 was 9/16. I finished my spend on 9/7. If doing bank funding, verify you are getting at least one point per dollar. I chose not to do so.

    Every purchase I did was at least 1x points:
    Grocery, Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, and Best Buy were 2x.
    Paying util bills, paying local taxes, Home Depot, restaurants, EZ Pass online were 1x.

    Probably going to sock drawer the card and possibly close it in a few months. No rush.

    Anyone tried it lately to see if gets a small balance waiver? I doubt it will. Per a DP, it wasn't working in 2019.

    • I haven't been checking daily, but noticed the extra 20,000 points were there today. Redeemed to checking. Day 82.

      But, I just checked the 10/02 statement and they were accounted for there. Day 76.

      "Bonus Points & Adjustments 40,000"

      EDIT: Oh, and they did not waive 99 cents. :(

    • I met my required spend on 7/17.

      @guest_1910346 @guest_1890664 Received my original 20,000 points somewhere around 8/9. I just received my additional 20,000 points today.

      I only have one statement available to see in my account for some reason which had the closing date of 8/2. I'm not sure why I don't have a September statement in my account. In any case, based on the original statement I also did not receive the points at statement closing.

      • Many CC's don't give you a monthly statement if you had no activity for the month. I guess points activity was not enough to trigger a statement, which is slightly odd.

        Thanks for the DP on the 2nd 20K!

        My $237.xx redemption did not show up in my checking account today. Guessing it will be soon... I see no time estimate. The rewards site seems so disjointed from First Tech, they are probably mailing a check from India. J/K Guessing ACH 1-3 days?

        • I requested my ACH on a Friday and according to my transaction list the ACH posted the following Monday (so next business day)

  • Has anyone got their 2nd 1/2 of the bonus yet? I got $200 bonus points last month, and nothing on this mo. statement cycle. And does anyone know how to redeem the points?

    • No to the 2nd half.

      To redeem:

      1. click "Manage Cards" near top of screen.
      2. click on your CC. Next page is slow to load.
      3. click on "Rewards Points" just below minimum payment due.

      You can use the points to pay down your balance or deposit to checking.

      It takes a few days to post, so may be better to PIF your balance and send the rewards to checking.

  • Just as a heads up, I was confirmed 100% via support in which they actually opened up a case for me that I was part of the 40,000 offer. Despite that, even after meeting qualifications I only received 20,000.

    Support via SM is telling me the generic, "they will post 2 statements following the qualification period". It's possible they're correct, that the base offer posted and then the additional 20,000 will post then. But this seems highly unlikely, I don't know if I've ever had a bonus offer credit like this before, and definitely not a CC bonus.

    Anyone else complete the requirements? @guest_1871842 @guest_1871812

      • You need to hit manage cards at the top of the screen. Then click the card. Then you'll see the rewards points.

    • I met the spend and just got my first statement, which only awarded 20,000. I received the offer via USPS mail for 40,000. I sent a secure message today asking about it.

      • Support told me the additional 20,000 points will post on the second statement following the qualification of the bonus. This team, support was more clear about what I was asking.The other times, they were too vague.

        • I got a reply to my secure message and they said it will be 7-10 days for a resolution. Maybe that will be the resolution, to tell me that they post the other 20000 next month. Thanks for posting your reply.

          • update:
            Hello,

            We’re writing to let you know your request regarding the research o 20000 rewards points has been completed. Per the Terms and Conditions of the offer you received:

            "To qualify for the 40,000 Rewards Points bonus, purchases totaling at least $3,000 must post to the account within 60 days of account opening. Rewards Points will be awarded on the second statement following qualification for the bonus."

            Please reciew your next upcoming statements for the remaining bonus points to be credited. Please contact us if you have any further questions regarding this matter.

            Thank you for choosing First Tech.

            Sincerely,
            First Tech Federal Credit Union  

    • I will complete it this month and post a DP. I waited to PIF the first statement before finishing because they are risk averse and imaginative.

      • 40,000 offer.
        Completed spend in August.
        20,000 bonus posted on 9/2/24 statement.

        Perhaps the remaining 20,000 will post automatically on 10/2.
        If not I'll SM.

    • Just started my spend. Extra incentive for me not to do bank account funding because they may be manually reviewing. Do I want to buy new furniture, or pay taxes? Pay taxes.

      And, I am not surprised they are going to post it separately. Since there was no promo code, they post the standard bonus, then go to verify we were targeted. Someone else emailed me with the same scenario - got the 20K right away, but waiting on the other 20K.

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