Update 11/6/23: New link looks nationwide?
Update 6/22/22: New link for those in Los Angeles County, CA, Orange County, CA, or Ventura County, CA.
Update 4/16/21: There is now a link for LA County, Ventura County and Orange County. Hat tip to reader TJ
Update 4/9/19: Bonus is no longer nationwide, you now must reside in Collin County, TX
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $150
- Availability:
Previous deal has been nationwideyou now must reside in Collin County, TX - Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+
- Additional requirements: 50 debit card transactions of $5 or more for full bonus
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Yes, mixed data points on being sensitive
- Credit card funding: Can fund up to $100 with a Visa, Mastercard or Discover card
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: Unknown
- Household limit: None listed
- Expiration date:
March 31st, 2019December 31st, 2020December 31st, 2021
Contents
The Offer
- Unify Financial Credit Union is offering a bonus of up to $150 when you open a new checking account, bonus broken down as follows:
- $50 deposited after first statement cycle
- $50 after establishing a recurring ACH direct deposit of at least $500 aggregate each month (must be done within 60 days of account opening)
- $1 per debit card transaction of $5 or more within the first 60 days ($50 maximum)
The Fine Print
- Members cannot have had a UNIFY Free Checking or eChecking Account within the last three (3) years.
- Offer expires March 31, 2019, and is subject to change without notice.
- Eligible new account holders who qualify for and open a new checking account (excluding Right Start Checking and Right Start Debit) will receive a $50 deposit into their checking account following the first statement cycle. Limit one $50 new checking bonus per member.
- Receive an additional bonus of $50 by establishing a recurring ACH Direct Deposit of at least $500 aggregate each month. New Direct Deposit must be established and posted within 60 days of account opening, and bonus will be paid after the second statement cycle following account opening.Limit one Direct Deposit bonus per member.
- Receive an additional bonus up to $50 by earning $1 bonus for each debit card transaction that exceeds $5 made with your new UNIFY Visa Debit Card within the first 60 days of account opening (maximum bonus of $50). Bonus will be credited to the checking account linked to the UNIFY Visa Debit Card after the second statement cycle following account opening. Limit one Debit Card usage bonus per member.
- Account must be in good standing to receive any bonus.
- Account holder responsible for all applicable taxes. Membership eligibility, and account qualification requirements apply. Membership requirements include establishing a membership share savings of at least $5.
- Minimum deposit of $25 required to open Free Checking, and eChecking. UNIFY employees, volunteers and family members not eligible. Not valid with any other offers and subject to change at any time.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
The free checking account has no monthly fees to worry about
$1 Paper Statements
After your second month you’ll be charged $1 for paper statements, so opt in for paperless statements when signing up.
Early Account Termination Fee
I wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so I’m unsure if there is any early account termination fee or not.
Our Verdict
Previous deal was for $100, but you also got two LA Rams tickets that could easily be resold for more than $50. That deal also didn’t require any debit card transactions. This bonus isn’t that bad, but the debit card transactions will be difficult for most people to meet – especially as it requires the transaction to be more than $5. Really up to you if you want to go for this deal or wait for a better deal to return. I’ll likely add this to our list of best bank bonuses, just with a disclaimer that they have recently offered a bigger bonus.
Hat tip to reader Jonathan F
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
DP: Closed via SM, next day. Accounts disappeared from online banking. Login currently works. CAN still access statements.
DP from Pennsylvania:
2024/02/12: Opened “Free Checking” and “eSavings” accounts online.
2024/02/12: Opening deposit from Ally posts to checking account ($25).
2024/02/28: Real DD posts, coded as “DIRECT DEP” ($510).
2024/03/01: “Deposit DirectDep_50” bonus portion posts ($50).
2024/03/01: “Deposit NewCheck_50” bonus portion posts ($50).
2024/03/01-2024/04/03: Used the debit card to fund CashApp 53 times ($6-$11 per transaction).
2024/03/28: Real DD posts ($510).
2024/04/13: “Deposit DebitPromo_50” bonus portion posts ($50).
All of the bonuses posted to the checking account.
I’ll probably keep this account open for a few more months and then zero out and close. By doing e-statements, it is fee-free, after all. No harm in keeping it open for a bit longer.
Thanks as always, Doc.
Looks like the promo code get3053 is supposed to be for Southern CA residents, but also looks like that’s not enforced according to Emmanuel below. Anyone else had success with this code while residing out of the footprint listed in the terms? I realized this all a little late and already applied with the lesser code get3055. But my app is under review, so I might just let it expire and try to reapply later with the better promo.
Also, this might provide clarity for others to get the maximum bonus amount going forward.
Applied. They requested drivers license and another document for proof of address. Submitted the documents. Got email that they could not verify my identity. Called them and they said that I would need to re-apply in branch with $25 deposit if I want to open a account. There are a few branches within 30 miles, but I am not sure if I will bother. Capital One Venture did show a pending purchase.
03/19 account opened. Promo code used get3053. Maryland
03/21 Fidelity $500 deposit
04/01 $100 bonus posted coded new member $100
04/01 two $50 bonuses posted coded newcheck_50 and directdepost_50
Only have done 35 cash app debit card transactions, so no debit card bonus yet
You april foolin with us?
I did Amazon reloads in March and never got the debit card bonus yet. I did get the other bonuses like you did however. Fine print says in the statement cycle after 60 days – so if done in March should be looking to post in May.
So did you get $200 total or only $100 on 04/01? Kinda looks like you’re saying $200 total but just want to verify.
I got a total of $200.
I have now completed the 50 cash app debit card transactions of $5.01 and more. So the last $50 bonus hopefully will be posted on 05/01.
Thanks for the reply. Looks like my account was opened with the get3055 code so I’ll probably just get the $150 max, but this might help some other people moving forward.
I’m feeling like a dunce here needing clarification: Can 1 DD greater than $500 count or does it have to be two since “recurring”. Thank you.
Seems from what people describe you can just make one deposit
Is it safe to kill account once bonus has posted?
NW Arkansas ($250)
Ditch Your Bank (unifyfcu.com)
Nationwide ($150)
Join UNIFY for up to $150 | UNIFY Financial Credit Union (unifyfcu.com)
Chuck
Chuck Not sure why it says: “you now must reside in Collin County, TX” , they’ve always been nationwide with branches in many states.
They also have a $50 referral program currently for both parties. Not sure if stackable but its worth a try.
They have run multiple promotions; it is not surprising some are just for customers in specific markets. That language was from one of their promotions. Always check the terms of the current promotion for up-to-date information.
DPs said the referral program does not stack. For example, here is one:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/unify-financial-credit-union-50-checking-bonus-two-la-rams-tickets/#comment-1699019
Because some specific bonuses have the county requirement in the terms.
Anyone know if they got ETF fee? Wondering when to close thanks!
@gadget
They can initiate your request via chat
Did you confirm about the EATF? Thanks.