Univest $150 Checking Bonus – Direct Deposit Not Required [PA only]

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $150
  • Availability: PA only
  • Direct deposit required: Optional
  • Additional requirements: See below
  • Hard/soft pull: Hard
  • ChexSystems: Yes
  • Credit card funding: None
  • Monthly fees: None
  • Early account termination fee: 12 months, $20
  • Expiration date: April 28th, 2017
  • Household limit: None mentioned

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Open a new blue or gold checking account with Univest at their new Chalfont branch or online with Chalfont150 promo code and receive a bonus of $150 when you meet one of the following requirements:
    • Establish 3 months of direct deposit government, payroll, annuity or pension checks OR
    • Make 3 separate bill payments to 3 different payees (excluding individuals) per month for 3 months

The Fine Print

  • To qualify for the $150 bonus you must open and be approved for a new Blue or Gold Checking Account between January 30, 2017 and April 28, 2017.

  • Account can be opened at the Chalfont Financial Center (195 East Butler Ave, Chalfont) or online with an initial deposit of funds coming from a source other than Univest Bank and Trust Co. or one of its affiliates.

  • To receive this offer online, you must enter promo code Chalfont150 at time of application.

  • To receive the $150 bonus, within 90 days of account opening you must establish three (3) months of direct deposit of government, payroll, annuity or pension checks; or make three (3) separate Univest online bill payments to three (3) different payees (excluding individuals) per month for three (3) months.

  • The bonus will be deposited into your new checking account within three (3) months of meeting one of the requirements.

  • Account must remain open for a minimum of 12 months to avoid a $20 early closing fee.

  • Offer is subject to change without notice.

  • Bonus is not available to existing Univest checking account customers, customers who received an account-related bonus within the last calendar year or employees of Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania and its affiliates.

  • Bonus is subject to 1099 INT reporting for year in which received. Member FDIC.

Avoiding Fees

There is an early account termination fee of $20 if the account is closed within 12 months of account opening. The blue checking account does not have any monthly fees to worry about.

Our Verdict

Not worth considering now that it is confirmed as a hard pull.

They are currently offering the same $150 bonus for another branch opening, what’s interesting about this bonus is that it can be opened online (usually you need to go in branch).  They have also offered a $250 bonus in the past. I really like this bonus as direct deposit isn’t required and there is no monthly fee to worry about, you need to make sure your on top of the bill payments though as those requirements are stricter than usual.

If anybody applies for this outside of PA or the Chalfont area, please let us know if you’re successful in the comments or not. We will likely be adding this to our best checking promo page as well.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On February 7, 2017, 10:00

View Comments (21)

  • I don't know how useful this DP is, but just received bonus on 6/6. Did the 3 bill pays each month

  • Suck that it was a hard pull, but I confirmed with the bank rep that I will receive bonus. I sent $10.01 for each bill for three month. Confirmed that I would receive bonus by end of month.

      • No. I had to send 3 other messages to them. I ended up getting it credited today on 6/6. Glad I at least got compensation for the hard pull.

  • Opened online on Feb 15 and received a hard pull to Equifax even though I answered NO to overdraft protection.
    My Equifax score dropped by 1 point.
    Not a big deal I think.

  • So William, do you know how much the direct deposit has to be? I work for a company that allows me to split my paycheck to multiple bank accounts. I.e. I have 2 on their for my payroll. $500 goes into a bank acc that requires $500 DD a month. The rest goes into my bank account. Is there a certain amount that I should/need to deposit as payroll? Or will a $100 deposit be fine?

  • I was approved, but I received a hard pull with Equifax which isn't too bad seeing as everywhere else seems to pull TransUnion and Experian if you live in PA.

    • Anybody else get a hard pull? Is it possible you didn't opt out of overdraft protection or similar?

      • I could have missed it. I don't remember there being an option though. As soon as you fill out the form it pulls your report and says to wait.

        I answered all the Patriot Act questions by email after I was contacted a few days later.

  • My application was rejected for Unable to Provide Identification. No clue why, I haven't moved recently and had no trouble opening other accounts. Perhaps I have too many CHEX inquiries and this is their way of rejecting it.

    I received a rejection email within minutes, tried re-applying again with different email address and double-checking all info, got same rejection.

  • Just opened, only funding options are mail check or bank draft. No debit or credit card funding.

  • Just applied. This has to be manually approved, so I probably wouldn't bother if you're outside PA. No credit card funding. Minimum $50 to open the Blue.

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