This offer has been replaced with a new offer. You can find more information about that here.
Reposting because it’s been over two years since we originally posted and offer still available. Thanks to reader Curmudgeon for reminding me about this offer. Keep in mind they might be ChexSystems sensitive.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $100
- Availability: WA only, find branches here or sign up by phone.
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $250+ recurring
- Additional requirements: Must also open savings account
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- Credit card funding: UnknownÂ
- Monthly fees: None for the free checking account and none for savings if balance is $25+
- Early account termination fee: $10, 90 days. You’ll need to keep the account open for at least 3 months though to get the bonus
- Expiration date: None specified
The Offer
- Open a checking account with sound credit union and receive a $100 bonus when you set up a recurring direct deposit of $250 or more for a minimum of three months
The Fine Print
- Must also open a savings account with $25 minimum balance
- Must be criteria to open and offer may change at any time.
- Cannot have had a checking account in past 12 months.
- Bonus will be paid out on the first business day of the month following the third direct deposit
- Direct deposit must be established within 90 days of account opening
- One bonus per member
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Your best bet for avoiding fees will be to open the free checking account, which as it’s name implies does not have a monthly fee. If you close your account within 90 days there will be an early account termination fee of $10, given that you need to keep the account open for at least three months this isn’t really an issue.
You’ll also need to keep the $25 in your savings account to keep that fee free, otherwise you will be charged a $5 monthly “low balance fee”
Our Verdict
We’re not sure if this is a hard or soft pull, so for now I’d stick clear of this offer. I also hate deals where you need a recurring direct deposit (unless of course they are giving you a monthly bonus). If you’ve signed up for this credit union and can give the rest of us some details, that’d be great. Make sure you look at our best checking promos before signing up for this deal.
Finally got rejected in branch for a checking. They asked why I’d opened so many accounts recently and I gave them a satisfactory answer, enough to proceed. My QuickFile (if I heard her correctly) score needed to be a 581 to open a CHECKING account here and they said mine was under it. They offered to let me open a savings account, which I don’t need.
Applied online 12/26/2016. After submitting the application, I got a message that I would be contacted by a representative in 1-2 days. Will update on whether it was a hard/soft pull, as well as if I am approved or not. For reference I have about _20_ Chex inquiries in the past 12 months.
Was it a soft pull?
Yes, soft pull. Opened the account, did the direct deposits for a few months and got my bonus $$
Requirements have now changed for this bonus. Instead of direct deposits, you need 25 debit transactions in 90 days. The existing link goes to the new offer.
Also, I got a $50 referral card in the mail. The language on the card states that you need to open in branch and present the referral card, so if you live in the Seattle area and want an extra $50 on top of the normal $100 bonus, shoot me an email.
Might help to post your e-mail. Can deals be stacked?
Would you send me a referral link please?
Would you send me a referral link please? thanks
I tried opening this online in July but was denied with too many chex systems inquiries. At that point, I probably had 8-10. Around the same time, I tried opening a Bank of the West account online for their bonus and was denied as well. I went in branch the next day and was approved.
So I’m wondering if i’d have the same success. I haven’t tried yet (3 months later), but will update if I do and if it works. Anyone else try this?
I live in WA, and I just called the bank. I was told it would be a soft pull.