Update 10/23/23: New $300 bonus:
$100 after opening
another $200 after 3 DDs of $500 for 3 months
Hat tip to SA
Update 12/28/22: Now called BluPeak.
Update 3/30/22: There is now a landing page for this offer, should be available to all rather than specific addresses now. Hat tip to redvwmicrobus
Offer at a glance
Maximum bonus amount: $300
Availability: CA only. Everyone who lives, works, or worships in the California counties of Alameda, Sacramento, San Diego, Santa Clara, or Yolo.
Direct deposit required: Yes, $250+
Additional requirements: eStatements
Hard/soft pull: Soft pull (report of hard pull). Might be soft pull in branch and hard online
ChexSystems: Yes
Credit card funding: Up to $500
Monthly fees: None
Early account termination fee: $15, 90 days
Household limit: None listed
Expiration date: None listed
The Offer
USE Credit Union is offering a $300 checking bonus when you use the promo code NewMover. Bonus is broken down as follows:
$50 for opening a new checking account
$50 for setting up direct deposit of $250+ per month within 90 days of account opening
$100 for keeping account open six months (direct deposit must continue monthly)
$100 for keeping your account open one year (direct deposit must continue monthly)
The Fine Print
Must be 18 years of age
Member must use code NewMover at account opening to receive this offer.
Bonus payments subject to tax
Must be a new USE Credit Union member and meet membership eligibility and account opening criteria
All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
This account has no monthly fees to worry about.
Early Account Termination Fee
$15 fee if closed within 90 days of account opening according to the fee schedule.
Our Verdict
Previously the best bonus was a $100 referral bonus. Obviously this $300 bonus is much better but we don’t know if this is somehow targeted to specific addresses and mixed datapoints of hard/soft pull. Because of that we won’t be adding this to the best checking bonuses for now.
Hat tip to Angela L
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