[AZ only] Arizona Central Credit Union $500 Checking Bonus

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• I'm undecided if I want to mess with this. The $500 is nice. But the debit card transaction requirements are a hassle, especially to get the second $250:

  The new member must perform the following three (3) requirements: 1. Have a minimum monthly direct deposit* of $500, AND 2. Sign up and remain enrolled in eStatements, AND 3. Perform at least fifteen (15) Debit Card transactions totaling a minimum of $100/month. The new member will receive 50% of the monetary bonus deposited to their Member Share Savings Account once the above (3) requirements have been met and the remaining 50% of the monetary bonus will be deposited following an additional 5 consecutive months of meeting these (3) requirements. Bonuses will be awarded in the following tiers: $500 minimum monthly Direct Deposit = $250 one-time bonus to new member; $1,000 minimum monthly Direct Deposit = $500 one-time bonus to new member.

  TLDR, it takes you 6mo to get the $500. The fact that it ties up my direction deposit for 6mo makes me unlikely to bother with it, that plus the $600 debit card spend requirement.

  • Double check the requirements- when I went for this last year I’m pretty sure there was a clawback of the first part of the bonus if you don’t keep things going the full six months

    • Debit spend minimum is new, used to just be 15 transactions in a month. Double checking if the requirements to avoid a fee also changed- if so, prob time to close.

    • Yeah, 6mo of work for $500...pass, not when I can get $400 from WF for 2mo of far less hassle.

• What works as DD here? I don't want to go the Schwab/Fidelity/Amex test route again.

• This appears to be still available as of April 12, 2025. Fine print says: Offer valid for new accounts opened by 12/31/2025

• P1 and P2 applied and got approved at the branch on the last day of the sign-up bonus deadline. I’m not sure when they’ll bring this promotion back, but I’m glad we both got approved on the spot that day. However, I was confused as to why Chex deducted 33 points from my inquiry when I only applied once, whereas P2 applied online twice and again in person but only lost 5 points.

  I assume this might be because I attempted to apply at another local bank two weeks ago. Although I didn’t follow through with opening an account since they wanted me to go in person and when I did, they mentioned a second Chex pull would be required so I walked away with ACCU sign up bonus in mind lol. I’m glad I didn’t proceed, as it could have affected my approval at ACCU.

  Things to Note:
  Based on information from CXS and the fine print, only the referrer will receive the $100 referral bonus, provided the referee meets all the requirements. Source: CXS and fine print:
  “Referring member will receive a $100 one-time referral bonus at the time of the new member’s first payment of their monetary bonus. The offer must be mentioned at the time of account opening to be eligible. Terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.” So I'm unsure as to why some people here are saying both parties get $100, which is totally not correct. Just wanted to clarify that to everyone unless the terms and conditions canged.

  To receive the remaining 50% of the payout, you must continue making $1,000 monthly direct deposits for the next 5 months &15 debit card transactions monthly.

  So basically, in order to earn the full $500 bonus, you’ll need to meet all requirements for seven months, which isn’t too bad. They made it sound like you have to meet it in only 60 days, unless you only want $250.

  The 15 debit card transactions may take some effort, but there are ways to simplify it methods which can be found on this website. For example, you could use Amazon gift card purchases, Cash App, snacks, utility bills, etc. It requires consistent tracking, but it’s definitely manageable. Unfortunately, today 12/31/24 is the last day to sign up.

  • Apparently it got extended til end of Dec 31st of 2025. This needs to be updated

• Note the updated terms online now. Seems they have continued to change the stipulations to get the bonus. Anyone have a screenshot or backup from April? Here are the current ones:

  • All requirements must be met within 60-days of account opening.
  • Monthly direct deposits for a minimum of $500
  • Signed up and currently enrolled in eStatements
  • 15 posted debit card transactions (must meet a minimum of $100 total)
  • Must be an Arizona resident and provide proof

  • I have a screenshot of the original promo... email me at giftation at gmail.

    • Well, I called in a few times and they finally said to email. Took three times combined for them to even recognize my payroll. Then denied due to not having 15 debits per month even though the original terms do not state 15 debits per month - says requirements must be met for 6 months at the bottom of the T&Cs but the requirements themselves do not list 15 debit per month. 🤷‍♂️ going to file with the state and see what happens.

      • Filed with the state a few weeks ago and got the bonus last week after investigation was opened. Anyone know if it is closing within 6 months of account opening or bonus receipt?

        • I think it needs to stay open at least a year to avoid bonus clawback/eatf?

        • Notes above state 6 months and their terms I signed up under state 6 months as well. Sounds like it may be 6 months from account opening, but not 100% sure.

        • Quick update here...I was not able to close the account in time before the fee posted. Called in a few days later and asked to waive it (another 20+ min hold to speak with someone...yay!). They said account would need to be current (I already paid bills with the balance to zero out) to have them even consider, so no guarantee. Then asked to just close it and they said still needs to be current to close. This institution has just been a royal pain to deal with all around. I'd avoid them completely based on my experience.

    • Thank you very much! Just sent you an email.

  • They denied my second half bonus. Claiming I didn't meet the requirements that were changed after I signed up in May. Weasles.

    • Fight them on it. They tried to deny me the whole thing ($100 referral and the full $500 bonus) because my referrer didn’t also give them my info (even though the terms just said the referred person needs to provide the referring person’s info at the time they open the account, without saying that the referring person needs to do anything at all) and because the month I opened, payroll had started but wasn’t a full $1k (even though the terms say you have 60 days to get it set up and I DID receive payroll totaling $1k/month before the 60-day deadline, which continued for another six months after that- basically penalizing me for getting payroll added sooner than their terms required, which isn’t even under my direct control). They repeatedly rejected my requests to honor the bonus even though I’d met all the terms in place at the time I opened. I had to file a complaint with Arizona’s DFI (the entity CFPB referred me to), but they paid out the referral bonus and the first half of the welcome bonus within days of receiving the DFI’s inquiry and the second half paid out as expected around the six-month mark after account opening.

      • Will do. Can you provide more information on how to file a complaint?

        • https://difi.az.gov/ then go to Consumer Information > Consumer Complaints > File A Complaint Against a Financial Institution or Enterprise. Provide any documentation you have (like the promo terms at the time you applied, any written communications you've had with them since, dates you fulfilled each of the bonus terms, etc)

• Online app denied due to Chex: 2/1, 4/3, 7/6, 8/12

• CC funding allowed up to $5k. Coded as purchase on my Chase Ink Unlimited

• 05/23: Open Checking and Savings in branch
  Real $500 DD from employer every two weeks, 15+ debit transactions monthly
  07/05: Received $250
  11/20: Received $250

  I should have also had $100 for a referral bonus, unless the other person didn't complete their end.

  • Did you receive $100 Referral Bonus?

• OTHER DP
  11/18/24 open in branch
  will keep update

• 09/04/24 got denied in branch due to chex
  "notice of adverse action"

  • I've been denied in-branch for Chex for 2 different FI. Let's just say that it's at least a tad embarrassing.