[CA & AZ] Meriwest Credit Union $125 Checking Bonus

It seems that others might qualify if you: “Are an immediate family member (spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first or second cousin, stepparent, stepchild, stepsibling, parent-in-law, sibling-in-law or any adopted relationship) of a qualified Meriwest Credit Union member (living or deceased)” https://www.meriwest.com/?Cabinet=Main&Drawer=Home&Folder=Search+Results&SubFolder=Search+Results&q=how+to+become+a+member
One could say they are a second cousin of another member.

HP on EX to join + Chex (no idea as to sensitivity)
Will reuse pull for credit products for 30 days
Another option for membership if you’re in CA or AZ: “You are employed by a technology company in Arizona or California”

Apparently, they require a $5 membership fee even for qualified members, and they have this little nasty tidbit at the bottom of the 2nd page.

“You are authorized to check my credit history, including verification of the information submitted in this application”

There is a $5 membership fee that everyone pays and you can charge up to $505 on a credit card. Therefore, you can fund the account up to $500 + $5 membership fee. This is what it said: “Note: If you are funding your new share products with a credit card, the total initial deposit for all products you selected cannot exceed $505.00”

Charge went through on my Citi CC.

Went through a dummy online application and looks pretty straight forward. Got through to the very end, even see an account number.

Noticed there was an area early on asking for a “promo code”. I re-read the $125 bonus page several times, but it doesn’t appear to have a promo code of any kind…

Would appreciate some DPs from folks as their accounts get fully opened after the weekend 🙂

$500 CC funding + $125 bonus might just be worth a hard pull…

I joined this CU ~2 years ago, it was not a hard pull. (Just make sure you opt out of overdraft LOC if it’s enabled by default.)

By the way, they still have the reverse-tiered Premier Savings Account with 3% APY up to $5000 + 2% on next $5k for new members, MAKE SURE YOU OPEN THAT ACCOUNT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF JOINING or it will be unavailable for you. https://www.meriwest.com/?Cabinet=Main&Drawer=Personal+Banking&Folder=Tools+and+Rates&SubFolder=Deposit+Rates

I’m already a Meriwest customer with the savings account 3% on the first $5k without special requirement.

For me there was no option and nothing mentioned about overdraft. I also didnt have the option for credit card funding. Thus there shouldn’t be a hard inquiry.

I don’t know how the whole new customer sign up process is now, but when I opened the savings I had to mail them a check or come to the branch office and bring a check for the $5 and minimum opening deposit.

So anyone get a HP when they applied?

I was so close. Faxed in documents. All ready until they wanted to run a hard pull against Exp. I had disabled overdraft. The rep would not budge on the HP so I abandoned the application. Darn wasted Chex inquiry.

since i live in santa clara county, i spoke with a CSR and she confirmed that there’s an experian HP for all new members applying to join the CU. they reuse the HP for 30 days though, so if you’re interested in other products, it’s worth it.

just not sure if it’s worth a HP for a 3% checking account + $125 bonus (after 9mo), with $505 cc funding… i think it’s a pass for me

I work in one of the qualifying counties.

Applied online for checking and tiered savings
$500 CC funding combined for all accounts( +$5 “non-refundable” fee => $505 total ), coded as Services – MORTGAGE on Citi DoubleCash
Did not see any hard pulls on EX/EQ/TU

it says $5 “$5 one-time non-refundable membership fee”. It’s not really non-refundable, right? You get that back when you close the account, correct?

Opened account online and tried using Amex. Succeeded in opening account, but card not processed. Called in and they told me that they only accept Discover and Mastercard, but were still able to let me fund using credit card with a limit of $5000 total. So after the funding of the checking ($20) and membership fee ($5), left with $4975 in checking. Used citi prestige with cash advance at $0. No hard pull.

Has anyone received their bonus?

I called and the person said that the bonus would be deposited in 6 months, but the terms say: “One (1) $125 deposit will be made to the checking account when the qualifying criteria are met and will remain on hold for 6-months. Account must stay open for 6-months after the bonus is deposited; otherwise the $125 will be forfeited.”

Does “on hold” mean it doesn’t show up until 6 months later? Does this mean we effectively have to keep this account open for at least 12 months?

I am still waiting for the $125 bonus. Here is my account details:

07/14/18 – account opened with $500 CC payment
07/24/18 – $500 direct deposit posted
08/03/18 – $500 direct deposit posted
09/06/18 – $500 direct deposit posted

No bonus yet as of 12/12/18 🙁