Deal has expired, view the best current checking bonuses by clicking here.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $150
- Availability: Must reside in Santa Clara, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, or Contra Costa counties
- Direct deposit required: $250+ recurring deposit, see what counts here
- Additional requirements: Open CD with at least $1,000 for 18 months
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Up to $125, Visa/MC/Discover
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: Nine months, bonus forfeit
- Household limit: None listed
- Expiration date: December 31st, 2018
The Offer
- Tech Credit Union is offering bonuses of up to $150 when you use the promo code BANKSMART. Broken down as follows:
- Open a new checking account and establish at least one recurring monthly direct deposit of at least $250 and receive a $100 bonus
- Open a new Tech CU certificate with a minimum 18 month term and a minimum $1,000 opening balance and receive a $50 credit
The Fine Print
- To qualify for $100, by 12/31/18, open a new Tech CU checking account and, within 90 days of account opening, establish at least one recurring monthly direct deposit to the checking account of at least $250 per deposit.
- $100 credit will post to membership savings account after the qualifying direct deposit is received, but will not be available for withdrawal until nine months after checking account opening.
- If checking account is closed less than nine months after opening, $100 credit to membership savings account and any dividends paid thereon will be forfeited.
- To qualify for $50, within 90 days of opening a new Tech CU checking account, also open a new Tech CU certificate with a minimum 18-month term and a minimum $1,000 opening balance. $50 credit will be deposited to membership savings account at certificate maturity.
- Closing of certificate prior to maturity will forfeit $50 credit.
- Must be 18 years or older and reside in Santa Clara, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, or Contra Costa counties. Offer valid only for individuals who open new-to-Tech CU checking accounts, have not had any account relationship with Tech CU during the previous 12 months, and have never caused Tech CU a loss of any kind.
- Offer not available on UTMA, HSA, IRA or business accounts. Rates and terms subject to change without notice.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Their basic checking account doesn’t come with any monthly fees. Account needs to be kept open for nine months otherwise you will forfeit the bonus.
Our Verdict
Tech CU used to be able to be opened nationwide, then they restricted it to California only and now only specific counties. In addition the actual bonus has gotten much worse, now you need to open a certificate to get the full $150 bonus. Because there was a better deal so recently available I don’t recommend this one. Fingers crossed they started offering better bonuses again in the future.
Big thanks to reader, Yati who let us know. Learn how to find bonuses and contribute to the site here.
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