[CA only] Credit Union of Southern California $500 Checking Bonus

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount:
  • Availability: CA. Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, or San Bernardino Counties
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, $750+
  • Additional requirements: None
  • Hard/soft pull: Unknown
  • ChexSystems: Yes, sensitive
  • Credit card funding: Unknown
  • Monthly fees: $5
  • Early account termination fee: Unknown
  • Household limit: None
  • Expiration date: August 16, 2025

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Credit Union of Southern California is offering a $500 checking bonus
    • Open your account with just $100
    • Receive a monthly $750 direct deposit within the first 90 days

The Fine Print

  • Offer valid June 16-August 16, 2025, and are available to new and existing Members. All accounts will be verified by ChexSystems® and are subject to approval and Membership eligibility.
  • Offers and rates are subject to change without notice.
  • Cash bonus is not available to Members who currently have a checking account and who closed a checking account within the last 365 days.
  • Must be 18 years or older.
  • All new accounts are subject to verification by ChexSystems® and are subject to approval and eligibility requirements.
  • To qualify for the $500 cash bonus, the Member must: open a Rewards Checking account with a least $100 and establish a monthly direct deposit of $750 or more within 90 days of opening the account.
  • The $500 cash bonus will be deposited into the Member’s account within 60 days after all promotional requirements are met.
  • Bonus is subject to reporting.
  • Offer subject to change without notice and cannot be combined with other offers.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

Rewards checking account has a $5 monthly fee, doesn’t seem to be avoidable.

Early Account Termination Fee

I wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so unsure if there is any EATF or not.

Our Verdict

Previously this was only $150, but now $500. This is now $500 and worth doing, will be adding to our list of the best bank account bonuses.

Hat tip to reader Lynn

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On July 5, 2025, 14:00
Tags: ca bank bonusesdirect deposit required

View Comments (63)

  • Here's more info for those wanting to know what works for direct deposits. I tested using Chase Biz (the one with the $2.50 fee), Treasury Direct and from my Service credit union account. As you can see, both the Chase and TD deposits posted as ACH ECC PPD and as a Category: Paycheck/Salary while the Service deposit shows as ACH ECC WEB and as a Category: Transfer

    Don't know if all three would still count as a direct deposit with this credit union but I'll be playing it safe and use either Chase Biz or Treasury Direct, especially since the bonus might not post for 60 days, if only one deposit is required, or over 90 days if the deposit must be done multiple times over the 90 days.

    TYPE: Payroll ID: 32 CO: "MY NAME" ACH ECC PPD
    Category: Paycheck/Salary 

    APA TREAS 310 TYPE: MISC PAY ID: 51 CO: APA TREAS 310 ACH ECC PPD
    Category: Paychecks/Salary

    TYPE: TRANSFER ID: 52 CO: SERVICECU NAME: "My Name" ACH ECC WEB
    Category: Transfer

    • I used my US Bank Biz and just confirmed via online chat that I had completed the required tasks to earn the bonus, which is: $100 opening fund + $750+ DD. Since the bonus will arrive in 60 days, I am going to keep doing the $750 DD to avoid the monthly fee.

      • Thanks for the tip @guest_2094742 on checking with chat to confirm meeting the requirements.

        I chatted and she confirmed that my Chase Biz direct deposit worked though she did question if the deposit was made as a transfer from my another checking account. I said no, it was a payroll payment and she then said it works for the bonus. She also said that I'd have to meet three of the five items to avoid the monthly fee, not just a direct deposit.

        Seems to be another indication that they won't accept just a transfer from another checking account as Shirley was told but guess that is still to be determined by others.

        Also seems to confirm that only one $750 direct deposit is needed, not multiples @guest_2092815 and @guest_2092811

        • From my understanding, these things are usually programmed to be handled automatically. Unless their system shows the rep if the conditions have been satisfied, I would take what they say with a grain of salt. It seems they were relying on what you told them about the deposit.

          • True, but the point was that she asked so that would seem to indicate that they are aware of the difference in the types of deposits and what works or not. Had I said it was a transfer, she might have said it wouldn't work, that's for someone else to find out.

            Might not mean anything and the system might see transfers the same as it sees legitimate deposits, but along with how Shirley shows the three types of deposits, just another reason to not take a chance with a transfer.

            YMMV

          • Guess there would be time for someone to try different banks to see if something else works, especially if they pay out the bonus in under 60 days.

      • Good to hear though you do know that to avoid the $5 fee, you have to meet three of the five choices that they list, not just the direct deposit. Maybe you do already?

        • You are right. Thanks. Guess I just have to pay it - No way to meet 3/5 requirements.

          • My plan is to hopefully get the bonus within 60 days and then close the account before too many $5 fees are taken out.

            I chatted also and was told I met the requirements with the Treasury Direct deposit.

  • I applied, got a message today saying that my Experian is blocked and they need to review the credit history...

  • I threw an application in. $1010 max on credit card. We shall see if they approve of my Chex.

  • Went through the whole goddamn application process only to be met with an error message. Now I need to check on Chex to see if I took a hit. Not worth the time.

  • I notice we can't opt-out on targeting cookies, a violation of CA law. Then again many, many people, unfortunately, are above our laws.

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