Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $250
- Availability:Â Must be a resident of Tulare, San Joaquin and Solano Counties
- Direct deposit required: Optional
- Additional requirements:Â See below
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems:Â Unknown
- Credit card funding:Â Can fund up to $150 with a credit card
- Monthly fees:Â None
- Early account termination fee:Â Unknown
- Household limit:Â None listed
- Expiration date:Â None listed
Contents
The Offer
- Valley Strong Credit Union is offering a $250 checking bonus when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Open a new checking account (with a starting amount of $25).
- Direct deposit to your Valley Strong account OR an average of 12 credit and/or debit transactions per month for 90 days.
- A Valley Strong debit card.
The Fine Print
- New accounts must be open and in good standing for 90 calendar days.
- Payment will be made automatically to the qualifying account by direct deposit on or around the 91st day after the new account is opened.
- Taxes due are the sole responsibility of the recipient. Valley Strong Credit Union will report to state and federal agencies as required by applicable law.
- This offer cannot be combined with other offers.
- Must be a resident of Tulare, San Joaquin and Solano Counties.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
They offer a free checking account with no monthly fees.
Early Account Termination Fee
I wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so unsure if there is any EATF.
Our Verdict
Shame it’s restricted to so few counties, this is a fantastic bonus that is worth doing and we will add it to our best bank account bonuses.
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
It looks like the terms for this may have changed and now requires a promo code (though doesn’t mention the promo code), or requires that you to go into branch to open.
If anyone has a non-targeted promo code, please post here so we can all benefit from it.
Otherwise it is safe to assume this is targeted now (but may be open to all in branch).
Might be eligible for OOS.
Per the application:
Your zip code qualifies for Membership through our partner Financial Fitness Association (FFA). If you would like to join, Valley Strong will pay for your first year of Membership with FFA. Please visit a branch for more details!
https://financialfitnessassociation.org/partners
7/29 opened (live in a targeted county)
8/14, 9/14, 10/12 work DDs
10/27 $250 bonus
Finally received the bonus as advertised!!!
Anyone actually get this bonus?
Yes, as advertised. Legit DD and I live in one of the counties. Note: I also received a mailer so that might be part of it but who knows.
Has anyone received the $250 bonus yet? Im past 90 days and nothing
Did you ever get the bonus? I’m curious because I am still waiting on mine…
I spoke to someone over chat bc I received a flier of the $250 promotion it states end date 9/30/2022. Well I wanted to refer someone and since they don’t receive the referral code until the next business day, I live chatted and the Rep stated that there is no end date for this promo and is ongoing. Also nothing has worked for the DD. The rep stated the deposit must come categorized as payroll so I’ll be buying 12 bananas at walmart or local grocery store hehe
“Direct deposit to your Valley Strong account” is this monthly or a singular deposit? I’m assuming I could fire one DD off to Valley strong, wait 91 days then CFPB when they don’t post bonus.
I live in California but outside the footprint counties. I would be interested in trying to earn this bonus and the referral promo. Please send me a referral link/email to my email address at [email protected] if you have one. Thanks!
“Your zip code qualifies for Membership through our partner Financial Fitness Association (FFA). Valley Strong will pay for your first year of Membership with FFA. Your decision to renew your Membership with FFA, does not affect your Valley Strong account. Click here for more details!”
Not in the zips recorded. Was approved. California, but not on listed counties.
Let me know if you get the bonus. Sometimes they’ll let you open the account but not receive the bonus
I’d be surprised if they did get it. You can join with an FFA membership, but the linked page explicitly states that to receive the bonus you must reside in a specific subset of their eligible counties: Must be a resident of Tulare, San Joaquin and Solano Counties.
I submitted this to DoC from a mailer I got that specifically says on it “Must be a resident of Tulare, San Joaquin and Solano Counties.”
Not sure how you’d like me to refer you…that isn’t an option. I’ll keep posted if they give me the bonus or not. It seemed like an easy gamble, no harm in trying.