Deal has ended, view more bank account bonuses by clicking here.
Update 11/8/21: Extended through 1/31/2022.
Update 7/17/21: Deal has been extended through 8/31/21.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $100 + $50 restaurant gift card
- Availability: CA Tehachapi branch only
- Direct deposit required: Optional
- Additional requirements:Â See below
- Hard/soft pull:Â Unknown
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: 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
June 30, 2021. Extended through 10/31/2021
Contents
The Offer
- Valley Strong Credit Union is offering a bonus of $150 when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements.
- $100 when you:
- Open a new checking account (minimum opening deposit of $25). (Must not currently have a Valley Strong checking).
- Direct Deposit into your Valley Strong account OR an average of 12 credit and/or debit transactions per month for 90 days.
- A Valley Strong Debit Card.
- New account(s) must be open and in good standing for 90 calendar days.
- Payout will be made automatically to qualifying account by direct deposit on, or around the 91st day after new account has been opened.
- Taxes due are the sole responsibility of the recipient. Valley Strong Credit Union will report to the state and federal agencies as required by applicable law.
- This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other offers.
- $50 Tehachapi restaurant gift card:
- Open a new checking account (minimum opening deposit of $25). (Must not currently have a Valley Strong checking.)
- If your account is opened online, a Team Member from our Tehachapi Branch will call to coordinate the pick up or mailing of your gift card of choice.
- $100 when you:
The Fine Print
- 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
Should be able to ask if it’s a hard or soft pull before opening the account. Won’t add it to the best bank bonuses for now.
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
The terms were updated suggesting they’ll only pay out to new members who are residents of the two zip codes provided
Has anyone gotten the bonus yet?
Opened 5/19 through FFA with $150 on my BofA (coded as purchase), I did at least one work DD every month (May, June, July, August) but still no bonus. I’ll SM them since I used a work DD.
Update – here’s their SM:
We apologize for the inconvenience our marketing department has confirmed this promotion is currently only available to new members of the Tehachapi, California branch location.
I’d submit an NCUA or CFPB complaint saying you met reqs and signed up in good faith that they would honor the promotion. The worst they can say is no. They had their chance to get rid of you, but I think they are stuck now. GL
Yeah, I’ll do that. I saved their promotion and no where does it say I need to open this account at a specific location. Their promotion also says if I opened it online, someone will be contacting me for the gift card so online is definitely an option! Will update once I get a response back and I’ll be closing out the account either way.
delete
I’d submit a complaint to the CFPB or NCUA. Just say you met terms for promo and terms did not exclude you. The worst they can say is “no”.
Extended thru 10/31/2021
Updated, thanks
I may be wrong but it seems to be available online as well
The same CU is offering a $250 bonus at the Tulare and North Visalia branch locations.
I don’t think this is expired, it looks like it has been extended through 8/31/21
Any referrals?
Submitted OOS application – rejected via email the next day, given the option to come in branch
Submitted application using OOS address and told to come into branch to finalize. Have no plans to do so so will pass. So likely a Chex hit and inquiry sensitive to online opening.
Past 36 months: 71
Past 30 months: 71
Past 24 months: 69
Past 18 months: 66
Past 12 months: 60
Past 06 months: 22
Past 03 months: 13
Past 01 months: 01
Email saying to come into a branch within 30 days because they aren’t able to open it online. I called and asked if there was some phone verification but they said no. I might do this account when I’m back in the bay area but not now.
Thanks. Just submitted my application and we’ll see if I get the same message.
Yep no luck…received the same email.
$150 max cc funding, used BofA card, will update what it codes as. Account was immediately approved, used FFA as the eligibility even though I’m OOS.
Thanks, added
BofA posted as purchase!
Me too. I messaged everyone that follows them on Twitter that had a public profile and only three responded with two maybe open to giving me their referral.
It looks like I need your email address and name for a referral. Please email [email protected] for the referral!
What are you Chex stats?
Probably not as high as yours but still LOL/24. Opened at least 7 accounts this year, 3 in May.
Any DPs on hard or soft pull?
I didn’t get any notifications when I applied yesterday so I believe it’s a soft pull.