Update 2/23/25: Offer is back at this link (ht James)
Update 9/28/24: Now requires a Premier Plus smart spending checking account. This has no monthly fee. Hat tip to reader snailrock
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $100 for both parties
- Availability: Locations in California & Texas [Branch locator]. In branch only (maybe not)
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $250+
- Additional requirements: See below
- Hard/soft pull: Soft (make sure you opt out of overdraft protection)
- ChexSystems: Unknown, sensitive
- Credit card funding: Yes, varies by product (at least $500)
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit: None mentioned
- Expiration date: December 31, 2021
Contents
The Offer
- Premier America Credit Union is currently offering a $100 checking bonus when you open a new checking account and receive a direct deposit of $250 or more
The Fine Print
- $100 Head Start Savings Bonus is a promotional offer available 09/07/21 – 12/31/21.
- Monthly ACH Direct Deposit (minimum $200) must be added to account in first 45-days from account opening to qualify. Offer subject to change or end without notice.
- A deposit of $5 into a Smart Savings account is required to join Premier America Credit Union.
- For businesses, a deposit of $250 into a Business Savings account is required to join Premier America Credit Union. Federally Insured by NCUA.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
This account has no monthly fees to worry about
Early Account Termination Fee
I wasn’t able to find an early account termination fee in their fee schedule.
Our Verdict
Previously they offered a $100 referral bonus for both parties, but that didn’t require a direct deposit. That was a great offer, but hasn’t been back since 2018. Because of that I think if you’re interested in this offer I think it’s worth doing. We will add this to our list of the 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
Bonus is up to $200.
Denied due to chex. Chex is a lotttt
Anything I can do to keep it from sending verification code to my email and asking for mobile verification code then saying code invalid or expired?
Had this issue for a long while. I think trying to sign up during business hours helps the most.
Also, try to use Chrome. In my experience, most bank websites tend to be finicky with Firefox or other browsers.
applied today and got notice that an employee will call me in one business day.
FYI, I didn’t see it mentioned above, but the offer has a transaction stipulation attached to it as well as being opted into eStatements:
To qualify for the $100 New Premier Plus Checking Account Bonus, new account must have an ACH Direct Deposit (minimum single deposit of $250), be opted in to eStatements, and conduct 10 debit and/or credit card point of sale transactions within the first 60 days of account opening.
This bonus also has a debit card transaction which can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of the offer page:
To qualify for the $100 New Premier Plus Checking Account Bonus, new account must have an ACH Direct Deposit (minimum single deposit of $250), be opted in to eStatements, and conduct 10 debit and/or credit card point of sale transactions within the first 60 days of account opening.
It’s back. https://www.premieramerica.com/earnmore
FYI – “Offer valid until December 31, 2024.”
Denied for Chex. I am 1/1, 5/3, 10/6, 17/12, 32/24