[Expired] Chartway Federal Credit Union $100 Checking Bonus – Available Nationwide

Update 3: Looks like the offer has expired, if anybody finds any working links then please let me know in the comments.

Update 2: Credit card funding is back.

Update: Some people are reporting that even though they live in these states they aren’t eligible for a free membership, so I assume you have to live within a certain distance of a branch.

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $100
  • Availability: Nationwide
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, no minimum
  • Additional requirements: 5 signatured base debit card purchases
  • Hard/soft pull: Soft
  • Credit card funding: Up to $1,500
  • Monthly fees: None
  • Early account termination fee: Unknown
  • Expiration date: Not listed, but limited time offer

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Join Chartway Federal Credit Union, set up a new checking bonus and receive a $100 bonus, broken down as follows:
    • Activate your Visa debit card, make 5 signature transactions within 60 days and receive $50
    • Set up for a direct deposit within 60 days and receive $50

The Fine Print

  • Receive up to $100 per eligible member only.
  • This offer may not be combined with any other new member offers at the time of account opening
  • A $15 minimum is required to open checking account, and a $5 minimum is required to maintain savings account.
  • To qualify for $100 bonus, must become a new member, activate Visa Debit Card, make five (5) signature transactions, and establish new direct deposit within 60 days of account opening.
  • Bonus will be awarded within 90 days of account opening.
  • Existing checking accounts and direct deposits do not qualify.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Becoming A Member

If you live, work or worship in Florida, Georgia, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia you can join for free. If you live in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona you can get this bonus through SouthWest Community CU (promo link here).  If you live in Utah you can complete this bonus through HeritageWest (promo link here). Update: Some people are reporting that even though they live in these states they aren’t eligible for a free membership, so I assume you have to live within a certain distance of a branch.

Anybody can become a member by making a one time donation to the We Promise Foundation. To do this follow these steps:

  • Click join now/open now
  • Become a member
  • You will then be given the option to donate $10 to the We Promise Foundation.

Best Value Checking $0 Monthly Fee

Your best option for avoiding monthly fees is to go after the Best Value Checking account which has no monthly fee and does not require any minimums to keep it fee free.

Early Account Termination Fee

I wasn’t able to find an up to date fee schedule, so I’m not sure if an EATF is charged. In the past it was required to keep the account open for 180 days or you would forfeit the bonus but that is not included in the fine print of this offer. Shouldn’t be a big issue since you can keep the account open for free anyway.

Our Verdict

I usually aim for bonuses that are $100+, if you live outside one of the free areas you’d need to pay $10 to join, so I wouldn’t really recommend this bonus unless you live in one of the areas where opening the account is free now that they don’t allow credit card funding.

I’m going to add this bonus to our list of the best bank bonuses currently available, although it’s probably dead last on the last now that there is no more credit card funding. It’s always nice to see more nationwide bonuses, even if it does require a donation. One thing worth keeping in mind is that they did offer a $150 bonus, but this was last offered in November of 2014 so I think it’s unlikely to return at this stage.

Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
    William Charles
  • On May 23, 2016, 20:54

View Comments (85)

  • Applied and the account was opened on May 24th, but the problem is, the initial fund was NEVER charged on my credit card..... I have to call them again and again but that's totally useless.... Hope they can process all of these before then end of this month......

    • Do you have more than 3 Chex inquiries in the past year? How much did you fund with?

    • Don't worry they'll bring it back when they decide its better to not hold consumer's funds for weeks on end and falsely advertise.

  • If I fund my account with less than $1500 am I still likely to get my account closed? I have opened much more than 3 checking accounts in the past 12 months.

    • You're welcome to try. I opened with 1455 and it still got declined after they held the money for half a month. They probably would have held it even longer had I not called them.

  • I used the link posted previously to check application status. On that page there is a secure message function. I used that to tell them to cancel my application and refund my credit card. I included in the message that if I did not get a response within 2 business days I would initiate complaints with CFPB, NCUA, BBB and dispute the charge with Citi. I got a response the next business day. I got the charge refunded today - 3rd business day after the initial message. All this after my 50k TYP posted. Don't care about the bonus. I only wanted to meet the spend anyway.

  • According to the above link I'm "declined". Spoke to a rep on Thursday (not a very long hold time at all) and she said she'd be email me my account number. Guess they had a change of heart? Complaint out to CFPB who forwarded it to the NCUA and the OCC. I say let the complaints stack up...Maybe they won't pull this stunt again.

    • Just got "the email" yesterday. I agree it's kinda messed up to hold someone's money for a month and then decline them. But since the acct was never open (unlike the Seacoast debacle), I don't think we have a case. Banks aren't required to publish HP limits.

      I'll probably gently implore them to reconsider and then call it a day.

      Is your acct open now after speaking to the rep?

      • I haven't got an email at all declining me. I've sent 2 "secure" messages asking why I was declined with no response. I talked to them on 6/9. It showed as declined on 6/11. My card was refunded on 6/13.(Charged back on 5/25). I think we have plenty a case as to why their system did not auto reject the application then instead of charging a card and holding it. I shouldn't have called at all and seen how long they'd let it go on. 2 weeks is far too long as it is. They ARE required to make funds available in a reasonable amount of time. Oh, is it a new account? Well its not really a "new account" is it, when the application is declined. This is not some manual review where they said "oh well, the person only closed a single bank account with $49.00 outstanding", ok. They have a clear limit-(I won't link to a competitor) on the MaximizingMoney page someone apparently was told the limit was 3 inquiries in the last year from Chartway. Anyone get that letter/email? Someone that closed a bank account with a negative balance perhaps should have an idea they would have problems after being told about Chex. Individuals with perfect credit, valid forms of ID and no derogatory marks should not assume "well I opened several accounts, that must be why" with no means of verification. Yet another case of banks trying to use "federal laws" to support their own profit activities and twist them when they can.Maybe I'll apply again and see what they do. It's not about "having a case". Its about wasting our time and failing to advertise their promotion in accordance with their practiced policies. BBB complaint next when I get a moment and reason for the denial. Write enough of them all and you'll find you can copy/past and change the dates. Waste the time some bank employee could be using to respond to the bank's "more serious" violations on responding to your complaints!

        • *no means of verification to correct a pending/decline/suspicious alert And to those who say "normal people don't open that many accounts"....what about retirees still doing CD ladders, people organizing their finances with an online checking, savings, brokerage checking, closer bank branch, add to joint account. Inquiries can add up quickly. My guess is they have a list of other bank promotions and use that to hold our money while they "verify". If they see its "no promo" banks, its probably fine with them.

  • Anyone know the best number to call them at? Looks like my account went to manual review. I'd like my $1500 back lol.

  • Account opened on 24th of May. No communication from bank since then.
    Opened a dispute with my bank to refund $1500 following by a three way calling with this organization.

  • UPDATE: I received my refund to my card today. It took the 5 days they promised in the email.

  • Sounds like everyone needs to complain to CFPB. I think its false advertising not to put in the fine print that they will not accept people with a certain number of chex inquries, and that they say its due to "possible fraud" when they are provided with(or able to require) several pieces of identifying documents to prove the customer's identity. Chartway thinks they can get a free loan from consumers while they "get around to sometime maybe" refunding their cards when their system could have just rejected people with many inquiries who ignored the proper advertisement. I'm not calling yet. Opened May 24th in evening with less than max CC funding. No denials via email or elsewhere, but no account number or information either. If I call and get the run around for 10 minutes, I'm submitting a complaint followed by a dispute.

    • Go back into the account status page when you were initially approved. The status should have changed from "Approved" to "Pending." If that's the case, you were denied and your application is going through a manual review process. Your money is probably just sitting there until you take action.

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