Extended to 12/31/2025
Extended to 6/30/25
Update 11/13/24: Deal is back until 3/31/25. Now for $350. Anti-churn language increased from 12 months to 24 months this time around Hat tip to reader L
Update 2/21/24: Extended until 3/31/24
Update 11/13/23: Extended until 12/31/23.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $350
- Availability:Â DC, DE, PA, VA, WV, MD
- Direct deposit required:Â Yes, two direct deposits
- Additional requirements:
- Hard/soft pull:Â Soft Pull
- ChexSystems:Â Unknown
- Credit card funding:Â None
- Monthly fees:Â None
- Early account termination fee:Â None listed
- Household limit:Â None
- Expiration date:Â 10/31/23
Contents
The Offer
- SECU is offering a $250 checking bonus when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Must set up e-statements and have at least 2 qualifying payroll Direct Deposits within 90 days of opening the account
The Fine Print
- $250 offer valid from 7/17/23 – 10/31/23 for new or existing SECU members that open a new SECU Total™ Checking & Rewards account and meet the following criteria.
- New SECU Members: 1) Join SECU and open a checking account during the promo period; 2) Within 90 days of opening checking: Set up e-statements and have qualifying payroll Direct Deposits totaling at least $500/month and at least 2 separate direct deposits post to your checking account*.
- Existing SECU Members that do not already have a checking account: 1) Open a checking account during the promo period; 2) Within 90 days of opening checking: Set up e-statements and have at least 2 qualifying payroll Direct Deposits totaling at least $500/month post to your checking account*. Members that already have a checking account or had a checking account after 1/17/23 are not eligible for this offer.
- Offer is only available to Maryland residents and residents of surrounding states (DC, DE, PA, VA, WV), as well as University of Maryland College Park students. Residents of other states not listed are not eligible.
- Qualifying direct deposits include recurring electronic deposits of payroll, pension or Social Security. Person to person, bank transfers or other electronic money transfers, such as those made through internet payment services, do not qualify.
- All criteria must be met within 90 days of opening checking.
- SECU will credit one cash bonus of $250 to the primary owner of the new SECU checking account within 60 days of meeting the requirements.
- Membership and accounts must be in good standing to receive the bonus.
- Promotional period and offer are subject to change at any time without notice.
- The promotional bonus is limited to one per member.
- If you received a bonus for a SECU checking promo in the last 12 months, you are not eligible for this offer.
- Advertised bonus cannot be combined with any other offer.
- Membership eligibility required.
- Bonuses are considered miscellaneous income, and may be reported as income to the IRS on Form 1099-MISC. SECU’s determination of offer eligibility is final. 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
There is no EATF in the fee schedule.
Our Verdict
Last time SECU offered a bonus it was available nationwide with a donation, but terms have specific states listed this time unfortunately. This is an extra $50 and requirements are roughly the same. Worth doing and we will add it to the best bank bonuses.
Hat tip to jd
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
Do not share referrals unless it is specifically allowed.
Is it allowed yet?
No
Why is it not allowed?
Because people were unable to follow the basic rules.
Hilarious
P1 and P2 did this bonus. Opened on same day, had the same real DD amounts on the same days, and signed up for e-statements.
P1 got the bonus 24 hours after the 2nd real DD, but P2 did not and it has now been 3 days after the 2nd real DD.
Could you spare some more details (opened, timeline, dates, deposit amt., etc.)?
Both opened on 5/9
Both had a real DD of $250 on 5/27 and 6/9 from the same place.
P1 got the $350 on 6/10 and P2 has yet to get the $350
Where any OOS?
Here’s also a likely reason in SECU T&C..
“SECU will credit one cash bonus of $350 to the primary owner of the new SECU checking account within 60 days of meeting the requirements.”
You made it into the “early bird” list and P2 is still within SECU terms for bonus payout. Nothing state they should post bonus the same as yours did, just within the 60 days. I hear you and can create bonus anxiety fatique. DPs do show some of us got it quick while others got it later.
If everything for P2 meets requirements and QDD is really legit, just make contact with them and inquire about when P2 should expect the bonus to post. They are an approachable and friendly CU and not hostile about bonus inquiries. HTH, GL!
5/18/25 – Account opened
6/5/25 – 2 x $250 Discover checking pushes
6/9/25 – Interest Adjustment $350 checking promo
4/20: Account opened with referral, $25 opening deposit
4/24: 2X $50 Wealthfront Push
5/7: $26.78 Chase Personal Push
5/8: $23.22 Chase Personal Push
5/15: $26 Real DD
5/21: $100 Referral Bonus
5/29: $26 Real DD
5:30: $350 Bonus Posted
Seems to have needed real DD, at least for me.
Extended to 12/31/2025
5/15 – account open
5/27 – $251 deposit from Schwab brokerage
5/28 – $251 deposit from Schwab brokerage
5/30 – $350 bonus received
What did the deposits code as? I am trying to do pushes through Ally.
Extended further than June: “Offer valid 11/1/24 – 12/31/25 for new SECU members”
4/7/25 – Account Opened
2 Real DDs of $250 each with in a month
5/14/25 – $350 Bonus posted
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/dc-de-pa-va-wv-md-secu-250-checking-bonus/#comment-1960002
Denied in late Nov and then approved about 6 months later in May.
Chex at approval: 0/1, 0/3, 5/6, 17/12, 26/24
This makes it seem like the Chex sensitivity matters in the most recent 3 months.
That’s possible. It’s also possible that they care about the 1st 6 months as your 1st 6 months now are much lower than then.
Mine is super fast
05/03 open account
05/07 250*2 Discover checking each
05/08 350 bonus
Wow I thought this one had to be employer dd to work. How did you do checking transfer?
$100 referral has been extended yet again through 6/30/25. The dates coincides with the checking bonus from the post.