Deal has ended, view more bank account bonuses by clicking here.
Update 11/30/22: Available again for 2022. Hat tip to reader Olympia
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $100
- Availability: Nationwide (with $10 membership in Reach Out for Schools [part of application process, one time])
- Direct deposit required: Optional, see below
- Additional requirements: See below
- Hard/soft pull: Should be a soft pull if you opt out of overdraft protection
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Up to $250
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit:
- Expiration date:
Contents
The Offer
Direct link to offer (requires a referral. Do not share or find referrals in the comments, instead go to this linked page)
- Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is offering a $100 referral bonus when the person signing up opens a new checking account ($50 bonus for the person referring). Need to complete one of the following:
- Checking Account with recurring Direct Deposit of your payroll, retirement, Social Security, or other monthly recurring income of $500+ per month
- Checking Account with at least five ; debit/credit card transactions, bill payments, balance transfers, or P2P transfers the same month.
- A vehicle, RV, boat, or mobility loan (purchase or refinance).
The Fine Print
- Code and offer expire after 90 days, new referred member has 90 days from receipt of invitation to join, redeem the referral code, open a membership and any one of the qualifying products listed above.
- Referred member must be at least 18 years old. For membership eligibility, please visit: dcu.org
- 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 fee
Early Account Termination Fee
I couldn’t find any EATF in the fee schedule.
Our Verdict
Do not share or find referrals in the comments, instead go to this linked page. DCU also offers a high yield savings account that offers 6.17% APY on balances up to $1,000. There was some confusion when we originally posted this deal as part of that thread, so we have created this dedicated post to make it clear you need to open a checking account. This $100 bonus is easy to meet the requirements for and we will be adding it to our list of the best checking 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
I doubt that you will decide to make a referral post because the new offer that
Amanda mentioned is only for $50.
However, in case you are interested, I just wanted to let you know that this new offer does have referral links so it wouldn’t be the wild wild west like the referral offer from years ago where people had to rush to send one out.
Here are the 3 ways for the new member to qualify for the $50:
After opening a membership, within 90 days the new member will need to complete at least ONE of the following qualifying activities for bonuses to be paid:
Open a DCU checking account and add qualifying direct deposit. Qualifying direct deposit is a recurring electronic credit of your payroll, retirement, social security, or other recurring monthly income in the amount of at least $500.00 per calendar month. (Social Security is exempt from the $500 per calendar month minimum);Open a DCU checking account and complete at least 5 qualifying transactions. Qualifying transactions include debit/credit card transactions, ACH transfers, Point of Sale (POS) transactions, bill pay payments, balance transfers to your DCU Visa Credit Card, and Pay a Person transactions. The 5 qualifying transactions must post and clear your DCU account within the same calendar month; and/orOpen a vehicle, RV, boat, or mobility loan (purchase or refinance)
There is a new bonus, $25 for the referrer, $50 for the person referred.
https://www.dcu.org/campaigns/refer-and-refi-auto-promotion.html#top-disclosures
Can’t imagine there being a high demand for a $50 referral, but might be one of the last opportunities to get a DCU bonus. They are going to be merging with First Tech.
Do you actually see your own link to give to others? P1 and P2, neither has the menu option to see their personal referral links.
Amanda
I had the same issue, I texted it to myself and then was able to copy it from there.
Also as folks may know the savings account now earns 5.5% APY instead of 6.17%. I have had the savings acct for years and also have a checking Acct with them that I had set up just for the bonus originally. I really have had only positive experiences with this credit union, but have only used it for those two things. I find their app to work really well. I’m curious when they merge with FirstTech which app will be kept. Hopefully the savings acct will survive the merger.
Like you, I am satisfied with the small passive income that I get from DCU. We won’t get rich having that account but it’s not too bad. 😀
So, the link is only available in the app. I see it there now, thanks.
For anyone looking in the app for your own link, it’s under “Membership” tab, and then at the very top of the list, “🎁Refer a friend and get paid”.
It used to be available in online banking, and it appears the links have not changed, so old links still work (assuming the DCU account is still open, anyway).
I stand corrected by “someone”… the referral links are available in Desktop online banking as well.
They just moved the link, because it was under Membership, and now it’s just a tile on the front page of the Accounts section, lower right of the page.
$1k cc funding but no Amex though
I was able to find my referral link (which hadn’t changed from before) while logged in on my PC.
Near the top middle of the page, click on “Accounts”. Then scroll down to the “Member Referral” section on the bottom right of the page. Click on “Get Referral Link”. Your referral link should be there. My link is the same as before.
Late info, but will report my data points:
Note that the bonus went into the membership savings accnt even though the transactions were on the checking account.
Yes it’s now $20 for the new member and $10 for referring member. Could we get the post updated? Maybe could be added to the Best Bank Bonuses post too? I know it’s small, but with the 6% on $1,000 savings account it’s more worth doing, IMO.
William Charles
https://dcu.org/referral
No, not gonna post a $20 bonus.
Anyone else have any issues getting the bonus? Completed the 5 qualifying outbound ACHs from checking on 1/31. Support said to wait 30 days. Well now its been 30 days and I’m getting a run around. Multiple reps said “well you already got 3 $50 referral bonuses” but those were for other people using my link since it literally says on the transactions “thanks for referring a new member”. Finally got one to check with a supervisor who said to wait 60 days even though terms say 30… anyone else having these kind of issues and any advice to resolve?
yes. They are telling me I need to wait 90 says from account opening. The page with the promo has updated and now is only for $10, the agent said the terms for my bonus at the time my account was opened was for a 90 day lock up, the 30 day lock up is just for the new $10 promotion. I definitely wrote down 30 days based on the promo at the time I opened my account, but I’ll play their game..
12/5 applied with referral link
2/1 account opened
2/14 $500 employer DD
3/2 $100 bonus
Will be keeping this account, thanks for pointing out 6.17% APY
Is this churnable? If so how long to wait after closed?
I opened this account on Feb 8, funded it with $400 from Chase, then account was suspended on Feb 16. I think the account of the person who referred me was also suspended. Called today as I hadn’t heard anything for a while – it’s still in process and they won’t tell me when it might be unfrozen.
Not sure if anyone else is experiencing this, but commenting as an FYI.
Wow. That’s ridiculous. But, it’s typical DCU. Slow as heck. The only thing that keeps me w them is their yearly 0% APR BT offer w no BT fee.
Yeah I’m surprised I got the bonus as quickly as I did given the whole ordeal with the bogus account suspension! I’m going to keep the account for the great savings rate and potential for future bonus increases though
Feb 8 – Account opened, funded with Chase
Feb 16 – Account suspended
Mar 9 – Account unsuspended (with notice saying “Your Chase account status has changed” – huh..?)
3/15 – made final debit swipe
3/17 – $100 bonus credited
Honestly surprised it posted – I was expecting to have to fight with customer support for ages since they nerfed the offer right after I signed up, but got the right number very quickly!
Easy bonus!
I only have a Savings account with DCU.. anyone know if it’s possible to get this bonus by opening a checking for existing DCU Savings account holders?
ShawntheShawn
https://www.dcu.org/membership/member-referral-program.html
Per the FAQ, you have to open a new membership using the referral. You would need to close the current savings/membership account and come back to be new.