Update 6/12/25: Deal is back through 8/22/25 at this new link (ht reader RT Vegas)
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $500
- Availability: Must live, work, worship, volunteer, attend school in one of the following counties Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Sullivan Counties
- Direct deposit required: Optional
- Additional requirements: See below
- Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Up to $10,000
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: $20, 90 days
- Household limit: None
- Expiration date: 12/31/2023
Contents
The Offer
- Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union is offering $400 checking bonus. Requirements are as follows:
- Open a new HVCU Premier or Classic Checking Account with a Visa Debit Card
- Sign up for Internet Banking & eStatements
- Spend a minimum of $1,500 with your new Debit Card OR make $1,500 in direct deposits into your new account within the first 90 days
The Fine Print
- Terms and Conditions Applicable to $400 Bonus Checking Account Offer, valid from 10/2/2023 to 12/31/2023
- Account holder has 90 calendar days to meet the requirements to receive bonus. HVCU will deposit the $400 bonus into the account holder’s new checking account within five business days after the completion of the 90 calendar day qualification period, so long as the account holder fulfills each of the following three qualifications:
- Open a new checking account with HVCU Visa Debit Card (must be requested at time of account opening);
- Enroll in Internet Banking and/or Mobile Banking services and enroll in e-statements;
- Use your new HVCU debit card and spend a minimum of $1,500 using the new checking account OR sign up for qualifying direct deposits with a cumulative minimum of $1,500 into your new checking account. A “qualifying direct deposit” is a direct deposit of regular monthly income, such as your salary, pension, or Social Security benefits, which are made by your employer or other payer, using account and routing numbers that you provide to them. Examples of non-qualifying direct deposits and transfers include: your initial ACH deposit to open the account, teller deposits, wire transfers, debit card transfers, ATM transfers or deposits, or Internet or Mobile banking transfers or deposits. Offer subject to member verification.
- Only one bonus of $400 will be paid to the primary checking account owner. This must be your first HVCU checking account to qualify for this bonus. Only Personal Classic and Premier checking accounts are eligible for this offer. Members under the age of 18 are not eligible to receive this bonus. No exceptions will be made or considered. Account must be in good standing and the qualifications satisfied to receive bonus. Good standing means you have on deposit at least the par value of one full share ($0.01) in the regular share savings account, have no delinquent loans (payment is not more than 30 days late), and have a positive balance in all share accounts. May be subject to IRS reporting; please consult your tax advisor. HVCU expressly reserves the right to terminate this promotion at its discretion at any time and without further notice provided to you.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
Classic checking account has no monthly fees to worry about.
Early Account Termination Fee
According to the fee schedule there is an early account termination fee of $20 if closed within 90 days of account opening.
Our Verdict
Not sure if the credit card funding is still available or not. Previous best was the $750 checking bonus, but that required a direct deposit. Worth doing if you live in an eligible area.
Hat tip to reader Tikky
Post History:
- Update 4/19/25: Deal is back until 5/23/2025
- Offer doesn’t start until 2/10/2025
- Update 2/8/25: Deal is back, this time valid until 5/9/25. Hat tip to reader Kevin H
- Update 10/12/24: Deal is back, but now for $500. Valid until 12/4/24. Hat tip to reader Alex
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
at new url https://www.hvcu.org/500-checking-offer-summer/
Still looking for anybody who might have a screen shot from the 2/8/25 update.
I could swear I saw this and then they changed the terms a few weeks later and took
down the advertisement with the old terms. My bad for not saving a screen shot. I think
there were a few other posts below from folks who opened their accounts back in February 2025 and HVCU saying that there was no bonus offer from that time period.
Does anybody have a screen shot of this offer page when it was updated this past February 2025?
Update 2/8/25: Deal is back, this time valid until 5/9/25. Hat tip to reader Kevin H
I can’t get past the archive’s hcaptcha test that I’m human, maybe you’ll have better luck
Thanks Johnz!
Funny, they will let you see the archived page from Dec. 2024 but neither of the
pages saved in 2025. I have the same problem and can not get passed the hcaptcha. I think the test is set up by the HVCU website and not web.archive.
Opened this back on February 10 2025. Signed up for e statements. Did two dd’s for over $1,500 each , last one was in the middle of April 2025. Still no bonus. Anybody else get the bonus from the same time period? Thanks.
My account was opened in early May. I finished all the requirements and asked online chat rep to advise whether the requirements are fulfilled – and received contradicting advice: one said yes one said my DDs are not recognised.
Should be much safer to have debit card spending instead.
DP to add to the credit card funding:
1) Chase Sapphire Preferred codes as purchase, if done online
2) If you’re funding in branch with a credit card, it will pull as a cash advance. I do NOT know if it will later convert to a purchase, as I didn’t have my PIN for my Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Declined online. But apparently it’s because I put down “secondary” account (as i had the business one). But they mean something different. However, the PLUS side: They said i can come in branch AND still do credit card funding.
A warning to anyone who uses Yodlee to aggregate financial accounts – I am forced to reauthenticate with HVCU every single time I check my aggregator. Let them know if you also think this is an issue https://www.hvcu.org/contact-us/
Got a message requiring for proof of volunteer service in Hudson valley..
Name, address, and phone number of your volunteer organization in our area of service, as well as the frequency and method (online or in-person) of your volunteer work there
– Name of an administrator at your volunteer organization who can confirm your volunteer work in our area of service
Can anyone check if this bank supports AMEX CC fund and any cash advance?
Preferred credit bureau is Experian. Credit report must be unlocked on application. Slowest bank I have every seen for starter checks and debit cards, opened 2/10, had to unlock report, signed last agreement 2/16, as of 2/24 still waiting for mailing of items.
Did you do any cc funding?
I opened account about the same time as you. Now they are saying the offer
did not exist in February 2025. Did you happen to save a screen shot of the
offer? Thanks