Update 6/28/25: Bonus now $475
Update 6/7/25: Deal is back. Hat tip to reader RM
Update 4/7/20: Bonus has been increased to $300. Hat tip to reader EW
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $300
- Availability: CA only, must open in branch
- Direct deposit required: Yes, although online Bill Pay is included
- Additional requirements: See below
- Hard/soft pull: Soft
- Credit card funding: Up to $1,000
- Monthly fees: None, but there is a $10 joining fee
- Early account termination fee: None
- Expiration date: None listed
Contents
The Offer
- Receive a sign up bonus of $475 when you open a new Dividend Business Checking Account with Provident Credit Union and complete the following requirements:
- File account opening paperwork with the promotional code 9982
- Add at least $2,500 in deposits within 60 days of account opening
- Make purchases of $300 or more using a Provident Business debit card per month
- Enroll in online banking and e-Documents with valid email address
The Fine Print
- You must be a new business member, 18 or older and reside in California
- You are not eligible if you are a current owner on a Provident Credit Union business account or if you have been an owner on a Provident Credit Union business account within the last six months
- One New Business Account Bonus per business. To be eligible, you must open a Dividend Business Checking Account
- In order to qualify for your New Business Account Bonus your account must be active and in good standing for two consecutive months following the month that your Dividend Business Checking account is opened
- All qualifying purchases and transactions referred to as “per month” or “monthly” only count towards the requirement of the month in which they POST, which will be on a business day (Monday – Friday) and may take one or more business days from the purchase/transaction date
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
No Monthly Fee
The dividend business checking does not have any monthly fee to worry about.
Membership Enrollment $10
If you enroll with provident then you must pay a $10 membership enrollment fee. Although apparently it’s possible to get this waived if you apply online.
Early Account Termination Fee $0
None of the provident checking accounts come with an early account termination fee.
Our Verdict
I’m reposting because this account no longer has any monthly fee to worry about (previously it required a deposit of $15,000). Because of that change it’s now definitely worth doing (thanks to reader Lrdx for pointing this out) I’m going to add this to our list of the best business checking bonuses.
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- PSA: Don’t Call The Bank
- Introduction To 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
View Comments (83)
Will they pull Chex if you have an existing personal account with them?
Interesting. This site took down all my other comments on my experience with Provident?
No…. Different offer (personal checking).
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ca-only-provident-credit-union-300-checking-bonus-with-debit-spend-2-direct-deposits/#comment-2083357
I heard Provident CU is chex sensitive. Anyone who recently got approval can share your chex #? I am 1/12 and 6/24. What is my chance to get approved? Thanks.
@guest_2088460 Yes, very Chex sensitive. Do not apply online. Here's a DP of someone who required a manager override for Chex in branch with 0/1, 2/3, 4/6, 8/12. https://www.doctorofcredit.com/provident-credit-union-150-business-checking-bonus/#comment-2074311
Thanks @guest_2082228 . So, we have better chance to get approval in the branch. I am curious if they are more interested in the chex pulls within the last 12 months or if they care all within the last 24 months.
If you are 1/12 and you don't get approved, then F this institution. My god....
Is DD required? It is mentioned as required on the top of the post, but no where else? If DD required, any DPs on what works as DD (Paypal etc.)?
TIA
@guest_2088439 @guest_2088515 @guest_2088512 No DD is required for the main business bonus. A DD is one of the ways of satisfying the additional requirements of the extra $150 referral bonus. https://providentcu.org/become-a-member/referral-program
Thanks,,,,
Thanks.
A DD for a business checking account?
yes it is, open the link and read T&Cs
@guest_2074117 You are confusing this bonus with the $475 consumer checking bonus. https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ca-only-provident-credit-union-300-checking-bonus-with-debit-spend-2-direct-deposits/
Hot d_mn, you are absolutely 100% correct, I am incorrect here. I saw the Provident name and $475 amount and word checking in title, missed the business part. Yeah, DD's wouldn't be a thing for business
Weird. I must be blind… I see the $2,500 in deposits required, but nothing about a required DD anywhere. Would you mind pointing me to where you’re seeing that requirement?
On their business account checklists:
Sole Proprietor -- Documentation required: Business License (or similar permit/certificate)
That's weird in CA.
A simple google search returns:
"In California, you don't have to take special steps to register your business with the California Secretary of State if you operate as a sole proprietorship. You're simply a sole proprietor once you begin doing business – and earning business income. California doesn't require a statewide business operating license."
you do not need a license or FBNS if you do business as your surname. So, John Doe dba Doe Gardening requires nothing.
Anyone knows what the expiration date is for this current $475 offer? thanks.
@guest_2088436 Nothing stated, but the parallel consumer offer says 8/31.
I read 8/31
@guest_2074311 I wanted to highlight the following two potential gotchas in the terms and conditions for this bonus that may constitute hidden anti-churner provisions (https://providentcu.org/business/checking/dividend-checking/bonus).
(1) If you do nothing more with the account between completion of the stated bonus requirements within 90 days, and the bonus payment due date at 120 days, they may deny you the bonus. ("If your account remains inactive after 90 days from account opening you are no longer eligible for the New Business Account Bonus."). In other words, one must continue to use the account until the bonus posts by making debit purchases, moving money around etc.
(2) It may be necessary, as an extra requirement, to make deposits to the account every 30 days through day 90 in addition to the $2,500 deposit requirement for the regular bonus and the $500 DD requirement for the referral bonus. ("In order to qualify for your New Business Account Bonus your account must be active and in good standing for two consecutive months following the month that your Dividend Business Checking account is opened. ... ...Your account is in good standing if you: (1) demonstrate responsible account management—such as making regular deposits to bring your account to a positive end of day balance at least once every 30 days ...").
I don't know whether this CU is being intentionally evil or whether this is simply bad drafting -- but I am leaning towards the former. Anyway, thought I would bring this up.
CC'ing @guest_1129112, our resident expert, to see whether he has any thoughts.
Update: Checking old DPs on the consumer bonus, it seems like similar language has been in those T&Cs for many years and nobody has ever mentioned it as a gotcha, so (hopefully) this is just sloppy drafting — but it could theoretically be used against people who let their account sit apart from meeting the minimum requirements.
Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Many banks/CUs use the phrase "in good standing" but never define it. This one just went above and beyond and gave examples.
@2 This needs to be reposted to reflect the fact that this bonus has been increased to $475 + $150 ReferLive referral.
The deal is similar to the consumer version (https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ca-only-provident-credit-union-300-checking-bonus-with-debit-spend-2-direct-deposits/) but, instead of direct deposits, you have to deposit $2,500 (doesn't seem like you have to maintain it for any particular length of time).
One major difference is that, unlike the consumer bonus, the business bonus does not appear to be limited to residents of particular counties (although you still have to get past the membership requirements).
Additionally, the application form states that accounts can be opened by virtual appointment with the branch -- not sure whether this really works or not. https://providentcu.org/Provident/media/applications/BusinessAccountApplication2.pdf
Are you still seeing that the referral bonus is available? I don’t see a mention of it. Gonna try to open via virtual appt, as I’m in SoCal, and it looks like all branches are Bay Area.
@guest_2088515 Is your business in the City of LA? If not, how do you plan to satisfy the membership requirements?
Solid point, didn’t see that. No, in LA County, but not City. Guess it doesn’t hurt to chat in. Though the biz terms do repeatedly say “in branch,” so my expectations are being managed.
@guest_2088515 If you do business in the City of LA, that may (or may not) count as "working" in footprint. I have a lot of clients in the Bay Area, so I am going to talk to them about whether going up to Silicon Valley all the time to do business satisfies "working" there.
No-go, unfortunately, have to actually be based there, which I am not. But I like your idea!
Good idea!
@guest_2088515 https://providentcu.org/become-a-member/referral-program
Required purchases have also increased from $300 to $400, but you can use a Provident business debit or credit card.
Must be opened in branch. Link to branch locator https://providentcu.org/locations
I was able to open this account in-branch as sole prop using my SSN. TLDR; was asked specifics about business, chex sensitive but possible to get an override, referral offer available.
Before going in, I chatted with their cs to make an appt and they told me my company needed to be at least 2 years old and that I should bring a copy of the application filled out, a utility bill, and any business documents.
They asked me to describe my business a couple of times (mines were e-commerce retail through online marketplaces and I was specific with what I was selling and who my supplier was just to provide more detail).
@guest_2074099 I did feel that they asked a bit more questions about my business than other business checking accounts I opened but it could be because they were making small talk. I suggest coming prepared and understanding the specifics of your business as best as possible.
They had a list of general questions to understand account use such as purpose of account (eg general operating funds, savings), types of transactions and their est. monthly amounts (eg electronic transfers, check deposits, etc).
They had regulatory questions that you should answer no to (is it a marijuana-related business, do you provide payment processing services, does business income come from internet gambling, etc).
I also saw that they had an internal task to fill out for how they were verifying the business such as through yelp, google, website etc. I'm not listed anywhere nor have a specific website so I don't know what they filled out for me.
It was a soft credit pull but I was flagged by their system for high chex numbers and needed to get a manager's override. My chex was 0/1, 2/3, 4/6, 8/12 and they said they look at this year's and last year's numbers. I told them I was opening CDs at other banks and didn't know about them affecting chex.
There is also a referral bonus through ReferLive for $150 for the referee and $50 for the referrer. Note there are additional terms for the referral offer which is to have 1 or more direct deposits/automatic credits totaling at least $500:
$150 For You, $50 For Them | Provident Credit Union Business Checking Account
Get a $150 Visa Reward Card when you register, open a new Provident Credit Union business checking account and complete the following within 60 days of account opening:
Have one (1) or more debit card or credit card purchases totaling at least $400, AND
Have one (1) or more direct deposits or automatic credits totaling at least $500, AND
The account must be open and in good standing for a minimum of 60 days
I'm not sure if you would get both bonuses but I'm trying anyway. @2 @6 Can we post referral links here or have a separate page?
@guest_2074127 Not sure if venmo will work for monthly spend requirement. @guest_2074215 Not sure what Dunn and Bradstreet is. I didn't fund with cc but the regular checking accounts had a cc funding limit of $30 so it might be the case for the business accounts as well.
“mines”
shudder…
@guest_2074311 Thank you for a fantastic DP!
Did you attempt to get a virtual appointment with the branch, or was that not an issue for you?
Also, do you mind sharing which branch you went to? I have very similar Chex numbers, so knowing which branch manager is willing to override would be very helpful.