Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $200
- Availability:Â VA
- Direct deposit required:Â Yes, $1,000+
- Additional requirements:Â See below
- Hard/soft pull: Hard pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding:Â Unknown
- Monthly fees:Â None
- Early account termination fee:Â Unknown
- Household limit:Â None listed
- Expiration date:Â 12/31/2021
Contents
The Offer
- United States Senate Federal Credit Union is offering a bonus of $200 when you become a member of USSFCU. Bonus is broken down as follows:
- $25 when you open a primary savings account with a minimum balance of $5 and pay $1 membership fee. Must use promo code BONUS
- $25 when you open a senate checking account and opt to receive your free Visa debit card within 5 business days of your account application
- $150 when you receive Qualifying Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more into that account within 90 days of account opening
The Fine Print
- 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
I wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so unsure if there is any EATF.
Our Verdict
It looked like this might be nationwide, but you need to join the VA American Consumer Council chapter rather than the nationwide one. Bonus itself is pretty average to good and worth doing, just need to find out if it’s a hard or soft pull.
Hat tip to Bertrand
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 had a different experience: within an hour of applying, USSFCU reached out and said I needed to unfreeze my Experian report. I pushed back, and they insisted they do a hard pull for all new membership applications. Sounds like BS to me–BS I put up with for hot deals, but this isn’t one.
You often have to unfreeze your credit reports for soft pulls. I just checked my Experian report, and there is no hard pull from USSFCU
I joined the Virginia chapter of the ACC and applied on Monday, November 15. On Thursday, I received a message asking for my ID, a proof of residency (like a utility bill) and the certificate of membership with the ACC, which I uploaded. On Friday morning, a CSR called me to confirm my information (and ask about my Chex inquiries; she said there were 38; I thanked for letting me know and said I would make sure they were all legitimate). I was then sent a form via DocuSign, which I did. On Tuesday, the CSR called me again to complete the opening process and give me my online banking login information.
There has not been a hard pull
@MOTDOC How did you receive the security code necessary to open the two DocuSign forms? The CR said she would contact me again with online access info, but I am not sure if I should be looking for a pass code to sign those docs before that time.
Note that when I applied yesterday, I also pre-uploaded my dr license, ACC cert, and utility bill, and the CR still needed to ask me the “getting to know your customer” type questions, like “will you use wire transfers, checks, deposit or take out cash,” and confirmed that I was a US citizen, etc.
She noted that they had received a lot of applications the last few days and they were trying to work through them. She also noted that I had entered my mastercard (a Citi DC-with zero available cash advance) to make the initial deposit. So I will see whether the funding goes through or if I need to make a separate desposit.
The email I received with the DocuSign said that my zip code was the passcode (and I think the CSR also told me that, but I’m not 100%)
Thanks! I signed one document successfully, but have to have the rest re-sent to me because I screwed up the authentication the first time.
I applied last week using the ACC “Virginia Chapter” (VACC). Denied next business day. The mailed “adverse action” letter cited ChexSystems and excessive inquiries as to the reason for denial. I verified they did do a Chex inquiry. No hard credit pull was done.
They have $500 of credit card funding available but the application says in at least 3 different places it would be a Cash Advance. I tried it anyway, with my Citi DoubleCash, but it never went through since they did not approve the account.
So, they are Chex-inquiry sensitive. I average about 2 Chex inquiries per month.
Talked to 3 reps today and they confirmed it’s a hard pull. Not sure if they just confuse a hard pull with a soft pull…
I’ve checked Credit Karma, MyEquifax… and the Experian app. Pulled TransUnion via annual credit report… I belong to at least a half dozen identity monitoring websites/services… None have reported a hard pull. Typically when I get a hard pull I get about a half dozen emails right away… Chase, Discover, MasterCard, Credit Sesame, etc. My OPM MyIDCare would have alarmed by now as well.
HP’s on Equifax sometimes takes a couple days. That’s why I used myEquifax to verify it, and I pulled a fresh report, not just looking at an old one.
However, since they didn’t open the account I can’t guarantee they wouldn’t have pulled my credit as part of the process.
Applied Today (11/21/2021). I used G4S as my member of. They got acquired by Brinks so I kinda doubt they’ll be asking for their info. I dont think it pulled my credit. Ill give it a day. They gave me a “final approval” email, but they still want to wait two days to “get final approval” (dont know what that means).
applied today, but did not receive any type of approval detail. I applied as a ACC member. Maybe this is why there isn’t instant approval. Oddly, the application form itself didn’t ask for my ACC membership ID. The email I received contains a link to the application status, which is shown as ‘referred’. So far have not receive any credit notification yet.
I got an update. I was approved, but they want my ID and paystub. I refuse to give them my payroll information. A bank has no right to see what I make. Im pretty sure theyll deny me, but no hard credit inquiry for others
the email they sent me requests driver’s license. Pay stub OR util bill OR a couple other things. And ACC certificate. But I’m trying to figure out how to send them. Doesn’t seem to be a place to download??
I received the same message, and it asks for three document
– driver license
– VACC certificate
– proof of residence
For proof of residence I uploaded a bank statement. Will see if that works.
When you login to your online account (the one you setup during the application process), there is a tab allowing you to upload document.
Desert Rat
thanks, Daniel. I’m such a tech idiot I would never have figured that out!
Does not seem to be a HP. You can provide other forms of proof of residency such as utility bill.
How many Chex inq do u have? Hard pull?
Do you have to be a senator to join?
Looks like you can join for free via the ACC. I haven’t applied yet because I want to know if it’s a hard pull.
From the fine print of the website:
–
–
Not a member? Not sure if you are eligible?
You don’t have to be a Senator, work on Capitol Hill or even be a Federal employee to become eligible for USSFCU membership.
We have partnered with over 100 different businesses, organizations, associations and groups that are eligibile for membership. The American Consumer Council, Virginia Chapter (VACC) is one of those groups. Joining is FREE and only takes minutes.
Follow the instructions below to join:
Go to americanconsumercouncil.org
Click the Join Now button
Fill out the short application—Use Membership Code: USSFCU to waive the $8.00 membership fee
Click Proceed to the Next Step to complete the application process
You will receive an email containing your VACC Membership Number and Certificate (retain for your records). This information will automatically be sent to USSFCU.
Thats it! You are now eligible to become a member of the United States Senate Federal Credit Union.
Thanks for the details man. I was rocking my brain about how to get to the VA part of the USSFCU