Update 6/8/25: Bonus now $400. Hat tip to reader J
Extended to Dec 31.
Extended to September 30, 2024
Update 4/2/24: Extended until June 30, 2024
Update 1/4/24: March 31, 2024
Update 5/31/23: Extended until December 31, 2023.
Update 5/24/23: Deal is back and valid until 5/31/23.
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount:Â $250
- Availability: WA only
- Direct deposit required:Â Yes, $100+
- Additional requirements:Â See below
- Hard/soft pull:Â Unknown
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Mixed datapoints
- Monthly fees:Â $0-$5, avoidable
- Early account termination fee:Â None listed
- Household limit:Â None listed
- Expiration date:Â None listed
Contents
The Offer
- WECU is offering a checking bonus of $400.
- Open a spend plus checking account and receive a direct deposit of $1,000 or more
open a new True Blue Rewards account, set up and receive a direct deposit of $100 or more into that new account within sixty (60) days of account opening and receive a $250 bonusopen a new Spend Free account, set up and receive a direct deposit of $100 or more into that new account within sixty (60) days of account opening and receive a $100 bonus
The Fine Print
- Offer is available for a limited time to qualifying individuals who have not been a member in the last twelve (12) months. Requirements to receive the $250 bonus: open a new True Blue Rewards account, set up and receive a direct deposit of $100 or more into that new account within sixty (60) days of account opening. Bonus will be deposited into the account on day 61, if requirements are met. Offer expires December 31, 2022. WECU may change or discontinue this offer without notice.
- Offer is available for a limited time to qualifying individuals who have not been a member in the last twelve (12) months. Requirements to receive the $100 bonus: open a new Spend Free account, set up and receive a direct deposit of $100 or more into that new account within sixty (60) days of account opening. Bonus will be deposited into the account on day 61, if requirements are met. Offer expires December 31, 2022. WECU may change or discontinue this offer without notice.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
- First step checking has no monthly fees
- True Blue Rewards checking has a $5 monthly fee, this is waived with a direct deposit of $100+
Early Account Termination Fee
I didn’t see any early account termination fee in the fee schedule.
Our Verdict
Seems like an easy bonus to trigger, although keep the account fee free with a direct deposit is a little bit annoying but worse case you can just pay a $5 fee.
Hat tip to reader Cyril
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
They pull credit from Experian. If you have freezes on your Experian account, they will reject your checking application.
Any datapoints on what worked as direct deposit? Please share what worked for you. Thanks.
Funded $5k on an Ink while OOS using a referral. Approved instantly.
I’m not sure what happened but I funded the account with $1000 from US Bank SMartly credit card. Everything seemed fine but then a week later WECU closed my account and sent me a $1000 check with a letter that they detected some discrepencies in my identity. Oh well.
Has anyone successfully opened an account out of state using a referral? There are a few comments below stating that the referral program is back
Was not able to fund with CC. The online application accepted $5k deposit via US Bank smartly CC, and opened the account. After a few days there was no balance on the WECU account and the pending charge on the CC disappeared.
US Bank cards typically aren’t recommended for bank funding in general.
same thing happened to me, disappointing
Any recent DPs on chex sensitivity?
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wa-only-wecu-250-checking-bonus/#comment-2062349
Tried to refer somebody, but got an error message: Sorry, you are not eligible to share
Try incognito mode
Tried and it did not work.
There is a referral program now. I confirmed with the chat agent that it stacks with the $400 checking bonus for an extra $50. But not sure if out of state can open it using the referral. message me at rohitjack140 @gmail
I am not sure the referral will stack with the $400: Source: on this page: https://offers.wecu.com/refer-checking-website-home-page
it says: “Offer not redeemable with any other new member offer”
Chat agents may or may not know what they are talking about… that being said, if anyone wants to try, feel free to HMU for a referral link.
chatted with the new account after referral for P2 and agent confirmed it again. Now need to wait for 60 days
How to stack? The referral link does not show the $400 bonus offer.
Anyone able to use Amex business card for the deposit? I have to meet the requirements for Amex Delta Gold business one. But not sure if it will work out
Amex will definitely not work