Best Credit Union Bonus Promotions (March 2023)

For many years, credit unions didn’t get as much attention as commercial banks. They are typically smaller, limited to a small regional footprint, and they tend to focus more on their existing members rather than trying to entice more people to join.

But as credit unions gain in popularity, we’re starting to see them increase their marketing budgets and, this point being more appropriate for you right now, their bonuses.

In fact, just a few years ago, I didn’t see that many credit unions offering a new account bonus.

Today, you can find several very popular bonuses from credit unions with very liberal membership policies.

Here are some of the best bonuses:

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🔃UPDATED: Updated the details and expiration dates of several offers on this page.

About Credit Union Membership Rules

With commercial banks, there are no “membership rules.” That’s a credit union rule. For an institution to be a credit union, they must (among other rules) restrict membership to a subset of the whole population. There’s no rule on how they restrict it – there just has to be a restriction.

With commercial banks, there are no such rules. When you see a bank only offer accounts in certain states, that’s simply because they are only allowed to operate in those states.

With a credit union, you have to gain membership eligibility through another organization. For example, PSECU is the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union and membership was originally restricted to Pennsylvania state employees. It has since expanded to include individuals who have joined the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) – and PSECU will even pay your membership dues.

PSECU still restricts its membership, thus keeping with the rules, but anyone can join because anyone can join the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society. Many credit unions do this, though few will also pay the membership due.

It’s a small price to pay to join a credit union, but a hoop you must jump through.

Now, onto the best credit union bonuses!

PSECU – $300

The Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) $300 bonus promotion is really easy to get.

You get $100 for each “level” and the levels are:

1. Level 1 – Join PSECU by clicking this link to visit the site and joining them using the promo code LEVELUP. Once you’ve joined, add a free checking account ($5 minimum deposit) with a debit card and log into digital banking within 30 days to get the $100 bonus. Finally, activate your debit card.
2. Level 2 – Establish one or more qualifying payroll direct deposits that together total $200 per calendar month, all within 90 days of establishing membership.
3. Level 3 – Maintain the qualifying payroll direct deposit(s) for 90 days after initial deposit.

See terms and conditions at go.psecu.com/levelup.

👉 Learn more about this offer

(Offer expires 12/31/2023)

Alliant “FastPass” Promotion – up to $400

Alliant Credit Union’s best promotion is a four step “fast-pass” promotion that will net you up to $400 if you meet each of the conditions by March 31st, 2023.

Make sure to use the promo code FASTPASS:

1. Open a savings account by March 31, 2023 plus have a minimum $1000 savings average daily balance on April 30, 2023 to earn a $100 bonus
2. Open a checking account by March 31, 2023 plus have a minimum $100 checking average daily balance on April 30, 2023 to earn a $100 bonus
3. Open a certificate by March 31, 2023 plus maintain a minimum $1000 certificate balance on April 30, 2023 to earn a $100 bonus
4. Deposit a minimum of $10,000 total across any of these three accounts by March 31, 2023 and maintain this minimum balance until April 30, 2023 to earn a $100 bonus.

If you are an existing Alliant member, you can still earn up to $400 by doing steps 2 – 3.

👉 Learn more about this offer

(Offer expires 3/31/2023)

BluPeak Credit Union- up to $300

BluPeak Credit Union started as USECU in 1936 for the benefit of San Diego’s Division of Highway employees, but has since expanded to several categories of state employees, including students, alumni, staff, and faculty of the University of California. They changed their name from USECU to BluPeak in late 2022.

It does not have any affiliated organizations you can join but the eligibility criteria is quite large – if you are a resident of California you may qualify.

To get this tiered bonus:

1. Open a new checking account (promo code NewMover) with eStatements – get $50
2. Set up direct deposit of at least $250 within 90 days – get $50
3. Keep your account open for 6 months – get $100
4. Keep your account open for 1 year – get $100

If you complete all the requirements, that’s $300.

👉 Learn more about this offer

(Offer does not show an expiration date)

KeyPoint Credit Union – $300

KeyPoint Credit Union is a California-based credit union that got its started in 1979 as AEA Credit Union. It has now grown to 7 branches and over 63,000 members.

They have a $300 offer that is split up into a series of three bonuses:

1. Open a new checking account with a $25 minimum deposit – get $50
2. Gain eligibility when you join the Financial Fitness Association – KeyPoint will seamlessly arrange for your enrollment in the FFA and there is no cost to you,
3. Set up a direct deposit of at least $1,000 within 50 days – get $200
4. Make 40 or more purchase transactions within three months after account opening – get $50

👉 Learn more about this offer

(Offer expires 12/31/2022)

Provident Credit Union – $300

Provident Credit Union is of the largest credit unions in California and was founded in 1950 to service the California Teachers Association. It now has over 133,000 members.

To get $300, you must:

1. Open a new account with promo code 9772 and deposit a minimum of $25 within 60 days from account opening
2. Gain eligibility by joining any number of several dozen organizations listed here
3. Make purchases of $400 or more using a Provident debit and/or credit car^d for two consecutive months, starting the month following your checking account opening
4. Have direct deposits or automatic credits of at least $500 for two consecutive months, starting the month following your checking account opening
5. Enroll in online banking and e-Documents with valid e-mail address

👉 Learn more about this offer

(Offer does not show an expiration date)

Credit Union 1 – $500

CreditUnion1 started in 1958 as a credit union for personnel from Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. It has since grown and expanded through a series of mergers.

To get this bonus:

1. Open an account with CU1 online with code CHK500. (you can also call or visit a branch)
2. Gain eligibility through the  Credit Union 1 Educational Development Association. It’ll cost you $5 fee to join the CU1EDA plus a one time CU1 membership fee of $5. Ten bucks.
3. Set up direct deposit of $1,000 per month for 3 months
4. Get the $500 bonus after the three months, keep the account open for 12 months.

Word of warning – we’ve had readers report that this bonus was difficult to get AND there was a hard inquiry when they opened. Sometimes they were told to visit a branch after trying to open it online. That’s why we listed this one last, despite the high dollar amount.

👉 Learn more about this offer

(Offer expires 2/28/2023)

BECU – $100

BECU is the Boeing Employees’ Credit Union but you don’t have to work at Boeing to get $100 for opening a new account with them.

1. Open a checking and savings account using the promo code CAREERPATH,
2. Gain eligibility by joining KEXP with a one-time donation of $10,
3. Then:
   1. Perform 5 or more qualifying actions from this list:
      1. Make a purchase using your BECU Debit Mastercard®
      2. Write a check or electronic check
      3. Make a payment using bill pay
   2. OR, Deposit $500 or more into your checking account.

The full details of the promotion are in this flyer but the link below takes you to the application page.

👉 Learn more about this offer

(Offer expires 12/31/2022)

SECU – $200 [EXPIRED]

SECU is the Maryland State Employee Credit Union and there is a $200 bonus when you:

1. Open a SECU Total™️ Checking & Rewards account with $10,
2. Gain eligibility by joining the SECU MD Foundation with a one time donation (no amount listed),
3. Sign up for e-statements and set up a qualifying direct deposit of at least $500 a month that posts to your checking account within 9 0days.

👉 Learn more about this offer

(Offer expires 11/30/2022)

SkyOne FCU – $400 [EXPIRED]

SkyOne Federal Credit Union is based out of California but anyone can join it with membership in one of their partner organizations, which they will also pay for. The bonus is a two part bonus with promo code GIFT:

• $300 for a checking account – set up a direct deposit within 30 days and receive $1,000+ in qualifying direct deposit for six cycles (6 months). Account has a $5 monthly fee unless you maintain a minimum balance of $2,500 or have monthly total direct deposits of $1,000 or more.
• $100 for a savings account – maintain a balance of $1,000 for 3 months

The interest rate on both accounts is minimal but the bonus kind of makes up for it. If you want higher rates, SkyOne actually works with SaveBetter for higher rates, especially on their CDs. The bonus is not available through SaveBetter though.

👉 Learn more about this offer

(Offer expires 12/31/2022)

Wings Financial Credit Union – $450 [EXPIRED]

Wings Financial Credit Union has several offers going on at once and it appears you can do them all. The eligibility requirements are easy to meet, you can join the Wings Financial Foundation (and Wings will pay your $5 fee) and then these are the two offers:

$200 Checking Bonus when you open a new checking account by 12/31/2022 with the promo code YEARENDBONUS. Then, within 60 days, set up and receive a direct deposit of $600+ into your new checking account OR maintain an average daily balance of at least $2,000. Enroll in eDocuments and make 5 debit transactions of $25 or more on the debit card.

$100/$200 Certificate of Deposit Bonus when you open a CD account with a term of at least 12 months by 12/31/2022. The bonus is based on the amount of your deposit:

• $10,000 – $24,999 deposit gets you $100
• $25,000+ deposit gets you $200

Finally, there’s a $50 Refer-a-friend checking bonus. I don’t have an account so you’ll have to find someone who does to get it (you can check our Facebook group). That one requires you to open a Share Savings Account and Checking account, enroll in eDocuments, complete a direct deposit of $300+ OR complete 5 debit card transactions of $5+.

I’ve read reports that Wings will initiate a hard inquiry when you open an account.

👉 Learn more about this offer