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Bank bonus · complete source review

Guardian

[AL] Guardian Credit Union $300 Checking Bonus

Offer at a glance Maximum bonus amount: $300 Availability: : membership open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in one of the 16 counties we serve, including: Autauga, Butler, Chilton, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Pike, Russell, and Tallapoosa counties. Direct deposit required: Yes, $2,500+ Additional requirements: None Hard/soft pull: Unknown ChexSystems: Unknown Credit […]

Offer at a glance

Maximum bonus$300
AvailabilityAL
RequirementDirect deposit required: Yes, $2,500+ Additional requirements: None Hard/soft pull: Unknown ChexSystems: Unknown Credit […]
Account typeChecking
Annual feeNone listed
Difficultyeasy
ExpirationNo stated expiry
Community activity0 reports today

Offer at a glance

  • Maximum bonus amount: $300
  • Availability: : membership open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in one of the 16 counties we serve, including: Autauga, Butler, Chilton, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Pike, Russell, and Tallapoosa counties.
  • Direct deposit required: Yes, $2,500+
  • Additional requirements: None 
  • Hard/soft pull: Unknown 
  • ChexSystems: Unknown
  • Credit card funding: Unknown
  • Monthly fees: None 
  • Early account termination fee: None listed
  • Household limit: None listed
  • Expiration date: None listed 

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Guardian Credit Union is offering a $300 bonus when you open a new checking account or increase your direct deposit to an existing account:
    • Open a new Guardian checking account and establish recurring payroll direct deposits totaling at least $2,500 per month for two consecutive months.
    • Simply establish or increase your recurring payroll direct deposits so that qualifying payroll direct deposits total at least $2,500 per month for two consecutive months

The Fine Print

  • The $300 bonus will be deposited into the qualifying checking account within fifteen (15) business days following the end of the second qualifying month. For example, if qualifying direct deposits are received in September and October, the bonus will be paid within the first fifteen business days of November. 
  • Early ACH is dependent upon when Guardian receives file from payroll provider. If the account is negative at the time the payroll is deposited, access to the entire paycheck amount will not be available, as it will be applied to negative account balance first. 
  • This is a limited time offer and may be modified or discontinued without notice. Limit 1 Bonus per primary member. Bonus not available to existing account holders who meet requirements prior to August 1st. The checking account must be open and in good standing at the time the bonus is paid. Bonus will be reported as income. Bonus is available for consumer accounts only. Business accounts do not qualify.
  • All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them

Avoiding Fees

Monthly Fees

Simplified checking has no monthly fees. 

Early Account Termination Fee

I didn’t see any EATF in the fee schedule.

Our Verdict

Always nice when they make existing account holders eligible as well. Some readers might have an account from the high yield checking account that we’ve previously posted about. 

Hat tip to reader Bockrr

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Community notes

3 reports & comments

Newest-first by default, because “is it still working?” matters most.

FI
Fishsticks#2387628

Fantastic DP and yes, poor Louis indeed. Appreciate you testing it out, sounds like this one’s a pass

CF
CF#2387200

I gave it a shot for the sake of DOC and received an email from someone named Louis today saying I wasn’t eligible based on my current address, but offering to schedule a call to see if I might still be eligible (odd). Louis also mentioned that they’re the only person handling these requests and that calls need to be scheduled well in advance. This guy is CLEARLY overwhelmed, so I think we should all hold off for now and see if anyone OOS from DOC actually ends up getting approved. Poor Louis.

FI
Fishsticks#2385901

Anyone attempt to open the account with “Other” selected for membership eligibility option? Selecting that option didn’t result in any follow up questions and I’m able to get all the way to the Agree & Submit/disclosures page of the app. I’d try myself but have some other apps currently I’m leaving bureaus thawed for and don’t want to risk any pulls before end of next week.

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