Update 7/18/26: Deal is back until December 31, 2026. Hat tip to reader retired
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $300
- Availability: Anyone who lives, works or worships in Sacramento, Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Amador, Yuba, Yolo, Sutter, San Joaquin, Solano, Sierra, and Contra Costa counties is eligible for membership at First U.S. Also, Federal employees throughout the State of California, select employee groups, and SAFEWAY employees in Northern California and Northern Nevada are welcome to join.
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $500
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Hard pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: None
- Monthly fees: None with eStatements
- Early account termination fee: Unknown
- Household limit: None listed
- Expiration date: Dec. 31, 2024
The Offer
- First US Community Credit Union is offering a $300 bonus when you open a new checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Use promo code BTF300
- Receive a direct deposit of $500+ within 90 days
The Fine Print
- Cash bonus offer valid from August 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024 when a new personal checking account is opened with a direct deposit of $500 or more within 90 days.
- Account can be opened at a First U.S. branch, online or via phone using code BTF300.
- Must qualify for membership. Membership requires you maintain $25 in a Member Share (Savings) account.
- Offer is limited to one per member and account.
- Offer is not available for existing First U.S. members with a personal checking account.
- Cash bonus will be reported to the IRS for tax purposes.
- Offer can be changed or canceled without notice at any time.
- Your account must be open, in good standing and have a balance greater than zero when the cash bonus is paid.
- Deposits processed as a debit card credit or via Account to Account or Peer to Peer (e.g. Zelle®, Venmo) transfers 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
This account has no monthly fees with eStatements.
Early Account Termination Fee
I wasn’t able to find a fee schedule so unsure if there is any early account termination fee.
Our Verdict
Previously there was a $100 referral bonus but that required opening in branch. This is significantly better especially as it can be opened online as well. Unfortunately it’s a hard pull with no credit card funding. Will be added to our list of the best bank bonuses.
Hat tip to ShawntheShawn
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
Chex stats: Past 36 months: 64 Past 30 months: 51 Past 24 months: 35 Past 18 months: 22 Past 12 months: 18 Past 06 months: 9 Past 03 months: 5 Past 01 months: 1
Approved! Initially in-branch, but their system couldn’t see that my Chex had been unfrozen so I had to follow up via phone almost a week later. Moderate grilling of Chex after the system auto denied me, but the guy that I worked with was able to override that. In the field of membership but about 1.5 hours away from a branch. $5 opening deposit via ACH. No hardpull
$600 posted as purchase on Citi DC
7/18 – Applied and went pending 7/21 – Got a phone call a couple days later to discuss the application but I couldn’t pick up. 7/27 – Got an email a day later to upload W2 for verification. 7/30 – Got another email to sign account agreement and fund the account. Can fund with credit card max $600. Used CDC, will update if purchase. All 3 bureaus frozen, no HP.
That’s freaking adorable. Mine updated from we will contact you to contact us. No email. Haven’t called yet.
Sent me a Docusign. Got my hopes up. But it’s a Docusign for a Chex denial.
Sorry, I couldn’t possibly remember my chex numbers from then, but the note I left on my spreadsheet says that was the reason. I am in footprint.
Thanks ChannelZ28 Did they cite Chex? If so, mind sharing approximate numbers from Oct 2024? Are you in footprint?
Just in case you’re still wondering, 2 years later, I did not get approved.
You can freeze to prevent HP, it may not give you an approval, but you can freeze it to see if HP still needed.
Yea, through a family member
Anybody want to give step-brother a referral? stevejmc@gmail.com
Not sure if it worth it to do a HP for a $300 potential bonus.
I’m in the pending camp, but I don’t believe I received a hard inquiry. Potentially bad sign (likely declined) with a silver lining that I at least didn’t get dinged? Pretty LOL/24, but in the footprint.
Is there any way to get in if you don’t live in one of those counties or work for one of those organizations?
No response thus far.
Were you denied or approved?
So you were approved w/o a HP?
Were you approved?
Thanks, removed.
William Charles , you left a stray requirement for 15 debit purchases from the template you used. I don’t think it applies here?
*no
Application went pending. Definitely a HP, got dinged from Experian. No CC funding.
HP thanx!
Hard pull was immediately applied during the application