Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $250
- Availability: CT only. Must live or work within a 25-mile radius of a Alero branch. More eligibility here.
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $2,500+
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Unknown
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Unknown
- Monthly fees: $5.95, avoidable
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit: None
- Expiration date: December 31, 2026
The Offer
- Alero Financial is offering a $250 bonus when you open a new Alero Plus or Fusion Plus checking account and complete the following requirements:
- Enroll in eStatements within 30 days of checking account open date
- Receive at least $2,500 in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of checking account open date
- Make 15 debit card purchases within 90 days of checking account open date
The Fine Print
- Eligibility: Offer available to new Alero Financial members and existing members who do not currently have an open consumer checking account and who open a new qualifying Alero Plus or Fusion Plus consumer checking account. Existing members with an active consumer checking account, including those who open an additional or secondary checking account, are not eligible. Limit one bonus per member, taxpayer identification number, and household. Employees, volunteers, officials, and directors of Alero Financial are not eligible. Membership eligibility requirements apply.
Bonus Requirements: - To qualify for the $250 bonus, the following requirements must be completed:
- Open a new qualifying Alero Plus or Fusion Plus consumer checking account during the offer period
- Enroll in eStatements within 30 calendar days of account opening • Receive cumulative qualifying direct deposits totaling at least $2,500 within 90 calendar days of account opening
- Complete a minimum of 15 qualifying debit card purchase transactions within 90 calendar days of account opening
- Qualifying Activity Definitions:
- Qualifying direct deposits are recurring electronic deposits made via Automated Clearing House (ACH) from an employer, payroll provider, pension administrator, or government benefits provider (such as Social Security). Transfers between accounts, person-to-person payments (including Zelle® or similar services), mobile check deposits, ATM deposits, and internal transfers do not qualify.
- Qualifying debit card transactions include point-of-sale purchase transactions only. ATM withdrawals, cash advances, refunds, reversals, disputed transactions, and other non-purchase transactions do not qualify.
Bonus Payment:
- The $250 bonus will be deposited into the new qualifying Alero Plus or Fusion Plus consumer checking account within 45 calendar days after all promotional requirements have been met and verified. The account must be open and in good standing at the time of bonus payment.
- All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Monthly Fees
Aero Plus has a $5.95 monthly fee that is waived with a balance requirement but I don’t see what that balance requirement is?
Early Account Termination Fee
I didn’t see a fee schedule so unsure if there is any EATF.
Our Verdict
Used to be called CAFCU & might be ChexSystems sensitive (hat tip to reader Gadget)?
Hat tip to reader Doug
Useful posts regarding bank bonuses:
- A Beginners Guide To Bank Account Bonuses
- 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 Calculate And Share Your ChexSystems Datapoints
- 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
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WF Did you get a hard pull with the denial? If so what bureau?
Updates on your app?
I have a letter coming in the mail and haven’t received any other account communications so assuming it’s a denial
07/24/26 – Applied OOS, pending. 07/29/26 – Called, on hold for 15 minutes. Chat option, told I was Declined (no reason given). No funding option appeared on the application. No Chex security questions. No Selfie or DL photos. Chex pulled instantly. Chex: 7/1, 14/2, 19/3, 23/4, 27/5, 31/6 No Hard pull, had Equifax and TransUnion frozen. Will need to apply for membership first and then if approved you open the checking, per member services. On hold I heard a message that this credit union and another CU recently merged, I couldn’t clearly hear the name of the other.
Mike chex?
RIP. Thank you for your service.
Mike Any updates on your application?
i dont think they have branches in ct so if you have to be within 25 miles of a branch i dont think you can in ct
Turns out there’s also one at 7021 W 79th, Burbank IL 60459, which is about 20 miles from downtown and even points a little further north. Gonna give it a go and will report back.
Are you within 25 miles or trying The Hope Group eligibility?
Do you know which bureau it was, Exqifax, Experian or TransUnion? Thanks.
Thank you for your service. Hope you will get approved.
Got a hard pull notification after applying today so buyer beware. Hope it’s at least approved as I’m in IL.
Alero branches in the Chicago area are huddled around Elgin for those in the area and curious about the 25 mi radius.
$5.95 monthly fee unless you maintain $3,000.00 in the account
Following for OOS via The Hope Group & if this is a credit hard pull.
I was told they were a hard pull when they were still CAFCU, so not sure if that has changed or not.
Looks like you need to maintain 3k or 5k daily balance to avoid monthly fee. https://www.alerofinancial.org/docs/default-source/disclosures/feeschedule_web.pdf?sfvrsn=44cb964a_8