Update 10/6/26: Bonus now $400. Valid through 12/31/2026. Hat tip to reader joe
Update 7/2/26: Bonus now $250.
Update 5/28/26: New $200 bonus is available until 6/30/26. Requires opening a checking account this time and a direct deposit but says “monthly non-payroll ACH or payroll allotment totaling at least $500 and recurring for at least 3 out of 4 consecutive months”. Hat tip to reader E
Extended to 01/01/2026
Offer at a glance
- Maximum bonus amount: $200
- Availability: Nationwide but must be eligible for NFCU membership.
- Direct deposit required: Yes, $500+ and recurring for 3 months out of 4
- Additional requirements: None
- Hard/soft pull: Mixed reports
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit card funding: Can fund up to $250 with a credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Discover)
- Monthly fees: None
- Early account termination fee: None
- Household limit: None
- Expiration date: November 30, 2025
The Offer
- Navy Federal Credit Union is offering a $400 bonus when you become a new member and open a new checking account with promo code CHK26SRC and complete direct deposit requirements.
- You may qualify for direct deposit if you have (1) a recurring ACH from employer, military pay, or certain government agency pay or benefits in your name that is deposited into a Navy Federal deposit account where you are Primary or Secondary Owner; OR (2) mobile deposits, ATM deposits, branch deposits, or payments from the FedNow® Payment network, the Real Time Payment network, or third-party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Navy Federal Credit Union Debit Card, totaling at least $500 and recurring for at least 3 out of 4 consecutive months that are deposited into Navy Federal deposit accounts where you are Primary Owner; OR (3) monthly non-payroll ACH or payroll allotment totaling at least $500 and recurring for at least 3 out of 4 consecutive months that are deposited into Navy Federal deposit accounts where you are Primary Owner; OR (4) monthly non-payroll ACH or payroll allotment totaling at least $500 and recurring for at least 3 out of 4 consecutive months that are deposited into Navy Federal deposit accounts where you are Secondary Owner
The Fine Print
- Offer valid 10/1/2026–12/31/2026 and can expire anytime without prior notice.
- Must be 18 years of age or older. To qualify for the $400 bonus, complete each of the following items: 1) Join Navy Federal online, in branch, or by phone using promo code CHK26SRC between 10/1/2026 and 12/31/2026, 2) Open a checking account (as primary owner) by 12/31/2026, AND 3) Complete qualifying direct deposit transactions, as defined below, by 4/30/2027.
- Offer not valid for existing members or applicants whose Membership Share Savings account was closed within 270 days prior to establishing new membership.
- Navy Federal membership is open to members of the Coast Guard, all Department of Defense uniformed personnel, reservists, Active Duty, retired, Veterans, Army and Air National Guard, DoD civilian employees, contractors, and their immediate family
- . $5 minimum balance is required to open and maintain Membership Savings Account and to obtain bonus.
- If you have not funded your new Membership Savings Account at the time the bonus is credited, we will hold the minimum $5 share required for your membership. Membership Savings Account Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is 0.25%. Checking account APY vary depending on the checking account selected. For example, our Free Easy Checking account earns a 0.05% APY. Or earn a 0.01% APY on a Free EveryDay Checking account. APYs accurate as of 8/14/2026. Fees may reduce earnings, and rates may change. Other restrictions may apply.
- Limit one (1) $400 bonus per member
- . New member must be the primary account owner of the checking account to qualify.
- Checking account must remain open and with a positive balance at the time of bonus crediting.
- It may take up to 120 days to confirm your direct deposit establishment. Recipient is solely responsible for any personal tax liability resulting from the acceptance of this bonus. Navy Federal does not provide tax advice.
- You may qualify for direct deposit if you have (1) a recurring ACH from employer, military pay, or certain government agency pay or benefits in your name that is deposited into a Navy Federal deposit account where you are Primary or Secondary Owner; OR (2) mobile deposits, ATM deposits, branch deposits, or payments from the FedNow® Payment network, the Real Time Payment network, or third-party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Navy Federal Credit Union Debit Card, totaling at least $500 and recurring for at least 3 out of 4 consecutive months that are deposited into Navy Federal deposit accounts where you are Primary Owner; OR (3) monthly non-payroll ACH or payroll allotment totaling at least $500 and recurring for at least 3 out of 4 consecutive months that are deposited into Navy Federal deposit accounts where you are Primary Owner; OR (4) monthly non-payroll ACH or payroll allotment totaling at least $500 and recurring for at least 3 out of 4 consecutive months that are deposited into Navy Federal deposit accounts where you are Secondary Owner
- 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 to worry about.
Early Account Termination Fee
Unsure if there is any EATF.
Our Verdict
Suspect most readers that are eligible are already members, but can always share the deal with loved ones who are eligible that haven’t signed up yet.
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
Can confirm that it was a BoA CCR purchase. And received the online category bonus.
How can I see my account # in online banking?
Yea yea, you cannot withdraw that $5 in the first place. It’s not shown in the available balance. Only when you close the acct, they’ll mail you a $5 check.
$5 minimum balance is required to keep the account open and be eligible for the bonus.
am interested in knowing 2
Yes, denials. With effort, I just mean I am focusing on this a lot and making $50k is not bad, but when I hear other people are making 50k per each player makes me wonder if I am doing anything wrong. I still can’t wrap my mind how is someone doing 50k per player, when there is only a tot amount of bonuses and denials along the way
Are you getting a lot of denials, or what do you mean about effort/doing something wrong?
Any trick to bypass the membership requirement….? I’m an international student. There’s no way to meet the membership criteria….
Very nice. Dang, Jack🔗 we suck lol.
Congrats! Never would have thought VA was such a big market. I am in FL and everyone keeps saying we have too many offers but not really. They are either chex sensitive or scattered around. Not sure what I m doing wrong ( not that 50k a year for two I am complaining) but considering how much effort I am putting in, I question what am I missing to bump those figures. I also do OOS but not all of them. Just the ones there are enough DPs that they accept.has travelling to other areas helped you out? Do you have a lot of referrals too? Super Pirate formerly SP 🔗 .
It’s per player. I just got 2 players. This is my second year. First year it was 36k ish per player if I exclude the CC bonuses. But I think 45k is the max one can make in VA with some OOS help lol. There are big players here who would definitely be making more than that bcoz they got the right knowledge and experience of so many years. They know how to play the game and take steps the right way 😊
Am I still eligible for membership if the Veteran or Servicemember in my family is deceased? Yes, you’re still eligible for membership. Keep in mind you may be asked to submit documentation like a DD-214 form proving your deceased family member would have been eligible for membership.
Is this only you or plus P2? Not sure what you are doing but if only by yourself, $50k a year is crazy. Is this your first year? I am hitting pretty hard and including P2 we are shy of $50k a year ( this is 4th year) This is including CC Subs but without Interest earned or deals which I don’t do often Super Pirate formerly SP 🔗
Its not USAA, they don’t have to have ever been a member or be alive to count for membership.
BoA seems to only enforce targeted offers sometimes. I’m jealous. I just opened in August. Hopefully there’ll be some DPs by that point. lol
Very nice. I guess the biggy is whether or not they’d enforce that targeted language. Looks like I last closed BoA on 1/27/26 so I would theoretically have a few days to try to get into this bonus lol.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/bank-of-america-100-500-checking-bonus/
Google Sheets too. I like to be able to work on it while at work on desktop and on my phone when out somewhere. I have long used it for my normal life budget/planning stuff so it’s easy for me. I did include the Kudos on mine (well, when it pays out I will) because I only did that one specifically for bonus plays lol. Same with the portals with Chime, etc.
What’s the $1k BoA?
Texas fewer deals? Don’t joke 🙂 Texas has got a mine of bonuses. Most without a doubt.
I waited on this but didn’t wait on BofA. Now, it looks like people are going to be able to get $1k (if it’s not target).
James How do you track your bonuses? I use Google Sheets. One sheet has credit card sign up info and then I have one for bank accounts. I don’t really include cashback offers if it’s not for a bank like Chime or Varo (so I can track when I last opened/closed). Like I didn’t record the Kudos Registered Agents or Cap1 T-Mobile Home Internet offers but I did record Airwallex.
I completed the application (thanks for your service cousin and grandpa!). I entered the promo code dueing the process, but not sure if it went through correctly. I can’t find anything in the app or website that has tracking for the bonus. I assume once I receive paperwork I can look there, but anyone know how the bonus is represented once approved for the account and having online banking set up?
Wow. We pale in comparison. James Not sure if I’m not grinding enough or if it has to do with us being in Texas where there’s fewer deals? lol Super Pirate formerly SP 🔗 You’re counting CC SUBs, cashback offers, etc too?
Promo is through 12/31. If you open an account that day, you have three months to complete. That makes the end of March. There is some mention of up to 120 days for them to verify, so that puts it towards the end of July.
😂😂
Yes, but make it monthly recurring to be safe.
> What is the application process? A standard Blend application. No chex pull. Soft credit pull. No ID/face scan >How do they verify eligibility? IME (and many DP’s), no eligibility check > but I see no requirement to leave it there? No minimum overall balance requirement? No balance-maintenance requirement for the $500 deposits and no debit-card spending requirement.
Once after meeting the requirements, I’d just leave a few cents in the account and forget about it.
“ Offer not valid for existing members or applicants whose Membership Share Savings account was closed within 270 days prior to establishing new membership”