Some credit unions pay bonuses of $200 to $400 for a new checking account, but most come with a membership rule and a direct deposit or debit card minimum. If you want a bonus without joining anything, start with Current. Below you’ll find the bank bonuses worth comparing first, then the credit union promotions we checked on each credit union’s own page.
If you just want the answer: Current if you want a bonus with no membership, CIT Bank if you want an online savings account, Raisin if you want to shop savings and CD rates at many banks at once. The credit union offers start at Clearview and run through 7 in all.
Get $75 with new direct deposit, with no credit union to join
- $75 bonus with code WELCOME75 after $1,500 or more in payroll direct deposits in your first 35 days (new users only)
- Paycheck Advance up to $1,000 for eligible customers
- 40,000+ fee-free ATMs
Current is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services come from Cross River Bank, Member FDIC.
Open an online savings account at a division of First Citizens Bank
- $100 to open a Savings Connect account
- FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor, for each ownership category
- Entirely digital, with online banking and a mobile app
CIT Bank is a division of First Citizens Bank, Member FDIC.
Shop savings and CD rates at 100+ banks from one login
- $1 to open and no platform fees
- Pass-through FDIC or NCUA insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, subject to certain conditions
- Register by Nov 30 with code STACK for up to $1,000 on a $10,000+ deposit held 90 days
Raisin is a marketplace and is not an FDIC-insured bank.
Bank Bonuses Worth Comparing
These three are open to anyone, so there is no membership to qualify for. Only Current and Raisin list a sign-up bonus, and both have conditions, so read them before you open.
Current
$75 bonus, code WELCOME75Get a $75 bonus and paid up to 2 days early, with no credit union to join
at Current, a fintech. Banking by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC
Details, pros and cons
Why we like it: Current pays a $75 bonus with code WELCOME75 once you get $1,500 or more in payroll direct deposits in your first 35 days. Anyone can sign up, so you skip the membership rules that come with credit unions.
- $75 bonus with code WELCOME75 once you get $1,500 or more in payroll direct deposits in your first 35 days (new users only, paid within 10 business days)
- Get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit (a delay at your employer or their bank can delay your money)
- Paycheck Advance up to $1,000 for eligible customers, with at least one payroll deposit of $200 or more in the last 35 days
- 40,000+ fee-free ATMs
- Current is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC
- Only payroll direct deposits count toward the bonus. P2P transfers, mobile check deposits and one-time deposits don’t
- The bonus can’t be combined with a referral offer
CIT Bank Savings Connect
Online savings from a division of First Citizens Bank, with $100 to open
at CIT Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, Member FDIC
Details, pros and cons
Why we like it: CIT Bank Savings Connect is an online savings account from a division of First Citizens Bank, so your money sits at an FDIC-insured bank. It takes $100 to open, and you manage it online or in the mobile app. It isn’t a sign-up bonus, but it’s a place to park the bonus money you earn.
- $100 to open a Savings Connect account
- FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor, for each account ownership category, through First Citizens Bank (Member FDIC)
- Entirely digital, with online banking and a mobile app
- CIT’s page didn’t list a sign-up bonus for this account
- The rate is variable and CIT can change it at any time without notice, so check its page for the current APY
- Fees could reduce earnings on the account, so read CIT’s fee schedule before you open it
Raisin
Up to $1,000, code STACKOpen savings accounts and CDs at 100+ banks and credit unions from one login
at Raisin, a marketplace and not an FDIC-insured bank
Details, pros and cons
Why we like it: Raisin isn’t a bank itself. It’s a marketplace where you can open high-yield savings and CDs at 100+ partner banks and credit unions, so you can shop rates in one place instead of one bank at a time.
- $1 to open and no platform fees
- High-yield and no-penalty CDs from many banks in one spot
- Deposits get pass-through FDIC or NCUA insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, subject to certain conditions
- Register by Nov 30 with code STACK and it offers up to $1,000 if you deposit $10,000 or more and hold it for 90 days
- Raisin itself is not an FDIC-insured bank
- It’s for savings and CDs, so you’ll still need a checking account somewhere else
- The $1,000 bonus needs a $10,000 deposit and a 90-day hold
More Credit Union Bonus Promotions
These are checking bonuses straight from the credit unions. You have to qualify for membership at each one, and the bonus usually needs a direct deposit or a set number of debit purchases, so read the requirements before you open. They’re ordered from the biggest bonus to the smallest.
Clearview FCU
$412 when you open a new Absolute Checking account with code 412
on Clearview FCU’s site
Details, pros and cons
Why we like it: Clearview is Pittsburgh’s largest credit union, and its bonus is easy to size up: one electronic deposit of $412 or more and four debit purchases in your first 60 days.
- No payroll direct deposit is named in the offer, just $412 or more deposited electronically within 60 days
- Monthly service fee is waived when you meet the monthly requirements
- Get paid up to 2 days early, and eight surcharge-free transactions a month at in-network ATMs outside Clearview
- Not valid for existing members
- You also have to sign up for digital banking and eStatements
- It’s a Pittsburgh-area credit union with 27 Southwest PA locations, so check that you qualify for membership first
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
$400 for opening a new Free Checking account
on MIDFLORIDA’s site
Details, pros and cons
Why we like it: MIDFLORIDA pays the second-biggest bonus on this list, but you have to bring a large direct deposit to get it.
- No monthly maintenance fee on Free Checking
- Free Early Paycheck service gets your direct deposit up to 2 days earlier
- Bonus is paid within 90 days of account opening
- You need a single direct deposit of $4,000 or more, and Cash App transfers don’t count
- 40 debit card purchases are required, and ATM transactions don’t count
- You also have to enroll in online banking and eStatements, and it’s a Florida credit union
SECU Maryland
$350 when you open a Total Checking & Rewards account with code SECU350
on SECU Maryland’s site
Details, pros and cons
Why we like it: SECU’s Total Checking & Rewards account comes with a $350 offer for a limited time, plus cash back and a big free ATM network.
- 50,000+ free nationwide ATMs and one order of free checks per year
- Debit cash back, plus a $10 monthly statement credit with the Cash Back Visa
- Combined balances across your accounts count toward the account’s benefits
- The page we read didn’t spell out the requirements for the $350, so read SECU’s terms before you open
- It’s a limited-time offer and SECU can end it
- SECU is a Maryland credit union, so check that you qualify for membership
PSECU
$300, code 2026PROMO$300 new member bonus with code 2026PROMO
on PSECU’s site
Details, pros and cons
Why we like it: PSECU’s bonus is a plain one: open a savings and a checking account with the promo code and get two qualifying payroll direct deposits of $500 or more.
- Recurring deposits from an employer, Social Security and pensions all count as qualifying direct deposits
- Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are 18 or older
- You have to finish everything within 100 days of joining, and the $300 can take up to 145 days to arrive
- P2P and bank-to-bank transfers don’t count toward the deposits
- Your membership application has to be started by Dec 31, 2026
Florida Credit Union
$300 for a new checking account with $500 in direct deposits
on Florida Credit Union’s site
Details, pros and cons
Why we like it: Florida Credit Union’s $300 needs only $500 in direct deposits, which is a low bar for a bonus this size.
- Only $500 in cumulative direct deposits is needed, and it can be a paycheck, pension or government benefit
- Free membership for anyone in its 48-county Florida field of membership
- The account has to stay open and in good standing for 90 days before the $300 posts
- Anyone who had an FCU checking account in the past 24 months doesn’t qualify
- Cash App, Venmo and PayPal payments don’t count as direct deposit, and the $300 is reported as interest on a 1099-INT
A+ Federal Credit Union
Up to $250Up to $250 for a new Cash-Back Checking account
on A+FCU’s site
Details, pros and cons
Why we like it: A+FCU pays $50 when you open the account and another $200 once your payroll deposits reach $800, so you can pocket part of the bonus before the hard part.
- $50 lands in your Membership Savings Account when you open Cash-Back Checking, and $200 more within a week of $800 in payroll deposits
- Unlimited cash back on debit purchases, with no monthly fees or minimum balance
- If you work for a participating employer, promo code 2026SEG250 opens the $250 version of the offer
- The $800 has to arrive as payroll direct deposit within 30 consecutive days, and it has to start within 60 days of opening
- If you close the account within 180 days, the bonus is taken back
- Offer ends Dec 31, 2026, and it’s for new members only, one per household
Community First Credit Union
$200 for a new checking account, with no direct deposit required
on Community First’s site
Details, pros and cons
Why we like it: Community First is the one credit union here that doesn’t make you set up direct deposit, which helps if your pay goes somewhere else.
- No direct deposit needed, just $1,000 in deposits of any kind and 10 debit card transactions
- No minimum balance and no monthly maintenance fees
- The $200 is credited on or around day 91 to 97 after you open the account
- You have to use code FREECHECK when you apply online, or mention the offer if you apply in person
- Anyone with an existing or previously closed Community First checking account isn’t eligible
- It’s a limited-time offer from a Florida credit union, so check that you qualify for membership
Requirements for Credit Union Membership
Unlike private banks and even national banks, credit unions restrict their membership based on their own requirements beyond just financial qualifications. These often vary from location to membership in specific organizations that the credit union may partner with. For example, Navy Federal Credit Union offers membership to active military members and their families. That membership hurdle matters more than people expect if you are after credit unions that offer trust accounts, because you have to qualify before you can open anything.
Many credit unions also award membership based on where you work or live. If you’re a freelancer, you may not qualify for the career requirements, but you could potentially qualify if you live in a specific county or region. There typically aren’t age requirements for membership in credit unions, but if you’re working age you are more likely to qualify.
What to check before you chase a credit union bonus
Read the deposit rule first. Most of these bonuses count only payroll direct deposits, and P2P apps and transfers from your own accounts usually don’t qualify. Then check the time window, because some banks want everything done in 60 days and some pay out months later. Last, plan for taxes. Florida Credit Union says its $300 is reported as interest on a 1099-INT, and A+FCU says you’re responsible for any taxes on its bonus.
Bonus offers change and end without much notice, so open the credit union’s page and read the current terms before you apply.
How we picked
We read every credit union offer on the credit union’s own website. We left out any offer we couldn’t confirm there, including ones this page used to list, and we dropped any offer the credit union no longer shows. Within the credit union list we ranked by the size of the bonus. The three bank picks are the ones open to everyone, ordered by how easy the sign-up bonus is to earn. We don’t list any rate we couldn’t read, so check the current rate on each site.
FAQs
Not all of them do. The organization a credit union is tied to may charge dues, though, and while some credit unions will pay them for you, not every one does. Community First, for example, asks for $5 to open the share savings account that holds your membership.
Commercial banks often operate across the nation and provide general services. Credit unions are usually smaller, owned by their members and focused on a specific area or group, so you have to qualify for membership before you can open an account.
Yes. Current pays a $75 bonus with code WELCOME75 once you get $1,500 or more in payroll direct deposits in your first 35 days, and it is open to new users nationwide. Current is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services are provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC.
Usually, yes. Florida Credit Union says its $300 is reported as interest on a 1099-INT, and A+FCU says you are responsible for any taxes on its bonus. Check the terms for the offer you choose.
Navy Federal Credit Union serves the most customers nationwide, but you need a military connection to join.
