PSECU $300 New Checking Account Bonus 2024

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Updated with 2024 promo details, free Greenlight kids debit card perk. Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) has a $300 new checking account bonus that is broken up into two stages ($200+$100). That is also my referral link as I successfully did a similar $300 deal from last year. PSECU is a digital-first credit union with a very open membership. If you don’t satisfy the available free options, anyone can join with $10:

Don’t meet any of the criteria above? No problem! You can still become eligible for PSECU membership by joining the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS).

PRPS is a statewide association providing education, advocacy, and resources for those working and volunteering to manage Pennsylvania’s 6,000+ local parks. Park and recreation departments provide safe and affordable recreation opportunities, creating stronger and more inclusive communities.

PRPS membership dues are $20, but we cover $10 when you select to join PRPS during our application process.

There may also be a required $5 initial deposit into a share savings account. I also experienced a hard credit check on Experian, which is (unfortunately) common amongst credit unions. Here are the details on the bonus requirements:

$200 Checking Bonus (Stage 1)

  • Become a PSECU member using promo link and promo code RIGHTNOTEREFER (should be automatically applied) and add a free checking account with debit card.
  • Sign up and log into digital banking (online or mobile).
  • Establish Qualifying Payroll Direct Deposit(s) that total at least $500 per calendar month.
  • Must be completed in the first 60 days of establishing your membership.

$100 Checking Bonus (Stage 2)

  • Continue recurring Qualifying Payroll Direct Deposits totaling at least $500 per calendar month for 3 consecutive months after Stage 1 requirements are met, with a total additional amount deposited of at least $1,500 during Stage 2.
  • Complete a minimum of 10 Eligible Debit Card Purchases. Eligible Debit Card Purchases are defined as individual purchases of at least $10 for a minimum overall purchase total of at least $100.
  • Must be completed within 120 days of establishing your membership.

My application process went smoothly and similar to other credit unions. I did have to upload a scan of the front and back of my driver’s license to help verify my identity (which is a good thing in my opinion) as well as answer some identity verification questions based on my credit report. The application took a couple days to process but I was able to get my account information and online access without any phone call or paperwork required. I did have to call them briefly to get my checking account number (didn’t want to wait on the free checks to arrive) in order to set up my direct deposit.

Added 2024: Another useful perk of PSECU for those with kids and teens is they include a free Greenlight subscription, which is a popular reloadable debit card service for kids. This is usually $5 a month ($60 a year).

Full terms and conditions:

*Hit the Right Note – Up to $300 Bonus Terms and Conditions
From 1.1.24 to 12.31.24, PSECU is running a new member incentive bonus. To receive up to $300, new members must sign up with promotional code RIGHTNOTEREFER and satisfy each of the requirements listed below. PSECU will deposit member incentive bonus into the Regular share within 45 days after the requirements are satisfied. Promotion open to U.S. Residents who are 18 years of age or older at the time the account is opened. Limit one (1) new member Hit the Right Note bonus per tax identification number used to open a new PSECU account. Joint owners listed on accounts are not eligible to be rewarded for this bonus unless they open their own account. You will not be eligible for the Hit the Right Note bonus if you are a current PSECU member, have closed an account within the past 12 months, or have received any new member incentive bonus within the past 12 months. Members who open accounts and/or loans by fraudulent, suspicious, or illegal means, including but not limited to providing PSECU with fraudulent or fabricated information, are not eligible to participate in this bonus offer. PSECU may adjust the deposited bonus or remove the deposited bonus at any time if PSECU suspects accounts and/or loans were opened by fraudulent, suspicious, or illegal means, including but not limited to providing PSECU with fraudulent or fabricated information. $5 is required to open and maintain a Regular share account. This $5 share deposit is also required to be eligible to receive the bonus, and the member must be in good standing as defined by PSECU’s Bylaws Article II, Section 1. A $5 minimum share purchase will be made on behalf of the new member by PSECU. If the member account is closed within the first year of membership, the initial $5 share will be retained by PSECU. The Annual Percentage Yield on PSECU’s Regular share account is 0.50%. This variable rate is current as of 12.1.23 and may change. Withdrawals and fees may reduce earnings on the account. The recipient of the bonus (up to $300) is solely responsible for payment of applicable taxes on that amount. If you have any questions, please seek the advice of a qualified tax professional. All decisions of PSECU regarding this promotion are final. PSECU may terminate or change the terms and conditions of this promotion without notice. Subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

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Comments

  1. planxity says

    Exactly, you should receive $200 or more for suffering hard pull which Chase, and several others, does not like to see when considering applicants for larger bonuses. You will probably be denied by many for 5 hard pulls in 2 years! (They then put their ding for the unsuccessful attempt onto you for others to see, of course.)

  2. CF Frost says

    Nice little bonus.

    Thanks for the warning of the hard credit check – This takes away an option for some…especially those applying & going for a Chase Bank credit card offer/bonus due to the Chase 5/24 rule.

  3. The Chase 5/24 rule is not about hard credit pulls, but opened personal credit card lines (any issuer) in the last 24 months. An open credit card is not the same as a hard credit check. Five credit checks in only 24 months is quite restrictive!

    Personally, in our household I have my wife basically do only the Chase cards because she doesn’t like dealing with credit cards anyhow. It’s quite easy to have 5 Chase cards alone in 24 months But I have much more than 5 credit checks in a rolling 24 month period. Otherwise, you are giving up all the American Express, Barclays, Bank of America, and other cards. Plus credit union bonuses and so on.

  4. Thanks to Jonathan for writing this. We used your link to apply yesterday and got approved today.

    The funding is only via CC max $100. Not sure it’s cash advance or purchase thou.
    We are retirees and credit hard pull is not a concern (or should we?).

    The member # and checking account # shows no similarity seems odd for setting us DD.

    • PSECU said they only have one member number for both the share savings and checking account, so they give you a separate checking account number to guarantee it goes into the checking. They seemed to suggest if you did a transfer using the member number as account number the money might still end up there, but I didn’t want to risk it.

    • after 2 day account opening, the account was locked on late Friday. No communication (call or email
      Called on Saturday and was told Security DOES NOT WORK ON WEEKENDS (that is obsurd

      Today (Monday) called in and was told to upload SS and Utility bill. Security rep says they pick account random to lock and ask for more info.

      this is so ridiculous IMHO as Security is 1) Abuse Power, 2) Not have any care for Customer (not knowing why lock up and no access to account for 3 days – hard to imagine if someone has it as a main account and only time to access is on weekends due to work (not my case thou)

      Hope PSECU higher up can review its Security policy and have more passion to customers, and when a need to lock account should attempt to communicate …

  5. After a hard credit pull, PSECU notified me that they were unable to open my account without me visiting a branch in person. I’m 1000 miles away from the nearest branch, so even they acknowledged this was unlikely.

    I am a chaser of these bonuses and rates, and I’m noticing this is increasingly the case. Even if a bank or credit union says they allow out of state members, they increasingly deny us.

    I don’t begrudge banks their verification processes and rules, but I don’t appreciate that hard credit pulls occur so early in the process.

  6. MappleOrchard says

    I am filling out this application now, and they offer to cover half of the $20 friend membership dues.

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