Find an updated list of 1st United Credit Union promotions, bonuses, and offers here.
Update 3/24/24: The $200 checking bonus is now available with no direct deposit requirement. The $150 bonus will need DD.
About 1st United Credit Union Promotions
1st United Credit Union is a strong believer in the spirit of volunteering and improving the financial literacy of their communities. They do it by staying up to date on the latest technology to provide financial tools for their customers.
Eligibility: Membership in the 1st United Credit Union is open to those who live, work, or attend school in Alameda, Contra Costa, Kings, San Joaquin, Solano, or Stanislaus Counties in California. For more information on eligibility requirements please check out their full list of membership requirements. |
I’ll review the offers below.
1st United Credit Union $200 Checking Bonus * No Direct Deposit Required*
1st United Credit Union is offering a $200 bonus when you open a qualifying checking account using promo code SANLEANDRO and completing certain requirements.
- What you’ll get: $200 bonus
- Account Type: Checking Account
- Availability: CA (Bank Locator)
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes (see what works)
- Credit Inquiry: Soft Pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit Card Funding: $2,000
- Monthly Fees: None
- Early Account Termination Fee: Must keep open for 6 months, otherwise bonus forfeited.
- Household Limit: None listed
(Limited time offer)
Editor’s Note: Must Work in / resident of Alameda, Contra Costa, Kings, San Joaquin, Solano or Stanislaus Counties CA, or have family member with account there
BMO Smart Money Checking ($300 cash bonus) | BMO Smart Advantage Checking ($300 cash bonus) |
Bank of America ($300 bonus offer) | Chase Total Checking® ($300 bonus) |
Fifth Third Bank Momentum® Checking ($300 bonus) | SoFi Checking and Savings ($325 bonus) |
KeyBank Key Smart Checking ($300 bonus) | Truist Checking ($400 bonus) |
How To Earn Bonus
- Open a new checking account using promotional code SANLEANDRO
- Make ten signature or personal identification number (PIN) purchases of at least $10 each with debit card within 60 days of account opening
- Must keep account open for 6 months to keep the $200 bonus
- Offer not available to existing 1st United checking accounts.
- Checking account and debit card establishment are subject to credit approval.
- Members age 17 and under require an adult joint owner.
- A qualifying direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government.
- Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.
- Offer is for a limited time only and is subject to change or withdrawal at any time.
- Incentive will be credited after all requirements are fulfilled.
- 1st United membership is required and established by opening a savings account.
- Membership is available to anyone who lives or works in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, or Kings Counties.
1st United Credit Union $150 Checking Bonus
- What you’ll get: $150 bonus
- Account Type: Checking Account
- Availability: CA. Must Work in / resident of Alameda, Contra Costa, Kings, San Joaquin, Solano or Stanislaus Counties CA, or have family member with account there. Bank Locator.
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes (see what works)
- Credit Inquiry: Soft Pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit Card Funding: $2,000
- Monthly Fees: None
- Early Account Termination Fee: $25, six months
- Household Limit: None listed
(No End Date)
BMO Smart Money Checking ($300 cash bonus) | KeyBank Checking ($300 bonus) |
Chase Private Client ($3,000 Bonus) | Fifth Third Bank Preferred Checking ($300 bonus) |
HSBC Premier Checking (Up to $2,500 Cash Bonus), |
How To Earn Bonus
- Open new checking account using promotional code HACIENDA
- Establish a qualifying monthly direct deposit of $500 or more within 60 days of account opening;
- Activate and make a signature or PIN purchase with debit card within 60 days of account opening.
- Offer not available to existing 1st United checking accounts.
- Checking account and debit card establishment are subject to credit approval.
- Members age 17 and under require an adult joint owner.
- A qualifying direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government.
- Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.
- Offer is for a limited time only and is subject to change or withdrawal at any time.
- Incentive will be credited after all requirements are fulfilled.
- 1st United membership is required and established by opening a savings account.
- Membership is available to anyone who lives or works in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, or Kings Counties.
- Federally insured by NCUA.
1st United Credit Union $100 Checking Bonus *Expired*
1st United Credit Union is offering a $100 bonus with promo code GRAD. There is no direct deposit requirement.
- What you’ll get: $100 bonus
- Account Type: Checking Account
- Availability: CA
- Direct Deposit Requirement: No
- Credit Inquiry: Soft Pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit Card Funding: $2,000
- Monthly Fees: None
- Early Account Termination Fee: $25, six months
- Household Limit: None listed
(Expires 08/31/2023)
BMO Smart Money Checking ($300 cash bonus) | KeyBank Checking ($300 bonus) |
Chase Private Client ($3,000 Bonus) | Fifth Third Bank Preferred Checking ($300 bonus) |
HSBC Premier Checking (Up to $2,500 Cash Bonus), |
How To Earn Bonus
- Open a free checking account with promo code GRAD and earn $100!
- Offer not available to existing or additional 1st United checking accounts.
- We reserve the right to retain incentive if checking account is closed within six months.
- Checking account and debit card establishment are subject to approval using a third-party consumer reporting agency.
- Members age 17 and under require an adult joint owner.
- Rewards Checking Account: Only available for members 18 and older.
- Dividends are paid monthly based on average daily balance, and will only be paid if the combined total of debit and credit card purchase transactions reaches 15 or more within the month.
- All qualifying transactions must post to the account and the funds must be available to fund the transaction by the last business day of each month. Click here for current rates.
- No monthly fee, but other fees may reduce earnings.
- Rewards Bonus: 1st United Visa Rewards account holders will receive a 50% bonus (1.5 points per dollar spent) on their Rewards points earned within the month if they perform 15–29 combined debit and/or credit card purchase transactions or a 100% bonus (2 points per dollar spent) if they perform 30+ combined debit and/or credit card purchase transactions.
- Bonus will be credited in the subsequent Visa cycle.
- Earn $100 when you open a new checking account using promotional code GRAD by August 31, 2023.
- Offer is subject to change or withdrawal at any time.
- Incentive will be credited on the 10th of the following month the account was opened.
- Offer expires August 31, 2023 and is subject to change or withdrawal at any time.
- Cannot be combined with any other offer.
- Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, and Kings Counties. Insured by NCUA.
- FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries.
1st United Credit Union $200 Business Checking Bonus *Expired*
You can earn a $200 bonus when you open a business checking account using promo code SMALLBIZ and completing certain requirements.
- What you’ll get: $200 bonus
- Account Type: Business Checking Account
- Availability: CA
- Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes
- Credit Inquiry: Soft Pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit Card Funding: $2,000
- Monthly Fees: None
- Early Account Termination Fee: Six months, bonus forfeit
- Household Limit: None listed
(Expires 12/31/2023)
Chase Business Checking ($300 Bonus) | Bank of America Business Checking ($200 bonus offer) |
U.S. Bank Business Checking ( $400 or $900 Bonus) | Axos Bank Basic Business Checking ($400 Bonus) |
Axos Bank Business Interest Checking ($400 Bonus) | Huntington Unlimited Plus Business Checking ($1,000 Bonus) |
Huntington Unlimited Business Checking ($400 Bonus) | Live Oak Bank Business Savings ($200 Bonus) |
Axos Business Premium Savings ($375 Bonus) | Bluevine Business Checking ($300 Bonus) |
How To Earn Bonus
- Use promo code SMALLBIZ to receive your $200 incentive when you open a new business checking account
- Incentive will be credited by the tenth of the month following account opening.
- Offer expires December 31, 2023, is subject to change or withdrawal at any time and is not available to existing 1st United business checking accounts.
- Must use promo code SMALLBIZ when applying.
- Incentive will be credited by the tenth of the month following account opening.
- Checking account and debit card establishment are subject to approval through ChexSystems.
- Federally Insured by NCUA.
1st United Credit Union $50 Referral Bonus *Expired*

1st United Credit Union $50 Referral Bonus
1st United Credit Union is offering a $50 bonus when you refer friends who open a new eligible checking account and meet the qualifying requirements.
- What you’ll get: $50 bonus
- Account Type: Checking accounts, loans, credit cards, certificates, and youth savings accounts.
- Availability: CA
- Direct Deposit Requirement: No
- Credit Inquiry: Soft Pull
- ChexSystems: Unknown
- Credit Card Funding: $2,000
- Monthly Fees: None
- Early Account Termination Fee: Six months, bonus forfeit
- Household Limit: None listed
(Expires December 31, 2022)
BMO Smart Money Checking ($300 cash bonus) | KeyBank Checking ($300 bonus) |
Chase Private Client ($3,000 Bonus) | Fifth Third Bank Preferred Checking ($300 bonus) |
HSBC Premier Checking (Up to $2,500 Cash Bonus), |
How To Earn Bonus
Qualify for $50 per referral
- Complete the form with your friend’s name and email address, no limitations.
- Your friend will get an email from 1st United Credit Union
- When your friend joins and opens a membership with a qualifying account using the promotional code from their email, you’ll both receive $50.
- Referred memberships with qualified accounts will receive incentive credited to their savings account.
- Referred member must provide their promo code to a member service representative or in the “Promo Code” section of our online membership application to receive the incentive.
- Referring members must be in good standing.
- The incentive will be credited to both the referring and referred member by the 10th of the following month in which the new account is verified.
- We reserve the right to retain incentive if account is closed within six months.
- Not valid where prohibited by law.
- Cannot be combined with any other offer.
How To Waive Monthly Fees
- Rewards Checking: There are no monthly fees.
- Free Checking: There are no monthly fees.
- Interest Checking: No monthly fee when you maintain a $1,000 balance.
- Business Free Checking: No monthly fees
- Business Interest Checking: No monthly fee when you maintain a $1,500 balance.
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Bottom Line
We recommend you open the Basic Checking account form the 1st United Credit Union as it doesn’t have any monthly service fees. In addition, it is a soft pull so it will not affect your credit score!
While they have generous bonuses, the 1st United Credit Union doesn’t have great rates for CDs and Savings. You may want to check out our full list of Bank Rates and CD Rates.
Compare 1st United Credit Union promotions with other bank bonuses from banks like Citi, Huntington, HSBC, Chase, TD, Discover Bank, Aspiration, Axos Bank, PNC Bank, BMO Harris, SoFi, Fifth Third Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, US Bank, and more!
*Check back at this page for updated 1st United Credit Union promotions, bonuses, and offers.
1st United CU $100 Bonus ended on 12/31/2018, according to the bank’s chat rep.
What (bank) do you use to set up a direct deposit?
Just used my Chase Hyatt to fund my account with $2,000…I’m please.
My Citi Doublecash was approved for me to put $2,000 into the account.
My Chase Ink Preferred was given the ok to fund my account w $2K. My husband used his Chase Marriott and had no issues either. I’m impressed I’m able to fund it w such a high amount!
I just checked out this offer at their bank, it was a soft pull inquiry.
I think you gotta live in Alameda county or the surrounding areas to qualify.