Find an updated list of BCU promotions, bonuses and offers here.

Update 11/2/25: There’s currently a $150 checking bonus valid through 12/31/25.

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About BCU Promotions

Eligibility: There are several ways you can qualify for membership. Membership eligibility is based on one or more of the following qualifying criteria:

Employment. You are a permanent, temporary or contract employee of one of the several elite employer groups offering the Credit Union’s services as a valuable employee benefit.
Community Charter. Living or working in one of seven community charter counties: Cook (north of 95th street), DuPage, Kane, Lake or McHenry County in Illinois, Kenosha County in Wisconsin, or Puerto Rico. (If you are unsure if you qualify please contact one of our local branches or member relations.)
Family. You are the immediate or extended qualifying family of an existing member related by blood, marriage, fostering or adoption. Eligible family members include: spouses, parents, children, siblings, domestic partners, grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Life. Money. You. You are subscribed to Life. Money. You.®, a financial well-being program designed to help you set plans, make moves, and build better money habits with your unique goals at the forefront.

See their full list of membership requirements.

BCU $150 Checking Bonus

BCU is offering a $150 bonus when you open qualifying checking account and meet the requirements.

What you’ll get: $150 bonus
Account Type: Checking Account
Availability: Nationwide. Branches in IL, WI (Bank Locator)
Credit Inquiry: Soft Pull
ChexSystems: Unknown
Credit Card Funding: Unknown
Direct Deposit Requirement: Yes (see what works)
Monthly Fee: None
Household Limit: None listed
Closing Account Fee: None listed, check with CSR for more information

$150 Offer at BCU

(Expires 12/31/2025)

You can compare this to several great entry level checking account offers:
BMO Smart Money Checking ($400 cash bonus*)	BMO Smart Advantage Checking ($400 cash bonus*)
KeyBank Key Smart Checking ($300 bonus)	SoFi Checking and Savings ($325 bonus)
Bank of America ($500 bonus offer)

How To Earn Bonus

HOW TO EARN BONUSFINE PRINT

Open a new Credit Union membership with a checking account using promo code STACK
Set up a qualifying direct deposit totaling at least $1,000 into your checking account within the first 60 days of account opening.
New members will receive the $150 as a deposit into their Share-01 Savings account on or before 03/15/2026.

Offer available to eligible non-members who are legal U.S. residents 18 years of age or older unless prohibited by law.
Offer valid 8/1/2025 – 12/31/2025.
Non-members, receive a $150 deposit for opening a new Credit Union membership with a checking account using promo code STACK and setting up a qualifying direct deposit totaling at least $1,000 into your checking account within the first 60 days of account opening.
A qualifying direct deposit is a monthly recurring direct deposit of regular monthly income, such as your salary, pension or Social Security benefit or other eligible regular monthly income, electronically deposited by an employer or other third-party payer into your checking account.
A transfer completed by ATM, online or teller is not a qualifying direct deposit.
A person seeking Credit Union membership must also meet at least one of the criteria found at BCU.org/Membership-Eligibility.
New Credit Union membership must be opened by 12/31/2025 to be eligible for offer.
New members will receive the $150 as a deposit into their Share-01 Savings account on or before 03/15/2026.
The incentive deposit to the new member is considered a bonus and may be reportable to the IRS on Form 1099-MISC (or Form 1042-S, if applicable).
The new membership must be in good standing to receive offer.
To be in good standing requires at- a minimum: You are not in default of any loan or other obligation to BCU, you are not subject to any legal or administrative order or levy, and you have not caused a loss to BCU as stated in our Expulsion Policy found at BCU.org/Legal/Terms-of-Use.
Existing members are not eligible for the offer.
No substitutions for deposit allowed.
Offer limited to one (1) deposit per membership.
Void where prohibited. BCU’s decisions are final and binding on all matters relating to this offer.
BCU, at its sole discretion, may terminate, in whole or part, and or modify, amend, or suspend this promotion in any way, at any time, for any reason without prior notice.
BCU employees and immediate family members are not eligible to participate in this offer.
Sponsored by BCU, 340 N Milwaukee Ave, Vernon Hills, IL 60061.

Bottom Line

BCU offers great promotions for you to earn money over time. They also offer online and digital banking, so you’ll be able to access your money anywhere at anytime! You can have peace of mind knowing your money is insured by the NCUA.

While they have a generous bonus, BCU doesn’t have great rates for CDs and Savings. You may want to check out our full list of Bank Rates and CD Rates.

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*Check back at this page for updated BCU promotions, bonuses and offers.