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

Update 5/6/26: There’s currently a $500 checking bonus valid through 5/15/26.

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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 $500 Checking Bonus

BCU is offering a $500 bonus when you open qualifying checking account and meet the requirements.

What you’ll get: $500 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

$500 Offer at BCU

(Expires 05/15/2026)

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 ($425 bonus)
Bank of America ($500 bonus offer)	U.S. Bank Smartly^® Checking ($450 bonus)

How To Earn Bonus

HOW TO EARN BONUSFINE PRINT

Join for free using promo code Boost
Open a PowerPlus Checking Account
Deposit $3k via direct deposit or recurring transfers + make 30 transactions within 60 days
Earn a $500 cash bonus to jumpstart your financial goals!

Offer available to eligible non?members who are legal U.S. residents 18 years of age or older, unless prohibited by law. Individuals who have had a BCU membership within the last 12 months are not eligible. Offer is limited to individuals who have not received a cash bonus or promotional deposit within the last 12 months.
Non?members joining through Life. Money. You. (LMY) are required to open their membership and checking account in person at a local BCU Branch to earn the bonus. Online or remote account opening is not permitted for LMY?eligible participants wanting to earn the bonus. Offer valid 4/1/2026 – 5/15/2026 (“Offer Period”). Non?members joining with promo code BOOST will receive a $500 deposit for opening a new BCU membership with a PowerPlus Checking account, completing a minimum of $3,000 in qualifying direct deposits, and at least 30 qualifying transactions within the first 60 days of membership opening. A qualifying direct deposit includes recurring monthly income such as salary, pension, Social Security benefits, or other eligible regular income electronically deposited by an employer or third?party payer. Transfers completed by ATM, online, or teller, paper check deposits, and wire transfers are not qualifying direct deposits. Qualifying transactions include BCU debit and credit card purchases and payments, Online Bill Pay or ACH payments, BCU Zelle transactions, paper or electronic check payments, and BCU loan payments (credit card, consumer loan, or mortgage), which are applied in the month in which they are posted. Transactions posted on the last day of the month may apply to the following month’s total. Applicants must meet BCU membership eligibility requirements as outlined at BCU.org/Membership?Eligibility. Membership and PowerPlus Checking must be opened by 5/15/2026. The $500 incentive will be deposited into the PowerPlus Checking account by 7/31/2026 with transaction description “CHECKPROMOREBATE.” The incentive is considered a bonus and may be reported to the IRS on Form 1099?MISC (or Form 1042?S, if applicable). Membership must be in good standing to receive the incentive. Existing members are not eligible. One (1) promotional deposit per membership. No substitutions allowed. Void where prohibited. BCU reserves the right to modify or terminate this offer at any time without notice. Employees and immediate family members are not eligible.

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.